2024-2025 ISBA Award Winners Announced

The Illinois State Bar Association would like to congratulate the award recipients and others honored for their work during the 2024-2025 bar year.

For more information about each award, many of which are presented by ISBA section councils, visit our ISBA Awards page. Also, stay tuned for a more detailed listing of award recipients, with summaries of their accomplishments, in the June edition of the Illinois Bar Journal.

The awards include:

• Austin Fleming Newsletter Editor Award:
  • Philip C. Milsk, Education Law
• Newsletter Editors Service Award: 
  • 5 Years of Service:
    • Lindsay Bentivegna (Illinios Department of Central Management Services), Administrative Law;
    • David Kroeger (Jenner & Block LLP), Insurance Law;
    • Sam Neschis (Neschis & Tolitano LLC), Business & Securities Law; and
    • Robert Paul Osgood (Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board), Government Lawyers
  • 10 Years of Service: 
    • Sandra Blake (Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission), Mental Health Law 
  • 15 Years of Service: 
    • Matthew A. Kirsh (Kirsh & Anderson Ltd), Family Law;
    • Samuel H. Levine (Downey & Lenkov LLC), Construction Law; and
    • James T. Nyeste (James T. Nyeste Attorney at Law), Insurance Law 

• Carole K. Bellows Women of Influence Award: 
  • Justice Debra Walker - Individual Award, More Than 10 Years of Experience 
  • Kimberly Loewen - Individual Award, Less Than 10 Years of Experience
• Civics Education Award: 
  • Billie Constant 
  • Hon. Rex Gradeless II
  • Robert Ackley
• Community Leadership Award: 
  • Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts
• CLE Achievement Award: 
  • Judith Conway 
• CLE Distinguished Service Award: 
  • Paul Osborn
• Diversity Leadership Award: 
  • Brandy Johnson
• Elmer Gertz Human Rights Award: 
  • Hon. Sheila Murphy 
• Excellence in Legal Education Award: 
  • Veterans Law Association at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 
  • Metro East Criminal Justice Experiential Learning Program 
• John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award: 
  • Billie Constant – Individual Award (under 10 years of experience)
  • Cynthia M. Smith – Individual Award (over 10 years of experience)
  • Strauss & Hoyt – Law Firm or Corporate Law Department, Less Than 25 Attorneys
  • DeKalb County Bar Association (DCBA) – Bar Association 
• Joseph R. Bartylak Memorial Legal Services Award: 
  • Fernando Ferrer - Individual Award, Less Than 10 Years of Experience
  • Susan Simone – Individual Award, More Than 10 Years of Experience
• Law Enforcement Award: 
  • James Cimarossa 
• Law Student Division Public Service Award:
  • Madeline Barone, Northwestern Pritzer School of Law 
• Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award: 
  • Donna Craft Cain
• Richard H. Teas Legislative Support Award: 
  • John K. Norris
• Roz Kaplan Government Service Award: 
  • Karen Craig
• Young Lawyer of the Year: 
  • Genevieve Miller – Cook County 
  • Paloma Holloman – Outside Cook County