The Final Series on the History of Peskind Law Firm

2005 – Present

In 2005 Peskind Law Firm moved to its present location at 2445 Dean Street in St. Charles, where it remains today. The firm continued to concentrate in complex family law litigation. At this time, two exceptional lawyers worked with Steven: Gregory Makismuk, now a partner at a prominent local family law firm, and Vazken Kazandjian, now practicing family law at a boutique family law firm in Beverly Hills, California.

Starting in 2005 Steven became active with the American Bar Association Family Law Section. He frequently wrote and spoke on family law matters throughout the country. In 2007 he joined the faculty of the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, which is presented annually in Boulder, Colorado by the American Bar Association and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. The Trial Institute helps lawyers improve their trial advocacy skills. In 2009 Steven joined the ABA Family Law Section publishing board and helped solicit authors to write family law themed books for the Family Law Section. He served as co-chair of the committee from 2016-2018.

In 2007 Steven was elected to membership of the American Law Institute (ALI). The American Law Institute is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. The ALI’s more than 4,500 members come from the bar, bench, and academy and are selected on the basis of outstanding achievement in the legal profession. Members include Chief Justice John Roberts and other Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2007 Steven was admitted as a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). The AAML is an organization that admits only experienced and qualified matrimonial lawyers. That year, Steven was also appointed by House Minority Leader Thomas Cross to serve on the Illinois Legislative Family Law Study Committee to study and recommend changes to Illinois family law. The committee conducted hearings and listened to the views of judges, lawyers, academics and other concerned citizens. It met at least monthly for 8 years reviewing and critiquing existing family laws. Ultimately, the committee issues a report to the legislature with suggestions on how to improve Illinois family laws.

In 2008 Steven was the KeyNote Speaker for the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He spoke on the future of family law.

In 2013 Steven published his first book, “The Family Law Trial Evidence Handbook.” The book was a best seller for American Bar Association publications. He followed that success in 2014 by publishing “Divorce in Illinois,” a book that outlined the process and substantive law for those considering or going through a divorce. In 2015 Steven wrote a follow-up book for the ABA, “100 Days Before Trial”, a book written to help divorce lawyers prepare for trial.

In 2014 Edward Milas joined the firm. Edward, a then recent graduate of Loyola Law School, quickly developed as an exceptional lawyer. He was recognized by the Leading Lawyers organization as an up and coming talent in the profession starting in 2017. In 2017 he also attended the Family Law Trial  Advocacy Institute where he studied, among other things, presenting expert testimony and cross-examining business evaluators and child custody evaluators. He is recognized as a top litigator and trial lawyer.

In 2015 Best Lawyers organization named Steven as Best Lawyers “Family Lawyer of the Year” in the Chicagoland area. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Leading Lawyers and SuperLawyers as one of the most accomplished lawyers in the Chicagoland area.

That same year, Steven was invited by the Family Law Section of the Hawaiian Bar Association to speak at its annual meeting. He spoke in Honolulu on the topic of trying a divorce case.

Also in 2015, Steven was elected as a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. The American College of Family Trial Lawyers is a select group of 100 of the top family law trial lawyers from across the United States. The American College was formed in 1993 to bring together some of the best trial lawyers in America practicing sophisticated and complex family law and matrimonial matters both domestically and abroad ranging from dissolution of marriage (divorce), paternity, palimony, child abduction, and domestic torts. All members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, known as Diplomates, are chosen based upon their recognized litigation skills and courtroom abilities.

In 2016 Mollie Peskind joined Steven and Edward at the firm. Mollie quickly developed as an accomplished family lawyer. In 2019 the Kane County Bar Association recognized her as the “New Lawyer of the Year” for her accomplishments, which included a “Lawyer In The Library” program to help people representing themselves. Mollie is recognized by the bench and bar as a skilled negotiator and problem solver.

In 2017 and 2018 Steven published two more books for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education recapping the substantial changes to Illinois Law as a result of legislative overhaul starting in 2016.

Recognizing that modern divorce practice reflects the intersection of emotional, financial and legal expertise,  in 2017 Melissa Rister, CPA, joined the firm to help with the many accounting issues facing divorce litigants. Also that year, Jenna Adams commenced helping our clients as a certified divorce coach.

Also in 2018, Steven was admitted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. That year the firm expanded its practice to include international family law disputes.

In 2020, the firm continues to grow with the addition of lawyers John Peskind and Michael Rizo. Edward Milas was named Senior Associate and assumed additional responsibilities. Mollie continues with her service to the bar association and remains active in other community projects.

Peskind Law Firm continues to be recognized as one of the top matrimonial and family law firms in the nation. Our team of professionals are extraordinary including Samantha Berna,  paralegal and Erika Seibert, marketing director, and social media specialist. Working together we continue to provide exceptional results for our clients.

To be continued…