2026 ILCBA Fall Seminar
Litigation, Arbitration, Professionalism. Oh My!
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 8:45 to 3:15pm | Virtual via Zoom
Pending Approval for 5 CLE Credits &
2 Professional Responsibility Credits
The Illinois Creditors Bar Association invites you to attend our 2026 Fall Seminar on Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11!
Join your peers for an interactive and informative program, featuring insights from experienced practitioners and members of the judiciary. If you're looking to expand your expertise, this seminar is for you.
Spring Seminar Speakers
Session One: Understanding Time Standards and Using them to your Advantage
Judge Patrick Sherlock | a neutral with ADR Systems
Judge Sherlock has over 35 years of experience in specialized litigation matters, including commercial and all varieties of complex tort litigation. He is well respected for his work ethic, thoughtfulness and inventive approach to resolving cases. As an attorney, he was a successful litigator, representing clients in high-profile class actions and commercial cases in Cook County and around the country. While on the bench for over 18 years, Judge Sherlock was the supervising judge of the Commercial Calendar Section, the Cook County Asbestos Docket, and the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration Program. He presided over and settled many notable cases as a jurist, including the first baby powder mesothelioma case in Illinois and a multi-billion-dollar class action concerning shareholder rights. He has handled some of the largest cases in Cook County in all areas of the law and his rulings have been affirmed by more than 100 appellate court opinions.
Session Two: Maladaptive Perfectionism
Joe Scally, Clinical Director | Lawyers' Assistance Program
Joe Scally, MA, JD is Clinical Director at the Lawyers’ Assistance Program. Joe is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois Law School. He has practiced in state and federal courts in Illinois for many years. Joe also has an M.A. in clinical psychology from DePaul University. He interned at the Institute for Juvenile Research and did post graduate study in the Family Systems Program at UIC. He has been on staff at the Community Mental Health Center at DePaul, the Parenting Assessment Team at UIC, the ASSETS Clinic at University of Chicago, and St. Raymond’s Psychological Services. He served for six years as clinical co-director of the Clinical Evaluation and Services Initiative, a joint project of Northwestern University Law School and the U. of Chicago Hospital based in the Juvenile Court of Cook County funded by the MacArthur Foundation. Joe has taught Mental Health Law, Ethics, and Assessment at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He worked as national Director of Training and Program Evaluation, and continues to be a trainer, for the Positive Coaching Alliance, a not-for-profit instituted at Stanford University which brings state of the art sports psychology practices to athletic programs across the country.
Session Three: Mediation Strategy & Best Practices | Preparing, Advocating & Positioning a Case for Resolution
Hon. Daniel J. Kubasiak (Ret.) | JAMS Neutral
Hon. Daniel J. Kubasiak (Ret.) has more than 50 years of combined experience in judicial service, private legal practice and government finance and administration. He served nearly 14 years as a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, including more than nine years in the Law Division and eight years on the Commercial Calendar. He presided over complex business, fiduciary, employment and contract disputes involving intricate financial issues and multiparty claims. Throughout his judicial career, Judge Kubasiak managed cases from initial proceedings through discovery, dispositive motions, settlement and trial. His rulings have been reviewed by the Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court more than 115 times, with approximately 94% affirmed in whole or in part. Known for his fairness, diligence and thoughtful approach, he regularly encouraged negotiated outcomes through pretrial conferences and alternative dispute resolution to help parties achieve efficient, cost-effective resolutions.
Session Four: Beyond the Writ: The Real-World Challenges of Detinue and Replevin in Commercial Equipment Recovery
Diana Perez, Attorney |The Wright Law Group
Diana Perez is a highly experienced attorney specializing in creditors' rights, commercial litigation, and bankruptcy law. With over 14 years of practice, she represents clients in litigation and enforcement actions across Illinois, including in federal bankruptcy courts. Diana's expertise includes trials, arbitration, and administrative hearings, showcasing her strong litigation skills and dedication to client advocacy. Ms. Perez's professional affiliations underscore her commitment to her creditor clients and the legal community. She currently serves as President of the Illinois Creditors Bar Association and has been a contributing author to the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education's Creditors’ Rights publication. Additionally, she has provided pro bono legal aid and consultations in immigration and family law matters. Fluent in Spanish, she offers a valuable perspective to her clientele and facilitates resolution in spite of common language barriers.
AND
Hon. Maryam Ahmad, M.A., J.D., Associate Judge | Circuit Court of Cook County
Maryam Ahmad is a Cook County, Illinois Associate Judge who presides over the Post Judgment and Miscellaneous Remedies call, located in Chicago’s First Municipal Division. Her previous judicial assignments include presiding in criminal and civil courtrooms throughout Cook County, Illinois.
Notably, Judge Ahmad previously served as the Chief of the Juvenile Justice Bureau for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, overseeing the operations of the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions.
Judge Ahmad embarked on her legal career as a corporate and civil litigator before joining the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, where she represented indigent defendants in misdemeanor and felony cases. Subsequently, she transitioned to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, prosecuting civil Child Protection cases and felony cases in Juvenile Justice, and later, the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau at Markham and Leighton Courthouses.
Keegan J. Madden, Associate | Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP
Keegan J. Madden is an Associate in the Chicago office, where he serves as Chairman of the firm’s Creditors’ Rights, Banking, and Bankruptcy Practice Group. He dedicates his practice to a wide range of commercial litigation and secured transactions matters, including equipment leasing and finance, asset protection and recovery, creditor’s rights, commercial collections, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, banking, post-judgment enforcement, and the negotiation of workouts and resolutions. Admitted to the Illinois and Wisconsin bar and graduate of University of Wisconsin School of Law, this badger brings ample experience in the field of commercial and business recovery field.
Session Five: Westlaw and Lexis - Practical Uses of Available AI
More Details Coming Soon!
Thank you to our Annual Sponsors
Gold LEVEL
BRONZE LEVEL
Sponsorship Opportunities
All Sponsorships include your linked Name/Logo in the digital seminar program book (sponsor level indicated). Book is permanently saved/searchable in the ILCBA Members-Only Online Resource Library.
$750 - GOLD SPONSOR
$500 - SILVER SPONSOR
$250 - BRONZE SPONSOR
Questions about this Event's Sponsorship Opportunities? Contact ilcba@corpevent.com
Interested in an Annual Sponsorship or Vendor Advertising? Click Here for more details or contact ilcba@corpevent.com
Registration
Member $95 Law Clerk/Student Member $65 Retired/Licensed/Actively Practicing Judge Member $50
Retired/Non-Licensed/Not Actively Practicing Member $0
Member Recording $95
Non-member $125
Join ILCBA as a New Member and Receive a Discount!
Register for the Seminar and contact ilcba@corpevent.com to receive a code for a $30 discount when applying ($105 discount from the Member Rate.)
** Financial Assistance Policy
** Assistance in the form of waivers of registration fees, reduced fees, or discounts, is available to any interested attorneys by submitting a written request to ilcba@corpevent.com not less than 14 days prior to the seminar date.
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