CBA Record May-June 2020

that our charitable arm, the Chicago Bar Foundation, provides to our community– are vital at this time. The CBF’s annual Investing in Justice Campaign has gone virtual. I humbly ask everyone to consider supporting our pro bono and legal aid organizations and the people who depend on them. Please visit chicagobarfounda- tion.org/campaign for more information. I thank you for any support you can provide. After 22 years at Drinker Biddle & Reath (n/k/a Faegre Drinker Biddle), I left in February 2019 to join Governor Pritzker’s administration as a deputy governor. For over two decades, I had the opportunity to practice with many talented lawyers at Drinker Biddle. I now have had the privilege of seeing first-hand how all Illinoisans benefit from the incredible work of the lawyers in the Governor’s office and across state government. Lawyers always have, and always will, make critical contributions to our society, especially in times of dire need. I strongly believe that we maximize our impact as lawyers when we join together through the

CBA. As the practice of law and the role of lawyers in society continues to evolve, so too will the CBA. This past year, we have focused on building a CBA that is poised to meet the changing needs of the profes- sion and its members. The coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated this work. During this incredibly challenging time, I am so grateful to all of our com- mittee chairs, and the thoughtful and dedi- cated members of the Board of Managers, who help lead and guide our association. Their contributions have been essential to our operations and programs. I am also grateful for the members of the executive committee – Maryam Ahmad, Octavio Duran, Steve Elrod, Lynn Grayson, Ray Koenig, Tim Tomasik, and our counsel, Howard Suskin – for their thoughtful leadership and support. Thanks to the incredible staff members I have had the privilege to work closely with this past year: Beth McMeen, Mark Cellini, Sally Daly, Sharon Nolan, Bill Richert and Sharon Stepan, under the leadership of the heart and soul of the CBA, Terry Murphy.

Heartfelt thanks to you and all the staff and members who make the CBA what it is. Although the current crisis has had many detrimental impacts, I have experi- enced one silver lining (and I’m probably not alone in this experience), which is more time with family. I am ever more cognizant of the blessings in my life that are my wife, Michele, and our sons, Jonathan and Benjamin. At times during this public health crisis, I have reflected on the adage, this too shall pass. In an 1859 speech, Abraham Lincoln said, “[H]ow much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! – how consoling in the depths of affliction! ‘And this, too, shall pass away.’ And yet let us hope it is not quite true.” Indeed, let us hope that the coronavirus pandemic does soon pass away, but that the community of lawyers that is The Chicago Bar Association will continue to flourish and will always endure. Thank you all for your dedication and loyalty to the CBA. Be well. I hope we can all see each other soon.

CBA RECORD 7