Jerald A. Kessler

The Mediation Master
Divorce, Mediation
Serving Lake and Cook County, North Shore and Chicago
14047 Petronella Drive
Suite 202B
Libertyville, Illinois 60048

847-367-4500

Business, Child Custody, Divorce, Elder, Family

Illinois Mediator and Collaborative Law Attorney

 

 

As a mediator and collaborative law attorney, I encourage individuals to seek alternative forms of dispute resolution. Disputes do not have to go to litigation. I have devoted the majority of my career to helping clients find workable and peaceful resolutions to disputes in the areas of divorce, business law, personal injury and more.

 

Education

  • J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1972
  • B.A., University of Chicago, (Special Honors, Political Science), 1969

 

Professional Status

  • Founding Member, Fellow and Founding Secretary, Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois.
  • Convener and Supervisor – monthly mediation case consultation group, Lake County,      Illinois, for experienced mediators.
  • Advanced Practitioner Member, Association for  Conflict Resolution, Approved Panelist for      ACR referral list;  Approved Panel Member, Mediation Council of Illinois Referral Service       and Lake County Bar Association Mediation Program; United States  Postal Service REDRESS      Program since 1999; Key Bridge Foundation,  Washington, D.C., Mediation of Americans with      Disabilities Act  claims since 1996; Certified Mediator, Civil and Family, 19th Judicial       Circuit, Lake County, Illinois; Illinois Agriculture Mediation  Program, U.S.D.A.,      certified program for Illinois (mediation of  USDA programs such as environment, contract      disputes, land use,  lending, housing); Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, mediation       of cases for Illinois Department of Human Rights and Circuit Court of  Cook County; federal      EEO claims for the Social Security  Administration.

 

Employment

  • Private Practice of Mediation, 1991-present
  • Private Practice of Law, 1975-present
  • Assistant State’s Attorney, Cook County, 1973-1975
  • Law Clerk, Justice Joseph J. Drucker, Illinois Appellate Court, 1972 – 1973

 

Other Employment

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Mediation and Negotiation, ITT-Chicago Kent College of Law,      2008 – present
  • Visiting Lecturer, undergraduate and graduate level Conflict Resolution, North Central      College, 2000-2003
  • Instructor, DePaul University College of Commerce, 1980 – 1981, 1987
  • Lecturer, Legal Writing and Research, ITT – Chicago Kent College of Law, 1973-1976

 

Classes/Seminars Taught

  • Visiting Lecturer, Undergraduate and Graduate Level Conflict Resolution, North Central College, 2000 – Present
  • Instructor, DePaul University College of Commerce, 1980-1981, 1987
  • Lecturer, Legal Writing and Research, ITT Chicago Kent College of Law, 1973 – 1976
  • “The Ethics of Mediation Style” (Co-Presenter), Emerging Issues in  Mediation Conference, University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Association  of Mediators, Madison, Wisconsin, 2003
  • “Divorce Mediation — The Civilized Alternative”, The Lilac Tree, Evanston, Illinois, 2003
  • Annual Guest Lecture, “Power, Power Imbalances and Caucus”, Combined  Conflict Resolution Classes, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1998 –  Present
  • “What Lawyers Can Do to Facilitate Mediation”, Family Law Seminar, Lake County Bar Association, 2003
  • Mediator Training, “Screening for Impairments to Mediation”, 19th  Judicial Circuit Family Mediation Program, Grayslake, Illinois, April  12, 2003
  • “Power Imbalances and Anger in Mediation – No Problem”, Family Law Seminar, Lake County Bar Association, 2002
  • “Working with Attorneys in Mediation” (Co-Presenter), Association  for Conflict Resolution Seminar, Family Section Conference, Savannah,  Georgia, March 2, 2002
  • ADR: “Appropriate Dispute Resolution”, Association of Women  Attorneys, Lake County Illinois, Approved Continuing Legal Education  Seminar, January 11, 2008
  • Mediating in the Face of Strongly Held Beliefs, National Conference Association for Conflict Resolution, Philadelphia, 2006

Practice Areas

 

Mergers,  Business Purchases &. Sales

 

This practice involves negotiating and draft!ng: (1) asset or stock purchase agreements; (2) merger agreements; (3) leveraged buy-out financing documents; (4) long-term supply agreements; (5) employment and ccnsulting agreements; and (6) loan, serurity and other ftnancing documents,

 

Private Securities Offerings

 

This practice involves writing and reviewing: (1) private placement memoranda and compliance with federal and state securities registration exemptions; (2) state blue sky ccmpliance; and (3) general securities law compliance.

 

 General Business

 

This practice Invelves wriltng and negotiating: (1) documents to form ccrpora~ons, general and limited partne1sh1ps, timited liability companies and joint ventures; (2) shareholder, voting and buy-sell agreements; (3) loan agreements· and security documents; (4) settlement agreements; (5) long-term marl<eting agreements; (6) design, engineering, construction and operating agreements; (7) employment, consulting and nee-competition agreements; (S) patent and technology lkense agreements; and (9) real estate deeds, bUts of sale and (IO) a wide variety of other general bu5lness agreements.

 

FranchiseLaw

 

This practice Involves representing franchisers In drafting franchlse disclosure documents, franchise agreements and other franchise compliance documents; state franchise registrations; and representing franchisers and franchisees In all aspects of the franchlse relationshlp.

 

Dispute Resolution

 

This practice emphasizes problem solving and dispute nesclution thtO\lgh a9r~nt without litigation when possible. Creative, M'ctiC41 ;wi efficient solutions are sought In a wide variety of matters using negotiation, mediation, arbitration and, only as a last resort, litigation.

 

New Technologv Commercialization

 

This prartlce Involves: (1) tonnlng new technology companies; (l) negotiating patent and Intellectual property licenses and sponsored researrh agreements; (3) acquiring stock, assets or meryer of target corr.pan1es; and (4) product distribution and marketing agreements.

 

Practice Highlights

 

Successfully consummated more than 75 business purchases, sales or mergers Involving more than $1 billion in the aggregate

 

Successfully completed 10 registerer! public offerings and over 100 private securities offerings exempt from registration

 

Successfully closed numerous banI< loans involvmg more than $10 million each ena several tax exempt industrial revenue bond offerings

 

Sucr:essfully settled multi-million dollar dIsputes involving claims of breach of contract, breach of fidudary duties, securities treua, trenctuse fraud, unfair trade practices, product liability, anti-trust violations, ERISA violations, enviremental violations and Superfund site remediation

 

Successfully resolved numerous employee claims Involving allegations of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or discrimination by rcason of age, sex, race, religion, nationalityordisablllty Successfully co-founded 4 emerging technology comparues with exclusive technology licenses Represented national and local franchisers and franchisees

 

Mission Statement

 

 My mission is to provide clients honest, competent, professional, experienced, effective and efficient legal and advice with civility and respect for all.

 

This Mission is implemented using:

 

Extensive professional experience

 

Practical and creative solutions

 

Effective negotiation Persuasive advocacy

 

Personal attention to clients

 

Commitment to client goals

 

Prompt response to clients

 

 Determination and enthusiasm

 

Timely communication

 

Cost-conscious efforts

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 Jerald A. Kessler

 

 14047 Petronella Drive,

 

 Suite 202B

 

 Libertyville, Illinois 60048

 

 Phone: 847-367-4500

 

 Fax: 847-367-9424

 

Jerald A. Kessler is a trained professional mediator and attorney representing clients in divorce and other matters. With a law firm located in Libertyville, Illinois, he represents clients throughout North Suburban Chicago and Lake County. Mr. Kessler has offices in Libertyville (by Lambs Farm and Northfield, on (Frontage Road)).