Inspiring Innovators

Our series about innovative members of the legal community profiled lawyers who go beyond the practice of law to implement change and inspire others.


Path to the top
Vincent Cornelius is on a course to make history. In a few short years, he’ll be the first black president of the nearly 140-year-old Illinois State Bar Association. His drive to succeed was formed at an early age thanks to his mother, a motivating schoolteacher who encouraged him to look beyond his racially divided hometown. (September 2013)

Marathon man
Timothy Cavanagh probably wouldn't have finished the Chicago Marathon last year if not for the charitable cause his participation was raising money for. The Cavanagh Law Group founding partner has long been a supporter of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls  — completing a 26.2-mile race was just the latest way he's helped the charity. (August 2013)

DLA Piper partner builds career on pro bono work
Lawrence Wojcik was enjoying life as a trial lawyer until his mom came along and shook everything up. With just a few words — "Hey big shot, what are you doin' for the poor?" — she pushed the now-DLA Piper partner on the path toward a strong focus on pro bono work. (July 2013)

Replacing charity with opportunity
Tom Tuohy wanted to become a lawyer for the money. But he realized he wanted to help kids who had even tougher upbringings than he did. He's now spent more than two decades running a nonprofit that aims to improve the lives of young people. (May 2013)

A career of giving back
He didn't use his legal education the way his father hoped, but the founder of Loyola University Chicago School of Law's Rome-based PROLAW LL.M. program has charted his own course, training rule-of-law advisers for economically developing countries. (April 2013)

Ventrone serves clients, country
Melissa Ventrone of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker juggles life in two worlds — the law and the Marines. "There can be such a camaraderie that you just don’t get anywhere else," she says about her time in active duty. (March 2013)

Biebel demonstrates a passion for public service
Cook County Circuit Judge Paul Biebel Jr., presiding judge of the Criminal Division, maintains high standards for attorneys in his courtroom while also serving as a mentor to many. (February 2013)

Hewko takes on humanitarian issues
John Hewko of Evanston-based Rotary International plans to "make a meaningful contribution to the current ongoing global debate on how best to address the needs of those less fortunate." (December 2012)

Lawyer and his firm soldier toward a cure
John Simmons, founder and chairman of the Simmons Law Firm, built his practice on representing victims of mesothelioma and continues that passion for helping others in his everyday life. (November 2012)

Paziotopoulos demonstrates the value of survival
Pamela Paziotopoulos, throughout her career in the public and private sectors, worked to teach victims, businesses and other groups how to protect against domestic violence. As a two-time cancer survivor, she also serves as an example of how to overcome personal struggles. (October 2012)

Turning loss into legacy of inclusiveness
Troutman Sanders Partner David Cutter helped build Noah’s Playground for Everyone, a project inspired by his 2½-year-old son, who dealt with disabilities and died in his sleep in 2005. (September 2012)

Williams may be the first, but she doesn't want to be the last
Judge Ann Claire Williams paved the way for black, female lawyers by helping found several organizations and by becoming the first black judge to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (August 2012)

'Rebel lawyer' makes public interest law his mission
When Rose Rivera faced the decision of what law school to attend, she heard about the Chiapas Human Rights Practicum at DePaul University College of Law. (July 2012)

Hasbrouck serves decades as trusted adviser to companies, colleagues
For at least 30 years, Gail Hasbrouck has been a trusted giver of advice. Achieving "giver status" can be a daunting prospect. It requires integrity and resilience and a fearlessness to deliver tough news — even to some of the top health-care executives in the country. (June 2012)

Duo exercises their public service passion
Kimball Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson, both attorneys, help fellow lawyers with passion for public service law pursue their dreams. CBF Executive Director Bob Glaves called the Andersons "walking examples" of the fight to make legal services accessible to all communities. (May 2012)

Finding justice and peace for Illinois youth
To listen to Sister Catherine Ryan's colleagues, it seems fitting that Ryan lists Mahatma Gandhi among her heroes. Ryan said Gandhi comes across as such an inspirational political leader and social reformer, one might forget he was also a lawyer. (April 2012)

Maintaining his vision within a global firm
The initial proposal that eventually established the world's largest law firm got scripted on just two pieces of paper. (March 2012)

Promoting gender equality
Empowering women starts at home for Andrea Kramer. Kramer, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, instills in her 21-year-old daughter Cynthia Harris many of the same career lessons she has shared with the legal community for years. (February 2012)