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Robert Handley

Robert Handley is a Founding Partner of BURKE & HANDLEY. His practice is presently focused in Foreclosures and Banking Law. Robert is currently representing financial institutions and businesses and works with owners and senior management to formulate and implement strategies to meet their legal needs. He has extensive experience all types of litigation including, but not limited to: foreclosures, collections, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and priority disputes. Robert is experienced at alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration, case monitoring, case evaluation, and trial litigation, having tried numerous jury cases to verdict.

He earned his license to practice law in 1979 and has been in private practice since leaving the Du Page County State’s Attorney’s office. His experience includes representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in a variety of cases, including personal injury. He is “AV Rated” (the highest peer review rating) by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review for his legal ability and ethics.

Prior to forming BURKE & HANDLEY, Robert was the principal of his own firm, Burke & Handley and a Partner in Moroni & Handley, located in the Chicago suburb of Carol Stream, Illinois.

In addition to his practice, Robert is a Chair-Qualified Arbitrator for the Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Mandatory Court-Annexed Arbitration. As an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, he presently serves on its Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council (1994, Chair), Insurance Law Section Council (2007, Chair) and the Judicial Evaluation Committee and has Chaired and served on many other State and County Bar Committees and Councils. He frequently speaks at seminars on a variety of topics and is regularly published in numerous Bar Publications. He authored a Chapter in a West Publications legal practice guide on Insurance Law.

Practice Areas

Banking Law
Real Estate Law
Commercial Litigation
Personal Injury (Plaintiff and Defense)
General Civil Litigation

Education

University of Illinois, Chicago, B.A., 1975

Northern Illinois University, J.D., 1978

Membership & Appointments

Member: DuPage County Bar Association (1979), Illinois State Bar Association (1979), Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (1979)

Licensed in: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1979), Federal Trial Bar, and Supreme Court of the United States of America (1998)

Bar Activities

ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION:

Judicial Evaluation Committee (2005 - present)
Co-chair Bar Leadership Conference (2002)
Insurance Law Section Council, Chair, 2007 (2001 - present)
Tort Law Section Council, Newsletter Co-Editor (1995 - 2001)
Committee on Membership and Bar activities (1994 - 2001)
Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Liaison
Committee, Chair,  1998 (1994 -1999)
Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, Chair, 1993 (Member 1985 - 1996 and 2001 to 2007 and 2009 to present).
Assembly Representative (1983 - 1989 and 1992 – 1994 and 2009 to present)
Public Relations Committee (1986 - 1990)
Insurance Standing Committee (1980 - 1986)
Member since 1979

ILLINOIS TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION:

Legislative Committee (1986 - 1989 and 1998 – 2000)
Public Relations Committee (1984)
Young Lawyers Committee (1984)Member since 1979

DUPAGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION:

Public Relations Committee, Chairman (1986);
Member since 1979

Law Related Activities

  • Chair-qualified Arbitrator, Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Mandatory Court-Annexed Arbitration (1989 - present)
  • Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association (1982 - present)
  • Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois:
  • Member: Inquiry Panel and Hearing Board (1986 - 1994)

Academic

  • Adjunct Professor, Aurora University (1979 - 1981)

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator: Illinois State Bar Association - Insurance Law Update (2009)
  • Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association - Civil Practice Update:  Opening Statements (2007)
  • Speaker: Insurance Law: Everything You Want to Know - and Should Ask (2006)
  • Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association – Successfully Navigating Civil Litigation: Update (2004)
  • Co-Chairman: Illinois State Bar Association – The Small But Dynamic Law Firm (1999)
  • Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, Civil Practice Update (1994)
  • Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association Seminar Anatomy of a Trial II (11/11/94)
  • Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association Seminar Anatomy of a Trial I (4/18/94)
  • Speaker/Panelist: Illinois State Bar Association Allerton House Conference (1992)
  • Speaker: Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Course - Negotiation of Personal Injury Settlements (1989)
  • Speaker: Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Insurance Law: Insights and Update (1986)

Publications

  • How Do You Calculate Two Years For A Section 2-1401 Motion To Vacate?  Court Ignores 1918 Case, Illinois State Bar Association, Trial Briefs (2011)
  • Mortgage Foreclosures: In Rem Or Quasi-In Rem? -- The Distinction That Makes A Difference, Illinois State Bar Association, Trial Briefs (2010)
  • Clerk Hands Back Complaint -- Case Barred by Statute of Limitations, Illinois State Bar Association, Trial Briefs, (2006)
  • Release Unenforceable – Plaintiff Was A Minor, Illinois State Bar Association Insurance Law Section Council, The Policy, (2006)
  • Soto Restates The Law Governing Opinion Testimony As To Permanency Of Injury, Illinois State Bar Association, Trial Briefs, (2001)
  • Editor, Tort Trends, Illinois State Bar Association, Tort Law Section Council Newsletter (1995 - 2001)
  • Best v. Taylor Machine Works, Illinois State Bar Association Tort Trends, (1998)
  • Subrogation, Attorney's Fees and Costs, Illinois State Bar Association Trial Briefs, (1995)
  • Has Illinois Modified Contributory Fault in Strict Products Liability Cases? The Plaintiff's Perspective, Illinois State Bar Association Trial Briefs, (1992)

Civic Activities

  • Trustee/Treasurer, St. Charles Fire Protection District (2001-present)
  • St. Patrick Catholic School Education Commission, (1998 – 2002) President, 2001-2002,
  • Precinct Committeeman, DuPage County, Wayne Township (1997 - 2004)
  • Treasurer, Wayne Community Association (1992 - 2004)
  • Village of Wayne Plan Commission, Chair 1996 - 1999 (1994 – present)
  • President, Pre du Chevaux Homeowners Association (President, 1989 - 1996)
  • Village of Wayne Zoning Board of Appeals (1994)
  • Village of Roselle Zoning Board of Appeals (1988 - 1990)
  • Precinct Committeeman, DuPage County, Bloomingdale Township (1982 - 1984)