06/16/2026
A lot can happen in 12 years! In 2014, Dean and I worked together as a team of two. We wore all the hats and tackled cases together from our office at 180 N. LaSalle (in the company of many other wonderful solo and small firm attorneys).
I learned constantly from Dean in my first years as an associate. I heard him on the phone telling clients honest and direct answers about their cases— including telling them they were better off saving their money rather than giving it to us to fight a losing claim. I would later hear those individuals call back to say they had just referred cases our way because they appreciated the honesty.
We were in court daily, when the Daley Center was a true social scene, with attorneys wheeling, dealing and chatting in between their many status calls. My first week on the job, I (broke and clueless) carried my law school backpack to court. The next day, Dean without comment left a beautiful briefcase on my desk. I still have it.
We had wild trials, big wins, and negotiated thousands of divorce settlements. And over time, we grew. Our team of two is now a team of sixteen.
Through all of the growth, our values have remained the same: providing excellent legal guidance, being responsive and easy to work with (for our clients and our opposing counsel) and helping people find a path forward through divorce while minimizing emotional and financial stress.
I couldn’t be prouder of my partner, our team and the work that we do.
Morgan Given
