Tressler’s Education Practice includes experienced attorneys prepared to satisfy the legal and practical needs of any school, cooperative or school district in Illinois.

Tressler attorneys have represented a  variety  of  entities  from  small  downstate  districts,  to  large diverse suburban school districts to independent charter schools. We  recognize  that  each  client  is  unique with different needs and budgets. Tressler attorneys  forge  strong,  trusting  relationships  with their clients which lead to  long-term  partnerships  with  boards  and management teams. This allows  us  to support administrators, educators and most importantly, students. With a results-driven focus, Tressler  is able to provide cost-effective guidance regardless of the issues that may be facing the client.

We have extensive depth in providing general counsel services such as managing board matters, negotiating contracts, finance, personnel, intergovernment agreements, navigating real estate and construction projects. Whether your question stems from Student Discipline, Title IX, Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Illinois School Student Records Act, 504s or IEPS, you will receive prompt, practical advice.   Additionally, unlike many firms that are forced  to outsource work in certain areas, the Education Practice is able to offer the “value add” that we can call on our Tressler attorneys to handle niched areas such as: tax objections, cyber liability issues such as SOPPA and data breaches, insurance coverage matters, intellectual property items, environmental concerns, civil rights, workers compensation defense and other tort matters.

Labor issues and employment matters often loom large as one of the biggest forces within your world. Tressler attorneys have extensive experience handling grievances and negotiating collective bargaining agreements. At the client’s request, we can act as lead counsel throughout the entire collective bargaining process or serve as behind-the-scenes consultants on isolated issues. Our objective is that your collective bargaining agreement empowers you to achieve your goals without labor disruptions that interfere with  the educational process and divert precious resources from the classroom. Likewise, today’s employment landscape is filled with potential landmines. We can help your human resources to avoid unnecessary exposures while being mindful that risk management must be cost effective. Our attorneys regularly provide counsel on issues involving hiring, firing, teacher discipline and remediation process, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and we regularly appear in EEOC and IDHR hearings to protect our client’s interests.

Our goal is to work with our clients in a cost-effective and proactive manner so that risk management and educational  missions can  be  attained.  We  listen  and  provide  resources such as handbooks, policies, procedures and timely advice to ensure compliance with  the  current  laws. As  issues  emerge and school laws develop, we keep our clients up-to-date with newsletters, seminars and in-service  offerings tailored to your needs.

We advise, counsel and represent school districts in nearly every legal issue they may face, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Board Services
  • Labor and Employment
  • Student Matters
  • Privacy
  • SOPPA Compliance
  • Constitutional Rights
  • Legislation
  • Real Estate and Construction
  • Procurement and Contracts
  • Special Education
  • Public Finance
  • Tort Immunity
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Litigation
  • Charter Schools

For more information or to request a complimentary consultation, contact attorney John M. O’Driscoll at jodriscoll@tresslerllp.com or 630-343-5209.

Education Attorneys

Education Events

REMINDER: 2024 IML Annual Conference

Sep 19, 2024
Tressler LLP

Tressler attorneys John M. O’Driscoll, James J. Hess,  Darcy L. Proctor, Molly E. Thompson, Taylor A. Brewer, Jeyser G. Claudio and Drew J. O’Donnell have been selected to present at the Illinois Municipal...

2023 IML Annual Conference

Sep 21, 2023
Tressler LLP

Tressler’s local government attorneys have been selected to speak at the Illinois Municipal League’s (IML) 110th Annual Conference. Join John M. O’Driscoll, Darcy L. Proctor, James J. Hess, Taylor A....

2022 IML Annual Conference

Sep 15, 2022
Tressler LLP

Tressler attorneys have been selected to speak at the Illinois Municipal League’s (IML) 109th Annual Conference. Join John M. O’Driscoll, Darcy L. Proctor, James J. Hess, Taylor A. Brewer and Courtney P....

2021 IML Annual Conference

Sep 23, 2021
Tressler LLP

  Tressler attorneys John M. O’Driscoll,  Darcy L. Proctor, Elizabeth F. Wagman, Kathleen M. Gibbons and James J. Hess have been selected to speak at the Illinois Municipal League’s 108th Annual Conference on

2021 CLM Annual Conference

Aug 12, 2021
Tressler LLP

Tressler attorney Linda Bondi Morrison will be speaking at the 2021 CLM Annual Conference in Atlanta on August 12, 2021. Her session is titled “Hot Topics Involving the Right to Independent Counsel.” About the...

Legislative & Case Law Update

Sep 27, 2017
Anna Steinberg

Tressler Chicago partner Shaun McParland Baldwin published, “Is It A Flash Or A Trend? “Disparagement” limited to Communications that Assert or Imply the Inferiority of a Competitor’s Products,”...

DRI Construction Law Seminar

Apr 25, 2018
Anna Steinberg

Tressler’s  Diana Winfrey is Program Co-Vice Chair of DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar’s Construction Law Committee. Register now to join her at the DRI Construction Law Seminar from April 25-27 in...

Anatomy of an Airport Claim

Feb 7, 2018
Tressler LLP

TOPIC: Anatomy of an Airport Claim SPEAKERS: Donald Machalinski of Tressler LLP and Michael McGrory Tressler attorney Donald Machalinski will be presenting at The Chicago Bar Association’s Aviation Law Committee...

Spotlight: Data Security and Data Privacy

Jul 11, 2018
Tressler LLP

Equifax, SunTrust, Facebook, Uber—the list of recent data breaches exposing sensitive and private data goes on and on. What can you do to protect your organization’s data and client information? How are you affected by

2019 CLM Annual Conference

Mar 14, 2019
Tressler LLP

Tressler attorney Linda Bondi Morrison will be speaking at the 2019 CLM Annual Conference in Orlando on March 14th. Linda will be co-presenting a presentation titled “Going Hog Wild: Liability and Insurance Coverage

2019 DRI Annual Construction Law Seminar

Apr 10, 2019
Tressler LLP

Join Tressler attorneys Mary McPherson and Diana Winfrey at the 2019 DRI Annual Construction Law seminar at Caesars Palace Las Vegas on April 10-12th. Diana is the Program Chair of this event and Mary will be presenting

Doing What’s Right for Your Association

Nov 16, 2018
Tressler LLP

The Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Associations (ACTHA) is hosting a free seminar on November 15th. Tressler attorney Kathryn Formeller will be discussing how to do what is right for your Association

Save the Date: 2025 IML Conference

Sep 18, 2025
Tressler LLP

Tressler attorneys John M. O’Driscoll, James J. Hess, Megan M. Olson, Erik R. Peck, Darcy L. Proctor, Taylor A. Brewer, and Carter R. Frambes have been selected to present at the Illinois Municipal League’s (IML) 112th...

Education News

18 Attorneys Joined Tressler LLP in 2023

Jan 5, 2024
Tressler LLP

Happy New Year! In 2023, Tressler LLP was honored to welcome 18 experienced attorneys to the firm. Meet the attorneys who joined us throughout the country: Partner:  Molly E. Thompson Partner General Defense Litigation...

Honoring Historic Black Legal Professionals

Apr 21, 2023
Tressler LLP

This Black History Month, Tressler is proud to highlight some historic Black legal professionals. The following individuals helped shape the landscape of our country and the field of law. Macon Bolling Allen (1816 – 1894)...

19 Attorneys Joined Tressler LLP in 2022

Jan 4, 2023
Tressler LLP

Happy New Year! 2022 was an exciting year of growth for Tressler LLP, and we proudly welcomed 19 experienced attorneys to the firm. Meet the attorneys who joined us throughout the country: Partners: Rick Capra Partner General

24 Attorneys Joined Tressler LLP in 2021

Jan 28, 2022
Tressler LLP

2021 was an exciting year of growth for Tressler LLP. Not only did we celebrate our 35th anniversary, but we were proud to welcome 24 experienced attorneys to the firm. Meet the attorneys who joined us throughout the...

Happy 35th Birthday, Tressler LLP

Jul 26, 2021
Tressler LLP

  Chicago, IL, July 26, 2021 – Tressler LLP is proud to announce that today, July 26, 2021, marks the firm’s 35th birthday. Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess was founded in 1986 in Chicago,...

Education Publications

Attorney Spotlight: Caitlin Frenzer

May 23, 2024
Tressler LLP

Caitlin Frenzer focuses her practice on providing general counsel services to local governmental bodies. Caitlin represents clients on a variety of matters including zoning, contracts, employment, school law, economic...

Attorney Spotlight: Taylor Brewer

Aug 4, 2022
Tressler LLP

Taylor A. Brewer is an associate in Tressler’s General Defense Litigation Practice Group. Taylor started his practice with a focus on construction injury, product liability, premises liability and automobile injury,...