GRAYSLAKELAW.COM - Key Persons
Amber L. Desselles graduated from Michigan State University College of Law, where she was awarded a full-tuition merit-based scholarship based on her academic achievements. While in law school, Amber served as the Vice President of both the school's Tax Law Society and its Tax Law Community Outreach Organization. In addition, she was a liaison for the Diversity Services Office and served as a student member of the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and the American Inns of Court. Amber's achievements lead to her being awarded the prestigious Law Student Leadership Excellence Award and the Distinguished Law Student Trailblazer Award.
Amber completed her undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University Honors College, graduating at the top of her class with both Highest Honors and Departmental Honors. Her outstanding academic achievements earned her several scholarships in her time at EMU and an invitation to join the nation's oldest and most selective honor society: Phi Kappa Phi.
Amber has a variety of legal experience and has worked as an investigator for the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office in the Economic Crimes Unit, as a clinician for the Alvin L. Storr's Low-Income Tax Clinic, as an associate attorney at a tax firm, and now as an associate attorney at Churchill, Quinn, Hamilton & Van Donselaar, Ltd. Amber is also formally trained and certified as a Civil Facilitative Mediator in compliance with the Michigan Supreme Court, MCR 2.411. Amber passed the Illinois Bar Exam in the top 95th percentile of test-takers and is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and before the United States Tax Court. Amber specializes in Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Contract Drafting and Negotiation, and Probate.
James Babowice has a varied litigation practice which emphasizes construction litigation, lien priority litigation, real estate litigation, mechanics liens, land use litigation, commercial litigation, and general business litigation. Jim also represents clients relative to zoning and land use issues before municipal bodies and has tried countless cases to conclusion over the past 30 years. Jim's litigation experience includes handling disputes involving mortgage reformation, requests for injunctive relief, forgery, fraud, trespass, breach of contract, conventional and equitable subrogation, and easement issues such as easements by implication and prescriptive easements.
Jim's recent work in the construction litigation area includes cases involving structural defects, design defects, constructions delays, and bid protests. Jim has published many articles on construction litigation and has developed a broad mechanics lien practice. He has tried numerous mechanics lien cases to conclusion, including cases involving issues of enhancement, priority, and perfection of the underlying lien claim.
Jim authored a chapter entitled "Construction Contracts with Public Entities," which was published in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education's inaugural Construction Law Practice Handbook. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, an invitation-only group limited to Illinois attorneys who contribute to the development and understanding of construction law. Jim is a member of the Chicago Bar Association's Mechanics Lien Subcommittee and has been a speaker at various programs for the Chicago Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, and other organizations on mechanics lien and construction issues.
John L. "Jack" Quinn is a civil litigation and appellate lawyer practicing primarily in Lake and Cook counties. Jack joined Churchill, Quinn, Hamilton & Van Donselaar, Ltd. in 2008 to practice alongside his father, John W. Quinn. The two can be readily distinguished by the differences in their middle initials.
After graduating from law school, John W. Quinn commenced his legal career at Chicago Title Insurance Company, and then Safeco Title Insurance Company as Illinois Regional Counsel. In 1982, he joined the firm, then known as Churchill, Baumgartner & Phillips.
For more than thirty years, John has concentrated his practice on commercial and chancery litigation. In his vast trial experience, he has represented individuals, businesses and governmental entities in countless complex matters in both jury and bench trials.
Mark T. Hamilton launched his career as a real estate attorney for Chicago Title Insurance Company in both their Chicago and Wheaton offices. Mark developed expertise in commercial real estate, mortgage foreclosures and condominium development.
For approximately 14 years, Mark was engaged in private practice in Oak Brook, Illinois concentrating on commercial and residential real estate, mortgage foreclosures and banking law. In January 1993, Mark joined the firm, then known as Churchill, Baumgartner & Quinn. Mark concentrated his practice in all aspects of business law, commercial and residential real estate, banking and financing law, and estate planning. After an illustrious 30-year career with our firm, Mark retired in 2023.
A resident of Grayslake since 1993, Mark has been involved in various civic and church organizations in the greater Grayslake area. Mark served as a director of the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce and coached a variety of youth basketball and soccer teams in the area. Mark coached track and basketball teams at St. Gilbert School and has been a participant in a number of ministries at St. Gilbert Church and St. Gilbert School.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at Churchill
Mark Van Donselaar is a partner at Churchill, Quinn, Hamilton & Van Donselaar, Ltd. and represents small and large businesses, families and individuals in a variety of civil litigation matters.
Mark has substantial experience with litigation related to the construction industry and represents general contractors, subcontractors, materials suppliers, owners, builders and financial institutions in disputes related to construction. He also represents clients in matters involving contract drafting, supply agreements, credit applications, construction contracts and design/build contracts. Mark regularly represents clients in the process of perfecting and enforcing mechanic's lien claims, as well as clients in arbitration and litigation involving mechanic's liens on public and private projects, claims for extras, construction defect claims, construction delay claims, and a variety of other issues inherent in disputes related to construction.
In addition to his experience related to the construction industry, Mark has represented clients in arbitration and litigation related to real estate, including title insurance, boundary disputes and other real estate matters. He has frequently represented clients in breach of contract litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, fraud claims, collection litigation, landlord-tenant law, and real estate tax appeals.
Mark has recently joined the board of the Lake County Habitat for Humanity and is excited to participate in the endeavors of this great organization.
Mary Lee Berresheim received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in English and Business from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. Mary Lee then earned her Juris Doctorate at DePaul University in Chicago and was a member of the Law Review.
She has practiced law in Cook, DuPage, Lake and McHenry Counties. Mary Lee prides herself in having experience in a wide variety of legal areas including real estate, estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianships, and civil litigation.
Although originally from the near north suburbs of Chicago, Mary Lee has lived in Lake and McHenry Counties for most of her adult life and is pleased to be able to serve these communities through her practice of law.
Robert W. Churchill joined his father and cousin in practice in 1972 upon graduation from law school. He concentrates his practice in estate planning and probate, real estate transactions, business transactions, corporate law, and government relations.
Robert was elected and served twenty years in the Illinois House of Representatives. While in the House, he served as Majority Leader and Chair of the Rules Committee. He also served on the Redistricting Commission in 1991, and he acted as chairman of both the Space Needs Commission and the Economic and Fiscal Commission. In 1999, Robert was appointed to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Robert has also been a director on the boards of numerous local civic institutions.
Susan Morgan Bradley has practiced in Lake County for over 30 years. Susan focuses her practice in the areas of real estate and business law. She has represented a variety of clients including small businesses, contractors, schools, property associations, banks, dental and medical practices, and developers. Susan handles commercial real estate transactions, title issues, easement agreements; business formation, corporate and partnership agreements, stock and asset sales, acquisitions and buyouts, distributor and licensing agreements; zoning matters and real estate and corporate matters relating to settlement of litigation.
Job Titles:
- School of Law - Juris Doctor, 2008
William A. Churchill joined his father and brother in practice in 1977 upon graduation from law school. Bill's primary practice areas included real estate transactions and estate planning. Although he retired in 2023, Bill's long-term dedication to the firm is still appreciated.
Bill was the managing partner of Churchill, Quinn, Hamilton & Van Donselaar, Ltd. for over 35 years. In his many years of practice, Bill orchestrated countless complex commercial real estate transactions.
A lifelong resident of Grayslake, Bill has been actively involved in civic organizations in and around Grayslake, and has served on school, church, park district referendum, and Village of Grayslake committees. Bill provided pro bono legal services for numerous local organizations and has given extensive time to coach over 15 youth sports teams. After more than twenty years of service to the Village of Grayslake, Bill retired as chairman of the Grayslake Police Commission. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of State Bank of the Lakes.