FELDMAN WASSER - Key Persons
Ashley Davis prosecuted three civil rights cases on behalf of U.S. prison inmates early in her legal career. The work rapidly developed her skills in the intense preparation and high-level rhetoric needed to serve clients in emotion-filled family law proceedings and many other civil courtroom cases.
Her early maturing in litigation also led her to argue before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a bank pressing a mortgage contract lawsuit.
Ashley's court experiences have made her savvy to the many interpersonal relationships in the legal process. She crafts presentations that appeal to the tastes of particular judges and relate with sensitivity to jury panels. But her most important relationships are with her clients. Nearly every day, she speaks with and listens to clients, helping them through emergencies and assisting them in whatever way she can.
Honors and Awards
Emerging Lawyers, Law Bulletin Media, 2015-present, Civil Rights/Constitutional Law, Family Law
Judges and attorneys throughout Illinois recognize Carl Draper as a leader in administrative law because he usually knows more about an agency's rules than the agency's own lawyers do. Carl led Feldman Wasser's prosecution of the highly publicized IDOT lawsuit, successfully representing 16 Illinois Department of Transportation Employees who were fired for their political affiliation.
Carl's courtroom knowledge of state, municipal and federal governmental bodies runs deep, thanks in part to his years as an assistant attorney general and legal counsel to the governor of Illinois. About three-quarters of his practice currently involves litigation.
He has become the go-to lawyer for state employment issues for judges, fellow attorneys, and clients who regularly refer cases to him.
Because Carl is sensitive to his clients' financial concerns, he gives upfront fixed fee quotes on standard employment, administrative and benefits cases so clients know exactly how much his legal services will cost. He also provides legal consultations for a small charge to individuals from the private and public sectors who want advice on employment issues.
In addition to his work in administrative, employment and benefits law, Carl has won significant cases involving civil rights, the aspect of his profession that first attracted him to law. Recently, he has also expanded his benefits practice, helping citizens to obtain unemployment compensation and other government benefits when they have been denied.
Professional responsibility has long been a hallmark of Carl's practice. He has actively represented attorneys on ethics issues including in investigations and hearings before the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. He has spoken at seminars focusing on the topic, giving real-life guidance on practicing law in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
To learn more about Carl's history of fighting for employees, civil rights and the needs of clients in Illinois administrative law settings, please read this 2019 Leading Lawyers Magazine article.
Honors and Awards
Super Lawyers
Leading Lawyers, Civil Rights/Constitutional Law, Employment Law: Employee, False Claims Act/Whistleblower Law, 2006-present
Howard Feldman focuses his practice on matrimonial law issues including large family law estates and complex custody matters. He also concentrates on complex construction matters including bid disputes and building problems. About 90% of his practice involves litigation, including general complex civil litigation.
Howard is known for putting people first. That's why he fought for seven years in the infamous legal trial against the Illinois Department of Transportation when it fired 16 IDOT employees for their political affiliation. And when numerous Illinois prison inmates and their families came to him alleging mistreatment by the corrections system, Howard was happy to take on the government repeatedly to protect their civil rights.
Howard considers himself a problem-solver when dealing with people and the law. For example, in the Illinois construction industry, where he has an impressive track record, Howard is well-known for cutting to the heart of matters and achieving business-friendly resolutions quickly. He has an in-depth regulatory knowledge acquired from his background as a general counsel and a special assistant attorney general for the Illinois Capital Development Board, which oversees all state construction projects. He is an active member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys.
Peers respect Howard's compassion and empathy for clients, his outstanding service, and his admirable professional ethics. For these reasons, Howard served as an appointed adviser to the revision of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which regulates parenting time, out-of-state relocation and same-sex marriage. Since 2003, he has been a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
His desire to provide high-end, superior-quality legal services to ordinary businesses and individuals - not big corporations - is the principled commitment that makes Howard W. Feldman one of the most highly regarded central Illinois attorneys.
For more insights about Howard's practice and the trust others have for him, please read this 2010 Leading Lawyers Magazine article.
Honors and Awards
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, fellow, 2003-present
Leading Lawyers, Construction Law, Family Law, 2003-present
"What's the status of the big family law rewrite?" ISBA Section on Family Law Newsletter, August 2014, Vol. 58, No. 2
Roger L. Rutherford has practiced law for more than 40 years serving individuals, small businesses and local governmental entities. Rutherford enjoys helping clients whenever they need to solve problems or achieve goals. Whether drafting a difficult will for blended families or negotiating a loan for a small municipality, he takes pride in interacting with clients and recommending effective solutions.
Rutherford concentrates in estate and business planning, probate, business organization and local government law. Before joining FeldmanWasser, he spent his entire career in private practice representing families, small businesses and boards of directors in all types of settings. He has broad experience in all facets of business law and served as a business law instructor at Lincoln Land Community College.
He is a strong advocate of complete estate planning that includes a living will, power of attorney for health care, durable or financial power of attorney, and either a traditional will or a pour-over will with a companion revocable living trust. He firmly believes in the maxim that the average person will spend 85,000 hours working hard during a lifetime and building an estate but less than 10 hours doing any estate and financial planning to preserve and enhance their wealth and to provide for the distribution of their estate to their spouse, children, charities of their choice and other intended beneficiaries. With proper planning, he has helped many families feel secure about their future.
Trusts are an integral part of estate planning, and Rutherford believes properly drafted trusts are an important tool when providing for a disabled child, an elderly parent, a favorite charity or a financially challenged child or grandchild.
Rutherford has been active in the Illinois State Bar Association, having served as past statewide chair of the ISBA Law Office Economics Section Council and as past chair of the ISBA Committee on Legal Technology.
Stanley N. "Stan" Wasser is a partner of FeldmanWasser in Springfield, Illinois. He served as a staff counsel to the Illinois State Comptroller from 1975 to 1976; as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Office of Attorney General in 1977; as an Assistant, then Deputy Chief Counsel of the Illinois Department of Transportation from 1977 to 1984; and as General Counsel to the Illinois Bureau of the Budget in 1984-1985. Stan returned to the Illinois Department of Transportation where he served as its Chief Counsel from 1985 to 1986. In 1987, he joined with Howard Feldman in private practice.
Stanley Wasser has tried civil and criminal trials to verdict in both state and federal courts. He has tried state and federal civil jury trials involving the following types of cases: construction defects, breach of contract, Fair Labor Standards Act, illegal union picketing, civil rights claims, fraud, tortious interference, and eminent domain.