2026 Annual Ethics Program
On Monday, June 15, 2026, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosts its 2026 Annual Ethics Program. This event will be held at Kirkland & Ellis LLP (333 W Wolf Point Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654), from 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM. Attendees may receive up to three hours of professional responsibility CLE credit, pending approval.
The day’s programming consists of three focused presentations followed by a distinguished judicial panel. Topics span emerging discipline trends, immigration ethics, the mediation privilege, and the limits of advocacy under the rule of law. Attendees will hear from regulators, scholars, practitioners, and members of the federal bench in a format that balances expert presentations with candid dialogue and practical takeaways for daily practice.
Drinks and snacks will be served during the program. Additionally, Kickland & Ellis also hosts a reception immediately after the program from 4:30PM - 6:30PM at the bar on the 51st floor. Capacity is capped at 50 attendees, so early registration is encouraged. All in-person guests must present a valid photo ID at entry due to building security protocols. Register below to secure your spot.
Featured Presentations at the Annual Ethics Program
Mary Andreoni opens the program with a look at the ARDC's annual report on emerging ethical trends. She serves as Ethics Education Senior Counsel for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Her remarks will survey the most common discipline matters and what they signal for attorneys across Illinois.
Nicole Hallet follows with a presentation on ethics and the rule of law in immigration. She is a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School. She also directs the school's Immigrants' Rights Clinic. Her session will address how recent shifts shape the duties of immigration counsel.
Neil B. Posner, Principal at Much Shelist, P.C., will then examine the erosion of the mediation privilege from an ethics perspective. His remarks offer practical guidance for counsel navigating confidentiality questions in settlement work. Together, the three presentations provide a current snapshot of the ethical pressures facing federal practitioners in 2026.
Judicial Panel on the Rule of Law and the Limits of Advocacy
The Annual Ethics Program closes with a judicial panel titled "Respecting the Rule of Law and the Limits of Advocacy." The conversation will draw from both the bench and the bar. Panelists will explore where zealous advocacy meets institutional duty in federal practice.
This complimentary panel features Hon. Virginia M. Kendall, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. She will be joined by Hon. Franklin U. Valderrama, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Donald R. Lorenzen, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, also joins the discussion. Rounding out the panel is Robert K. Neiman, Principal at Much Shelist, P.C.
Hon. Geraldine Soat Brown (Ret.), former U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, will moderate the conversation.
This year’s program features sessions on trends in ethical issues and discipline, ethical issues in immigration, and the erosion of the mediation privilege. The fee covers the cost of advertising, CLE, and other administrative costs of the event. The Judicial Panel is complimentary. Seats are limited. Sign up today!
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