Women's Bar Association of Illinois

Recent Honorees: Esther Rothstein Award Recipients from 2010 WBAI Rise Up & Reach Back Luncheon

The WBAI had the honor of awarding the 2010 “Esther Rothstein” Awards to, Dolores Hanna, Patty Bob, and Justice Sharon Coleman.

Dolores K. Hanna
Partner (ret.) Bell Boyd Lloyd LLC Past President of the WBAI Past President of the WBF

Dolores K. Hanna, a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, retired from active practice as special trademark counsel for Bell, Boyd & Lloyd. She also practiced at Hill & Simpson, Kraft Inc., and Fitch Even, Tabin and Flannery. She served as the President of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) and as the President of, The Women's Bar Foundation (WBF), The Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, The International Trademark Association, and The Cook County Court Watchers.

Dolores was the first female President of the International Trademark Association (INTA), and a highly influential figure in the development of trademark law and practice across the world. She chaired the Trademark Review Commission from 1985 to 1987, which reviewed the U.S. trademark system, including the Lanham Act, and recommended updates to meet the changing intellectual property landscape. Dolores holds the distinction of being the recipient of INTA's first President's Award.

In 2003, Dolores chaired a program for The Chicago Intellectual Property Alliance (CIPA) Conference where the Madrid Protocol Rules (rules for the international registration of marks governed by two treaties) were announced. This program led a series of programs across the United States to publicize the international new rules.

In 2008 Dolores was inducted in the IP Hall of Fame for her outstanding lifelong dedication to protecting "brand owners and advancing intellectual property issues. The IP Hall of Fame seeks to identify individuals who have helped to establish intellectual property as one of the key business assets of the 21st century. Its goal is to acknowledge the vital role played by innovators in fostering today's vibrant IP environment and to ensure its continued health and central role in the global economy.

Dolores demonstrates her strong commitment to educational excellence by dedicating herself to mentoring and teaching students and young lawyers about intellectual property law. Dolores served as Chair of INTA's Brand Names Education Foundation, which went on to name a Dolores K. Hanna Best Brief Award in her honor for the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition.

Dolores has been a board member of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) and an advisory board member of the John Marshall Law School Center for Intellectual Property Law. She is a Laureate of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Academy of Illinois Lawyers and a member of its Board of Regents.

A few of Dolores' other honors include The Justice John Paul Stevens Award from the Chicago Bar Association; The Founder's Award from the(CBA) Alliance for Women; and, The Professional Achievement Award from Chicago-Kent's Alumni Association. Dolores is a pillar among the women's bar and intellectual property lawyers; she is recognized by many for her lifetime of meaningful contributions to the local, the national and the international legal communities. In addition to all of her outstanding accomplishments, Dolores is a caring friend, a wonderful mentor and a trusted confidante to many. She has colored the world's legal palette with a unique brightness by being an active and tireless leader for intellectual property issues throughout her illustrious career.

top

Patricia C. Bobb
Principal Patricia C. Bobb & Associates, PC

Patricia C. Bobb is principal of the law firm of Patricia C. Bobb & Associates and Of Counsel to the law firm of Propes & Kaveny LLC. As a civil trial lawyer, Patti specializes in plaintiffs’ personal injury law with an emphasis in medical malpractice litigation. She also represents individuals’ in general civil litigation.

Before starting her own practice, Patti was a partner of the firm Bobb, Kane, Obbish and Propes and an associate at the Law Offices of Philip H. Corboy & Associates. Prior to working in the private sector, Patti served as an Assistant States Attorney for Cook County in the Felony Trial Division after receiving her law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law.

Patti has also been actively involved in many professional organizations including serving as President of the 22,000 member Chicago Bar Association and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association. She was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as a Regent for Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana on ACTL’s Board of Regents. She is also a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and currently serves on ITLA’s Board of Managers

.

Patti was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the Supreme Court Rules Committee and also served as the Chair of that committee for a number of years. The Illinois Supreme Court also appointed her Commissioner of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Patti is involved in the training of other lawyers as a member of the Board of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy having previously served as its Chairman. She is a former Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy for Northwestern University Law School, and has taught, spoken and written for various bar associations and advocacy programs for over 30 years including the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, the American Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and many others state and national organizations.

She also serves as an appointed member of the Chicago Police Board and, a member of The Chicago Network Board of Directors. In 2004, Patti was selected by the Sun Times as one of the 100 most influential women in Chicago and one of ten of Chicago’s most influential women attorneys.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009, Patti was selected in a survey of her lawyer peers in Illinois, through the Leading Lawyers Network, as the #1 Leading Woman Lawyer in Illinois.

top

Justice Sharon Johnson Coleman
Illinois Appellate Court Dean for External Relations

Justice Sharon Johnson Coleman was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District in 2008. She is presently serving in the Third Division where she has written more than 100 opinions and orders. Coleman previously served on the Circuit Court of Cook County for 12 years; her initial assignment was the Child Protection Division of Juvenile Court. After serving one year, Coleman was assigned to the Law Division, jury trial section.

In the summer of 2000, Judge Coleman was specially requested to return to the Child Protection Division where she served for 18 months. In Jan. 2002, she returned to the Law Division and presided primarily over civil jury trials at the Daley Center. In 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Coleman to the Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases where she served until 2008.

Just prior to her 1996 election as judge, Coleman served as a Deputy State's Attorney for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. From 1993-1996 she was Bureau Chief of the Public Interest Bureau. She served as an Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1989 to 1993. Coleman began her legal career in 1984 with the State's Attorney's Office, first as a criminal prosecutor and later as a civil litigator until 1989.

Justice Coleman received her juris doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. She is active in the legal community as well as the Chicagoland community. Coleman is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois Judicial Council, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Black Women Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Women's Bar Association and the American Constitution Society.

Justice Coleman is married to Wheeler Coleman and they have two children.

top

Continue through Recent Honorees >>