FOCUS
Joan M. Kubalanza is one of the senior litigators in the commercial litigation group at Lowis & Gellen,
LLP. She is a former Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she earned a reputation of being fair and
practical. Ms Kubalanza brings the same integrity she displayed on the bench to her current practice. She litigates
complex matters involving commercial leases and mortgage foreclosures, misappropriations of trade secrets, contract
performance disputes, and other commercial torts. She has not only foreclosed multi-million dollar mortgages, she
has argued issues related to those mortgages before the Seventh Circuit and Illinois Appellate Courts.
In 2007, Ms. Kubalanza was honored with the designation of Illinois "Super Lawyer."
Ms. Kubalanza has served on the Illinois Supreme Court committee that drafts jury instructions used
in civil matters throughout Illinois and is licensed to practice before the United State Supreme Court.
Ms. Kubalanza served as a law clerk to the Illinois Supreme Court immediately following graduation from law school. Before receiving her judicial appointment, she acquired over ten years of litigation experience at one of the largest law firms
in the U.S.
She remains actively involved in the legal community, most recently teaching legal writing and appellate
advocacy at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ms. Kubalanza is admitted to practice before the United States
Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S.
District Court of the Northern District of Illinois and it's
trial bar, and the Middle District of Illinois. She previously
served as associate member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee
on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. Ms. Kubalanza received
a certificate in mediation from DePaul University's law school.
Additionally, she has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at
John Marshall Law School teaching a class in legal writing and
Appellate Advocacy.
Through a program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago
she was appointed 'Principal for a Day' of an inner city school.
She has tutored high school students and represented pro bono
clients. Also an amatuer wildlife photographer she has taken
photos of animals while on safari in Africa and North America.
EDUCATION
Ms. Kubalanza received both her B.A. and M.A. with highest
honors, from DePaul University. She received her J.D. from
IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she graduated fourth
in her class.
After graduation from law school, Ms. Kubalanza served as
a law clerk to the Honorable William G. Clark of the Illinois
Supreme Court.
BOARD SERVICE
Ms. Kubalanza served previously on the Board of Directors of Literacy Chicago
and is currently President of the Maria High School Alumnae Association.
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