BENEDICT SCHWARZ, II

Benedict Schwarz, II has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law for over 40 years. He is a long-time member and past director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is also a trained divorce mediator; Mr. Schwarz has taught numerous divorce mediation training and conflict resolution seminars and has also co-authored chapters on the subject in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education publications.

Mr. Schwarz has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP). Further, he is a trained LAP intervenor. In 1992, Mr. Schwarz was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). The ARDC is an agency of the Illinois Supreme Court that is responsible for disciplinary actions against attorneys licensed to practice in Illinois and also maintains current records of registration of all attorneys practicing in Illinois. The ARDC investigates allegations of misconduct by lawyers, and prosecutes the cases where a lawyer’s misconduct suggests a threat to the public or to the integrity of the legal profession. In 2001, Mr. Schwarz was appointed the Chairperson of the Commission from Jan 2001 - Dec 2010; the ARDC Commission consists of four licensed attorneys and three non-lawyers. The Commissioners, who serve without compensation, establish ARDC policies, appoint members of the ARDC Inquiry and Hearing Boards, and subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of Illinois, appoint the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, and the Administrator. After serving out his term as Chairperson, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Benedict to sit on the Review Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission from 1/1/2011 to present.

Mr. Schwarz is also active in the Kane County and Illinois State Bar Associations where he has held several committee positions, including serving on the Family Law Section Council, Child Support Sub-Committee and Domestic Violence Task Force. He chaired the Kane County State’s Attorney Task Force on Domestic Violence and the Kane County Batterer’s Task Force.

Admitted to the bar in 1971, Mr. Schwarz is a graduate of the John Marshall Law School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology. Benedict has also had the honor of being named one of Illinois Super Lawyers every year since 2006. Only 5% of Illinois attorneys receive this honor each year. Martindale Hubbell, has also rated Mr. Schwarz with their highest level of AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 and he is also an Advanced Practitioner member of The Association for Conflict Resolution.

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