CBA Record

D AN KOTIN ADMITS HE DOESN’T DO RELAXATION well. The CBA’s incoming president is a partner in a suc- cessful law firm and, with wife Jean, is raising three active boys in Winnetka. He is a recent president of the Society of Trial Lawyers and a faculty member and former president of the Board of Governors at Loyola University College of Law. He has served in leadership roles for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the ARDC Hearing Board, and has held numerous positions at the CBA. He’s on community boards and has coached mock trials and his kids’ sports teams. It’s clear that we’re in good hands in terms of leadership abilities. “I don’t like down time,” he explains. But how does he find the time to fit it all in? “There’s always time to do what needs to be done.” Kotin grew up in Evanston. When it came time to think about a career path, the choice seemed obvious: “Practically my entire family on both sides are lawyers.”The list includes his grandfather, dad, and uncles, including his mom’s brother, legendary Chicago lawyer Phil Corboy. Still, Kotin’s first thought was to go into broadcast journalism. His dad’s advice, however, was to get a law degree first and “put it in your back pocket.” But after Loyola University law school, he landed a good job with McDermott Will & Emery. The concept of pocketing the law degree evaporated, he says. Mentors Matter He worked for about a year with his father, Larry Kotin, who passed away when Dan was only 28. His dad, Dan says, was his first and most important mentor. “He watched me try my first jury case, which is something I’m very grateful for, and it was a great success.” He then took his practice to Corboy & Demetrio, where he stayed for 18 years. “Phil Corboy–for me and anyone else at his firm–mentored through osmosis. You would watch him do his f WithoutgoingPresident PatriciaBrownHolmes at the CBA’s annualmeeting on June 23. Photos by Bill Richert.

thing and adopt it. Over the course of 50 years Phil had developed the ‘Corboy Way.’” The Corboy Way carries on, Kotin says, though it’s hard to put into words. “It’s more of an overall way of practicing law. It was his entire personality. He was always concerned with doing the right thing. Of course, he wanted success on behalf of the client, but his primary goal was to never compromise integrity and reputation.” The next step for Kotin was starting his own firm, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman. “I was given every opportunity at Corboy, and the next step was to do it on my own. The time felt right.” His practice focuses on plaintiffs’ personal injury. However, he says he has never felt “pigeonholed” as a specialist in one area. His practice is wide-ranging and he loves the diversity of his firm’s cases. “It’s refreshing that each case is unique. I learn something new every day. In a way it’s stressful, because you can never know all the answers, but it’s a reason to look forward to the day ahead. I’d be miserable doing the same thing every day.” “We Did Something Good” Trying cases is his favorite part of being a lawyer, but fewer cases are going to trial now. Overall, he just wants to make clients happy. “Getting a good result for a client. Having that final meeting when you can give them money, sign final documents, reminisce, and give them a hug. Going to bed at night feeling we did something good. That’s what I enjoy.” Why The CBA is Special Kotin has been preparing for the CBA presidency for the past year, though he says there’s a difference between serving as the vice president and the president: “During this past year, it was ‘their’ year [to accomplish their agenda]; this year it’s ‘my’ year.” CBA presidents’ firms must always be fully on board with the time commitment the person makes. Kotin adds that his cases and clients will continue to be handled properly. He finds the added responsibilities of the bar presidency exciting, and acknowledges,

CBA RECORD 39