Douglas B. Warlick
Founding and Principal Attorney
Doug Warlick has been a family law attorney since the time that he was licensed in 1981. He began his career in Cook County where he served as a conflicts attorney for over ten years in the Cook County Juvenile Courts, representing countless parents or children. In 1982, Mr. Warlick was trained to handle domestic violence matters and orders of protection under the newly enacted Illinois Domestic Violence Act. Subsequently, in 1989, Doug moved to DuPage County where he was very actively involved in the DuPage County Bar Association as a volunteer legal aid attorney, photo editor, actor and contributor to the annual Judge’s Nite legal aid fundraiser for nearly 20 years, and also the committee chair of the matrimonial law committee and the children’s advocacy committee.
In 1999, Mr. Warlick moved his residence to Kane County, Illinois, and thus his office followed him. He continued his solo practice until he purchased the iconic “Hansen Baking Company” building in 2011. After converting the building into its present prestigious law office, Doug Warlick hired his first associate attorney, opening what is often referred to as the boutique law firm of Geneva, Kane County, Illinois. Subsequently, in 2015, Colleen G. Thomas became affiliated as an “of counsel” attorney.
Since the move to Kane County, Mr. Warlick served the Kane County Bar Association as a director of the Board of Managers and he was the photographer for the KCBA publication of "Bar Briefs" for many years. Since 2008, Doug has been a thespian in every bar show, which is a comedic parody of law and politics through music and theatrical skits. In the 2018 bar show Doug received high accolades for his performance as Kim Jong Un.
Although Mr. Warlick has been recognized for his commitment to the legal profession, Doug is equally proud of his commitment to the community. In fact, in 2019 Doug Warlick was the recipient of the esteemed Community Service Award from the Kane County Bar Association. That honor is annually bestowed upon only one attorney from the Kane County legal community recognizing a commitment for service well beyond the legal profession.
Doug’s commitment to the community and that Community Service Award acknowledging those decades of service, stem, in large part, from his ongoing service as a Lion. Mr. Warlick is a recent past president of the Geneva Lions Club, the current Membership Chairman/Director, and also serving his second three-year term as the Chairman of the Geneva Lions Club “We Serve Foundation”. The Geneva Lions Club provides assistance to residents in the community and throughout the world. Through Doug’s leadership, the Geneva Lions Club membership grew by 15% while similar community service organizations were struggling simply to retain members. The Geneva Lions Club and Doug received several awards and accolades for Mr. Warlick's arduous efforts and commitment to serve.
Moreover, throughout Mr. Warlick’s illustrious career he has always given back as exemplified by his willingness to serve indigent clients. He has handled countless cases for DuPage County legal aid and Administer Justice and he continues to accept pro bono cases for Prairie State Legal Services. He also continues to provide financial support to several bar associations that provide legal services to the financially disadvantaged. That commitment was instilled in him in 1982 when he worked as a pro bono attorney to help battered women through the Chicago Bar Association's program just after the Illinois Domestic Violence Act was enacted.
Additionally, Doug has been active in his church. In the past, Doug was the PTA President at M.C.S. and he taught in the Awana youth program. Presently, he is a proud member of St. Marks Church in Geneva where he was humbled by the request to name him the chancellor (attorney) for his church. And who said politics and religion don't mix, because Doug is once again re-elected a precinct committeeman and has been the Vice-chairman of the Geneva Township party since 2017.
Finally, Mr. Warlick's professional reputation was built not only upon his arduous endeavors to practice law with honesty and integrity, but also from his volunteer work with numerous professional organizations. Although there is a list of services and awards set forth below, some items warrant further discussion, to wit: Mr. Warlick has been an innovator, enthusiastic instructor and innate leader throughout his career. When Doug was the chairman of the DuPage County Bar Association Family Law Committee, he vastly increased attendance at the monthly meetings by introducing lunch sponsors (providing lunch has now become commonplace). Doug spearheaded a joint DCBA and KCBA trial advocacy workshop (joint programs were not common at that time). And Doug fed his appetite for teaching by engaging an otherwise difficult clasroom of divorcing parents with minor children who were required to take a divorce education class in Kane County as a prerequisite for getting a divorce in Kane County.
Among Mr. Warlick's numerous professional accomplishments, Doug has been elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly. and he was appointed to the Family Law Section Council (FLSC), Bench and Bar Section Council and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). As a member of the Assembly, Doug represented the 16th Judicial Circuit in that governing body of the largest bar association in the State of Illinois. In addition to routine matters, the Assembly addressed the death penalty, civil unions and same sex marriages during Doug’s tenure. In addition, as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Doug was appointed to the Family Law Section Council (FLSC), Bench and Bar Section Council and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section Council of the ISBA.
Relative to those ISBA prestigious appointments, the FLSC is the leading committee of lawyers and judges within the State of Illinois that continually examines all of our family law statutes. That committee not only drafts the statutes that eventually become law but it also amends them and offers professional input to our Illinois State Legislature whenever a family law statute is being considered by the general assembly. Doug served on that committee for numerous years, on and off, since 2006.
Mr. Warlick continues to serve on the Bench and Bar Section Council (since 2018), which is a team of leading attorneys and judges throughout the State of Illinois that work to enhance the administration of justice for the public and focus on the relationship between judges and lawyers. In 2017, Doug was appointed, and he continues to serve on the ADR Section Council which is a committee of highly skilled ADR professionals working on refining and developing the mediation and collaborative law models. However, Doug always attempts to leave time for fun so he was also appointed to serve on the ISBA Standing Committee on Bar Services and Activities for several years.
The essence of a great family law attorney is one who has a keen sense of judgment and discernment, knowing when to litigate and when to negotiate. In addition to reading people, a family law attorney also needs a breath of experience understanding many other areas of the law. Mr. Warlick’s vast experience in corporate, real estate and business litigation is an invaluable tool that substantially enhances his ability to effectively handle any facet of a family law case through negotiation or litigation, including the skill of cross examining witnesses. However, Mr. Warlick’s skills as a family law attorney stem, in part, from training as a mediator as well as a collaborative law attorney. Moreover, Doug has been trained to represent children as a guardian ad litem, and he fully appreciates the impact that family law litigation has on minor children. Neverthess, there are times when the only viable option is to litigate. Mr. Warlick has helped countless clients through extraordinarily difficult times as a truly highly skilled trial litigator when necessary. This is how and why Mr. Warlick is the perfect family law attorney to help you resolve your legal issue. He has the keen awareness and skills to negotiate an amicable resolution, or when necessary, the attributes of a highly skilled trial attorney who doesn't cower to anyone.
Training/Certification:
Family Law Mediator, 1995
Former Court Appointed GAL/Child's Representative
Collaborative Law, 2006
GAL Training Program Chair
Trial Advocacy Workshop Chair
Bar Admissions:
U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
Supreme Court of Illinois, 1981
U.S. Federal Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1981
Education:
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, (1981) J.D. With Honors
Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, (1978) B.A. With Honors
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Instructor, KIDS Program of Divorce Education, Mandatory Divorce Education Class in Kane County, approximately 10 years from 2000
Honors, Awards, and Services:
Kane County Bar Assoc. Community Service Award, 2019, in recognition of services beyond the legal profession
Melvin Jones Fellow, Highest Honor Awarded from Lions Club Int'l Foundation for Dedicated Humanitarian Service, 2018
Geneva Lions Club Outstanding Leadership Award, 2017
American Institiute of Family Law Attorneys, 10 Best Family Law Attorneys, 2016
George Lazansky Distinguished Service Award, Highest Honor Awarded to a Lions Club State of Illinois District Member, 2015
American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois, 2014
Geneva Lions Club Outstanding Service Award, 2014
Foundation Fellow, Lions of Illinois Foundation, 2013
Lions Club International Presidental Achievement Award, 2012-2013
Father's Court Steering Committee, 2004
DuPage County Bar Association, Board of Director's Distinguished Service Award, 2003
DuPage County Bar Association, Judge's Nite Legal Aid Fundraiser, 1992-2008
Kane County Bar Association 150th Anniversary Bar Show
Photo Editor, The Brief Publication, DuPage County Bar Association
American Jurisprudence Award, Remedies, 1980
Community Service:
Geneva Lions Club:
Chairman of the "We Serve Foundation," 2015-2018; 2018 to present
Current Membership Chairman/Director
Past President, 2012-2013
Former Director, 2007-2012
Geneva Chamber of Commerce (Frequent Volunteer)
Attorney for St. Marks Church and Former Awana Leader
Elected Precinct Committeeman and Vice-Chairman of Geneva Township since 2017
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Kane County Bar Association:
Thespian in several Kane County bar shows from 2008 to present
Kane County Bar Association, Director, 2005-2008
DuPage County Bar Association:
Judiciary Committee, 2004-2007
Children's Advocacy Committee Chair, 2004-2005
Family Law and Practice Committee Chair, 2002-2003
Judge's Nite Legal Aid Fundraiser, 1992-2008Illinois State Bar Association:
Elected Assembly Member to Represent 16th Judicial Circuit, 2007-2010
Standing Committee on Bar Services, 2007
Family Law Section Council, many years from 2006
ADR Section Council, 2017 to present
Bench and Bar Section Council, 2018 to presentAppellate Lawyers Association
Christian Legal Society, Member
Chicago Bar Association, Member
Illinois State Bar Foundation, Member
Past Employment Positions:
DuPage County Bar Association, The Brief Publication, Photo Editor
DuPage County Court Annexed Arbitration Program, Arbitrator
Legal Services:
Court-Appointed GAL
Prairie State Legal Services
Administer Justice
DuPage County Legal Aid
Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago
Pro Bono Project on Behalf of Battered Women, Chicago Bar Association
