Rinella and Rinella, Ltd.

Our Attorneys

Rinella and Rinella Ltd. offers experience and a commitment to growth. Firm members are past and present officers in the family-law sections of local Illinois and American Bar Associations and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Our firm's attorneys also frequently write and lecture on matrimonial law issues and Bernard Rinella is also a member of Divorce Magazine's Advisory Board.

Bernard B. Rinella
Joseph G. Phelps
Maricarol Lacy
Karen J. Bowes

Michael J. Chiero
Nicole M. Onorato
Joshua J. Beyer

	BERNARD B. RINELLA was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1961. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1958); De Paul University (J.D., 1961). Delta Theta Phi. Chapter Author Legal Checklists, "Matrimonial Matters," 1983. Education: Member and President (1982 - 84) of Illinois Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1965 - ); Member, Board of Governors (1982 - 1983) and Council (1986 - 1987) of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1965 - ); Member (1963 - ) Chairman (1980 - 1981) of the Chicago Bar Association Matrimonial Law Committee; Council Member (1968 - 1972) and Chairman (1971) of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section; Member (1965 - ) and Chairman Divorce Laws and Procedures Sub-Committee (1987) of the American Bar Association Family Law Committee; Parliamentarian for American Bar Association Section on Family Law (1988 - 1990); Associate Editor of Domestic Relations Section of "Law Notes" for the American Bar Association, (1967 - 1975); "America’s Top Ten Divorce Lawyers" January, 1998 Town and Country Magazine; Member (1992 - ) President (2001 - 2002) of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ Foundation; Author and Lecturer on Domestic Relations for American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois American Journal of Family Law and The Continuing Legal Education, (1965 - ); Co-Author and Lecturer of Butterworth Publication "Illinois Domestic Relations" 1989; Member and President (1978) of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, (1968 - ); Chicago Committee, Child Welfare League of America, Inc. (1994 - ); Member (1961 - ) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (1995 - 1998) of the Allendale School For Boys and Girls, Chairman of Development Committee (1992 - ); Parents Council, Miami University (Ohio) 1991 - 1995); Member (1975 - ) and Vice President (1983 - 1987 ) of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Psychiatry Northwestern Memorial Hospital (1975 - ); President, University of Michigan Club of Chicago, (1972-1973); Chairman,Younger Members Group of the Union League Club of Chicago, (1968 - 1970); Trustee, Union League Boys Club (1969 - 1976); Trustee, (1970); President 1992 - 95) McGraw Foundation; Director, Childrens' Burn Awareness Program, (1994 - ); Director, Sunset Ridge Country Club, (1995 - 1998); Board Member of the American Journal of Family Law (1986 - ); International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers U.S. Chapter Counsel, (1998 - 2000); Divorce Magazine Advisory Board Member, (1998 - ).

	JOSEPH G. PHELPS was admitted to bar, 1982, Illinois. Education: Loyola University (B.A., with honors, 1972; J.D., 1982). Chapter Author, Legal Checklists, "Matrimonial Matters--Tax Considerations," 1983. Guest Lecturer for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation on : "The New Withholding Orders," June, 1984, "No Fault Divorce," September 25, 1984; "Mandatory Support Guidelines," December 18, 1984, "Maintenance and the 1984 Tax Reform Act, " June, 1985; "Tax Reform Act of 1984 and Child Support, "October, 1985; "Property Distribution and the New Tax Laws," January, 1986; "Qualified Domestic Relations Orders and the Valuations of Pensions," July 30, 1986; "Qualified Domestic Relations Orders," November 19, 1986 and "Court Procedures in Domestic Relations, "January 28, 1987. Lecturer, "Family Law in Illinois," Cambridge Institute, July 14, 1988, April 26, 1989 and October 17, 1989 and April 18, 1989; "Child Custody and Visitation in Illinois," National Business Institute, Inc.�, April 19, 1995. Member: Chicago (Member, Matrimonial Law Committee, Subcommittee on Appellate Rules and Practices, 1983-1990; Subcommittee on Support Enforcement, 1984-1986; Subcommittee on the Courts, 1984-1991, Legislation Subcommittee, 1984-1991 and Current Law Reporting, 1986-1992), Illinois State (Member, Family Law Section; Associate Member, Family Law Section Council, 1988--) and American (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations. Board Member, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation (1989-1992); Commissioner, Chicago Park District, 1988-1994. Awarded Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest accolade: an AV� rating on September 17, 1992. REPORTED CASES: People ex rel. Lionel I. Brazen v. Finley, 119 Ill.2d 485, 519 N.E.2d 898, 116 Ill.Dec.683 (1988); In Re The Marriage Of Savas, 139 Ill.App.3d 68, 486 N.E.2d 1318, 93 Ill.Dec 483 (1st Dist. 1985); In Re The Marriage Of Hilkovitch, 124 Ill.App.3d 401, 464 N.E.2d 795, 124 Ill.App.3d 401 (1st Dist. 1984); and In Re Marriage Of Ligas, 110 Ill.App.3d 1, 441 N.E.2d 1277, 65 Ill.Dec. 763 (1st Dist. 1982).

	MARICAROL LACY received a Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude at Loyola University of Chicago in 1983 and Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. Ms. Lacy has also been retained to present a National Business Institute Seminar on Family Law matters. Admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1986; and thereafter admitted to the Federal Bar, Federal Trial Bar and the United States Court of Claims, Ms. Lacy has extensive experience in Civil Litigation and Civil Trial Practice including a broad range of family law practice. Ms. Lacy has drafted, written and presented appeals at the Illinois Appellate Court. In 2002, Ms. Lacy was honored by Concern International with the prestigious Brigid Award for her work in Chicago area communities. Since 1991, Ms. Lacy has been a lecturer of "Children, Family and the Law" and "Family Law" courses at Loyola University of Chicago.

	KAREN J. BOWES was admitted to the Illinois and Mississippi bars in 1980 and has concentrated in the area of matrimonial law since 1985. Education: University of Mississippi (B.S.,1977); University of Mississippi (J.D., 1980). Adjunct Professor, Loyoloa University Institute for Paralegal Studies, (1991-Present); Member Phi Alpha Delta; Illinois State, Chicago, Mississippi Bar Associations.

	MICHAEL J. CHIERO born February 21, 1967, Oak Park, Illinois; Education: University of Michigan, B.A. 1989 (English Literature); The John Marshall Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1993; Herzog Merit Scholarship, 1991; The John Marshall Law Review, staff member, 1992-1993; Experience in the following areas; matrimonial law litigation, custody litigation, paternity, domestic violence litigation and related adoptions.
	NICOLE M. ONORATO was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 2004. Ms. Onorato graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women's Studies. Before attending law school, Ms. Onorato was the Agency Director of Angel Society, Inc., an Arizona-based nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to abused and neglected adolescent girls in a residential setting. Ms. Onorato received a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Family Law from DePaul University College of Law in May 2004. Ms. Onorato is a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, and American (Family Law Section) Bar Associations, as well as the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Publication(s): The Right To Be Heard: Incorporating The Needs And Interests Of Children Of Nonmarital Families Into The Visitation Rights Dialogue, Whittier journal of Child and Family Advocacy, Volume 4, Issue 2, pps. 491-541 (Spring 2005).
	JOSHUA J. BEYER was born on October 4, 1972 in St. Paul, Minnesota and received his B.A. from St. John’s University. Josh graduated from the John Marshall Law School where he wrote for The John Marshall Journal of Computer and Information Law and was admitted to the practice of law in 1999. Josh spent his first year after law school as a personal injury attorney, taking in over a dozen jury trials to verdict. In his five years of practicing Family Law, Josh had handled numerous complex custody and financial cases. Josh lives in the northwest suburbs with his wife Nancy and their daughter Ella. Member: CBA, 2001-Present ISBA, 2001-Present Reported- Romans v. Romans NOS 1-05-2858 and 1-05-2873 (cons.)