Maxine Grief-Bless

Maxine joins Querrey & Harrow, Ltd. with nearly thirty years of litigation experience and an extensive background of representing clients in many areas of the law. Having graduated from Mundelein College in Chicago magna cum laude and John Marshall Law School in Chicago cum laude, Maxine began her legal career in insurance defense and subrogation, representing clients as diverse as Montgomery Ward, Chicago Health Clubs and Farmers Insurance. Over the years, her focus shifted to representing plaintiffs in personal injury matters and worker's compensation claims. Her work in these fields securing $1M+ settlements for clients harmed by medical malpractice and workers unable to return to their employment due to permanent injury.

Maxine has always greatly enjoyed reading, research, and writing, and throughout her educational and professional career, developed an interest appellate work and the preparation and presentation of appeals to the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. Maxine’s appeals have covered a wide range of subjects from civil procedural law to criminal appeals to substantive rulings on premises liability, breach of contract, probate, and appropriation of likeness claims. She has argued before the First, Second and Third Appellate Courts of Illinois, and has sought review from the Illinois Supreme Court. Maxine’s appeals have resulted in several published Appellate Court decisions, affirmations of successful verdicts and rulings, and have resulted in the reversal of the sentence for a client wrongfully convicted of a drug possession and trafficking charge, resulting in his release from prison.

A particular area of passion for Maxine is the representation of children and disabled adults in guardianship proceedings, as well as assisting families adopting children. As a court-appointed guardian ad litem in DuPage County, Illinois, Maxine has had the honor of assisting the Court in over a hundred probate matters seeking the best interests of some of our society’s most vulnerable, ensuring that their guardianship or adoption secures them the best possible future. Maxine is also proud to serve as an arbitration chairperson in the DuPage County Arbitration Program, assisting litigants in the expeditious resolution of their pending litigation.

Maxine is honored to have been asked to join Querrey & Harrow, Ltd., and looks forward to bringing her years of experience and professionalism to the service of our clients and the support of her colleagues.

Education:

Mundelein College, B.A. 1989

John Marshall Law School, J.D. 1992

Bar Admission:

Illinois, 1992

Practice Areas:

Litigation

Personal injury litigation

Premises liability litigation

Probate

Guardianship

Adoption

Appellate Practice