Kim E. Presbrey will be posthumously awarded the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Convention on Friday, June 7, 2013. The convention will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois.
The criteria of the award are as follows:
“This award is given annually at the convention banquet to someone selected by a committee appointed by the president. The recipient is someone who has devoted, as Leonard did, a substantial part of their life and their practice to ITLA, someone who has done more than is called for. Someone who had the standards of Leonard, the work ethics of Leonard and the commitment to ITLA that Leonard had. At the same time, it keeps alive the memory of Leonard Ring.”
ITLA Past President Kim E. Presbrey died May 26, 2012, from injuries sustained in a plane crash. Prior to his death, Presbrey was a highly regarded lawyer who fought tirelessly for injured workers in Illinois.
“Kim Presbrey was one of the true heroes of this profession,” said ITLA Past President Peter J. Flowers. “For many years he zealously represented injured workers and mentored young lawyers. He truly was a role model for what a lawyer should be.”
Kim Presbrey received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1973 and his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1976. He was admitted to the state and federal bar in 1976. Presbrey began the practice of law with his father at Presbrey and Presbrey. After his father's retirement he became the principal owner of Presbrey and Associates, P.C. located in Aurora, IL. He was a practicing attorney for over 35 years and tried over one thousand workers’ compensation cases in both state and federal court.
Presbrey was an accomplished trial lawyer. He authored many articles and taught at many conferences on the subject of Workers' Compensation. He was an advocate for injured workers and continuously lobbied the Illinois General Assembly on their behalf. His peers chose him as a Super Lawyer and a Leading Lawyer in every year since the inception of the awards, and he was the only attorney outside of Chicago who was chosen every year in the field of workers' compensation.
Presbrey was active in numerous trial lawyer organizations. He served as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association from 2001 to 2002. He was a member of Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Workplace Injury Litigation Group and a founding member of the Kane County Bar Association’s Workers' Compensation Section.
“Kim was involved in many professional organizations but without question his first love was ITLA. Kim was devoted to all aspects of ITLA. The rights of the injured were always paramount,” said Presbrey’s wife, Colleen.
“This is somewhat of a bittersweet moment,” said ITLA Board of Mangers member Charles G. Haskins. “Joyous in that Kim Presbrey is well deserving of inclusion in the exclusive circle of Leonard Ring Award honorees. There is, however, a touch of sadness as Kim is not here to personally accept this prestigious award.”
Haskins continues, “Kim was enthusiastic about everything in life. That enthusiasm certainly extended to ITLA and all that it stands for. His tenure as an ITLA member spanned his legal career. His enthusiasm and spirit was contagious and fuels us today. His wife, Colleen, and sons, Kevin and Kenton, should take great pride in this well-deserved honor.”
Presbrey loved to fly. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and travelled to many states and countries in pursuit of those activities. He was a devoted reader and movie goer. His favorite pastime was walking many a field and training his dog, Hershey. He and his wife, Colleen, spent many hours at the dog park with their canine companions. Presbrey believed in supporting his local community. Because of his generosity, many children in the Aurora area played on football and baseball teams which he sponsored. He spent many years working with the Illinois Conservation Foundation and their programs bringing nature to children.
Past Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jon G. Carlson, Rex Carr, Robert J. Cooney, Philip H. Corboy, George J. Cullen, Joseph R. Curcio, David A. Decker, James Thomas Demos, Geoffrey L. Gifford, William J. Harte, Thomas F. Londrigan, Philip F. Maher, Nicholas J. Motherway, Nat P. Ozmon, Eugene I. Pavalon, John G. Phillips, Anthony C. Raccuglia, Curt N. Rodin and Michael P. Schostok.
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