IBF Champions Breakfast
- Friday, December 12, 2025
- JW Marriott Chicago
Join the Illinois Bar Foundation at the ISBA Midyear Meeting in Chicago as we honor two esteemed members of our Illinois legal community at our annual Champions Breakfast.
Friday, December 12, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:00 am
JW Marriott Chicago
151 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60603
ABOUT THE HONOREES
Deane B. Brown, a Shareholder in the Chicago law firm of Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., will receive the 2025 Distinguished Service to Law & Society Award, presented to individuals in recognition of their significant contributions to law and society, including dedicated service through the Illinois Bar Foundation and its Champions. An accomplished lawyer for over 35 years, Ms. Brown has earned a highly regarded reputation in the Chicago legal community as a tenacious, strategic and skilled advocate for her clients. Ms. Brown has extensive experience representing executives and employees in all areas of employment law, including severance negotiations, employment discrimination claims, non-compete disputes, and executive employment agreements.
Ms. Brown’s commitment to service extends well beyond her notable career, demonstrated by her status as a longtime leader in the legal community, serving as a past President of both the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois among other organizations. A constant supporter of women in all professions, she served as President of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago and co-founded the Exclusive Profesional Women’s Networking Group. Read more.
Thomas A. Zimmerman, Jr., of Zimmerman Law Offices, will receive the 2025 Honorary Champion Award, presented to attorneys of distinction whose professional and public careers set an example to which others aspire. A seasoned litigator, Mr. Zimmerman practices extensively and has obtained multi-million dollar jury verdicts in class action, corporate, commercial, medical malpractice, consumer fraud, constitutional due process, general civil, product liability, toxic tort, and other complex litigation.
Mr. Zimmerman has also dedicated his time to giving back to the legal profession, in his work on the Review Board, as Special Counsel, and on the Oversight Committee for the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission. He has also served as an appointee to the Illinois Courts Commission since 2003 and currently serves as chair of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Attorney Advisory Committee.
Involved in numerous community service activities, Mr. Zimmerman has been an Illinois State Board of Education surrogate parent of disabled children since 1988. In addition, he was a speaker on the rights of disabled people for the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, and a Family Shelter Service counselor to battered children for many years. He has been recognized by the federal court for his pro bono representation of indigent clients. Read more.
We are beyond proud to present these dedicated supporters of the work of the Illinois Bar Foundation with our 2025 Champions Breakfast Awards in recognition of their many significant contributions to the legal community, their years of dedicated service to the IBF, ISBA and other bar groups, and their true embodiment of the spirits of both awards.
Tickets ($75) each include event admission and full breakfast buffet. Sponsorships starting at $500 are also available!
Proceeds of this event will benefit the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF). The IBF’s mission is to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who have fallen on hard times.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Champion Sponsor
Pillar Sponsor
Advocate Sponsors
