Women's Bar Association of Illinois

President: Kathryn Gallanis Matern

Kathryn Gallanis Matern brings a unique background of both public and private service with a personal dedication to giving back to the community.

In 2001, Ms. Gallanis Matern was selected by Today's Chicago Woman magazine as one of "100 Women Making a Difference." When she was asked to offer advice, she wrote something that she believes applies to all women and is a statement she continues to follow to this day: "Set both ultimate goals and stepping stone goals. Ultimate goals are the horizons you seek while the stepping stone goals are landmarks to let you know that you are on the right course."

In the spirit of the mission of the WBAI, President Gallanis Matern will focus on a theme of "Giving Back To The Community," which will identify and promote practical ways in which members can be of service to their communities. As components of this theme, she intends to implement a law student mentoring partnership, organize networking events, continue the WBAI’s history of volunteerism, and initiate programs to address issues such as: work life balance and elder care.

Ms. Gallanis Matern has begun working on one of her major goals this year, which is developing practical ways to help law students become involved with the WBAI. To jumpstart this effort, she successfully advocated the waiver of the annual membership fee for law students, a previous financial barrier to membership for some law students. In furtherance of law student outreach, Kathryn has already met with all 9 deans of every law school in Illinois to establish direct communication between the WBAI and law students.

As she assumes the presidency of the WBAI, Ms. Gallanis Matern does so with a long history of involvement and commitment. She has been a Board Member of the WBAI as well as serving on the Executive Committee as Corresponding Secretary, 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President. She has also chaired all of the major WBAI bar events including the Joint Professional Dinner, the Judicial Reception and the Annual Dinner.

As a member, Ms. Gallanis Matern has actively participated in numerous WBAI community outreach programs, including: Women Everywhere, New Moms Inc. and serving the residents of the Rebecca Johnson Apartments and Deborah's Place.

Ms. Gallanis Matern has also used her legal talents by way of pro bono work. She represented a mother in a very complicated abuse and neglect case in Juvenile Court. She devoted hundreds of hours to fully present the mother’s case; the result of the case was most satisfying for all. Ms. Gallanis Matern believes that all lawyers should participate in pro brono work; "not because they should but because as professionals we are expected to do pro bono work."

In an effort to increase membership, Ms. Gallanis Matern, in her WBAI role as 2nd Vice President, initiated a series of New Member Receptions, so that new and prospective Women’s Bar members could meet current members, WBAI officers, and directors. During her tenure as 2nd Vice President, close to 100 law students, new admittees, judges and attorneys were in attendance at each reception.

A practicing attorney at the firm of Bruce Farrel Dorn and Associates in Chicago, Ms. Gallanis Matern has extensive trial experience, specializing in personal injury defense work, having tried numerous personal injury cases to verdict. Kathryn began her legal career as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, where she worked in the Appeals, Juvenile and Felony Trial Divisions. There she prosecuted a wide variety of felony criminal cases ranging from sexual abuse to murder, including the widely publicized "Keystone Case," in which 19 children were found living in squalor.

"The greatest satisfaction that I felt as a prosecutor was being able to look into the eyes of our victim’s family members, and know that I had helped to ease their pain over the tragedy that they had been through. These moving human experiences helped shape my career and my commitment to public service," she says.

A graduate of New Trier High School, Ms. Gallanis Matern received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and her Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School. She is active as a volunteer for numerous charitable and civic organizations including the Junior League of Chicago, the Chicago Republican Women’s Network where she serves as First Vice President, the New Trier Citizens League, the New Trier Republican Women's Club, and as a New Trier Precinct Captain. She is also an Associate Professor at Lewis University where she teaches criminal justice courses.

Ms. Gallanis Matern and her family are members of Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, Illinois. She and her husband, Christopher W. Matern, also a Chicago attorney, reside in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois and they are the proud parents of one son, Craig Eugene.

Kathryn Gallanis Matern
Bruce Farrel Dorn & Associates
120 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1900
Chicago, IL  60602
Phone:  312-683-1058
Fax: 312-683-3040
Kathy.Gallanis.hx91@statefarm.com

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