VANESSA V. CLOHESSY represents local governmental entities including school districts, park districts and municipalities as well as private
educational institutions through all phases of civil litigation in judicial and administrative proceedings.  Ms. Clohessy has focused her practice on labor and employment disputes, with an emphasis on employee dismissal and defending against discrimination charges.  She also counsels and represents clients in matters of civil rights, constitutional law, tax exemption disputes and student discipline.  Ms. Clohessy is admitted to practice in the Illinois State courts and the Northern, Central and Southern districts of Illinois federal courts.  Ms. Clohessy is a member of the National and Illinois Council of School Attorneys, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Hellenic Bar Association.  She also is a member of the Lake County Juvenile Justice Council's School Safety Committee and a trustee on the People for Elmhurst Parks foundation.  She is past chairwoman of the Education Law Committee of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association.  Prior to joining the firm in 1998, she practiced for seven years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, representing the State, its agencies and employees.  She is an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling with her husband, son and daughter.  Ms. Clohessy graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington with a bachelor's degree in journalism and Spanish and received her law degree in 1990 from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Society.