Philosophy & Approach
A supportive and personal environment.
The dissolution of a marriage or civil union can be one a traumatic experience, especially when children are involved. The court process can be overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating.
I started my own Law Practice in January 2000 to provide a supportive and personal environment for my clients. My boutique approach ensures each client individual attention and communication throughout the legal process.
Amicable resolutions help avoid undue stress.
I believe that it is beneficial for the parties and their children to resolve issues amicably as they will continue to be a family for the rest of their lives through school, weddings, and grandchildren. A united front by the parents allows issues in adolescence and the trauma from the dissolution to be navigated in a healthy environment. Parents’ failure to work together causes more stress for the children and is not in the children’s best interest.
Strength and litigation when you need it.
An amicable resolution decreases the stress for both parties and decreases litigation costs. Unfortunately, there are situations where one party is being irrational, unreasonable, or abusive. In these cases, I am prepared to advocate and litigate for my clients to achieve the best possible outcome.
Please reach out directly with any questions or concerns. I’m here to help.
My email is cb@cmblegal.com
Catherine’s Background
- Graduated from Creighton Law School in 1986
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois in 1987
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin in 2010
- Opened Law Office of Catherine M. Byrne in January 2000
- Certified Arbitrator
- Certified Mediator
- Practice primarily in Cook and DuPage Counties
- Conducted litigation in Lake, Will, and Stephenson Counties
What Clients Are Saying About Catherine
“I met Catherine Byrne in 2012 after finding her in the phone book and from the first meeting I felt extremely comfortable with her. My case actually dragged on for 6 years on and off as it moved around from visitation to custody to child support.
During that time Catherine was always on time, well prepared and overall just a caring and thoughtful attorney. Any time I needed to reach her I could and if she was not available I would hear from her within the hour.
She was well respected in court and I never felt like I lost despite going back to court for the same things multiple times. For clarity, we kept coming back to court for the same things because my children’s mother never accepted the decision of the court.
Because I was in court for such a long period of time it did become costly but it was clear to me that Catherine was more than fair with cost and set things up so that we would have to go to court as few times as possible. She also was clear on different options and prioritized helping me save money.
She is a really good attorney. She also is a kind and caring person, someone who I strongly recommend.”
– Jerald D.
“Catherine is a fantastic attorney! She is extremely knowledgeable in family law, well known and respected amongst her peers, and dedicated to winning. She’s definitely worth the money! Catherine took on my case, knowing that it would be an uphill battle. She and her staff were great keeping me informed and always sent me emails AND hard copies of all motions and responses that she filed on my behalf. Catherine is a dedicated attorney that spent a tremendous amount of time on my case. She is aggressive, determined, and results-oriented.
Custody cases can get very costly, especially if your case goes to trial. However, I don’t believe Catherine deliberately bills hours to inflate costs. On the contrary, in my case, Catherine fought hard to resolve my case. However, my ex-husband and his attorney kept prolonging our case by being uncooperative, unresponsive, and unwilling to negotiate. My case did indeed go to trial. During my trial, Catherine came in fully prepared with facts, documents, and case law that backed up each argument. She was focused, prepared, and confident! As I sat in court, I remember thinking how glad I was that I had her on my side! As a result of her knowledge, hard work, and dedication, we were victorious!
The bottom line is when you are going through the process of selecting an attorney, you really do get what you pay for! It’s equally as important to note that – as a client – you get what you give. Without question, it behooves clients to be COMPLETELY honest & forthright with Catherine and provided her with all the facts and the information she requests quickly. By giving her the information she needed quickly, she was able to work efficiently and focus on the law and how it applied to my case. I honestly can’t say enough great things about Ms. Byrne. Since day one, she has looked out for my family and me, and I hold her in the highest regard. She has a perfect mix of Integrity & Hootzpa. In a world still greatly dominated by men, she definitely holds her own in a courtroom. If you’re looking for a strong, well-spoken, dedicated, and hard-working attorney looking to do what is right, then without question Mrs. Catherine Byrne is the attorney for you! Remember, you get what you pay for! Isn’t your future worth it?”
– Rebecca B.
– Dan D.
“Catherine Byrne represented my husband and me in an unexpected child custody case. Catherine (Kate) was always very understanding of the emotions that accompany family law matters. As a mother herself, she truly cares about the families she represents. Most importantly, she intricately knows the laws and was quick to provide exactly the right counsel to help us win our case to ensure our children’s safety and well-being. Kate guided us through each step of our case during a very difficult time. She said, “If I’m not worried, you shouldn’t be worried” countless times, and she proved over and over why we shouldn’t worry. Kate was always fully prepared with her in-depth knowledge of family law in areas opposing counsel missed. Her dedication and her professionalism are unsurpassed. We trusted Catherine Byrne with our most important legal matters and our children’s safety. We highly recommend her for yours, too. To this day, we are grateful for the work of this incredible attorney.”
– Vicky and Fred