Attorneys

RICHARD A. LIFSHITZ

Richard A. Lifshitz is the managing partner in the law firm of Mandel, Lipton, Roseborough and Lifshitz Ltd.  He graduated Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1976. From 1976 through 1978, he was an Assistant State's Attorney in the Child Abuse Unit of the Juvenile Court. In late 1978, he joined the firm of Mandel, Lipton and Stevenson Limited.
The primary areas of his practice are family law and adoption.  In family law matters, Mr. Lifshitz generally represents individuals with significant assets. His management background has helped him to successfully represent a wide range of clients.  He has represented professionals, corporate executives, owners of small business and homemakers.  In addition to resolving complex financial issues, Mr. Lifshitz also has extensive experience litigating and negotiating custody issues.
The primary focus of his practice, however, is adoption. In addition to representing traditional families, he has represented many single parents, and gay and lesbian couples. Mr. Lifshitz has been involved in virtually every type of adoption, and is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He has completed approximately 3,000 adoptions during his career.
Mr. Lifshitz is widely recognized as an attorney who vigorously litigates contested adoptions in accordance with his clients' instructions. He represented the former adoptive parents in the Baby Richard case from 1991 through 1995.
Mr. Lifshitz has repeatedly been selected as an Illinois SuperLawyer.

Year Joined Organization

• 1978

Areas of Practice

• Adoption
• Juvenile Law
• Family Law
• Estate Planning
• Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1976
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1983
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1979

Education

• Washington University School of Law, St Louis, Missouri, 1976
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  
  
• Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, 1973
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: Cum Laude
  
  

Published Works

• Child Abuse and Neglect Proceeding in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago Bar Association, Nov., 1980

Representative Cases

• In Re Petition of Kirchner, 164 Ill. 2d 468 (Ill. Sup. Ct. 1995)
• In Re Doe, 159 Ill. 2d 347 (Ill. Sup. Ct. 1994)
• In Re Adoption of J.R.G., 247 Ill. App. 3d 104 (1st Dist. 1993)
• In Re Petition of Filippelli, 207 Ill. App. 3d 813 (1st Dist. 1990)

Representative Clients

• Children's Home and Aid Society (Child Welfare Agency)
• John and Jane Doe (Prospective Adoptive Parents)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyer Section, Child Abuse and Neglect Committee, 1979 - 1982
  Chairman
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1992 - 2005
  Member
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Cook County States Attorney's Office, Assistant States Attorney, 1976 - 1978

Birth Information

• July 26, 1951, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America