Chicago Divorce Attorneys
Elite Attorneys Tackle Big-Money Breakups
Chicago Sun-Times
August 6, 2000
by Abdon M Pallasch
“… Nottage … lambaste[s] what they call ‘the good ol’ boys’ of the profession, who they say prefer to settle cases by gentlemen’s agreements behind closed doors at clients’ expense and who resent Nottage’s … willingness to go all the way to trial.”
ROSAIRE NOTTAGE
Nottage & Ward, the largest female-owned divorce law firm.
Age: 51
Years in biz: 24; 21 in divorce
Famous clients: Gary Payton (Seattle Supersonics)
Strangest things clients fought over: Pet visitation with two Siamese cats; out-of-circulation Walt Disney movies
Most memorable cases: There was one case I won everything. I had a great judge, great client, great facts, expert witness. Once in 25 years. It was an $8 million to $10 million estate. The husband was offering a million. We ended up with a little over 50 percent. It was a 30-year marriage.
Pet peeve: (The all-male old guard) don’t want to try cases—they hate it. What I like best is when I can keep people out of the trial. But you have to be ready to do that. That means the other lawyers have to do a little work. That’s where we get the reputation of playing hardball. We’re pushing the case.
Marital status: I’m lucky—I’ve been married since 1978. I tease my husband and say he looks better every day compared to what I see.
Copyright 2000 Chicago Sun-Times
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