CDEL’s staff is committed to public interest law, serving our clients, and supporting our volunteers with professionalism and integrity.
MICHAEL T. ROTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, B.A., J.D.
Michael joined CDEL as Executive Director in July 2007. Previously, Michael worked as an associate with a Chicago-based law firm, concentrating his practice on estate planning for persons with special needs and residential real estate. He also served as a member of CDEL’s Board of Directors from 2006 to 2007, taking on numerous pro bono matters. Michael serves as a member of the State of Illinois, Office of The Attorney General’s Disability Advisory Council. Additionally, Michael is the former Chair of the Mental Health & Disability Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Section. Michael is also a member of the John Marshall Law School’s J.D. Certificate in Elder Law Advisory Board. In 2011, Michael was appointed to the Mary Todd Lincoln Mental Health Symposium Committee by Illinois Supreme Court Justice, Anne M. Burke.
Michael was the recipient of the John Marshall Law School’s 2010 Diversity Award. The award recognizes John Marshall alumni and members of Chicago's legal community who have shown a commitment to promoting diversity in the legal profession.
Michael grew up in the Northwest Suburbs, where he currently resides with his wife Allison and their son Bowie. Michael attended Loyola Academy College Preparatory School on the north side. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law School in 2003. In law school, Mr. Roth studied International law in Parma, Italy. He graduated from Fairfield University with a degree in Communications in 1999. He is admitted to practice in Illinois; the Supreme Court of Illinois; and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.
Publications:
“Executing a Power of Attorney, A Practical Guide to Advance Directives” Chicago Bar Association “Record”, February/March Edition 2010
M. CATHERINE TAYLOR, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, B.A., M.A., M.P.A., J.D.
Catherine joined CDEL in December of 2008, after fifteen years of private practice, most recently with the firm of Spain Spain and Varnet, P.C., where her practice focused in the areas of probate, specifically guardianship and decedents' estates, as well as estate and benefit planning for persons with disabilities and their families. Ms. Taylor has also practiced in the areas of family law as well as general civil litigation.
Catherine has been active in the Chicago Bar Association, and currently serves on the Probate Practice and Legal Aid Committees. She also served on the General Practice Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. Catherine began her legal career following a twenty year administrative career in higher education, in positions including Executive Assistant to the President and Affirmative Action Officer and Dean of Student Affairs, where she developed policies and programs for compliance with Federal and state statutes related to employment, education and access for persons with disabilities. She is licensed in Illinois and has been admitted to practice before the United State Supreme Court.
Catherine was awarded her Juris Doctor degree from De Paul University, after earning Masters of Arts and Masters of Public Administration degrees from Governors State University. She earned her Bachelors degree from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors as an Edmond James Scholar.
THOMAS WENDT, CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, B.A., J.D.
Thomas joined CDEL in 2007, serving first as a Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator currently as Chief Legal Officer. In fact, he started his legal career as a volunteer paralegal at CDEL more than 10 years ago. Before joining the staff, Thomas worked as a private attorney, and practiced in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, estate planning and business law. Tom has served as a paralegal, and later as a staff attorney, with Chicago Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service. He teaches paralegal studies at Truman and Wright Colleges, in the areas of Elder Law, Real Estate Law, and Legal Writing. Thomas volunteers for numerous public interest organizations, including the New Americans Initiative and Lawyers for the Creative Arts.
Thomas earned his Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he served as Notes and Comments Editor for the Journal of International & Comparative Law, and President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Thomas earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Loyola University Chicago.
CAROLINE MANLEY, PRO BONO COORDINATOR, BORCHARD FELLOW, B.A., J.D.
Caroline Manley joined CDEL in 2011 through the support of the Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging. As a Borchard Fellow, Caroline will implement legal clinics in four of Cook County’s suburbs to ensure that seniors outside of the Chicago city limits are able to access CDEL’s services. Previous to joining CDEL, Caroline interned with a wide range of legal organizations that serve seniors including the Cook County State’s Attorney, the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian and AARP Foundation – Litigation. Before attending law school, Caroline worked as a Program Coordinator for socially isolated seniors at Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly.
Caroline earned her Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University in 2011 where she was an active member of the Center for Public Interest Law and the Article Selection Editor of the DePaul Journal for Social Justice. Caroline attended the University of Illinois for her undergraduate degree in Sociology. While at the University of Illinois, Caroline studied abroad in Ghana and Italy.
ROSEMARY P. SHEEHAN, ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK, Paralegal
Rosemary (Mary) Sheehan recently joined CDEL following thirty years of professional employment as a paralegal and legal assistant with law firms including Corboy & Demetrio, P.C. and Vedder, Price P.C. She brings a wealth of experience to CDEL with a background in a wide range of legal practice areas. She volunteers at Misericordia, a residential community for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Mary attended MacCormac College and DePaul University in Chicago.
