Berger Schatz

Barry A. Schatz is one of the founding partners of Berger Schatz and one of Illinois’ most respected matrimonial law practitioners. With over thirty years of experience, Mr. Schatz advises clients in all areas of family and matrimonial law, specializing in matters of extreme financial complexity, often involving family businesses, estate plans and asset valuations. He is an effective negotiator of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, marital settlement and parenting agreements, and a seasoned advocate in child-custody and maintenance and child-support issues. Mr. Schatz is also a highly experienced litigator, representing individuals during all phases of litigation, both before and during trial.

Mr. Schatz is a member of the American Bar Association (Sections on Family Law, Economics of Law Practice, and Litigation), the Illinois State Bar Association (current member, and former officer and chairman, of the Family Law Section Council), and the Chicago Bar Association (Matrimonial Law Committee). He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Illinois Chapter) and the American Bar Foundation. Mr. Schatz has been named to the Leading Lawyers Network and is one of a select group of attorneys to earn a peer rating of AV^® Preeminent^™ by Martindale-Hubbell^®. He has also been selected for inclusion in 2011, 2012, and 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers. In 2013, Mr. Schatz was named to the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers list.

Mr. Schatz is the author of numerous articles relating to family and matrimonial law, and has contributed chapters to publications of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, where he is a member of the faculty. He is a well-known presenter and frequent lecturer at local and national legal conferences and seminars.

Bar Admissions

Mr. Schatz is admitted to practice in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Selected Publications

“Sorting Out the Business of Divorce,” Leading Lawyers Network Consumer Edition, 2009

“Strategies for Quantifying Extraordinary Financial Post-Separation Contribution”

“Divorce Practitioner’s Introduction to Determining Schedule C and Subchapter S Income,” co-authored with Brendan J. Hammer, 2009

“A Primer on Business Entities and Their Impact on Divorce,” 2006

“The Impact of Property Distribution on Maintenance Awards,” American Journal of Family Law, Fall 2003

“Valuation-Divorce Assets,” co-author, West Publishing Co., Supplemental Edition, 1999-2001

“Discovery in Family Law Cases,” chapter co-author with Andrew D. Eichner, ISBA Family Handbook, 1995

“Dissipation in Illinois: Time for a More Flexible Approach,” Illinois Family Law Report, Vol. XVI. No. 1, January 1993

“New Statute Promotes Homemakers’ Rights,” co-author, Illinois Bar Journal, Vol. 80, No. 121, p. 610, December 1992

“Holding On to the Money When Love Goes Bankrupt,” USA Today Magazine, November 1991

Selected Presentations

“Business Valuation, Financial, and Tax Issues Affecting Divorce 2006,” seminar, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, January 2006

“Developing Income Information From a Schedule C and Presenting the Evidence to the Court,” American Bar Association CLE Conference, Spring 2005

“Procedures and Techniques in Discovery of Hidden Income — Discovery Problems,” Business Valuation and Financial Tax Issues Affecting Divorce 2005 seminar, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 2005

“From Riches to Rags as the Pendulum Swings Back on Rehabilitative Maintenance,” ABA Spring CLE Conference, 2004

“Marketability Discounts — What, How and When to Use Them,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, January 2004

“What Does 50/50 Ownership Mean in Valuation? Enterprise Goodwill, The Latest in Valuation Methodologies,” AAML Fall Meeting, 2003

“Maintenance Overview and Tax Consequences,” author and lecturer, ABA Section of Family Law Meeting, Fall 2002

“Impact of Property Distribution on Maintenance Awards,” ABA CLE Conference, 2002

“Handling a Relocation Case,” ABA Spring CLE Conference, 2001

“Presenting Evidence of Dissipation Testimony,” moderator, ABA, Fall 2000

“Quantifying Extraordinary Pre- and Post-Separation Contributions into Separate But Not Equal Property Distributions,” Law Education Institute, 2000

“Religion, First Amendment and Visitation Issues,” ABA Summer CLE Conference, 1999

“Illinois Statutory Scheme v. Freefall Alimony,” ABA Spring CLE Conference, 1999

“Maintaining Your Edge Litigation Issues,” Clifton Gunderson, January 1999

“Drafting for Dollars: Critical Clauses in Separation Agreements,” American Bar Association, Spring 1998

“Business Valuation Issues in Marital Dissolution Cases,” The Business Valuation Association, February 1997

“Tax Traps — Unreported Income and Other Ways for You and Your Client to Go to Jail,” AAML Spring Meeting, 1996

“Presenting Dissipation Claims and Defenses,” Law Education Institute, January 1993

“Representing the High Profile Client,” lecturer and moderator, ISBA Annual Meeting, 1992

“Problem Visitation,” lecturer and moderator, ISBA Mid-Year Meeting, 1991

“Supreme Court Rule 137 Remedies,” June 1991, “Value Billing,” June 1990, and “Overview of Illinois Domestic Violence Act,” 1989, Illinois State Bar Association

“Tax and Retirement Benefits for Domestic Relations Attorney,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 1990