Eva Matela Kogut

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Eva Kogut practices exclusively in the area of family law, including but not limited to, prenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, child support matters, child custody, parenting time/visitation, property division, domestic violence, post-divorce issues such as enforcement and modifications and complex litigation.

With a commitment to helping her clients achieve the best possible results in their personal circumstances, Eva addresses how each client’s unique family challenges may be resolved and what each path may look like by educating her clients on the different approaches available. She helps them understand the benefits, risks and costs of each approach to best meet their unique needs.

Many of Eva’s clients prefer to stay out of court, and she believes that the collaborative process is a good alternative to the traditional divorce process. Applying her litigation experience, supported by on-going education, she sees a consistent pattern: a less painful settlement process truly helps clients move forward in a way they chose and not in an arrangement imposed upon them by an impartial judge.

As a trained mediator, Eva believes that mediation can be an effective process for resolving divorce and family law issues in a manner that allows clients to maintain control over the process. Additionally, she handles process consultations, designed for those who are considering divorce via mediation.

Eva began her career in the demanding and litigious area of personal injury law. She was instrumental in helping clients negotiate settlements while becoming well versed in the areas of personal injury and medical malpractice.

Eva speaks fluent Polish, serving Chicago’s extensive Polish-speaking community in addressing all their family law issues.

Education

After graduating from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1997), Eva earned her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (2001). She served as the Associate Editor (1999 – 2000) and the Editor-in-chief (2001) of the John Marshall Law School Ethics Case Notes and Comments, and has been published in the area of ethics, clerked in the field of domestic relations and served a judicial externship. During her judicial externship, Eva gained valuable experience in family law and was asked to research and advise the judge on matters involving divorce proceedings.

Awards

In Chicago Daily Law Bulletin‘s 3^rd annual Woman in Law honoree list, Eva was selected as an honoree for her dedication to challenging the status quo of women in the legal industry and improving the divorce experience of her clients.

Beginning in 2018, Eva has been selected annually by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America list in the areas of family law, mediation and collaborative law. She is also named the 2021 Chicago Lawyer of the Year in Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law: Mediation.

Eva is proud to have been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list since 2017 and the Illinois Leading Lawyer list since 2014. These distinguished lists are reserved for fewer than five percent of the lawyers in Illinois and recognize those who have attained a high degree of recognition and professional achievement.

In 2015, Eva was also recognized by the Chicago Law Bulletin for the “40 Under Forty: 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch.” Each year, the publication evaluates hundreds of peer nominations from the Illinois legal community to identify the most talented and well-respected attorneys working in the industry.

Professional Associations

Eva serves as the co-chair of Collaborative Divorce Illinois‘ Training and Education Committee. She previously managed CDI’s Loop Group Practice Group, following her term on the organization’s board as the secretary for attorneys. Being a fellow of this group requires additional training and continued education classes in the collaborative process to maintain the ability to practice this particularly dynamic form of divorce. 

Previously, Eva served as the co-chair of the former Collaborative Process Subcommittee at the Chicago Bar Association. She is currently a member of many associations including the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Community Involvement

In her community, the St. Monica Academy School Board appointed Eva as Legislative Action Person and Hospitality Representative for the 2021-2022 academic year to advance the school’s learning environment. She also served as the past president of the Young Professional’s Group, a volunteer organization formed by Between Friends formerly known as Friends of Battered Women and Their Children. The group is a Chicago-based organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence. 

She was also a presenter of Divorce 101: Basic Understanding of All Aspects of Divorce Law in Illinois and remains committed to educating the public about the collaborative process as a viable option in addressing a couple divorce or legal separation.

Publications & Presentations

As a leading collaborative lawyer and an active member of the collaborative law community, Eva is a frequent speaker on the collaborative law process. She regularly presents to organizations such as the Illinois Psychological Association, Illinois Affiliation of Marriage and Family Therapists, Chicago Bar Association and many others. 

Eva hosted a workshop at the 2019 Illinois Psychological Association’s conference covering the various alternative family dynamics of family law and how these underlying forces can impact divorce and estate planning processes. 

As the former co-chair of the Collaborative Process Subcommittee of the Domestic Relations Committee, Eva regularly shares her collaborative practice insights at the CBA. In January 2020, Eva presented “The Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation on Collaborative Practice” and in March 2019, she discussed alternative ways to approach new client consultations for family law clients. 

Eva also supports the next generation of attorneys by sharing the collaborative process with students at DePaul University.