Nicholaus J. Dilly

Associate

ndilly@davisfriedman.com
vCard

"Ultimately, most of my cases settle," Nicholaus Dilly notes. "But the path to a resolution is rarely ever the same."

Dilly learns from his clients by asking questions and listening. "If you come to me, I want to know: What are your goals? What is important to you? Do you have a child? Do you want to get divorced as soon as possible?" Every client wants to know the duration and the typical cost, he says. "I try to be as clear and honest as I can be and give an honest analysis of the case. I explain the process and how long it's going to take to complete certain steps. I want them to know what to expect."

Clients sometimes have expectations or desires that aren't initially apparent. Dilly recalls a client who previously retained a different attorney and had totally given up on the possibility of getting any relief or support. "I thought maybe common sense would win out with the judge, and it did. In the end, I got more than we bargained for."

In his practice, Dilly also observes, "I have to know how to work with the other attorney, communicate our position to the judge, and look for success by analyzing the case from different points of view." Even with the best preparation, he finds, "There are things that surprise me all the time. Sometimes a case looks like it's going to go to trial. No one is budging on any issue, but on the eve of the trial we settle. At the end of the day, you really have to expect the unexpected."

Dilly remembers filing an order of protection for one of his clients, a large man married to a much smaller woman. "This guy was really just a Teddy bear and had been abused. But I knew it was going to be tough getting the judge to look past appearances. But I did. My client broke down and cried with joy afterward. It's at times like that you really feel the nature of the business and what you're doing for people."

Dilly never thought he would be practicing family law. Before he joined Davis Friedman, he worked in general practices, which Dilly believes has helped him become a more well-rounded attorney. "I've been involved in a variety of cases, from foreclosures to mechanics' lien actions," he says. "You would be surprised how often other areas of law intersect with our practice."

Speaking of Davis Friedman, he says, "There is so much shared experience here, it's fantastic. If I haven't seen a situation I'm presented with, chances are good somebody else here has. Being with the pre-eminent family law firm in Chicago makes me much more focused and a better attorney. Lawyers can get lost in the minutiae and that can be a disservice to their clients. The details matter, of course, but it helps to keep the forest in mind while you are looking at the trees.

Admitted to the Bar

2007, Illinois

Education

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, B.S.B in Finance, Marketing, 2004

Loyola University of Chicago Law School, 2007

Professional Memberships

Illinois State Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association