Drendel & Jansons Law Group
With roots going back to 1961 in Aurora. Gilbert (“Gib”) Drendel and Kevin G. Drendel moved with five other attorneys to Batavia in 1994. Through different iterations, the Drendel & Jansons Law Group has remained in Batavia and reopened an office in Aurora when Mark D. Brent joined the Firm in 2009.
A Respected Team Of Accomplished Attorneys
Our group boasts an all-star cast, beginning with our founder, Gib Drendel, a college valedictorian and Harvard Law School grad. Kevin Drendel, his son, graduated magna cum laude, second in his law school class. Carolyn D. Jansons and Roman J. Seckel both finished in the top 10% of their law school classes. Roman Seckel was also the valedictorian of his high school class. Edward J. Boula, III spent a few years in downstate Illinois before we gave him a reason to relocate to the western suburbs. Ed was also near the top of his law school class and was the Lead Articles Editor of the NIU Law Journal.
Professional achievements begin with Gib Drendel in the Kane County Bar Association, the oldest bar association in the State going back to the days when Abraham Lincoln rode the circuit. Beginning with Gib Drendel, the Firm boasts a history that includes six Bar Association Presidents: Gib Drendel in 1976/77; Thomas McCracken in 1977/78; Susan B. Tatnall in 1989/90 (first female President); Kevin Drendel in 2003/04; and Carolyn Jansons in 2017/18. No other law firm in Kane County has had as many Bar Association presidents.
Active In Legal Education
Gib Drendel was a longtime presenter on various topics at local and State continuing education seminars. Kevin Drendel, Mark Brent and Roman Seckel have also presented at local and regional continuing education seminars on various topics. Kevin Drendel, Carolyn Jansons, Roman Seckel and Ed Boula have all chaired multiple committees if the bar Association. Recipients of the Kane County Bar Association Outstanding New Lawyer award include Carolyn Jansons in 2006, Roman Seckel in 2010, Roman Seckel became the legal counsel for the Kane County Bar Foundation in 2016 and continues through 2018/19.
Donating Our Time And Talents To The Community
All of the attorneys in the Firm are involved in community leadership as well, including the Lion’s Club, Kiwanis and Rotary, Knights of Columbus, the St. Charles Library Board, a local Hospice organization, the Fox Valley Music Foundation, Administer Justice, coaching many local youth sports organizations of different types, and in many other ways.
As evidence of the generosity of the Firm and the attorneys in the Firm, we received the Illinois small firm Pro Bono Award from the Illinois Bar Association in 2016. Mark Brent received the Kane County Pro Bono Award in 2015 from the Kane County Bar Foundation. Roman Seckel and his family were named the Family of the Year for 2016-2017 by the St. Charles Council #12497 of the Knights of Columbus. Kevin Drendel received the Commitment to Community Award from the North Aurora Mother’s Club in 2012. Gib Drendel received both the Kane County Bar Association Community Service Award and the Illinois State Bar Association Community Service Award.
Mark D. Brent has authored portions of books for attorneys and the general population on family law, including the book, Divorce Proceedings in Illinois: What You Need to Know, published in 2012 by Thompson Reuters. (This book is now obsolete after the comprehensive changes to the Illinois Marriage & Dissolution of Marriage Act.) Roman Seckel has been published in the Illinois Bar Journal and received the Illinois State Bar Association Lincoln Writing Award in 2007. Kevin G. Drendel is a frequent blogger on many topics.
A General Practice Firm Serving Businesses, Families And Individuals
Drendel & Jansons Law Group serves clients in many areas of the law, including business and corporate law, corporate and LLC formation, providing general counsel to businesses, reviewing, drafting and negotiating all types of contracts, handling sales and acquisitions and providing general advice to businesses on an ongoing basis. We encourage good relationships with our clients and are sensitive to the costs. Clients take advantage of the Business Call In Program, which offers unlimited advice for $50 a month ($500 a year) on routine matters that businesses face.
We practice family law, including divorce, child support, spousal support, adoptions, guardianship, and every aspect of family law. The Firm has been a leader in the practice of family law for decades. Gilbert Drendel was the longtime chairman of the Kane County Bar Association Family Law Committee in the past. Carolyn Jansons has also served as the chair of that committee, the largest committee in the 1400 member Bar Association. Gilbert Drendel, Mark Brent and Roman Seckel have written articles and books on the subject. Gilbert Drendel, Carolyn Jansons and Roman Seckel have been frequent speakers on family law topics at continuing legal education seminars to other attorneys. Our other practice areas include:
- Estate planning and administration, including drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and educating and advising clients in the preparation of their estate plans.
- Administration of estates, including probate administration, guardianship, and trust administration.
- Residential and commercial real estate, including sales and purchases, land use and development, zoning, and just about anything having anything to do with real estate.
We do other things, but we do not do everything. No one can do it all, and do it well. Therefore, we actively seek out connections and relationships with other attorneys and professionals. If we do not do it, we know someone who does. We maintain close relationships with other attorneys and professionals who do things we do not do. We have developed a network of connections with people who we implicitly trust. We would not refer anyone to someone we would not trust with our own matters.
Following Is A Summary Of The Pactice Areas:
- Family Law, including Divorce, Custody, Support, Paternity, Visitation, Maintenance and Adoptions
- Corporate and Business Planning, Organization & Ongoing Representation
- Estate Planning, including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
- Estate and Trust Administration
- Elder Law
- Real Estate Sales, Acquisitions, and Development/Zoning
- Real Estate Closings and Post Closing Litigation
- Commercial and Civil Litigation including minor personal injury matters
- Construction Law
- Small Business Representation and Litigation
- Collections and Liens
- Consumer loan and mortgage loan modification
- Foreclosure and Foreclosure Defense
- Trials and Appeals in State Court
- Municipal Law
- School Law
Geographical Areas
Please view our Service Area page for information on our geographical areas.
Contact Drendel & Jansons Law Group
To speak with an attorney about your legal needs, call 630-523-0543 or fill out our online contact form.