James T. Keleher
Equity Partner at Conniff & Keleher
At Conniff & Keleher, our mission is to provide compassionate and effective family law representation. We believe that every person deserves a dedicated advocate. Our team is prepared to listen and guide you every step of the way, featuring professionals like James T. Keleher, a leading divorce attorney in Chicago and Oak Park. His client-focused approach ensures that your unique needs are always prioritized. With extensive legal experience and a personal commitment as a father, he is uniquely qualified to protect your interests during difficult times. Get to know James.
James T. Keleher focuses his practice solely on family law. James began his employment with Conniff & Keleher, LLC as an undergrad, then as a law clerk, and, upon graduation from John Marshall Law School, as an associate attorney, and is now an Equity Partner at the firm. James is well respected amongst his peers as a skilled practitioner who is honest and forthright about his client’s goals and objectives. James has a unique combination of knowledge and interpersonal skills that make him an exceptional family law attorney.
James strongly believes that family law issues are best resolved by the parties, particularly when there are children’s issues in dispute. As a father of three young children, James is philosophically opposed to a Judge’s making decisions about other people’s children, rather than the parties’ working together to reach solutions that work best for their unique family. Litigation should be used as a last resort. It is more expensive, and more likely to harm the parties’ post-divorce relationship – the importance of which should not be underestimated where children are involved, and, more importantly, litigation can have a very serious impact on the children.
However, James realizes that not all cases can be resolved through settlement for a variety of reasons, including personality differences, mental illness, and issues such as domestic abuse. James has an extensive litigation background which enables him to provide a full-range of services to his client both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. James has specialized experience in complex divorce litigation. He has been successful at the trial level in child custody and financial cases, and two of those rulings have been affirmed on appeal.
In 2025, James was named a Super Lawyer and has been recommended by his peers as a Leading Lawyer. Both distinctions have been earned by 5% or fewer of all lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois. James has earned Avvo’s Clients’ Choice Award due to the large number of satisfied clients he has assisted, and he has been named to the National Advocates Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 attorneys, and the American Institute of Family Law’s 10 Best Attorneys.
