Gemma B. Allen is a partner in Ladden & Allen, Chartered, a family law firm she established in 1999 with Ronald S. Ladden.

Ladden & Allen, Chartered, offers professional, caring and accessible representation in the areas of marriage, divorce, mediation, financial settlements and custody matters.

Allen has practiced family law for most of her professional career. Previously, she was a partner in a large Chicago law firm. She repeatedly has been selected by her peers as a member of the Leading Lawyers Network® and a Super Lawyer, and was named by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s 100 Most Influential Women.

In 2003, Gemma gained considerable national and local media exposure because of her work with Illinois State Senator John P. Cullerton to introduce a bill into the General Assembly that would mandate pre-marital education. The bill passed in the Senate but was defeated in the House; however, enthusiasm and support for the issue crossed party lines. At the time, Allen appeared on Oprah, CNN’s “Talk Back Live,” ABC and NBC television news and on several radio stations.

Gemma has written more than 50 articles and lectured on topics that include divorce, child support, the representation of children in divorce, maintenance, mediation, business valuations in divorce litigation, psychological/legal standards for forensic evaluations in custody issues, cohabitation, women and money, and legal separation and reconciliation.

Long active in the Illinois State Bar Association, she has served as an appointed member of its Family Law Section Council and was co-chair of the Model Mediation Act sub-committee. She was appointed a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Support and the Task Force on Attorneys for Children.

She and her husband Albert Nader have four adult children.

Gemma B. Allen

Seriously Outstanding

only 5% selected each year