Ole Bly Pace III

202 E. Fifth Street
P.O. Box 400
Sterling, IL 61081

Ph: (815) 625-8200
Fax: (815) 625-8363

pace@wmpj.com

Practice Emphasis Areas:

Attorney Ole Pace's practice emphasis areas are state and federal civil business litigation, employment law, and school law.

Education

Mr. Pace earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois in 1966, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi. He attended Dartmouth College and received his B.A. degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1963. In addition, Mr. Pace served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960.

Bar Admissions & Associations

Mr. Pace was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1966. He is also admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, and the United States District Court - Northern and Central Districts of Illinois. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Whiteside County Bar Association, and National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Mr. Pace served as an Editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. He also served as law clerk for Appellate Court Justice A. J. Scheineman. In addition, Mr. Pace served as a Special Assistant Attorney General (1968-80).

Mr. Pace performs complex business litigation for individuals and businesses in state and federal court, and advises clients on issues relating to business, on discrimination and on employment law. He serves as counsel to individuals and to various educational and business entities, and is vice president and general counsel to Riverport Railroad, LLC, a Class III short line railroad.

Mr. Pace has served in various leadership capacities in law related organizations. In June 2004, Mr. Pace was inaugurated as President of the 35,000-member Illinois State Bar Association. Other leadership roles have included: Member, Board of Regents, Illinois Academy of Lawyers; Chancellor, Illinois Academy of Lawyers; Trustee, Illinois Lawyers Trust Fund; President, Whiteside County Bar Association; Secretary, Illinois State Bar Association; Board of Governors, Illinois State Bar Association; Assembly, Illinois State Bar Association; Chair, Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council; Chair, Illinois State Bar Association Tort Section Council; Chair, ISBA Allerton House Conference on Improving Civil Justice; Member of Board and Vice Chair, Illinois Community College Attorneys Association.

Mr. Pace has leadership positions in community and business affairs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Bar Association Mutual Insurance Company, and is a past chair of its Board. He also serves on the community Board of US Bank. He has served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Sterling-Rock Falls, the Mercantile Bank of Sterling Rock Falls, Northwestern Steel & Wire Company, and as the President of such community organizations as the Greater Sterling Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Sinnissippi Mental Health Center.

Based on peer review, Mr. Pace has been continually named to the exclusive list “Best Lawyers in America” and as an “Illinois Super Lawyer” and repeatedly named as one of the top ten downstate attorneys in business litigation by Leading Lawyers Network.

NOTICE: The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law, nor does it recognize certifications of expertise in any phase of the practice of law by an agency, governmental or private, or by any group, organization or association, except for "patent", "trademark", or "admiralty".