Charles H. Cole
2012 Distinguished Member
Award Recipient

Charles H. Cole, a shareholder in the Chicago law firm, Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C., has become only the fourth person in IDC’s history to receive the Distinguished Member Award. Outgoing IDC President Anne Oldenburg presented the award to Cole, remarking that he had not only served the association as a whole, but he had also been an inspiration and a mentor to many young attorneys, including Oldenburg herself.

Cole’s involvement with IDC has spanned two and a half decades. He was elected to the presidency in 2001, and during his tenure he greatly expanded the educational seminars and literature published by the IDC.

2012 President R. Howard Jump credits Cole with having the vision to broaden the membership of the IDC, making it more inclusive. Jump says, "We became more than an organization of insurance defense attorneys under Chuck’s guidance. We realized we were a voice for attorneys involved in commercial, corporate and employment law. It was profound and important for the IDC to make that move.”

After his term as President of IDC ended, Cole went on to distinguish himself with national leadership in DRI. He worked to make the national organization more responsive to the needs of state associations like the IDC.

Cole says he was moved and honored to have been selected for IDC’s Distinguished Member Award. As much as he has given to IDC over the years, Cole says he reaped incredible benefits from being a member. "Involvement with a professional organization of lawyers who have the same kind of practice as you has its own rewards: from education to networking to business development. It is all there. As members you need to encourage others to join, to let them know how good it is for their career and their business.”

Cole’s practice is concentrated in commercial and employment litigation. He has been recognized by his peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer every year since 2005.