“I am committed to maintaining integrity, preparing each case thoroughly, and treating my clients as I would want to be treated.”
Susan Butler is the Founding Partner of Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C., and has earned her reputation as a successful family law litigator and attorney over 40 years of practice in Central Illinois.
Susan has broad experience handling complex asset division, pension issues, and maintenance matters for both men and women. Clients seek her representation for challenging cases such as those involving professional practices, business interests, and farm properties. She has expertise in handling difficult employment, pension, and retirement issues, including dealing with stock options, executive compensation, Golden Parachute issues, and the drafting of qualified domestic relations orders and qualified orders for the division of federal and state pensions.
Susan is a versatile attorney who offers her clients a range of options for resolving their disputes. She is an experienced litigator who handles her cases with finesse in the courtroom, but she also has a record of settling even the toughest of cases by agreement between the parties.
Susan believes the client comes first and should be treated with respect. She is a natural advocate, learning what is important to her client, and then persuasively telling the client’s story to the court to achieve a successful result. Susan thrives on researching the law, analyzing the facts, and being fully prepared.
Susan also has extensive experience in preparing pre-and post-nuptial agreements, from both the side of the asset-advantaged and the disadvantaged, future spouse. She has a very successful record in the Third and Fourth District Illinois Appellate Courts, with numerous appellate affirmations.
Susan and her husband are blessed to have two children and five grandchildren who make life even more rich and exciting. Susan is a Stephen Minister and a lover of art, music, travel, philosophy and holidays.
Education
Susan (Hickman) Butler graduated magna cum laude from the University of Memphis in 1974, where she was inducted into the Mortar Board Society honoring excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The Law School of Drake University in 1977. At Drake, she served as Editor of the Drake Legal Research Service and as Research Assistant to Associate Dean Arthur K. Ryman. She was admitted to the Iowa State Bar Association in 1977, and she practiced in Iowa until returning to her native Central Illinois where she was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association in 1979. She is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
Honors And Awards
- Outstanding Achievement Award for Professions from the Pekin YWCA
- Outstanding Professional Achievement Award, Pekin YWCA
- Super Lawyer – 2005 to present
- Woman of Achievement Award
- Women in Management
- Boss of the Year
- Peoria Legal Secretaries Association
Memberships And Offices
- Peoria and Peoria County Bar Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Past President, Women in Management, Peoria Chapter
