Senior Partner and nationally recognized mesothelioma attorney Perry Browder takes the helm of one of the country’s largest and most influential state bar associations, with Simmons Hanly Conroy and Sokolove Law among those gathered to honor the occasion.
Springfield, IL – On June 4, 2026, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) formally inaugurated Perry Browder as its new president. A Senior Partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy, Browder was formally installed at a ceremony in Springfield, IL, marking a proud milestone for the Illinois legal community.
The event drew some of the most respected voices in the profession, including three Illinois Supreme Court justices, Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford, and Justice David K. Overstreet, along with John Simmons, founding partner of Simmons Hanly Conroy.
“It is a profound honor to serve as president of the Illinois State Bar Association,” said Perry Browder, President of Illinois State Bar Association. “I am grateful to my colleagues, to the justices who attended, and above all to the team at Simmons Hanly Conroy, who have given me the platform to do meaningful work every single day. My career has reinforced the value of collaboration across the legal profession, including through our longstanding relationship with Sokolove Law. I look forward to bringing that same spirit to the ISBA and continuing to push for a legal system that truly serves those who need it most.”
The ISBA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in the United States, representing tens of thousands of attorneys across Illinois. Its president plays a central role in shaping legal policy, advancing professional standards, and advocating for the rights of clients and communities statewide.
For attorneys working in plaintiff-side litigation, including the mesothelioma and asbestos space where Simmons Hanly Conroy and Sokolove Law have long been leaders, the appointment signals meaningful leadership for attorneys on the front lines of this work.
“Perry has built relationships with some of the finest legal minds in the country.” Said John Simmons, founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy. “Firms like Simmons Hanly Conroy and Sokolove Law, nationally recognized for their work in personal injury and mesothelioma, are among those who share Perry’s commitment to fighting for the people who need it most. Perry has always believed that the best outcomes for clients come from working alongside the best in the field. Watching him take on this role, I could not be more proud of the attorney and advocate he has become.”
Mesothelioma attorneys in Illinois and across the country spend their careers fighting for victims of asbestos exposure, often working against powerful corporate defendants on behalf of workers, veterans, and families who have suffered devastating diagnoses. Having a tireless advocate like Perry Browder leading the ISBA sends a clear signal that the legal community’s commitment to those clients remains strong.
“We have had the privilege of working with Simmons Hanly Conroy on the fight for mesothelioma victims year after year, and the quality of their advocacy is something we deeply admire,” said Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law. “Perry embodies everything this profession should stand for, which is integrity, tenacity, and an unwavering focus on the client. Seeing him take the helm of the ISBA is genuinely exciting. It is a well-earned honor, and we could not be more proud to stand alongside him and his firm in this work.”
Browder’s first meeting as ISBA president is scheduled for June 11, 2026. Details and registration are available at isba.org/annual.
