PILI is grateful to Anthony Lewis of Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, who has been serving as Chair of our Young Professionals Board for the last year and will conclude his term at the end of this month.
Tony is currently a Principal at Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit where he concentrates his practice in the area of property tax and assessment law. He is also a member of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association (IPTLA) and the CBA’s Real Estate Taxation Committee and the Assessment and Appeals Subcommittee. A passionate advocate for advancing equal access to justice.
Tony has been an active member of the Young Professionals Board since 2018, serving in a variety of leadership roles before becoming Chair and has been instrumental in the fundraising and planning of Young Professionals Board events like Giving Day and Arcade for Legal Aid.
As Anthony concludes his service as Chair, we asked him a few questions about her involvement with PILI.
LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TIME AS CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I am proud of continuing the success of the YPB’s annual event, Arcade for Legal Aid. Since I joined the YPB in 2018, this event has seen its fair share of challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to an unexpected change in venue two weeks before the event to the ever-changing landscape of law firms and their ability to sponsor the event. Yet, despite all of this, we have continued to host a truly unique event that both supports PILI and provides a fun night of networking and entertainment.
I’m also proud of the Frogger high score I set at this event, but that’s neither here nor there…
WHAT INITIALLY MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH PILI, AND WHAT HAS KEPT YOU ENGAGED?
I was first introduced to PILI and the YPB by a friend who was working at PILI at the time. I honestly had not heard of PILI, but I was interested in joining a board of attorneys my age. That said, as soon as I learned more about PILI, I was immediately drawn to its mission and the pursuit to advance equal access to justice. Eight years later, I’m still motivated by this mission, and the incredible people at PILI and the members of the YPB keep me wanting to stay engaged.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING JOINING THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD OR BECOMING MORE INVOLVED WITH PILI?
We all lead busy lives, and the idea of adding something else can certainly be daunting. However, despite all that goes on daily with my family, job and just life in general, I find PILI and the Young Professionals Board to be such a rewarding outlet. Whether it is the meetings, events or just being around like-minded individuals, it is truly time well spent. If an hour or two out of my day can ultimately help ensure a fairer and more accessible legal system for all those who struggle dealing with it, I’m more than happy to devote my time.