Previous Law Firm Name

• Sorling, Catron and Hardin, 1975

Law Firm Overview

Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, Ltd. has established a reputation for combining the breadth and depth of specialized legal services normally found in larger metropolitan law firms, with the personal attention and timeliness found in smaller firms. Firm attorneys and support staff serve business, not-for-profit, governmental and individual clients in a manner emphasizing client needs, direct participation of the firm's most experienced attorneys, and frequent communication. The result is understandable legal services of the highest quality rendered by experienced practitioners -- the result sought throughout the firm's existence.

If you are looking for an attorney to assist you with a legal or lobbying matter, click on Practices above and select a topic. The firm's expertise in the practice area will be detailed and a list of attorneys concentrating a portion of their practice in the area will appear. You can also telephone the individual attorney at 217/544-1144.

Areas of Practice

• Administrative Law
• Appeals
• Banking
• Bankruptcy
• Business Advising
• Commercial Litigation
• Contract Preparation
• Domestic Relations
• Elections, Political and Campaign Law
• Environmental Law
• Estate Planning
• Government Affairs
• Government Civil Litigation
• Health Insurance and HMO Claims
• Health Law
• Insurance
• Insurance Defense Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Labor and Employment Law
• Oil, Gas and Mineral Law
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Probate and Trust Administration
• Professional Licensure and Disciplinary Defense
• Public Utilities
• Real Estate
• Securities
• Taxation
• Trade Associations
• Transactions
• Trusts
• Workers' Compensation
• Zoning

Published Works

• Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Reference Checking (By John A. Kauerauf), Personnel Law Update 2000, Council on Ed. In Mgmt., March 9, 2000
• The Illinois Supreme Court Rejects a Private Right of Action under Illinois' Lead Poisoning Prevention Act (By Charles J. Northrup), 30 ISBA Environmental Law 2, May, 2000
• Survey of Illinois Law: Mandatory Arbitration ( Coauthor: Theresa M. Cameron), 23 SIU Law Journal 843, Summer, 1999
• Tax Considerations ( Coauthor: R. Lee Allen), Basic Real Estate Practice (Illinois Institute for CLE), 1998
• Original Process and Appearance (By R.Gerald Barris), Illinois Civil Practice (Illinois Institute for CLE, 1991, Supp.), Volume 1, 1997
• Residential Mortgage Lending Procedures: Application of Federal and State Laws (By Todd M. Turner, coauthor), Illinois Institute for CLE, 1997, Supp
• United States v. National Treasury Employees Union: Restrictions on Free Speech of Government Employees and the Re-Balancing of Pickering ( By James G. Fahey), 15 St. Louis U. Public Law Review 555, 1996
• Wills and Trusts: Disqualifying Adopted Adult Children ( By Michael C. Connelly), 78 IBJ 612, 1990
• Structure, Function and Legal Status of Political Parties ( By James M. Morphew, coauthor), Election Law Handbook (Illinois Institute for CLE), 1991
• Reverse Mortgages- Tapping Equity (Coauthor: Peggy J. Ryan), Illinois Banker, November, 1991

Classes and Seminars

• Sangamo Club Public Affairs Forum, Sangamo Club, September, 2000 - May, 2001
• Estate Planning and Chairitable Bequests, Lincoln Land Community College Foundation
• Legal Update on Real Estate Issues, Illinois Realtors Association
• Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Practice and Procedure, Benton County Bar Association
• Legal Issues Facing Republican County and Statewide Leaders, Illinois Republican Party
• Drainage and Riparian Rights, Illinois Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in Springfield
• Evidence in Family Law Cases, Sangamon County Psychiatrists Association
• The Duties and Liabilities of Corporate Directors, Illinois Optometric Association
• Introduction and Overview of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Lorman Educational Services, Inc
• Elder Law, National Business Institute of America in Springfield, Illinois

Pro Bono Activities

• Land of Lincoln Legal Services
• Boy Scouts of America
• Lincoln Land Community College Foundation
• United Way
• Springfield Public Schools
• Illinois Symphony Orchestra
• Old State Capitol Foundation
• YMCA
• Sangamo Club, City Club of Springfield, IL
• Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Representative Clients

• AmerenCIPS
• Bank of Springfield
• Bank One
• City of Springfield
• Doctors Hospital
• EGIZI Electric Company
• Illinois Association of Realtors
• Northern Illinois University
• Springfield Electric Supply Company
• WICS-TV (NBC)

Representative Cases

• Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Wise, 184 F.3d 660 (7th Cir. 1999)
• Anderson Elec., Inc. v. Ledbetter Erection Corp., 115 Ill. 2d 146, 503 N.E.2d 246, 104 Ill. Dec 689 (1986)
• Bracey v. Monsanto Co., 823 S.W.2d 946 (1992)
• Central Illinois Pub. Serv. Co. v. Atlas Minerals, Inc., 146 F.3d 448 (7th Circuit 1998)
• Central Illinois Pub. Serv. Co. v. Allianz Underwriters Ins. Co., 158 Ill. 2d 218, 633 N.E.2d 675, 198 Ill. Dec. 834 (1994)
• Fleet Mgmt.Sys. v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., 627 F. Supp. 550 (C.D. Illinois 1986)
• Gouge v. Central Illinois Pub. Serv. Co., 144 Ill.2d 535, 582 N.E.2d 108, 163 Ill. Dec.842 (1991)
• Long v. Illinois Mun. Elec. Agency, 90 F. Supp. 2d 181 (C.D. Illinois 2000)
• Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Washburn, 112 Ill.2d 486, 493 N.E.2d 1071, 98 Ill. Dec. 50 (1986)
• Sander v. Dow Chem. Co., 166 Ill. 2d 48, 651 N.E.2d 1071, 209 Ill. Dec. 623 (1995)

Ancillary Businesses

• Lobbying
• Tax Preparation

West Practice Categories

Licensing, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy Law, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Transactions, Trade Associations, Election Campaign & Political Law, Election & Campaign Law, Government Relations & Lobbying, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Public Utilities, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Trusts, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Family Law, Government Agencies & Programs, Health & Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Life & Health, Intellectual Property Law, Labor Law, Litigation & Appeals, Natural Resources Law, Minerals & Mining, Oil & Gas, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Professional Malpractice Law, Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning, Securities Law, Taxation Law, Workers' Compensation Law