J. David Pedraza received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Michigan.  He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Mr. Pedraza has practiced sophisticated commercial litigation at two large national firms, one in Chicago, Illinois and the other in Miami, Florida, prior to pursuing his passion, which is matrimonial law.  He then practiced matrimonial law at a Chicago firm defending primarily immigrant and Spanish-speaking clients, where his fluent Spanish was utilized to protect this population.  Prior to joining the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd., Pedraza has successfully represented clients in a wide range of complex pre and post-decree matrimonial cases, including custody and visitation, child support, and the classification and distribution of marital assets.  He has zealously represented clients in hotly contested cases involving orders of protection, both offensively and defensively.

Mr. Pedraza was a member of the Wisconsin Law Review and served as a teaching assistant in the Legal Research & Writing Program advising and instructing law students.  Mr. Pedraza applies his extensive and successful litigation experience to obtain the best possible results for his clients and their children.

CASE VICTORIES:

• Achieved an emergency custody award for a non-biological father after the mother abandoned the children leaving them with their maternal grandparents.

• Reduced a $50,000 default judgment of child support arrears to less than $2,000.

• Obtained permanent modification of custody for an ex-husband after his ex-wife physically disciplined their child in a case where custody was shared.