Aurora Abella-Austriaco
VALENTINE AUSTRIACO & BUESCHEL, P.C.
PARTNER and SHAREHOLDER

Aurora Abella-Austriaco is a partner and shareholder of Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. (“VAB”), an all women owned law firm, where she concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate transactions and commercial litigation.

Prior to forming VAB, Aurora was the Principal and Owner of Austriaco & Associates, Ltd., an associate at Harold I. Levine Ltd. and was in-house counsel for Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. Aurora graduated from DePaul University with a B.S. in Finance (1987) and Juris Doctor (1990). Aurora made history by serving as the first Asian American President of the Chicago Bar Association. She was also elected as the first female President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers’ Association and was one of the founding board members of the Filipino American Bar Association of Chicago. She currently serves as Board Director for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. and serves as Chairman of the Board for one of its subsidiary companies.

Aurora currently serves as President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. She was elected Illinois State Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates and serves on several ABA committees. She serves on the DePaul University Law School’s Dean Advisory Committee and serves as Chair of the Law School’s Diversity Council. In 2016, Aurora was appointed as a Commissioner for the Illinois Courts Commission and was elected School Board Member for Maine Township District 207.

Aurora just completed her term as President of the Lawyer’s Trust Fund of Illinois. Aurora is also active in the community. She serves on the board of National Association of Asian American Professionals and was elected President of the Filipino Executive Network. She is on the board of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago and serves as Pro Bono Counsel for the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce. Aurora served as President of the Asian American Institute.

Aurora is a recipient of numerous awards and recognition. Most notable are the prestigious: “Top 20 Global Women of Excellence” by the 7th Congressional District Multi Ethnic Task Force in celebration of International Women’s Day 2020; Chicago United’s 2019 “50 Business Leaders of Color”; Secretary of State “Outstanding Community Service” 2019 awardee; “Ping Tom Memorial Award” given by the Asian American Coalition of Chicago; the “100 Global Filipina Women” by Filipina Women’s Network; Via Times Chicago “Hall of Fame Filipina Award”; the CBA’s “Vanguard Award”and the CBA “Alta Mae Hulett” Award; and 2018 FALA “Trailblazer Award.” Aurora was named one of “100 Women of Influence in Chicago” by Today’s Chicago Woman.

She was also recognized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce as one of “Ten Most Outstanding Filipino American Businessmen.” Aurora is recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in the area of Real Estate Law and was named in the “Top 100 Women Consumer Lawyers;” and “2011 Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders.” Aurora is recognized as a “Super Lawyer in Real Estate”. Aurora is also a radio talk show, “Sundays with Aurora” which airs every Sunday at 1240 AM WSBC. Aurora is fluent in Tagalog.

She is married to Dr. Jerome Austriaco and they have two daughters, Danielle and Isabelle.