William J. Linklater (Joe)

William J. Linklater (Joe) passed away on February 1, 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born on June 3, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to William John Linklater and Jean Connell Linklater of LaGrange, Illinois, both of whom were lawyers. He is survived by his cherished wife, Dorothea D. Linklater, nee Ash, his sister Margaret Van Dagens, his two beloved daughters, Erin Linklater Palumbo (Michael) and Emily Linklater Thomas (Luke), and his treasured granddaughter, Myla Linklater Thomas.

 Joe attended Saint Francis Xavier School in LaGrange and Fenwick High School in Oak Park where he became an accomplished competitive swimmer. He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he swam, played interhall football (using the old leather helmets) and lifted weights in the storied gym presided over by Fr. Lange. After graduating from Notre Dame, Joe attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law. In 1968, Joe joined Baker & McKenzie where he practiced law for the entirety of his professional career of 54 years. Joe was instrumental in the establishment of the Baker McKenzie white collar criminal practice and had many successes defending large complex international criminal and antitrust matters. His clients have included foreign governments, heads of state and major US corporations and their officers and directors. These cases had Joe travelling at a dizzying pace. It wouldn't be unusual for him to do a turnaround to the Philippines followed by quick trips to Brussels and Hong Kong. Joe was an original member of the Baker McKenzie Professional Responsibility and Practice Committee and served as Director of this Committee for many years. Baker's 70+ offices around the globe kept Joe airborne as much as his criminal practice did. 

In 1986, Joe married Dee Dee Ash, his law school girlfriend from almost two decades prior. Joe and Dee Dee and his two daughters, Erin and Emily, had many adventures together: especially hiking, mountain biking, skiing, inline skating, football games and mountain climbing. He was fond of his Old Town neighborhood where he lived for 48 years, and also enjoyed Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he worked as a horse wrangler during law school. Joe and Dee Dee returned to Jackson in 2000 to build the log cabin of their dreams and for the next 25 years, summers on horseback and winters on skis became a reality and a source of peace and beauty for them. 

Joe was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, a Master of the Chicago Inn of Court and International Proctor of the Wong Sun Society of San Francisco. He was a member of the American Bar Association's Committees on Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime and Antitrust Law. From 2000 to 2001 he served as President of the Chicago Bar Association during which time he focused on improving the public image of lawyers through mentoring, pro bono, and public service. 

Joe was known as a man of unshakeable integrity and trustworthiness. He was a born warrior, a characteristic his clients instantly recognized. He had an unlimited capacity for work. He was a regular attendee at 7 am Mass, a habit no doubt instilled by his parents. He loved all music (except jazz) from Gregorian chant to Roy Orbison. He did not dance, ever. He was meticulous and organized and never lost anything. He organized his ties by Roy G. Biv. He was famous as a raconteur, joke teller and was the architect of many elaborate pranks. He was an avid reader, loved poetry, was a true ND football fan, and, along with many Chicagoans, was frequently disappointed by the Bears. He drank champagne almost exclusively, eschewed onions and garlic, and was not to be trusted around a box of cookies. He was beautifully dressed and elegantly shod but was devoid of personal vanity. Notwithstanding his constant travel, he was a closet homebody and preferred staying home on Saturday nights watching old movies on TCM. As a younger lawyer, he loved riding his BMW R90S motorcycle 10,000 miles a year. As he got older, his wife persuaded him to trade it in on a horse named Dude. He was a determined man – when his early September climb of the Grand Teton turned into a wintry nightmare in 6 feet of snow requiring the (unfamiliar) use of ice axes and crampons, his guide had no doubt that Joe would complete it. He had an indomitable will, in every aspect of his life. He was a fiercely loyal husband, a proud father and a delighted grandfather. He was charitable and generous. He valued friendships. He was fun, he was funny, and life will not be the same without him.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025 from 9:30am until time of Requiem Mass 10:30am at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago.  After Mass, everyone is invited to continue celebrating Joe's life for some good food and drink, but most importantly, continued fellowship as family and friends at Gibsons Italia, 233 N. Canal St., Chicago beginning at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to by clicking: The Chicago Bar Foundation, 321 South Plymouth Court Suite 3B Chicago, IL 60604 or to Notre Dame Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Galvin Life Sciences Building Notre Dame, IN 46556.