The Bar News

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Chicago Area

  • March 21, 2016 | People
    Civil Litigation Attorneys Launch New Firm Focused on Serving Individuals and Businesses

    Experienced civil litigation attorneys E. Angelo Spyratos and Kimberly A. Davis recently launched SpyratosDavis LLC, an independent law firm serving individuals and businesses in commercial and civil litigation, claims and lawsuits for money damages, and family law.  

    Spyratos and Davis enjoy a rich professional bond as they have practiced together for more than 16 years with a focus on civil litigation. The founders bring over 40 years of combined experience practicing law. Designed for speed, responsiveness, and resolution, the new firm opens with eleven experienced attorneys formerly from a DuPage County-based law firm. To better serve clients, SpyratosDavis has offices located in both suburban DuPage County (Lisle) and downtown Chicago. SpyratosDavis provides informed, tailored, and efficient representation to individuals and businesses for claims and lawsuits across counties in the upper third of Illinois.

  • March 21, 2016 | People
    Bruce E. de’Medici Joins Kelley Kronenberg’s Chicago Office as Of Counsel

    Kelley Kronenberg, a full-service law firm, has announced that Bruce E. de’Medici joined as Of Counsel in the firm’s Chicago office. Mr. de’Medici has more than 30 years of experience in commercial finance transactions, corporate restructuring, and insolvency proceedings.   

    Among his diverse client base, Mr. de’Medici represents business enterprises, financial institutions, lessors, secured and commercial creditors, assignees for the benefit of creditors, and bankruptcy trustees in all facets of bankruptcy litigation and reorganization.

  • March 18, 2016 | Practice News
    26 associate judge candidates announced for Cook County vacancies

    The Nominating Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County today announced its selection of the 26 candidates who will seek appointment to 13 associate judge vacancies by vote of the circuit judges.

    “The Nominating Committee worked diligently to ensure that any one of these 26 individuals will be an asset to the bench if ultimately elected by the circuit judges,” Chief Judge Evans said, adding that the process also examined applicants’ bar ratings, career achievements, and whether they could be fair and impartial adjudicators.

    “Given that all of the candidates received positive ratings from the bar associations, I am confident that our new associate judges will be ready to hit the ground running in the Circuit Court of Cook County,” Chief Judge Evans said.

    The Nominating Committee is made up of the following circuit judges:

  • March 18, 2016 | Practice News
    Smartphone lockers to be removed from Leighton Criminal Court Building

    The Circuit Court of Cook County is alerting the public that effective April 2, 2016, the Cook County Department of Facilities Management will no longer provide storage lockers for the public to store banned items at courthouses. This includes the Leighton Criminal Court Building, at 26th Street and California Avenue, where smartphones have been banned for the past 3 years.

    Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans was notified by the Cook County Department of Facilities Management that, due to security and staffing concerns, it will remove all storage lockers that it had installed at courthouses as a service for the public to safely store banned items while they conduct court business.

    “It is critical that the message gets out that there will no longer be lockers available beginning April 2 at any of the courthouses,” said Chief Judge Evans. “At the Leighton Criminal Court Building, my particular concern is that people who are relying on the county’s storage lockers won’t be able to clear security and will miss court if they bring a smartphone.”

    People who miss court could be subjected to bail forfeitures, be held in contempt of court or have warrants issued for their arrest. Family and friends of defendants and victims could also miss court hearings, and subpoenaed witnesses would be subject to being held in contempt of court and possible civil liability to the party issuing the subpoena.

    The Sheriff has banned approximately two dozen items from all Cook County courthouses, and the list includes items such as knives, mace spray, cameras and recording devices.

  • March 16, 2016 | Events
    Join the fun with Master of Ceremonies Chief Judge Timothy Evans at the INADR Gala

    The International Academy of Dispute Resolution will honor ISBA Past President Fred Lane and CBA Past President Joseph Stone with Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Alliance of Bar Associations and Administrator Joyce Williams with a Special Recognition at its Gala on April 13, 6 p.m. at the Standard Club in Chicago.

    The International Academy of Dispute Resolution is a charitable 501C3 organization that educates college and law students and legal professionals worldwide concerning the best mediation practices.

  • March 16, 2016 | People
    Honorable Morgan F. Murphy, Jr. 1933-2016

    Honorable Morgan F. Murphy, Jr., 83. Adored husband of the late Charlene Diane nee Jurgensen. Loving father of Morgan III, Michelle (Dan Hebert), Constance (Larry Doody); cherished father-in-law of the Honorable Lisa Ruble Murphy; champion "Papa" of Morgan F. Murphy, IV, Brendan P. Murphy, Riley P. Doody, Brieanne E. Hebert, and Brendan D. Hebert; beloved son of the late Morgan F. and Anne Murphy, Sr.; dear brother of Mary Rita (Robert) Stump, Jane (the late Raymond) Holmes, Bernard (Virginia) Murphy, the late Reverend John Michael Murphy, and Sister Carol Ann Murphy, RSM.

  • March 16, 2016 | People
    ATG Trust Company Names Christine Campbell Vice President and Senior Trust Officer

    Christine Campbell, JD, CTFA, a trust and estate professional for more than twenty years, has joined the ATG Trust Company, a subsidiary of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG®, http://www.atgf.com/), as vice president and senior trust officer. ATG Trust provides clients, through its attorney members, with a full range of trust and money management services.

    Before joining the ATG Trust team, Campbell spent five years at FNBC Bank and Trust (formerly First National Bank of LaGrange), where she was a trust officer managing a full book of accounts, including IRAs, SNTs, revocable and irrevocable Trusts, and investment accounts. Prior to that, she worked as an estate settlement officer at JPMorgan Chase.

  • March 11, 2016 | Events
    ISBA Mutual to host March Madness viewing parties

    ISBA Mutual's Basketball, Brackets and Bragging Rights event is coming up and you’re invited!

    They are opening their doors, celebrating their new space, setting up 3 screens to show the action, sharing snacks and libations… Join them to mix, mingle and cheer on your favorite tourney teams. (You can even work during lulls – WiFi is available and so are private micro-offices.)

    C’mon by during game time – starting at 11 a.m.:

    • First round: March 17 & 18
    • Regional finals and semifinals: March 24 & 25
  • March 10, 2016 | ISBA News
    March with ISBA in the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade

    The ISBA Marketing & Communications Committee would like to invite you to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade this Saturday, March 12. The Committee will be meeting at the Chicago Office, 20 S. Clark, 9th floor between 11 and 11:30 a.m. before marching over to the parade site on Columbus Drive. You may also meet the group at ISBA's parade spot No. 104. The parade kicks off at noon.

    Contact Chris Bonjean at cbonjean@isba.org for further information.

  • March 10, 2016 | Events
    Sponsors needed for Derby Day at Arlington Park

    The Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association and Northwest Suburban Bar Association will host a Derby Day at Arlington Park on May 7. Join us for a fun day of networking and racing.