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Chicago Area

  • August 11, 2015 | People
    BNY Mellon Wealth Management appoints Nancy Anderson as Senior Wealth Director

    BNY Mellon, a global leader in investment management and investment services, has appointed Nancy E. Anderson as senior wealth director serving BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s greater Chicago market and Midwest. She reports to Regional President Michael DiMedio.

    Previously employed as a senior private wealth advisor by U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management in Minnesota, Anderson will be based in Chicago.

    “Nancy’s stature in the region, her substantial experience, professional credentials and long track record of client service brings additional depth and expertise to our Midwestern wealth management team,” DiMedio said.

    During her time at U.S. Trust, she led a team of professionals in the areas of trust administration, investment management, philanthropic planning, banking and wealth strategies. Before that, she held senior leadership roles at U.S. Bank Private Client Reserve, Citigroup Global Wealth Management, and Merrill Lynch Trust Company.

    Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from the University of Minnesota and a juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn. She is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and an Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor (ADPA). Anderson serves on the boards of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the William Mitchell College of Law. She is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, Minnesota Women Lawyers, the Illinois State Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, and the National Society for Hispanic Professionals.

  • August 11, 2015 | People
    Pflaum named chair of Neal Gerber Eisenberg's General & Commercial Litigation Group

    Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP is pleased to announce Steven F. Pflaum has assumed the role of chair of the firm’s General and Commercial Litigation practice group.

    Pflaum has been a partner at Neal Gerber Eisenberg since 2010, with a national trial and appellate practice that encompasses a wide range of complex civil litigation matters, including commercial, constitutional, hospital, media, airport and land use cases. He also advises lawyers and law firms, and serves as an expert witness, on legal ethics and professional liability issues.

    “We could not be more pleased that Steve has agreed to head up the firm’s litigation group,” said Pflaum’s predecessor Scott J. Fisher, who will assume the role of firm managing partner, effective Jan. 1, 2016. “Steve’s incredible depth of experience and innate leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to guide the group into the future.”

    Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s Litigation practice group and lawyers have been recognized by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, The American College of Trial Lawyers and U.S. News-Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” survey for general commercial litigation. The group’s client list is broad, encompassing public and private companies located throughout the world and spanning countless industries. Six of the Fortune 25 call on Neal Gerber Eisenberg for representation in litigation and investigations.

  • August 10, 2015 | CLE
    CLE: The Basics of LLC Operating Agreements

    Explore the basics of operating agreements with this half-day seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on September 3, 2015 that’s designed to help newer attorneys gain a general understanding of how LLCs work! Attorneys representing business clients will often be called upon to form limited liability companies and to draft operating agreements for those entities. As such, it is important for you to understand the basic structure and key issues of operating agreements, which serve as the governing instrument between the members and managers of limited liability companies. Attorneys attending this half-day seminar will better understand: the statutory default rules of an operating agreement; what should and shouldn’t be included in the agreement; capital contributions; tax provisions, special allocation rules, Section 754 election, and alternatives to partnership tax treatments; the restrictions (if any) that are placed on the transfer of a member’s LLC interests; and much more!

    The program is presented by the ISBA Business & Securities Law Section and qualifies for 3.50 hours MCLE credit.

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • August 7, 2015 | People
    Amy Leonas 1976-2015

    Amy Leonas, 39, beloved daughter of Ted and Marla Leonas. Loving sister of Melinda Leonas, Lynsey (Casey) Johnston, Carley Leonas, Elizabeth Leonas and Teddy Leonas. Cherished aunt of Eva Johnston. Best friend of cousin Jennifer (Connor) Ford. Amy was preceded in death by her biological mother, Carole Brady. She was fond of her many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

    Amy was an attorney. She was a graduate of Valparaiso University and received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Amy began her law career as a Cook County Assistant States Attorney where she spent a great deal of time prosecuting cases in the domestic violence division. Eventually Amy branched into entertainment law, where she served as legal advisor to the Daytime Emmy Award winning "Judge Pirro" show, followed by her last positions where she served as legal advisor for ITV's nationally syndicated "Jeremy Kyle" and "Bill Cunningham" television shows in New York City.

    Amy enjoyed a number of close friends, many of which were law school classmates and former colleagues, who played an instrumental role in helping both Amy and her family cope with Amy's terminal diagnosis, and her 20-month courageous battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme.

    Services are being held privately. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the name of Amy Leonasto the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA.org), 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60631, and/or the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research (Virtualtrials.com) 1100 Peninsula Blvd, Hewlett, NY 11557. Arrangements by Gerardi Funeral Home, Frankfort, IL, 815 469-2144. Sign our guestbook at: gerardifuneralhome online.com

  • August 5, 2015 | People
    Daniel C. Fabbri Founds Fabbri Law Offices, P.C.

    Trial attorney Daniel C. Fabbri has founded Fabbri Law Offices, P.C. which opened on August 1, 2015. He opened the firm after most recently working at Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Chicago field legal office (Meachum, Starck, Boyle & Trafman) defending clients insured through the Liberty Mutual family of companies. Prior to Liberty Mutual, for 10 years he practiced at The Collins Law Firm, P.C. located in Naperville, Illinois.

    “I am very proud to have realized a dream of being able to practice law with my own firm, which will allow me to take on legal matters that I find both personally interesting and professionally satisfying,” said Mr. Fabbri.

    Fabbri Law Offices is based in Wheaton, Illinois and will be focused on the representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of areas of litigation across northern Illinois. In addition, Dan will be providing services as a mediator and arbitrator throughout the Chicagoland area, drawing not only on his years of experience representing parties in litigation matters, but also many years of service as an arbitrator for the court annexed arbitration programs in both DuPage and Cook counties.

  • August 5, 2015 | People
    3 lateral associates Join Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP

    Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces the arrival of three lateral associates, including one to its Madison County, Ill. office.

    Associate Kenneth C. Hoffmann joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP from Bollinger Connolly Krause LLC, where he was also an associate. He focuses his practice on Medical Negligence and Healthcare, Construction Litigation, and Product Liability. Mr. Hoffmann received his J.D from DePaul University College of Law in 2011 and his B.A. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008.

    Associate Alejandra M. Rodriguez joins the firm from Huston, May & Fayez, LLC in Chicago, where she was also an associate. She concentrates her practice on Medical Negligence and Healthcare, Family Law and General Trial Practice. Ms. Rodriguez received her J.D. magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Law Center in 2012 and her B.S. with honors from Nova Southeastern University in 2009.

    Associate Abbey A. Fritz, who practices in Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Madison County office, was previously an associate at Brown & James, P.C. in Belleville, Ill. She focuses her practice on Asbestos Litigation and Toxic Tort Litigation. Ms. Fritz received her J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2014 and her B.A. summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2011.

  • July 30, 2015 | People
    Theodore T. Eidukas joins Quarles & Brady Energy Practice Group

    The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that Theodore T. Eidukas has joined the firm's Chicago office as a partner in its Energy Practice Group.

    Eidukas' practice focuses on utility regulatory and complex commercial litigation matters, representing clients in all aspects of litigation, including trials, appellate arguments, motion practice, depositions, and other discovery.

    He received his law degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, and his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Augustana College.

    About Quarles & Brady LLP

    Quarles & Brady is a full-service AmLaw 200 law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

  • July 24, 2015 | People
    Chuhak & Tecson elevates Evan D. Blewett to associate, Kevin R. Purtill to principal

    Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is pleased to announce the elevation of Evan D. Blewett to associate and Kevin R. Purtill to principal.

    Blewett started out at Chuhak & Tecson as a law clerk and now practices in a variety of areas related to real estate transactions, commercial litigation and corporate compliance. His practice spans both transactional and litigation work involving representation of corporate clients with an emphasis on regional and national banks. Evan received both his bachelor degree and J.D. from DePaul University.

    Purtill is a member of the firm’s banking, corporate transactions & business law, litigation and real estate practice groups. He represents lenders, corporations and real estate clients in transactional work as well as litigation. Purtill is an active mentor for first- and second-year students at his alma mater, The John Marshall Law School, and enjoys speaking on legal and financial topics.

  • July 22, 2015 | Practice News
    Schoop appointed At-large Cook County Circuit Judge

    Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Chicago attorney Devlin Joseph Schoop as an at-large Cook County Circuit Judge.

    Mr. Schoop was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by Judge Themis N. Karnezis, who is retiring on July 31, 2015. The appointment takes effect August 10, 2015 and will terminate on Dec. 5, 2016, when the position is filled by the 2016 General Election.

  • July 21, 2015 | People
    Levin Schreder & Carey welcomes associates Simon N. Johnson, Thomas A. McCann

    Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. welcomes associates Simon N. Johnson and Thomas A. McCann to the firm.

    Simon is joining the firm's estate planning group and focuses his practice on estate planning for families, executives, entrepreneurs and other high net worth individuals as well as estate and trust administration. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., Simon practiced law at Nixon Peabody in Chicago. Simon received his J.D. from Harvard Law School (2009) and his B.A. in Linguistics and Government from Harvard University (2005). Simon is admitted to practice law in Illinois and New York.

    Before joining the firm, Tom practiced law at McDermott Will & Emery. Tom received his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago, cum laude (2008), and his B.S.J., cum laude (1999), and his M.S.J., with honors (2001), from Northwestern University. Tom is admitted to practice law in Illinois, before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Tom is joining the firm's Trust and Estate Controversy Resolution Group and focuses his practice on representing corporate fiduciaries and individuals in
    complex trust and estate litigation and representing owners in family business and closely-held business disputes.

    "We are very pleased to have both Simon and Tom join our Firm. Their previous experience will support our continued excellent service to our
    clients," noted Jim Carey, the Firm's Estate Controversy Resolution Group leader.