The Bar News

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Chicago Area

  • February 4, 2015 | People
    Stewart Strawn Dixon 1930-2014

    Stewart Strawn Dixon, 84, of Lake Bluff died December 14, 2014. He was a founding member of one of Chicago's leading corporate law firms, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, today known as Edwards Wildman and Palmer.

    Practicing law in Chicago for over half a century, Dixon started his legal profession as Partner at Kirkland and Ellis, before teaming up with Max Wildman, Bernard Harrold, and Thomas Allen in 1967 to form Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon out of a small cramped office located on the fourth floor at Six North Michigan Avenue. Dixon practiced in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Antitrust, Corporate, Securities and Tax, and Estate Planning, Probate and Family Law. His bar admissions included: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar member) Supreme Court of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuitas well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Dixon served more than 25 years as lead Counsel to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, a nationally recognized non-profit association of advertisers, ad agencies and publishers. Dixon also served as a Director of New York based Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds from 1976 2002. Additionally, Dixon represented, American Stock Exchange, Edward Hines Lumber Company, Ducks Unlimited, North American Wildlife Foundation, and William Blair & Company.

  • February 3, 2015 | CLE
    CLE: 40 Hour Mediation/Arbitration Training

    Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. Join us in Chicago on March 2, 2015 for this week-long mediation training and learn how to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.

    The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane – two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases. Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane have developed an approach that encourages the mediator to be a peacemaker, deemphasizing the antagonism involved in formal litigation. This five-day course has considerable hands-on training and requires each participant to complete two full mediations as a mediator. Course topics include an introduction to mediation, caucus form of mediation, qualities of a peacemaker, ethical considerations, other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, advanced mediator techniques, and arbitration.

    The program qualifies for 40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • February 3, 2015 | Practice News
    DuPage County invites comments on associate judge applicants

    Chief Judge Kathryn E. Cresswell has announced that applications for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County, have been received from those on the list below. The vacancy is the result of the elevation of Associate Judge Paul M. Fullerton to Circuit Judge.

    As part of the review process before the Circuit Judges, Chief Judge Creswell invites public comment by letter before Feb. 17, 2015:

    • Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell
    • 18th Judicial Circuit Court
    • 505 N. Country Farm Road, Room 2015
    • Wheaton, IL 60187

    Here is the list of applicants:

  • February 3, 2015 | People
    Roth and Mares join Heyl Royster’s Chicago Office

    Heyl Royster partner Andrew Roth and Associate Brett Mares recently relocated from Heyl Royster’s offices in Rockford and Edwardsville, respectively, to join the firm at its new Chicago offices located at 33 N. Dearborn St.

    Andrew Roth’s practice is focused on defending toxic tort, asbestos, and medical malpractice cases. Licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin, Mr. Roth also has a wide range of experience defending civil cases involving premises, auto and product liability; trucking; construction; dramshop; and insurance coverage. He has tried a number of cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury and contractual disputes. Mr. Roth has also represented clients in alternative dispute resolution, including mediations, settlement conferences, and arbitrations. Mr. Roth graduated magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2003 and served as an associate editor on the school's Law Review.

  • January 30, 2015 | People
    Hon. Michael R. Galasso 1936-2015

    As a young lawyer in the 1960s, Michael R. Galasso represented individuals in difficult divorces and child custody battles and saw up close the need for the justice system to do more to help families and couples in crisis. During a 16-year judicial career he was able to do something about it, instituting reforms for the system’s handling of divorce cases and offering help to troubled youths. And in the final decade of his career in private practice at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck he shared his expertise and wisdom with young lawyers and with clients.

    Judge Galasso died Friday, January 23 at the age of 78.

    “Our firm lost an outstanding attorney, a respected, admired judge and a good friend with the passing of Mike Galasso,” said Donald C. Schiller, senior partner, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck. “He showed great foresight as a judge, bringing psychological services, mediation and evaluation to divorce cases in DuPage County. He was so respected he was appointed to the Appellate Court. Mike simply excelled at everything he did.”

    Mr. Galasso spent the bulk of his career litigating family law cases in DuPage County after graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1961. He was appointed an Associate Judge in DuPage County in 1984 and went on to serve as Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations and Law Divisions and Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County.

  • January 28, 2015 | Events
    Young Lawyers to host Wine Tasting Networking event on Feb. 27

    Networking and Social Event sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division

    Join your peers for an evening of socializing and wine tasting! 

    When: Friday, February 27, 2015
    5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

    Where: ISBA Chicago Office - 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 900

    Cost: $30 in advance through Monday, February 23, 2015
    $40 at the door the night of the event

    Register at www.isba.org/sections/yld/winetasting

  • January 27, 2015 | People
    Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm welcomes new team

    Chicago based Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm welcomes the addition of three new members to its trial and appellate legal team: attorney Shane D. Valenzi, Of Counsel attorney Seamus M. Ryan, and senior litigation paralegal Craig A. Nelson.

    The boutique firm concentrates in franchise and general and sharply contested business disputes.

    Lead attorney Carmen D. Caruso has been in practice since 1983 and is known for his aggressive and creative representation of clients, including large companies as well as individual plaintiffs.

    “We pursue high-stakes litigation and look for cases that are likely to go to trial,” said Caruso. “Our skilled and dynamic new team brings depth and allows us to efficiently represent our clients as we prepare and go to trial,” added Caruso.

    Shane D. Valenzi brings invaluable experience recently gained as a federal court law clerk. Valenzi graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, one of the top intellectual property law journals in the country. While attending Vanderbilt Valenzi served as a legal writing teaching assistant, and was an octofinalist in the annual Mock Trial Competition.

  • January 27, 2015 | People
    Joseph A. Tecson 1928-2015

    Joseph A. Tecson passed away peacefully at home in Riverside on Sunday, January 11. Joe and Caroline recently celebrated 60 years of marriage, and his good humor, wisdom and support were a blessing to his children, grandchildren and great grandchild. He shared his zest for life and values with his family, many governmental and charitable institutions, and Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. where he headed the Governmental and Healthcare Practices of the firm.

  • January 27, 2015 | People
    Lawrence E. Morrissey 1936-2015

    Lawrence E. Morrissey, age 78, passed away at home on the morning of January 8, 2015, after a brief, but courageous, battle with an aggressive cancer discovered last fall. He was a loving husband to his wife of 48 years, Kathleen (nee Landreman).

    Born July 19, 1936, in Joliet, Illinois, he was raised by his mother after the sudden loss of his father just days before Christmas in 1944. A graduate of St. Raymond Elementary School, Joliet Catholic High School, the University of Illinois and The John Marshall Law School, he worked jobs to pay his tuition the entire way. He served in the Marine Corps. He began his legal career in 1964 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and, in 1967, was appointed Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering section for the Northern District of Illinois.

    In 1969, he received a meritorious service award from United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, who credited him with helping disband the Chicago crime syndicate. In 1974, he opened his own practice in downtown Chicago while at the same time working at O`Brien, Garrison, Berard & Kusta, a Joliet law firm that he credited for the development of his civil litigation skills. Although he represented defendants in numerous high profile government probes and scandals, his real passion was providing representation to the less fortunate, often on a pro bono basis. He took great pleasure in helping people from all walks of life.

  • January 27, 2015 | People
    Tracy Gibbons joins Clifford Law as associate

    The newest addition to the legal team at Clifford Law Offices, Tracy Gibbons, is no stranger to tort law having worked as a clerk at the firm for years and jumping in immediately into courtroom work and complex tort cases. In fact, her intelligence and legal acumen has led her to already have worked on some of the biggest lawsuits filed at the firm, led by partners directing the cases. When you first meet Tracy, one observes she is reserved and poised, a young attorney who understands the importance of listening and working hard.