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Please join us in supporting this event to benefit the Illinois Bar Foundation/YLD Children’s Assistance Program.
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP is pleased to welcome new partners Fritz Huszagh and Josh Kantrow to the firm’s Chicago office.
Fritz Huszagh has over 31 years of experience handling insurance matters, counseling both insurers and policyholders, as well as litigating in state and federal courts throughout the country. His experience includes casualty and property contracts of nearly every type, written for individuals, professionals, governmental entities, public/private corporations, associations and partnerships. In addition, Mr. Huszagh has represented clients in accident, disability, health and life insurance matters. He has been involved in numerous reinsurance arbitrations, either as counsel or as an arbitrator/umpire. Finally, Mr. Huszagh has counseled clients in connection with policy drafting and regulatory matters, and has consulted for attorneys in need of insurance expertise.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Huszagh worked for an insurer as an underwriter of several professional liability lines. Thereafter, he became a claims manager and then Vice President of claims for an insurance company as well as an MGA with professional and excess books of busines.
Mr. Huszagh has written extensively about insurance, authoring numerous chapters in Illinois legal handbooks pertaining to insurance, reinsurance, interpleader, and insurance of products liability. He has also spoken at, and published for, various local and national groups, including the ABA, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, DRI, ARIAS and BCBSA.
Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Wednesday that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Christine A. Downs as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Downs received her undergraduate degree in 1994 from the University of Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 1997 from Loyola University in Chicago. Ms. Downs is currently affiliated with Collison & O'Connor, Ltd. in Chicago.
Chief Judge John T. Elsner has announced that the Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County. The vacancy is a results of the elevation of Associate Judge Robert G. Kleeman to Circuit Judge.
Eugene Stanley Kwasniewski “Gene Kwas” died Nov. 16, 2012, in his home in Austin, Texas.
Gene Kwas, to all who knew and loved him, was born Eugene Stanley Kwasniewski on Oct. 14, 1922, the middle of seven boys, to Joseph and Josephine Kwasniewski.
Though he couldn’t speak English until second grade, athletic ability earned him many sports letters in Evanston Township High School. His strength was speed, breaking the 100-yard dash time in high school in under 10 seconds, bettering Jim Thorpe’s record. He attended a state dinner with the governor, unheard of for an immigrant’s son, and received a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He did not become an opera singer, as encouraged by the choir mistress of Evanston HS Elite Concert Choir.
World War II interrupted his sophomore year in college, sending him to the Air Force, a “90 day wonder,” drafted and “instantly” made an officer. A bombardier at age 19, he was taught how to fly a B-17 bomber, and was off to Bari, Italy.
The War over, the decorated war veteran resumed his career as a football halfback hero, with a win against UCLA in the Rose Bowl of 1947. Playing poker nights, he was able to fund his law degree in 1950, then practiced law in Peru to be close to his college sweetheart. Gene married Lillian Marie Forcht in 1950, a happy 63-year union.
Gene joined the FBI, assigned to San Mateo, Calif., where daughter Anne was born. He was a special agent for five years during the McCarthy era.
The ISBA Young Lawyers Division hosted “Graduating to the Bench,” the second of a four-part series of Professional Development Luncheons on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Participants included (from left) YLD Luncheon co-chair Matt Coleman, YLD Chair Meghan O’Brien, Speakers Al Durkin, Judge William Holdridge, Judge Nancy Katz, Judge Thomas Hogan, Moderator and Luncheon co-chair Heather Pfeffer and Luncheon co-chair Jessica Durkin. The fourth and final Professional Development Luncheon will be held on March 13 and will focus on alternative careers in the law.
Malecki, Tasch & Burns LLC of Oak Brook is pleased to announce that Dianne Zimmerman has joined the firm as a senior associate. Ms. Zimmerman's practice will focus on Employment Law and Human Resource counseling. Ms. Zimmerman brings to the position a wealth of experience with issues pertaining to employment and labor issues, including performance management, discipline, terminations, discrimination charges, harassment complaints, wage and unemployment compensation claims, staff downsizing, restructuring and compensation issues. Her experience includes conducting grievance hearings and mediations, negotiating union contracts, and preparing for arbitrations and union organizing campaigns.
Ms. Zimmerman began her career as a Labor and Employment Associate with Katten, Muchin, Rosenman LLP of Chicago. Most recently she worked in her own private practice advising clients on employment issues and Employment Law Compliance. She also served as Executive Director of Human Resources and Legal Counsel for Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. She was also Director of Human Services at Rush University Medical Center where she served as
Co-Director of the Human Resources Management Course in the Masters Degree program of the College of Health Systems Management. Ms. Zimmerman graduated from the Hastings College of Law of the University of California in San Francisco. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, magna cum laude from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
The Illinois Bar Foundation will host the annual Lawyers Rock Legends on Thursday, Feb. 28. This evening of Rock, Motown, Jazz & Blues will take place from 7-11:30 p.m. at Buddy Guy's Legends, 700 S. Wabash.
Proceeds from this event benefit the IBF's M. Denny Hassakis Fund.
Includes: 10 premium seats; select a band to perform and announce the band on stage; name/firm name on IBF website and event materials; appetizers, beer, wine, and soda.
Includes: 5 premium seats; an opportunity to announce a band on stage; name/firm name on IBF website and event materials; appetizers, beer, wine, and soda.
Includes: 1 premium seat; appetizers, beer, wine, and soda
(Limited tickets are available).
Includes: Admission (standing room only); appetizers, beer, wine, and soda.
Learn more and register at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org or by calling the Illinois Bar Foundation at 312.726.6072.
Special accommodations will be granted to those with disabilities, please call ahead.
CARPLS Legal Hotline in Chicago is looking for volunteer attorneys to give advice to low-income clients in the areas of landlord/tenant, consumer debt, and family law. Hotline shifts are M-F 9-1 or 1-5. We seek a minimum commitment of 1 shift per week over a 10-week session. Training (with CLE credit) and malpractice insurance provided.
Our next two training cycles begin Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 4-8 and Thursday, April 4 from 4-8. For more information contact Leslie Wallin at 312/421-4427 or lwallin@carpls.org or go to http://www.carpls.org/getinvolved/hotlinevolunteer/.
The law firm of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP is proud to announce the hiring of Caroline E. Poduch as a new associate. Previously, Poduch worked at a law firm in Madison, Wisconsin where she practiced in the areas of family law and estate planning. Poduch handles complex cases involving child custody, maintenance, child support, and property division. She also has extensive experience with trusts and estate planning.
“For many people, family law issues expose them to the court system for the first time. My goal is to provide clients with a clear understanding of the proceeding and to be compassionate throughout the entire process,” said Poduch. “Schiller DuCanto & Fleck has an established reputation of legal excellence, professionalism and innovation in the practice of family law. Through their lens, they pay thorough attention to every case and work as a team to achieve the desired result. I am thrilled to become a member of this prestigious firm.”