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Chicago Area

  • September 22, 2011 | Practice News
    AOIC Director Cynthia Cobbs appointed to judicial vacancy in Cook County

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday the appointment of Cynthia Y. Cobbs to a judicial vacancy in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

    Ms. Cobbs resigned her position as Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to accept the judicial appointment. She was the first woman and the first African American to serve as Administrative Director and her tenure as Director is the second longest since the position was established in 1960.

    Ms. Cobbs was  named to the Cook County vacancy, at large, created by the retirement earlier this year of Henry R. Simmons. Jr. The appointment is effective Friday, September 23 and terminates December 3, 2012.

    Ms. Cobbs was named Director March 1, 2002 and has served under five Chief Justices. Her steady and loyal stewardship has helped guide the Supreme Court and the judicial branch through severe economic times, tight budgets and a technological revolution.

    "She has served loyally and with dedication during rough economic times," said Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride. "The Court appreciates and values her long years of service and the numerous  innovations she has helped guide."

  • September 21, 2011 | People
    Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C. welcomes Philip J. Fowler

    Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C. welcomes attorney Philip J. Fowler, who has joined the firm as a Director. Mr. Fowler has a wide range of experience in all facets of litigation, including professional liability, commercial litigation, catastrophic injury and employment law. He is a frequent lecturer and author on a number of legal issues, including ethics and professional responsibility. Mr. Fowler has also been named as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Professional Malpractice Defense.

    Founded in 1984, Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C. continues to build a team of professionals committed to client service and excellence. For information about the firm, contact info@tribler.com.

  • September 20, 2011 | People
    Joseph C. Ponitz named partner of Franks, Gerkin & McKenna P.C.

    Franks, Gerkin & McKenna, P.C. is pleased to announce that Joseph C. Ponitz has been named a Partner of our firm.

    Joe has an extensive legal background that encompasses a wide range of practice areas, including Criminal and DUI Defense, Family Law, and Commercial Litigation.  Prior to joining Franks, Gerkin & McKenna, P.C., Joe served as a Prosecutor with the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.

    Joe attended the Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he was a published author and an editor of the School’s Law Review.  Joe was also awarded the Southern Illinois University Alumni Scholarship Award.  In addition, Joe served as a graduate assistant to a prominent professor and his research was accredited in the Duke Environment of Law and Policy Forum. 

    Joe is fluent in Spanish and volunteers with and serves on the Governance Committee of the Healing Pathways Cancer Research Center.  He is a member of the Cosmopolitan Club of Boone County.  He also serves as an Arbitrator for the Seventeenth Judicial District.  From 2007 to 2010, Joe served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of McHenry County Youth Service Bureau.  

  • September 20, 2011 | ISBA News
    Mental Health programs to air on Illinois Law in October

    "Mental Health Concerns in the Juvenile Court" and "School Advocacy for Children with Mental Health Concerns" two half-hour programs presented by Illinois Law, will air on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21 in Chicago, during the month of October. "Mental Health Concerns in the Juvenile Court" will air at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, October 4 and 18, and "School Advocacy for Children with Mental Health Concerns" will air at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, October 11 and 25. Illinois Law is a cable production of the Illinois State Bar Association.

    Appearing on the shows are Nancy Z. Hablutzel (front), a Chicago lawyer and program moderator; and (from left) Bernard Glos, Ph.D., of Westmont; Joseph T. Monahan, of Monahan & Cohen in Chicago and a member of the ISBA Standing Committee on Mental Health Law; and Phil Milsk, Law Offices of Phil Milsk in New Lenox and a member of the ISBA Education Law Section Council.

    View previous programs online at iln.isba.org/blog/illinois-law-video

  • September 19, 2011 | Events
    Lawyers' Assistance Program to sponsor retreat for eating disorders and better health

    Lawyers' Assistance Program will sponsor a 24-hour retreat for eating disorders and better health on Oct. 28-29 at The Center in Palos Park. The program will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday evening and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will focus on healty eating, compulsive eating and the causes for behaviors related to food.

    Speakers will include Dr. Kimberly Dennis, a Chicago-area psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders; Judge Sheila Murphy, president of Lawyers' Assistance Program; Circuit Court Judge Allen Goldberg; Wheaton attorney Brigid Duffield and event chair CJ Muller of Palos Hills.

    Cost is $135 for single occupancy, $124 for double occupancy, and $65 for commuters. Space is limited. Contact Lawyers' Assistance Program at (312) 726-6607 to register or for more information.

  • September 19, 2011 | People
    Max Wildman 1919-2011

    It is with great sorrow that Wildman Harrold announces the death of Max Wildman — one of Chicago’s most legendary trial lawyers, founder of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP, mentor and role model to hundreds of young attorneys, and civic leader. Mr. Wildman passed away on September 16, 2011. He was 91.

    Although his lawyering skills were extolled on the front page of The Wall Street Journal and by Dirksen Federal Building court buffs whose newsletter ranked him “number one,” Wildman took his greatest pride in starting Wildman Harrold in 1967 and watching it grow from a small operation to a national law firm whose longstanding reputation in litigation is now complemented by its intellectual property and transactional practices. The firm represents private businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

    Such growth could only be dreamed of over forty years ago, when Wildman, already recognized as one of Chicago’s top trial lawyers for his representation of clients like IBM, left a secure position at the well-established Kirkland, Fleming, Green, Martin & Ellis (now Kirkland & Ellis LLP) to strike out on his own with three partners and two associates.

  • September 16, 2011 | People
    Law Firm of Ruben Firsel & Rosenfeld LLC opens its doors

    Philip E. Ruben, Michael D. Firsel and Ronald Rosenfeld are pleased to announce that they have formed a new firm, Ruben Firsel & Rosenfeld LLC. With offices in Bannockburn and Chicago, Illinois, the new firm will serve business and individual clients with expertise in corporate law, real estate, securities, estate planning and other fields.

    The new firm brings together over 75 years of combined experience between its partners, who  offer superior, creative legal skills with a highly personalized representation philosophy. According to managing partner Phil Ruben, “We are offering our clients the best of all worlds: exceptionally qualified and experienced legal advice in a firm that allows for individualized, innovative and proactive service and with a fee structure that can be tailored to each client’s individual needs.”

    For more information about Ruben Firsel & Rosenfeld LLC, contact the firm at 847 582-9900 or info@rfrlegal.com.

  • September 16, 2011 | People
    Nat P. Ozmon 1925-2011

    Nat P. Ozmon, a member of the Illinois State Bar Association's Academy of Illinois Lawyers's Laureate Class of 2003, died on Sept. 14, 2011, in Chicago at the age of 86 of natural causes. Ozmon was the senior member and founder of the Chicago law firm Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen, Ltd

    He was born in Davenport, IA, attended college at New York University and received his law degree from Northwestern University, ranking first in his class. He was elected to the Board of Law Review Editors and installed in the Order of Coif, a legal scholastic honor society.

    Mr. Ozmon's 40 years as a trial and appellate lawyer was dedicated to preserving and enhancing the rights of injured victims. He was certified by the American Board of Trial Advocates, a diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, a fellow and a founder of the Roscoe Pound Foundation, the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and the Institute for Injury Reduction. He was a recognized leader of the bar and has served on the managing boards of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Society of Trial Lawyers. He was also a past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He was an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University School of Law where he taught Trial Advocacy senior law students for ten years. The Harvard Law School Study listed him as one of "The Best Lawyers in America." He also received the Leonard Ring Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to victims rights and trial by jury.

  • September 15, 2011 | Practice News
    Buick appointed associate judge in 16th Circuit

    The Illinois Supreme Court has announced today that Marcy L. Buick received most of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit and is declared to be appointed to the office of associate judge.

    Ms. Buick received her undergraduate degree in 1986 from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and her Juris Doctor in 1990 from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Ms. Buick is currently engaged in practice with The Foster & Buick Law Group, LLC in Sycamore,
    Illinois.

  • September 15, 2011 | People
    Donald A. Gillies 1931-2011

    Donald A. Gillies, 79, of Wilmette, formerly of Winnetka, passed away on August 12, 2011. Mr. Gillies was the beloved husband of Judith; loving father of Beth; dear brother of Jean.

    A 1953 graduate of Denison University, Mr. Gillies was a member of Phi Beta Kappa; he earned the J.D. at Northwestern University in 1956. Specializing in taxation and estate law, Don was a partner with the law firm Altheimer & Gray, which he joined in 1961, and was Of Counsel with Holland & Knight from 2003 until his retirement. He was a former Illinois State Chairman of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and had served as Chairman of the Federal Taxation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and a longtime member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Don had been a regular contributor to professional law journals and a frequent public speaker for professional organizations.

    From 1977 to 1983, Don served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago. He served for 27 years until his retirement in 2001 as Board President of The Baptist Theological Union, located in Chicago. He was also Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Baptist Retirement Home in Maywood, Illinois. In addition, he was President from 1986-1988 of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, the oldest philanthropic organization in Illinois. He was recognized each year for over twenty years in "The Best Lawyers in America" since its First Edition in 1983.