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Chicago Area

  • June 15, 2011 | ISBA News | People
    Young Lawyers present $5,500 grant to PILI
    The IBF/YLD Children's Assistance Fund approved a grant of $5,500 to sponsor an ISBA/YLD Summer Intern at Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) for the summer. PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann (left) received the check from YLD Chair Bob Fink (right). This grant will provide for intern Arturo Hernandez (center), a law student at John Marshall Law School, to work at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless this summer.
  • June 14, 2011 | People
    Michael J. Martin 1960-2011
    [caption id="attachment_20052" align="alignright" width="148" caption="Michael J. Martin"][/caption] Michael J. Martin, age 51; beloved husband of Karen Martin, nee Cecka; loving father of Kevin Michael Martin, James K. Martin and John R. Martin; dear son of Kenneth J. and H. Jane Martin; cherished brother of Therese A. (Mark) Hansen and James E. (Peggy) Martin; fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Thursday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Funeral Friday 9:15 AM from Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main St. (1 blk. S. of Ogden) Downers Grove to St. Mary of Gostyn Church. Mass 10:00 AM. Interment Private. Memorials to Chicago Youth Programs, 5350 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago, IL 60615 or www.chicagoyouthprograms.org are appreciated. More information at 630-968-1000 or www.adamswinterfieldsullivan.com
  • June 14, 2011 | People
    Robert M. Karton elected President of the Union League Club of Chicago
    [caption id="attachment_20108" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Robert M. Karton"][/caption] The Union League Club of Chicago has elected attorney Robert M. Karton, its president. A colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, Karton serves as commander of the Civil Air Patrol’s Great Lakes Region. The Union League Club of Chicago is America’s number one city club, according to a recent independent survey of 6,000 club managers, presidents and directors. It owns one of the nation’s largest privately held art collections with more than 700 pieces of Midwestern and American fine art. Established in 1879 in support of the federal Union, the Club is comprised of men and women who play active roles in the public, civic, cultural and philanthropic affairs of the Chicago metropolitan area. “Traditions, customs and courtesies, collegiality, commitment to community and country, support of philanthropy, and service to our great City and State are the fabric and strength of our Club. These are the principles which have made and continue to make the Union League Club of Chicago special,” said Karton.
  • June 13, 2011 | People
    Blair joins Levin Schreder & Carey
    Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. welcomes associate Charles G. Blair to the firm. Blair has been practicing law for seven years and focuses his practice on estate planning and administration. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., Blair practiced law at Wildman Harrold. Blair received his J.D. from John Marshall Law School (2004) and his B.S. in Interpersonal/Public Communications from Northern Illinois University (1992). “We are very pleased to have Chuck join our estate planning team. He will help expand our ability to continue to provide high quality timely service to our sophisticated client base,” noted Carleen Schreder, who founded the firm with partner Bob Levin in 1988. Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. is a law firm focused on federal income tax, estate tax and gift tax planning and controversy resolution for individuals and closely-held businesses. The firm is one of the largest law firms devoted exclusively to income tax and estate planning and related litigation in the Chicago area. For more information, visit the firm’s website at: www.levinschreder.com.
  • June 9, 2011 | People
    ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year Diana Law sworn-in as president of Kane County Bar Association
    [caption id="attachment_20005" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Diana Law"][/caption] During the Annual Membership Dinner and Awards Ceremony on June 2, Diana M. Law was sworn in as the Kane County Bar Association President, 2011 – 2012. Presiding over the ceremony was Justice Ann B. Jorgensen, Presiding Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District.  State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia of Aurora, presented House Resolution 366 recognizing Diana as President of the Kane County Bar Association.  Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge F. Keith Brown introduced Diana and also read a congratulatory letter from Attorney General Lisa Madigan. A managing partner at the Aurora Law Firm of Law ElderLaw, Diana has been a member of the KCBA Board of Managers for four years.  Diana is co-chair of the Delivery of Legal Services Committee and is a member of several other KCBA committees.  Named the Kane County Bar Association Outstanding New Lawyer in 2007, Diana was selected in 2010 as the Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year.
  • June 9, 2011 | People
    Michael P. Schostok awarded ITLA's Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award
    [caption id="attachment_20001" align="alignright" width="133" caption="Michael P. Schostok"][/caption] Michael P. Schostok of Waukegan will be awarded the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Convention on Friday, June 10, 2011. The convention will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois. The criteria of the award are as follows: “This award is given annually at the convention banquet to someone selected by a committee appointed by the president. The recipient is someone who has devoted, as Leonard did, a substantial part of their life and their practice to ITLA, someone who has done more than is called for. Someone who had the standards of Leonard, the work ethics of Leonard and the commitment to ITLA that Leonard had. At the same time, it keeps alive the memory of Leonard Ring.” Michael Schostok, 50, earned his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1983. In 1986, he received his law degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Schostok was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. Schostok served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Lake County from 1986 until 1989. His duties included prosecution of traffic, misdemeanor, juvenile and felony crimes. From there, he pursued private practice joining the Law Offices of Patrick A.
  • June 8, 2011 | People
    Lewin joins Johnson Legal Group as special counsel
    [caption id="attachment_19956" align="alignright" width="150" caption="David Lewin"][/caption] David M. Lewin, experienced in commercial and insurance litigation and condominium association representation, is pleased to be acting as special counsel to Johnson Legal Group, LLC. Dave is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit, the Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and several other District Courts nationwide including Colorado, Michigan and Iowa. He has practiced literally from coast to coast, handling cases from Washington to Florida. He was awarded a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1992. He obtained a B.A., graduating with honors, from Loyola University of Chicago in 1989. Dave is a recognized authority in risk shifting for contractors and the Illinois doctrine of "targeted tenders," and has written and spoken on the subject at several regional and national conferences. He has authored numerous publications regarding insurance and construction issues. Cindy Johnson, the firm's Managing Member and a member of the ISBA Commercial Banking, Collections & Bankruptcy Law Section Council, said, "We are very pleased to have someone with Dave's unique areas of expertise acting in a special counsel capacity to our firm."
  • June 8, 2011 | Practice News
    3 U.S. bankruptcy judge positions open
    The Judicial Council of the Seventh Circuit is now seeking applicants for three bankruptcy judge positions for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Subsequent to the notice seeking applicants for the positions currently occupied by retiring Bankruptcy Judge John Squires and Bankruptcy Judge Jack Schmetterer who will continue as a senior judge, Bankruptcy Judge Susan Pierson Sonderby announced her retirement next May. The committee has therefore extended the deadline for applications until July 5, 2011. All applicants will be considered for all three positions. An applicant must also be willing to travel to other courts in the circuit to handle cases as need arises. Interested applicants may obtain an application from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit website at www.ca7.uscourts.gov. Persons interested in applying for these positions should send their applications to:
    • Collins T. Fitzpatrick
    • Circuit Executive
    • Judicial Council of the Seventh Circuit
    • 2780 U.S. Courthouse
    • 219 South Dearborn Street
    • Chicago, Illinois 60604
    In making the appointment, applicants will be reviewed without discrimination as to race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. Applicants should be admitted to practice in at least one state court and be members in good standing of every bar of which they are members. Applicants should possess and have a reputation for integrity and good character and be of sound physical and mental health. Applicants must possess and have demonstrated a commitment to equal justice under law.
  • June 2, 2011 | Events | ISBA News
    IBF to host reception honoring ISBA President Mark Hassakis
    [caption id="attachment_19718" align="alignright" width="150" caption="ISBA President Mark D. Hassakis"][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation will host a reception honoring ISBA President Mark D. Hassakis on July 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The reception will be held in Chicago at the 33 Club, 1419 N. Wells. President Hassakis has focused his year on juvenile justice reform and has visited multiple juvenile justice facilities throughout the state. For more information, contact Karen Kossart at (312) 726-6072 or visit the IBF website at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org.
  • June 2, 2011 | Events | People
    Hellenic Bar Association hosts Judge's Night
    [caption id="attachment_19712" align="alignright" width="300" caption="On hand for the Hellenic Bar Association's Judge's Affair were (left to right): Dean Kanellos (Director of the HBA), Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Hon. Nicholas Geannopoulos, Hon. Paul C. Lillios, Hon. Demetrios G. Kottaras, The Honorable Peggy Chiampas (Director of the HBA), and Harry J. Fournier, president of the HBA."][/caption] On March 21, 2011 the Hellenic Bar Association hosted a reception at the Greek Islands Restaurant in Greek Town to honor The Honorable Paul C. Lillios, The Honorable Demetrios G. Kottaras, The Honorable Nicholas Geannopoulos, and The Honorable Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos. Judge Lillios, a past president of the Hellenic Bar Association, was recently appointed as the Associate Chief Administrative Law Judge for the United States Social Security Administration. Judge Lillios leads and manages nationwide the administrative judiciary hearings process of the Social Security Administration.