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Two ISBA members recently joined Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C. Cecilio L. Franco IV has joined as counsel. Mr. Franco, formerly of Johnson & Bell, has a wide range of experience in product liability, construction and tort defense. Marcus R. Morrow, formerly of Segal McCambridge, has joined the firm as an associate. Mr. Morrow will focus his practice on general and professional liability defense matters.
Two ISBA members recently join Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP.
Shannon E. Buckley, who also joins the Chicago office, focuses her practice in Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes, as well as Medical Negligence and Healthcare. She received her J.D. cum laude from The John Marshall Law School in 2017 and her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013.
Robert C. Rakers joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Madison County (Edwardsville) office. He focuses his practice on Asbestos Litigation, Toxic Tort Litigation, Product Liability, and General Trial Practice. Rakers received his J.D. in 2013 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and his B.A. in 2010 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISBA member Margaret M. Walsh was elevated from staff attorney to associate at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., where she started as a law clerk. Walsh’s practice includes secured lending, commercial real estate, and corporate transactions. She spends a majority of her time conducting diligence along with negotiating and drafting documents for secured finance transactions for commercial real estate, asset and stock purchases, and construction. When Walsh isn’t working on a financial transaction, she provides legal advice to business owners in entity structuring and ownership issues and prepares organizational documents and agreements.
Walsh received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law, and received her Bachelor of Arts from Governors State University.
ISBA member Ariane M. Janz recently joined the Chicago office of Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC.
Ms. Janz concentrates her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on commercial disputes and business & corporate law.
Prior to joining Howard & Howard, Ms. Janz served as a law clerk for the Honorable C.J. Williams, Chief United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Iowa. As a law student, she gained extensive experience as a summer associate at an Am Law 100 firm, as an intern in the Economics Section of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, and as an intern at a German law firm specializing in business law in Cologne. Ms. Janz is a native German speaker.
Ms. Janz received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Syracuse University in 2011, and her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2015 where she served as an articles editor for The Journal of Corporation Law. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and Minnesota.
Edmund H. Sadowski, 91, died on June 26, 2017 peacefully at his home with his beloved son Joe at his side. Ed was born on September 13, 1925 in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood to Pearl and Edmund J. Sadowski. He attended Bowen High School in 1943 and immediately upon graduation served as an aviation cadet in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.
Ed obtained his law degree from DePaul University, where he met and later married Marie (née Scribano). He was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court bar in 1958, though never practiced before the court. He worked as an attorney for the Illinois Department of Housing and Urban Development, as president of Century Savings and Loan in Chicago, and as a real estate attorney. He reluctantly gave up his law practice when he was in his late 80s. Ed always had his toolbox at hand and was known for his ability to fix anything...whether you wanted it fixed or not! He completely rehabbed their home in the Beverly neighborhood and until his final days kept their Darien home, his children's homes, and the family cottage in good working order.
Michael S. Holewinski, of Chicago, passed away June 19, 2017. Mike was born April 30, 1947 to Stanley and Genevieve Holewinski, who preceded him in death. Mike enjoyed an accomplished life, which included toy buyer for Montgomery Ward, pilot, Illinois legislator, attorney, administrative assistant to Mayor Harold Washington, vice chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and, most significant to him, a manufacturer. He took over the family business, Ace Plating Company, and continued to build his manufacturing empire with Acme Spinning Company, F&S Stamping, Cano Tool, Art Specialty and Barnes Plating. When he wasn't working, Mike preferred to relax on the beaches of South Maui and Chetek, WI. He always looked forward to spending time with his family, the "Cousins" and his many friends and neighbors. Mike was a political junkie who relished a good debate. He is thrilled to finally be with his beloved daughter, Annie, after 17 years.
Stephen H. Katz, 75, passed in the early afternoon of June 20, 2017. He was a mentor to aspiring lawyers and always willing to give of his time to help colleagues. He began his career in the Judge Advocate General's Corp during the Vietnam War and was a founding partner of Katz, Goldstein, & Warren.
Among his professional distinctions, he was elected as one of the top 20 divorce lawyers in the Chicagoland area by Northshore Magazine, a member in the Leading Lawyer Network, and a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He retired after a nearly 50-year career, known as a formidable matrimonial lawyer.
He had a quick wit and sense of humor, adored classical music and opera, was an avid cook, reader, handball player and golfer, and had a never-ending thirst for knowledge. While Stephen spent a career as a well-respected attorney, his love and passion was always his family. He was a dedicated and loving husband, son, father, brother, and grandfather.
Robert E. Bard, 99, died on June 4, 2017, in Tempe, AZ. He grew up in Chicago and attended Tilden Technical High School, and graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1940. During World War II, he served in the 1st Armored Division, in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in 1943. After the war, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves, and retired as Lt. Col.
Mr. Bard graduated from Harvard Law School in 1948, and began practicing law at Wilson & McIlvaine in Chicago. In 1952, while working on a cigarette tax evasion case, he was appointed assistant attorney general of Illinois by Gov. Adlai Stevenson. Mr. Bard later worked for the Seng Co., Chicago, a manufacturer of furniture hardware, and he became president of the Seng Co. in 1966. He later received a MA from John Marshall Law School, Chicago, and practiced federal taxation law in Chicago with Bates, Dupree, Bard & Wilson.
He and his family were long-time residents of Park Ridge, and later Chicago. Mr. Bard and his wife Rosemary retired to Scottsdale, AZ in 1985. He lost Rosemary in 1997 due to cancer. Through a support group for those who had lost their spouses, Mr. Bard eventually met Marion Shaw, whom he married, and they spent 10 happy years together.
Mr. Bard is survived by his daughters Kathryn and Sara Bard, his grandson, Joshua Lazar, and stepchildren Leslie and Jeffrey Shaw.
John Gordon Postweiler, age 70 of Palos Park, passed away on June 2, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Margaret (nee Behrens) for 36 years and the loving father of Gregory G. (Catherine) Postweiler. He was the cherished brother of Joyce (Charles) Duesing and fond brother-in-law of Nancy Roko. He was the devoted and loving uncle of Blain Duesing, Chaney Roko, Ellyde (Darnell) Thompson, Jonathan (Sophal) Roko, and the late Jasmine Roko as well as great-uncle to nieces and a nephew. John was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Dorothy Postweiler, formerly of Blue Island. A dedicated attorney, John was a loyal friend, willing confidant, and sage counselor.
Morton Freer Dorothy III, 69, of Mount Vernon passed away on Friday, June 16, at his residence in Mount Vernon.He was born on April 2, 1948, in Mount Vernon to parents Morton Freer Dorothy Jr. and Lou Ann (Grant) Dorothy. He married Claudia Minor on Aug. 8, 1981, in Mount Vernon.
Morton worked as an attorney in a private practice and served on the Illinois Pollution Control Board, penning many of the state's environmental regulations. He was an honorary merit scholar for his high academic achievements while at Mount Vernon High School. Morton was awarded the Champaign County Bar Association Pro Bono Award and was a self-proclaimed advocate for hopeless causes, doing whatever he could to always help people in need.
He had a great work ethic and endlessly kept himself busy, which is evident through his many hobbies and interests. He was a renaissance man and amateur carpenter, historian, genealogist and naturalist.