The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Chicago Area

  • April 18, 2017 | CLE
    CLE: Balancing the Scales

    In honor of Mother’s Day and in celebration of women attorneys everywhere, please join us in Chicago on May 11, 2017, for lunch and a private screening of a new documentary about the historical challenges and contributions of women in the profession of law, featuring interviews with United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, and other notable lawyers. The filmmaker, Sharon Rowen, will be present to discuss the film following the viewing, with the opportunity to ask questions at the end.

  • April 14, 2017 | People
    Camille Ada Oliver Hoffmann 1927-2017

    Camille Ada Oliver Hoffmann, 90, of Stuart, FL, and a former long-time resident of Naperville, IL, passed away under the care of Hospice of the Treasure Coast with her two daughters by her side. 

    She was born March 13, 1927, in Chicago, to the late James and Ada-Marie Oliver.  She was a graduate of Lake Forest College in 1949, and later received her law degree in 1952 from DePaul University, in Chicago. 

    Camille was the second woman in the States Attorney’s Office in Illinois and the first woman lawyer in DuPage County’s States Attorney’s office. 

    Camille founded Oliver Construction in the 50s and was later joined by her husband in forming the Oliver Hoffmann Development Corporation of Naperville that developed many residential land projects including, Rock Ridge, Stillwater, Paddocks Subdivision, Kinloch, River Run, Spring Brook Square, and Ash Wood Creek, all of Naperville and many developments in Aurora, Oswego, Sugar Grove, and Batavia. 

    Camille funded many medical projects for Edward Hospital for equipment purchases as well as being a founding annual supporter of Ribfest. She headed the Open Door annual Winter Coat Drive, and formal wear drive for their annual dance for special needs adults. Camille personally tutored the handicapped in both oral and written communication. 

  • April 14, 2017 | People
    Keith E. Yard 1961-2017

    Keith E. Yard, 55, of Morris, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in Loyola Medical Center in Chicago. Born August 31, 1961 in Morris, he was the son of the late Kenneth and Virginia (Walden) Yard. 

    Raised and educated in Morris, Keith graduated from Morris High School with the Class of 1979. He received his B.S. from Western Illinois University and then attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, where he obtained his J.D.

    Survived by his children, Leah (Daniel) Peat of St. Joseph, MI, Mark Yard of Morris, Christopher (Katie Walker) Yard of Dwight, and Riley Yard of Mazon; Darla Yard Roe of Mazon; grandchildren, Violet and Arthur Peat, and Lucas Yard. He is also survived by two brothers, Jim (Karla) Yard and Kevin Yard, both of Morris; and one sister, Denise (Greg) Gillespie of Varna, IL.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother in infancy, Kenneth Eugene.

  • April 11, 2017 | CLE
    CLE: Settlement in Federal Court Cases

    Back by popular demand! Learn the tips of the trade as several panels of federal judges, retired federal judges, and mediators share everything you need to know about settlement in the federal courts. Attorneys with all level of experience practicing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals who attend this seminar in Chicago on May 10, 2017 will gain a better understanding of: meeting the judges’ expectations for pre-settlement preparations; preparing your client for settlement; how to conduct the settlement conference, including conference procedures and techniques to help both parties come to a settlement agreement; what not to do during a settlement; how to handle settlement compliance issues and the court’s ability to enforce the settlement agreements; and the Seventh Circuit’s settlement program procedures.

    The program is presented by the ISBA Federal Civil Practice Section and co-sponsored by the Seventh Circuit Bar Association. It qualifies for 3.75 hours MCLE credit, including 3.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • April 11, 2017 | People
    Timothy Murphy 1955-2017

    Timothy J. Murphy, 62, passed away due to complications from his relentless battle with cancer on April 4, 2017. Survived by wife of 37 years Kathleen (Meersman), children Sarah (Joe) Reth, Patrick (Ryan) Murphy, Claire (John) Hollyoak, and Jack Murphy, grandson Owen Reth, parents Robert and Dolores Murphy, many loving brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and large extended family. Tim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, brother-in-law, nephew and friend.

    Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Tim was proud of his Chicago roots. He enthusiastically cheered for the Chicago White Sox, Blackhawks and Northwestern Wildcats. An alum of DePaul Law School, he was a dedicated and dogged attorney that practiced his talents in the city for over 37 years. Devout in his faith, he believed strongly in helping and serving others and his community, including as a committed member of the Mt. Prospect Lions Club. He brought energy and zest to every occasion and enjoyed life to the absolute fullest. He loved getting together with friends, going to countless rock concerts, and making others laugh with his wit and humor. He was a loyal friend, willing confidant, peacemaker and sage counselor and will be missed by all. 

  • April 11, 2017 | People
    SmithAmundsen Promotes Thomas Hayden, Yesha Sutaria Hoeppner, and Kay Weiler to Partner

    The law firm of SmithAmundsen recently promoted the following attorneys to partner based on professional achievement: Thomas Hayden, Yesha Sutaria Hoeppner, and Kay Weiler.

    Thomas Hayden is a member of the Construction and Product Liability practice groups in the firm’s Chicago office. He focuses on a wide range of areas including products liability, construction negligence, transportation, retail claims, and municipal tort liability. He has represented clients in matters involving commercial litigation, real estate, regulatory issues, civil rights, and numerous other areas of law, and has experience defending personal injury and insurance subrogation claims.

    Yesha Sutaria Hoeppner is a member of the Class Action, Commercial Litigation and Toxic Tort & Environmental practice groups in the firm’s Chicago office. She defends clients ranging from small businesses to publicly traded, multimillion dollar companies in a wide variety of class action cases in federal and state courts across the country. Yesha regularly serves clients dealing with consumer fraud and marketing related issues, product defect, breach of contract, and violations of statutes and regulations.

  • April 7, 2017 | People
    Larry Oldfield 1944-2017

    E. Lawrence "Larry" Oldfield, 72, passed away March 18, 2017. Larry was born December 21, 1944 in Lake Forest and was raised in Brooklyn, NY.

    He attended Long Island University and Wheaton College. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the 3rd Missile Battalion, 21st Artillery Regiment, where he earned the nickname "Barney" as the Colonel's driver. He received his B.A. in political science from Northern Illinois University and became a Federal Agent for HUD before enrolling at DePaul University Law School in Chicago.

    Larry was as an attorney for Ruff & Grotefeld, Ltd., The Hartford Fire Insurance Company as general counsel in the Livestock Department for 10 years, and in 1987, started his own firm, E. Lawrence Oldfield & Associates, in Oak Brook. He then founded Oldfield & Fox, P.C. in 2000. Since 2015, Larry was of counsel, for Stock, Carlson, Oldfield & McGrath LLC. Larry defended litigation cases involving cattle rustling and the sale or purchase of stolen or mortgaged livestock in 26 states and 19 federal jurisdictions, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He was involved in 15 reported appellate cases in the United States, including one that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the preferred legal counsel in the United States for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), and an annual speaker at their conference. He held the highest peer review rating (AV-Preeminent) from Martindale-Hubbell.

  • April 7, 2017 | People
    Hon. John Darrah 1938-2017

    John Darrah, age 78, devoted husband, loving father of five, loving stepfather of five, proud grandfather of nineteen, and doting great-grandfather of three, passed away peacefully at his home March 23, 2017. Born on December 11, 1938, on Chicago's south side, Jack was the eldest son of Paul and Adele Darrah.

    Following his graduation from Mt. Carmel High School, Jack went to Loyola University where he graduated with a degree in philosophy. Jack attended night school while working at the Chicago pipeyard. He graduated from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1969. He served as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 until 1973, he was a deputy public defender for the DuPage County Public Defender's Office. Jack was a DuPage County assistant state's attorney from 1973 until 1976. Then, Jack went into private practice at Ryan & Darrah. In 1986, Jack was elected to serve in the State Court, assigned to the Chancery Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. Jack served in this capacity until 2000, when he was appointed to the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President Bill Clinton. In addition to his time on the bench, Jack served as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University College of Law and The John Marshall Law School. Jack remained active in the legal community mentoring countless attorneys throughout their careers.

  • April 6, 2017 | CLE
    CLE: 16th Annual Environmental Law Conference

    Don’t miss ISBA’s 16th Annual Illinois Environmental Law Conference in Chicago on May 4-5, 2017!

    Once again, this two-day premier conference features annual updates on agency activities and priorities in Illinois and the Region presented by top representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. In addition, you won’t want to miss the lively two-hour professional ethics session on “Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues Arising in Environmental Law” and a new plenary session on “Carbon-Sequestration Technology.” Attendees will also learn about the latest hot topics in environmental law from leading practitioners, including: the evolving regulation of lead in drinking water; federal, state, local, private, and non-profit sector response to the legal and political dynamics of carbon; watershed-level pollution reduction strategies; the public and private rights of Lake Michigan shores; understanding how pharmaceuticals and personal care products are contaminating the environment and the legal developments surrounding this issue; how two recent federal developments may impact the management of hazardous materials and chemicals; what to do after buying an environmentally-impacted property; the ongoing issues with “The Clean Water Rule and the “waters of the United States”; techniques to enforce the RCRA air emission standards; and much more!

  • April 6, 2017 | People
    Ward Phelps Fisher 1925-2017

    Ward Phelps Fisher, 91, a fifty year resident of Oak Park, died peacefully on March 22, 2017. A lifelong Chicagoan, Ward was born May 26, 1925.

    In his youth, he was president of his class at McKinley High School and an Eagle Scout. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in WWII and served as a lieutenant. He received his B.S. in political science from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1952. He was a passionate defender of truth, justice, and freedom ,and fought in the courts and in life for social justice and individual and civil rights. He practiced law in the state of Illinois for more than 60 years.

    Ward married his high school sweetheart, Rita Guerrieri, who was an educational psychologist, in 1947. He is survived by daughters Joan Carroll (Rick) of Alexandria Township, NJ; Lynn Fisher (David Kundla) of Austin, TX; Karen Fisher of Chicago; grandchildren Lindsay, Chelsea, Giancarlo and Margarita and great grandson Griffin.

    A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m. at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street.