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  • June 2, 2010 | People
    Lawless named partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck
    [caption id="attachment_11892" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Michelle Lawless"][/caption] Michelle Lawless has been named partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck after distinguishing herself as an associate since 2002. Ms. Lawless came to Schiller DuCanto and Fleck LLP following two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Moshe Jacobius, Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division, Circuit Court of Cook County. During that time, she also served as Division Attorney and Administrator of the Cook County Child Representative Program. Ms. Lawless received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English from Indiana University and her Juris Doctorate degree from St. Louis University School of Law. In 2009, Michelle was recognized as one of 40 attorneys to watch who were under 40 years of age by the Chicago Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
  • June 1, 2010 | People
    Rickert joins Health Care Practice at Krieg DeVault
    [caption id="attachment_11865" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Edward Rickert"][/caption] Krieg DeVault is proud to announce that Edward D. Rickert has joined the firm's growing Health Care Practice as Partner. Mr. Rickert, an attorney and pharmacist, joins Krieg DeVault after 14 years in practice at Smith, Rickert & Smith where his health care practice focused on regulatory compliance for clients in the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain, including manufacturers, drug wholesalers, pharmacies and pharmacists. Mr. Rickert will continue to focus on pharmacy law matters at Krieg DeVault. Mr. Rickert brings over 22 years of legal experience to Krieg DeVault. He has counseled independent, national/chain and mail service pharmacies, pharmacy benefit management companies, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, drug and device wholesale distributors, and health care technology vendors. Mr. Rickert, a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.S. in Pharmacy, obtained his law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. He is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois and will assist clients from the firm's Chicago office. Krieg DeVault LLP is a 140-professional, diversified law firm representing a wide variety of local, regional and national clients.
  • May 28, 2010 | People
    Former prosecutor Mangum forms solo practice
    [caption id="attachment_11841" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jameika Williams Mangum"][/caption] McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Jameika Williams Mangum has resigned to form The Mangum Law Firm, LLC. As an Assistant State’s Attorney, Ms. Mangum handled a variety of matters ranging from traffic to domestic violence. Prior to joining the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Ms. Mangum was an Assistant District Attorney for the state of New Mexico. While there, Ms. Mangum handled misdemeanors in the city of Albuquerque. Ms. Mangum is a former Law Clerk of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The Mangum Law Firm, LLC is a general practice firm, with a focus on Traffic, Family, and Criminal law. Amid the recession, Mangum is excited about the new practice, and looks forward to serving residents and businesses in Illinois. In response to criticism about the timing of the formation, Mangum states, “I’m well aware of the fact that the practice of law is not recession proof, but I’m excited about being available to cater to the needs of Illinois residents with legal issues.” Ms. Mangum is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and has recently been appointed to the ISBA Assembly seat serving Cook County.
  • May 18, 2010 | People
    Owens joins Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP
    [caption id="attachment_11580" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Chip Owens"][/caption] Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP is pleased to announce that Bernard H. (Chip) Owens III has joined the firm as an associate. “We are pleased Chip has joined our firm to support our active employment and litigation practices,” noted William F. Satterlee, III, the firm’s Managing Partner. Mr. Owens, who is located in the firm’s Merrillville office, concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment, and commercial litigation. He joined the firm after practicing with an area sole practitioner. Mr. Owens received his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2009. While in law school, Mr. Owens served on the Moot Court Executive Board. Mr. Owens received both an MBA and undergraduate degree in Finance from Western Illinois University. Prior to entering legal practice, Mr. Owens was a financial analyst with Dyson, Inc. Previous to that, he worked on a wide array of business matters including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance with Accenture, LLP. With offices in Valparaiso and Merrillville, the law firm of Hoeppner Wagner & Evans has been rooted in Northwest Indiana for more than 100 years. The firm handles litigation and general business counseling matters, including labor and employment, insurance, real estate, commercial transactions and wealth and estate planning matters.
  • May 11, 2010 | People
    Stumpf, Gutknecht form new law practice
    [caption id="attachment_11422" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Alan Stumpf"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_11423" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Timothy Gutknecht"][/caption] Alan E. Stumpf has announced that Tim Gutknecht of Waterloo will join him in his law practice, located in Columbia effective May 3. “I’m very pleased to have Tim join me,” Mr. Stumpf said. “I have known Tim for many years. We look forward to serving our clients together.” Tim is a graduate of Amherst College and Washington University School of Law. The new firm will be known as Stumpf & Gutknecht, P.C. The firm will provide counsel for families and their businesses in most aspects of general law practice, including real estate transactions, estate planning and probate matters, financial transactions, criminal law litigation, general civil litigation, commercial litigation, real estate litigation, estate litigation, family law matters, municipal, and appellate representation. Stumpf and Gutknecht have a combined 50 years of legal experience and are active in the community. The offices of Stumpf & Gutknecht, P.C.
  • May 10, 2010 | People
    Shapiro joins Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.
    Lauren S. Shapiro has joined the Chicago Office of Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., where she will concentrate on labor and employment law.  She counsels employers in all aspects of labor and employment law including hiring, terminations, reductions in force, employee discipline issues, labor relations, policies and practices, employment agreements, settlement agreements, severance matters and federal and state employment discrimination matters. Prior to joining Robbins Schwartz, Lauren served as an Associate General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150. Since its founding in 1970, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor Ltd. has provided a full range of legal services to educational institutions, public entities and private sector clients.  With offices in Chicago, Joliet, Decatur and Collinsville, Robbins, Schwartz is uniquely positioned to serve schools, colleges and municipal bodies, as well as clients in the corporate sector throughout Illinois.  For a complete description of the legal services provided by Robbins Schwartz visit the Firm’s website at www.rsnlt.com
  • May 6, 2010 | People
    Goering leads group of 7 former Lovells attorneys to Foley
    Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that seven former Lovells LLP attorneys have joined the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation Practice. The group, led by Gail Goering, Eric Haab and Neal Moglin will reside in Foley’s Chicago office. Goering, Haab and Moglin join Foley as partners. Also joining the firm from Lovells are Kay Wilde as of counsel, Peter Steffen as senior counsel, and Edward Diffin and Katherine Markowski as associates. All of the group’s partners have been recognized as leading practitioners in the field of insurance and reinsurance law by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Euromoney and Super Lawyers, and are listed in Who’s Who Legal Illinois and The International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers. “The arrival of Gail, Eric, Neal and their colleagues marks a major accomplishment for Foley's Insurance and Reinsurance practice,” said Gordon Davenport III, chair of Foley’s Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation Practice Group. “The vast experience they bring in advising clients on a broad array of complex insurance and reinsurance issues will further enhance the service our firm has been providing to clients in the insurance industry for more than 100 years.” Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, Foley strives to provide high-caliber business and legal insight. Our team-based approach, proprietary client service technology, and practice depth enhance client relationships while seeing clients through their most complex legal challenges.
  • May 6, 2010 | People
    Continued growth spurs Swanson, Martin & Bell to 100-attorney mark
    With the arrival of several new partners and associates in recent months, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP now has 100 attorneys practicing among its three offices. Attorneys John D. Malarkey and Richard P. Tauras have joined Swanson, Martin & Bell as partners. Mr. Malarkey, formerly at Freeborn & Peters, now serves as Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Litigation and Services Practice Group. Mr. Tauras, formerly at Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey, focuses his practice on the defense of toxic tort, product liability and professional negligence. The firm has also welcomed associates Eric M. Anderson, Jeffrey S. Becker, Dane A. Bolinger, Andrew H. Calcutt, Jason M. Clarke, Megan E. Schneider, Ryan J. Sullivan, Christopher D. Wehrman and Shera D. Wiegler. These partners and associates are preceded by numerous other additions in past months. In fact, since February 2009, Swanson, Martin & Bell has added 18 new attorneys. “We are thrilled with our ability to grow despite a challenging economy,” said Managing Partner Timothy D. Nickels. “These additional attorneys allow us to offer a broader range of experience to our clients.” Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is a nationally recognized litigation firm with offices in Chicago, Libertyville and Lisle. Since its inception in 1992, the firm has grown to approximately 100 attorneys in nineteen practice areas. Website: www.smbtrials.com.
  • April 30, 2010 | People
    Blitz, Gallo named partners at Berger Schatz
    Berger Schatz has announced that Brian J. Blitz and Claudia Gallo have become partners of the firm. Blitz received his B.A. from the University of Texas in 1999 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois in 2002. He represents clients in all areas of family and matrimonial law, dispute resolution and litigation. Mr. Blitz is also the author of several articles on the financial aspects of divorce. Gallo received her B.A. from Loyola University in 1996 and her J.D. from IIT-Kent in 1999. She represents clients in all areas of family and matrimonial law, including divorce, paternity and custody matters. Her work includes every aspect of representation necessary in family law matters such as contested court proceedings, complex negotiation and financial analysis.
  • April 27, 2010 | People
    Koch joins Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C.
    [caption id="attachment_10795" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jocelyn L. Koch"][/caption] The Rockford law firm of Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C., announced that Jocelyn L. Koch has joined the firm as an associate attorney. A native of Rockford, Koch graduated from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington in 2007. She received a B.A. degree in Political Science and Pre-Law, with minors in American History and Theatre Arts, from the University of Iowa in 2004. Admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2007 and to the Illinois State Bar in 2009, Koch is a member of the Winnebago County and Illinois State Bar Associations. Her legal practice is concentrated in the areas of Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy and Workouts, Business and Commercial Litigation, Employment and Labor Law, and Insurance Coverage. Holmstrom & Kennedy is a 16-lawyer general practice firm which has provided a full range of legal services throughout Northern Illinois for over a century. Its attorneys’ practices include civil litigation, estate planning, commercial and business transactions, employment law, health care law, intellectual property, bankruptcy/creditors’ rights, alternate dispute resolution, and real estate.