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  • February 19, 2010 | People
    Caruso opens new practice
    [caption id="attachment_8750" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Carmen D. Caruso"][/caption] Carmen D. Caruso, a nationally known franchise and distribution trial lawyer has moved to “The Chambers”, a dynamic suite of trial lawyers in downtown Chicago, where he will resume practice as The Law Office of Carmen D. Caruso, P.C. Caruso, 51, a litigator with 27 years of experience, represents franchising, dealership and distribution clients in a wide variety of industries, ranging from gas stations, restaurants, retailers and hotels to franchised manufacturers and health care clinics. “For the franchisee or dealer, a dispute with a franchisor or distributor can be a life or death, David versus Goliath case,” said Caruso, who has recovered millions of dollars for his franchisee/dealer clients, while saving as much or more for franchisor clients. Caruso moved to The Chambers, where lawyers practice on a lean and mean platform with the best litigation technology. Residents of The Cambers prepare their cases for trial in a mock courtroom with modern technology to better serve clients. Recognized as one of America’s most dedicated advocates for franchisees, dealers and their associations, Caruso has represented or advised clients in more than 100 franchise systems. Many of his cases have had a system wide impact and closely watched in franchising circles. Caruso received his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and a B.A.
  • February 19, 2010 | People
    Zaslavsky joins Arnstein & Lehr
    The Chicago law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP is pleased to announce that Marc S. Zaslavsky has joined its Chicago office as an associate in the Bankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights & Restructuring practice group. Mr. Zaslavsky received a B.A. in criminal justice from Indiana University in 2006 and a J.D., magna cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 2009, where he was a member of the Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He is also a member of the Illinois Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. While in law school, Mr. Zaslavsky received the CALI Award for Excellence in Legal Drafting: Transactions in the Fall 2008, and the CALI Award for Excellence in Legal Writing I and II in the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. Arnstein & Lehr LLP with offices in Illinois, Florida and Wisconsin, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected law firms. Since its founding in 1893, the firm has served clients of all sizes throughout the United States and abroad. It is a full-service firm with attorneys practicing in five main practice areas - Business, Litigation, Local Government, Tax and Estate Planning Services, and Real Estate. For additional information visit www.arnstein.com
  • February 17, 2010 | People
    Arnstein & Lehr promotes Caracciolo and Salinski to partner
    [caption id="attachment_8568" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jenifer Caracciolo"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_8569" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Tracey Salinski"][/caption] Arnstein & Lehr LLP is pleased to announce that two of its attorneys have been promoted to partnership in the Chicago office. Jenifer Caracciolo has been promoted to partner in the Chicago office. Caracciolo practices in Arnstein & Lehr’s Litigation and Labor & Employment practice groups. She focuses her practice in employment, municipal and commercial litigation. In the employment area, Caracciolo has extensive experience representing employers in a wide variety of employment-related lawsuits, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants, employment discrimination and retaliation claims, and wage and hour disputes. As a municipal litigator, she has defended various municipalities in Illinois against Section 1983 and tort litigation, challenges to municipal incorporation and actions of municipal officials, and numerous petitions for municipal disconnections. She received a J.D.
  • February 16, 2010 | People
    Michaels elected to leadership position at Baker & Daniels
    [caption id="attachment_8507" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Rick Michaels"][/caption] Baker & Daniels LLP has announced its top leadership positions for 2010, including the election of Rick Michaels to a three-year term on the law firm's strategic and policy board. Michaels is the managing partner of the Chicago office and practices business and corporate finance. Baker & Daniels LLP provides advice and counsel to regional, national and international clients with transactional and litigation needs. With more than 370 attorneys and legal professionals, the full-service law firm has offices in Indiana, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Beijing. B&D Consulting, a national advisory and advocacy firm focused on key sectors of the economy and based in Washington, D.C., is a division of Baker & Daniels. For more information about Baker & Daniels or B&D Consulting, visit www.bakerdaniels.com or www.bakerdconsulting.com.
  • February 9, 2010 | People
    Bryan Sims opens Sims Law Firm, Ltd.
    [caption id="attachment_8242" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Bryan Sims"][/caption] On February 1, 2010, Bryan Sims, a member of the Illinois bar since 1996, has started his own firm, Sims Law Firm, Ltd., in Naperville. Bryan is a 1996 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and was most recently a partner at Thompson, Rosenthal & Watts, LLP. Bryan will focus his practice on commercial litigation matters, commercial collections , mechanics liens, residential real estate, and landlord/tenant issues. More information about Bryan can be found at his blog The Connected Lawyer. Contact information:
    • Bryan M. Sims
    • Sims Law Firm, Ltd.
    • 1755 Park St.  Suite 200
    • Naperville, IL 60563
    • 630-344-9267
    • 630-689-9072 (fax)
  • January 29, 2010 | People
    Pappas joins Enterprise Law Group as Of Counsel
    Enterprise Law Group, LLP is pleased to announce that Samuel L. Pappas has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Samuel is a business lawyer with 20 years' experience in areas including banking and bank regulation, business finance, complex structured and mezzanine finance, commercial real estate transactions, and securitized lending, as well as consumer finance and regulation. During his career, Samuel practiced in a large law firm, and has also been a transactional attorney for various banks and financial services companies, including Parkway Bank & Trust Company, Transamerica Finance Corporation, Bank One (n/k/a Chase Bank), and The Asahi Bank, Ltd. (a Japanese bank). He will be providing legal services to entrepreneurs, middle market companies, private enterprises and financial services clients. Samuel received his J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Northwestern University, where he served as President of Pi Sigma Alpha (a national honor society for political science majors).
  • January 20, 2010 | People
    Kawashima and Sarhaddi join Grady Pilgrim
    Chicago law firm Grady Pilgrim Christakis Bell LLP announced today that attorneys Karen Kawashima and Jennifer Sarhaddi have joined the firm as associates. Kawashima began her career at Foley & Lardner LLP and was most recently with Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC.  Sarhaddi comes from Arnstein & Lehr LLP. "Karen and Jennifer are both experienced and energetic, and their additions support the strategic expansion of our commercial litigation capabilities," said Jeff Pilgrim, a founding partner of Grady Pilgrim. "They both bring with them considerable experience, and will be able to use that experience here as they work on sophisticated commercial matters in a new, refreshing and dynamic environment.  We are delighted to welcome them to the firm." Kawashima and Sarhaddi will work on a broad range of complex litigation matters, representing businesses across a variety of industries and ranging from small start-ups to some of the largest companies in the country. Karen Kawashima focuses her work on complex civil litigation covering a variety of practice areas and substantive issues, including the defense of individual and class action consumer financial services cases, contractual disputes, employment matters, business torts, real estate litigation, and other matters. Prior to joining the firm, Kawashima was a litigation associate at Foley & Lardner LLP and then at Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC.  Kawashima received a J.D.
  • January 20, 2010 | People
    Ungaretti & Harris adds four new associates
    Ungaretti & Harris LLP welcomes four first-year associates to various practice areas within the firm. Kelly M. Keefe and Michael J. Neville have joined as associates in the Litigation Department.  Ms. Keefe earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2009 and her B.S. from Pennsylvania State University in 2006.  Mr. Neville earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2009 and his B.A. from Miami University in 2005. David E. Burciaga has joined as an associate in the Real Estate Department.  Mr. Burciaga earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2009 and his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 2004. Gina C. Virgo has joined as an associate in the Corporate, Securities and Finance Department.  Ms. Virgo earned her J.D. from John Marshall Law School in 2009 and her B.A. from DePaul University in 2006. Ungaretti & Harris is a Chicago-based law firm with national business, healthcare, litigation, and government practices. The firm represents domestic and international clients including Fortune 500, mid-market, and small businesses; private equity funds; healthcare providers; energy companies; real estate companies; financial institutions; professional organizations; and government agencies.
  • January 20, 2010 | People
    Schwartz appointed to Women's Bar Foundation Board of Directors
    [caption id="attachment_7576" align="alignright" width="125" caption="Susan Schwartz"][/caption] Susan Schwartz, a partner and medical malpractice attorney at the law firm of Corboy & Demetrio, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Women's Bar Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation that provides scholarships, awards and financial aid to women attending law school in Illinois. Susan will serve a three-year term as a Director. Susan joined Corboy & Demetrio in 1980 following graduation from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and became a partner in 1994. An experienced and successful trial lawyer with numerous multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements, Susan represents patients and their families in complex medical negligence personal injury and wrongful death actions. She is an active member of many bar associations, is a contributing author for several legal publications and lectures locally and nationally at seminars and continuing legal education programs on topics ranging from trial practice techniques to alternative methods of dispute resolution. Named one of the top 100 Leading Women Lawyers in Illinois, Susan is also ranked in the top 5% of all Illinois attorneys. She has been designated an "Illinois Super Lawyer," and has achieved the highest possible rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
  • January 19, 2010 | People
    Bieber joins Levin Schreder & Carey as partner
    Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. welcomes Scott Bieber as a partner of the firm. Bieber has been practicing law for 27 years and focuses his practice on family wealth preservation, federal transfer taxation and family business planning. A published author and frequent speaker for attorneys, accountants and other professionals on business planning and wealth preservation topics, Bieber is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is an Editorial Board member of Estate Planning magazine. Bieber has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Trust, Will and Estate Planning Law by the Illinois Leading Lawyers Network, has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer in Estate Planning and Probate, and is also named in Best Lawyers in America in the area of Trusts and Estates. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. in January 2010, Bieber practiced law at Schiff Hardin LLP. Bieber received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. 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.