Bios of candidates for third vice-president and the board of governors

It's ISBA Election Season!

Spring is almost here, and that means it's election season at the ISBA. There are contested races for third vice-president and the Cook County and Under 37 board of governors seats. This special election section of the Journal has background about the candidates to help you make an informed decision.

Ballots will be distributed soon. Paper ballots will be mailed and e-ballots will be emailed on March 29. Voting concludes April 28 at 4:30 p.m. CDT. All attorney members with dues paid up by March 1 of this year are eligible to vote for races in their area. Find out more at www.isba.org/elections.

Third VP. Candidates for third vice-president are chosen from Cook County and downstate (outside Cook) in alternating years. This is a downstate year, and the contestants are Lisa M. Nyuli of South Elgin and Dennis J. Orsey of Granite City. Learn more about them by reading their bios on page 13. This year's third VP winner will serve as the ISBA's president in 2020-21.

Board and assembly. Five members of the ISBA Board of Governors will be chosen this year. In the contested Cook County board race, Chicagoans Julie A. Johnson (f/k/a Neubauer), incumbent Mark L. Karno, Shawn Kasserman, and Daniel R. Saeedi are running for two open seats. For the Outside Cook Under 37 seat, Alisha Biesinger of Edwardsville and Emily J. Rapp of St. Charles face each other. In Cook County, three candidates are vying for two Under 37 seats - incumbent Anna P. Krolikowska of Northbrook, Sarah M. LeRose of Chicago, and incumbent Dennis M. Lynch of Chicago. Find out more about board candidates below.

In the Cook County assembly race - the only one this year - 32 candidates are running for 21 seats. The candidate list appears on page 18. All successful candidates - for third VP, board, and assembly - take office in June.

Don't stand on the sideline. Casting your vote is easy and only takes a few minutes. Be on the lookout for your ballot, and do your part to shape the ISBA's future.

Third Vice-President
CONTESTED

Lisa M. Nyuli, South Elgin. Partner, Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C. Twenty-seven years of practice in Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, DuPage and McHenry counties concentrating in fam-ily law. B.S., University of Illinois (1986); J.D., Northern Illinois University College of Law (1989). Admitted: Illinois (1989), Northern District of Illinois (1989), and United States Supreme Court (2004). ISBA activities: treasurer (2014-2015), Board of Governors (2009- 2015), Assembly (2001-2007; 2015-present). Current member of the standing committees on Investments, Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Judicial Advisory Polls and the Family Law Section Council. Vice-chair of the Task Force on the Future of Legal Services (2015-present), chair of the Committee on Judicial Advisory Polls (2006-2007) and the Solo and Small Firm Conference Planning Committee (2011 and 2012). Illinois Bar Foundation treasurer (2013-2016) and Board of Directors (2010-2011, 2013-present). Gold Fellow and vice-chair of The Fellows (2016-present). Kane County Bar Association: president (2004-2005), Board of Managers (1998-2006) and chair of the Family Law, Delivery of Legal Services, and Families First Legal Aid committees. Kane County Bar Foundation: president (2001-2003), director (1996-2008), and chair of the Children's Waiting Room, and Solicitations committees. Elgin Bar Association president (2004-2005). Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Honors: Family Law Achievement Award, Kane County Bar Association (2003); Alumnus of the Year, Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumni Council (2005); Pro Bono Award, Kane County Bar Foundation (2006); Illinois Legal Aid Online Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month (April, 2009). Articles in ISBA's Family Law newsletter and KCBA's Bar Briefs. Presenter at numerous ISBA and KCBA seminars. Educator at GAL trainings. Issue Statement: I seek to use my extensive bar leadership and working committee experience to identify existing member needs, improve communication, encourage participation and welcome involvement at all levels, making ISBA membership a necessity for Illinois attorneys.

Dennis J. Orsey, Granite City. B.A. with High Distinction, University of Illinois; J.D., Southern Illinois University School of Law (Recipient Rendelman Award for Outstanding Senior Law Student). Served as Illinois Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Attorney General's Granite City Regional Office (1984-1995). In 1995 he established his own general practice firm in Granite City. As a solo practitioner, he concentrates his practice in representing downstate police and fire pension funds maintaining a geographic practice throughout southern and central Illinois. Serves as Deputy General Counsel for the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association and is a former Madison County Assistant State's Attorney (1996-2000). Former Adjunct Faculty at Southwestern Illinois College teaching Business Law (1990-2006). ISBA activities: Board of Governors (2003-2009, 2015-present), treasurer (2008-2009), Assembly (1988-1994, 1996-2001, 2013-2015). Co-chair of the Task Force on Law School Curriculum and Debt (2014-2016) and Special Committee on the Impact of Law School Debt on the Delivery of Legal Services (2012-13). Board member (2005- 2006) and Gold Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation. Member of the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee (5th District). Charter board member of the Illinois Pro Bono Center (1992-1998). Past president of the Madison County (1992-93) and Tri-City (1987) bar associations. Member of the Madison County and St. Clair County bar associations, Justinians, ABA, and ITLA. Awards: ISBA Board of Governors Award (2013) for work as co-Chair of the Special Committee on the Impact of Law School Debt on the Delivery of Legal Services, ISBA Community Service Award (1997) and the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award special commendation (1993) for work as co-chair of ISBA's Task Force for Disaster Relief. He resides in Glen Carbon with his wife, Catherine. They have one son, Matthew. Please visit my website at www.orseylaw.com for further background and issues.

Board of Governors - Cook County
CONTESTED - (2 to be elected)

Julie A. Johnson (formerly Neubauer), Chicago. Partner at the Chicago law firm of Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa. Dedicates practice to matrimonial and family law litigation and appeals in Cook and the collar counties. Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2007. Her ISBA involvement began when she was a student at Northern Illinois University College of Law while clerking for Robert K. Downs. ISBA activities: Assembly. Current member of the Family Law Section Council, Diversity Leadership Council and the Standing Committee on Women and the Law (chair 2016-present). Former member of the Young Lawyers Division. At the request of the Scope and Correlation Committee, Julie helped restructure the ISBA diversity protocol. Guided by her background as a staunch advocate for survivors of domestic violence, Julie has focused much of her professional energy on the prioritization of safe families. Other activities: DuPage County Bar and Appellate Lawyers associations. Awards: Repeatedly recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star and as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers. Julie lives in Lombard, Illinois with her husband Neil, her step-daughter Olivia and son Cole. Issue Statement: Julie believes that diversity of perspective is the key to a strong Bar Association. Expanding membership in the ISBA is key to the survival and relevance of our association. Reaching out to attorneys from all walks of life through incentives and opportunities to advance the career of individuals is the key to the advancement of the profession at large. A strong Bar Association equals a powerful collective voice to ensure the laws of Illinois work for the people of Illinois.

Mark L. Karno, Chicago. Incumbent. Owner of Mark L. Karno & Associates LLC, a six-attorney law firm with offices located in Chicago and Aurora. Practice primarily consists of plaintiff personal injury and petitioner workers' compensation claims. B.S. Finance with high honors, University of Illinois, Champaign (1979); J.D., I.I.T./Chicago-Kent College of Law (1982). Admitted: Illinois (1982), Seventh Circuit Court of Ap-peals (1984), U.S. District Court N.D. Illinois (1982), and Trial Bar (1985). ISBA activities: Board of Governors (2012-2013, 2014-present), Assembly (2010-2014). Board of Governors liaison to section councils on Elder Law (2015-present), Tort Law (2015-16), Civil Practice and Procedure (2016-present), and Intellectual Property Law (2014-2015), and standing committees on Professional Conduct (2015-present) and Military Affairs (2014-2015). Former member of the Committee on Judicial Evaluations Cook County (1998-2000); past chair of Civil Practice and Procedure (2011-2012) and Insurance Law (2002-2003) section councils. Member of the Allerton House Conference steering committees (2008, 2011 and 2017) and co-chair of the 2013 Allerton House Conference. Twenty-five year member of the Tort Law Section Council and co- editor (1999-2003) and contributor to ISBA's Tort Trends newsletter. Lecturer and moderator at ISBA Seminars. Testified before the Illinois General Assembly regarding ISBA sponsored legislation. Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation (2014-present), co-chair of the 2015 IBF GALA Fundraiser. Member of ITLA, AAJ, National Trial Lawyers, and Decalogue Society of Lawyers. Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyer from 2009 to 2017, Multiple-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Past president of two condominium associations where I have resided. Issue Statement: It is my goal to see the Illinois State Bar Association pursue more lawyer-friendly legislation through encouraging member-initiated proposals in the various section councils and standing committees. I also want to see more outreach to younger members of the bar.

Shawn Kasserman, Chicago. Married 27 years to Dawn, three children. Trial Lawyer at Corboy & Demetrio for 23 years, 15 as partner. In 2013 co-founded Tomasik Kotin Kasserman representing catastrophically injured/killed victims of negligence. Graduated DePaul College of Law (1990). ISBA activities: member of the ISBA since 1990. Current member of the Assembly, active member of the Torts Law Section Council, and former member of the Young Lawyers Division Council (1993-1998, chair 1996-1997). Illinois Bar Foundation: president, first vice president, second vice president, and Board of Directors (2008-present). Member of the IBF Scholarship, Cy Pres, Grants, Lawyers Assistance, and Development committees and past chair of the Grants and Lawyers Assistance committees. Active member of the DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA) and former member of its Civil Procedure Committee (1995-1996) and Publications Board (2010-2011). Current general counsel for DuPage County Bar Association. Active member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) since 1991, member of its Board of Managers (2008-present), and appointed to its Executive Committee in 2010 and 2014. Served as ITLA Seminar Planning chair (2013-2014 and 2016-present) organizing and moderating ITLA seminars. CBA member since 1990. Former member of the CBA's Judicial Evaluation, and Young Lawyers Section's Homeless and Runaway Youth committees. Awards: Honored with the Best Friend Award by Kids in Danger (2013), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving children's product safety. Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers whose membership is limited to 1% of lawyers in Illinois. Issue Statement: The citizens of Illinois need the lawyers of Illinois to bind together in the preservation of the Justice System. This can best be done by the ISBA expanding services to and elevating loyalty amongst members - which will bolster membership in numbers and spirit.

Daniel R. Saeedi, Chicago. Attorney at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, practicing employment law and litigation. B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign; J.D. magna cum laude, The John Marshall Law School. Admitted 2008. ISBA activities: Board of Governors (2015-present), Assembly (2010-2015). Current Board liaison to the Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education, the Business and Securities Law Section Council and the Corporate Law Department Section Council. Former Board liaison to the Standing Committee on the Illinois Bar Journal and the Labor and Employment Law Section Council. Current vice chair, Standing Committee on Marketing and Communications; member, Assembly Governance Committee; member and current CLE liaison, Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities (chair 2012-2013); former member, Diversity Leadership Council. Frequent speaker at ISBA CLE seminars. Awards: Super Lawyers, Illinois Rising Star (2014-present). Volunteer, Just the Beginning Foundation; Moot Court coach, John Marshall Law School (team won CBA competition in 2016). Member, Illinois Restaurant Association; Illinois Craft Brewers Guild; Logan Square Chamber of Commerce. Native of Chicago. Currently resides in Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago with wife Daniela and son Lucas. Issue Statement: Focus for future term: 1) improve ISBA technology platforms, 2) grow online CLE content tailored to practitioner needs, and 3) increase young lawyer membership and participation in the ISBA.

Board of Governors - Under 37 Cook County
CONTESTED - (2 to be elected)

Anna P. Krolikowska, Northbrook. Incumbent. Partner at K & R Family Legal Services. Primarily represents clients in family law matters. B.A. and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. She has been active with the ISBA since being admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006. ISBA activities: incumbent, Cook County Under Age 37 representative on the Board of Governors (2014-present); Assembly (2009-2014); ex-officio, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section Council (2009-present, chair 2015-2016); current member, Standing Committee on Scope and Correlation; co-chair, ISBA YLD Holiday Party Committee (2009-2011) raising more than $35,000 for the Children's Assistance Fund which provides child-friendly waiting rooms in courthouses throughout Illinois. She was appointed to and is a current member of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company's Sales and Marketing Committee. Other activities: Advocates Society, ITLA, Justinian Society of Lawyers, NSBA, NWSBA, WBAI, DuPage County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association. Past president, North Suburban Bar Association. Issue Statement: Now more than ever, attorneys are in a position to help people, and our advice and services are much needed. Anna believes that ISBA plays an important role in assisting people of Illinois. As a small-firm attorney Anna knows the issues facing many ISBA members and their practices. Anna has the skills, knowledge and energy to devote to her service to ISBA, and hopes she will again earn the members' votes to continue her service on the Board of the ISBA.

Sarah M. LeRose, Chicago. Associate attorney at the Law Office of Leonard J. LeRose Jr., Ltd. Concentrates practice in probate law including contested guardianships (adult and minor), estate litigation and estate administration. Frequently appointed Guardian ad Litem and attorney for alleged disabled adults by judges in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. B.A., Southern Methodist University (2011); J.D. with concentrations in civil litigation skills and criminal litigation skills, Saint Louis University School of Law (2014). Admitted 2014. ISBA activities: Assembly (2015-present), Trust and Estates Section Council (2016-present). Other activities: Chicago Bar Association: Probate Practice Committee, Alliance for Women Committee, and Trust Law Committee. Member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, American Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Author of "The Howell Decision and the Future of Estate Planning for Adult Disabled Clients" (October 2015) and co-author of "The Guardian's Role in Maintaining and Initiating Dissolution Proceedings" (March 2016) published in ISBA's Trusts and Estates newsletter.

Dennis M. Lynch, Chicago. Incumbent. Member, Healy Scanlon (f/k/a The Healy Law Firm). Concentrates in complex personal injury cases in a wide range of areas including interstate trucking, insurance bad faith claims, products liability, construction, and medical malpractice as well as workers' compensation litigation. Arbitrated, mediated and tried numerous cases to a successful outcome and pursued and defended multiple appeals including appeals accepted for review in the Supreme Court of Illinois. B.A. with highest honors, Lewis University; J.D. magna cum laude, Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Admitted 2007. ISBA activities: Board of Governors, Under Age 37 Cook County (2016-present); im-mediate past chair, past legislative liaison and CLE coordinator of the ISBA Tort Law Section Council (member 2008-present). Illinois Bar Foundation Silver Fellow. Guest lecturer at Loyola University School of Law. Frequent invited lecturer and author for ISBA, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Plaintiff's Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, American Association for Justice (AAJ). Former member, Board of Directors of AAJ Interstate Trucking Litigation Group; secretary, AAJ Motorcycle Litigation Group. Super Lawyers, Illinois Rising Star; Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer. Volunteer, American Mock Trial Association and Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. Issue Statement: Dennis believes that one of the most important roles of the ISBA is in suggesting and reviewing proposed legislation in an effort to recommend realistic laws to our legislature.

Board of Governors - Under 37 Outside Cook County
CONTESTED - (1 to be elected)

Alisha Biesinger, Edwardsville. Associate at Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen. Concentrating in the areas of business and commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, agribusiness, and toxic tort litigation. B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012); J.D. summa cum laude, Southern Illinois University School of Law (2015). Admitted Illinois (2015) and Missouri (2016). Current member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Inns of Court of Southern Illinois University School of Law. Current member of the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee which strives to enhance equal access to justice by encouraging and promoting pro bono work in the Third Judicial Circuit. Former president of the Justinian Society - Southern Illinois University School of Law Chapter. Contributed to chapters on "Direct Appeals - Rule 302," IICLE Illinois Civil Appeals: State and Federal (2015) and the "Original Actions in the Supreme Court," IICLE Illinois Civil Appeals: State and Federal (2015).

Emily J. Rapp, St. Charles. Associate attorney at Weiler & Lengle, P.C., a preeminent family law firm practicing primarily in Kane and DuPage counties. B.A., University of Portland; J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Received a Certificate in Advocacy. Admitted 2011. Completed National Institute of Trial Advocacy's Trial Skills program. Activities: Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association. Speaker at Kane County Bar Association seminars. Awards: Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer. Volunteer work: Veterans Education Success and Ask a Lawyer with Kane County Bar Association. Currently resides in Naperville with her husband Wayne and three children under three.

ASSEMBLY - Contested
(21 to be elected)

• Patrick C. Anderson, Chicago
• Paul M. Bach, Northbrook
• Patrice Ball-Reed, Chicago
• Frank A. Battaglia, Chicago
• Dennis J. Burke, Chicago
• Leonore Carlson, Chicago
• Joel L. Chupack, Chicago
• Umberto Davi, Western Springs
• Michael V. Favia, Chicago
• Eugene F. Friedman, Chicago
• Anthony D. Gattuso, Chicago
• Ashanti Madlock Henderson, Chicago
• David P. Huber, Chicago
• Elizabeth A. Kaveny, Chicago
• Stephen M. Komie, Chicago
• Melinda M. Lange, Chicago
• David H. Latarski, Chicago
• Bruno Ronald Marasso, Chicago
• Erica Crohn Minchella, Skokie
• Damian Ortiz, Chicago
• Paul G. O'Toole, Chicago
• Patricia Pantoja, Chicago
• Chloé G. Pedersen, Chicago
• Masah S. Renwick, Homewood
• Marie Sarantakis, Western Springs
• Evan Schanerberger, Chicago
• Judie L. Smith, Chicago
• Craig J.Squillace, Chicago
• Edna Turkington-Viktora, Chicago
• Kevin T. Veugeler, Chicago
• Michael Vojta, Western Springs
• Cory White, Chicago