Class Notes

Class Notes are displayed in the order that they are received. You may also view notes by decade, or by class year – simply click on the decade or click on the + symbol to expand the decade and display by year. If a given class year does not appear, notes do not exist for that particular year.

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Laura Labeots '03

(2/22/24)

Lathrop GPM LLP Partner Laura Labeots has been named to the Notable Women in Law list for 2024 by Crain’s Chicago Business. The honor recognizes Labeots for her work as a mentor and role model for other women in her firm and the broader community.

Robert Jacobson '96

(2/19/24)

On February 15, judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Illinois voted to select Robert E. Jacobson as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Andrew Barrios '14

(2/19/24)

Andrew M. Barrios has been promoted to partner at Reed Smith LLP in the firm’s Chicago office. Andrew is a member of the Insurance Recovery Group, representing corporate policyholders in a wide range of coverage matters.

Susanna Lee '14

(2/19/24)

Modern Counsel has named Susanna Lee to its 35 under 35 list for 2024. The program recognizes leaders who are rising stars in the legal industry and represent the next generation of leadership. 

Morgan Schumann '18

(2/19/24)

For her work focused on family building through third-party reproduction as a solo attorney at Pineapple Law, PLLC, Morgan Schumann has been awarded the American Bar Association Family Law Diversity Fellowship.

Brandon Dixon '12

(2/19/24)

Brandon Dixon was recently elevated to Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Jason Torf '98

(2/19/24)

Tucker Ellis LLP attorney Jason Torf has been named to the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list in the area of Bankruptcy: Business.

Aleks Rushing '15

(2/19/24)

Aleks O. Rushing was named a partner at Husch Blackwell, effective January 1, 2024.

Hannah Lamore '16

(1/24/24)

Hannah R. Lamore '16 has been named a partner with Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC based in Joliet, IL. She concentrates her practice in municipal law and civil litigation, representing individuals and entities throughout Illinois.

Stephanie Sebor '10

(1/24/24)

Stephanie Sebor has joined Jenner & Block's Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Practice as a partner in the firm's Chicago office.

Matthew Walker '16

(1/24/24)

Lathrop GPM LLP has promoted Matthew Walker to its 2024 partner class. Walker's practice includes all areas of environmental law, including litigation, regulatory compliance, and assistance with corporate transactions.

Mark Feyen '80

(1/24/24)

Hon. Mark A. Feyen has announced his retirement from the Ottawa County Probate Court. Now in his 35th year, Judge Feyen took to the bench on January 1, 1989, after winning election in November of 1988. He won re-election five times.

James English '08

(1/24/24)

Clark Hill, an AmLaw200 law firm, has promoted James English to member. He practices out of the firm's Houston office with the Environmental & Natural Resources group.

Mary Gilmore '22

(1/24/24)

Mary Gilmore has joined Fox Rothschild in the Chicago office as an Associate in the Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy Department.

Helen Hartnell '80

(1/24/24)

Helen Hartnell passed away in late 2023. She taught international law at numerous institutions and was a full-time faculty member at Golden Gate University (GGU) School of Law in San Francisco from 1997 until 2013. 

John Greanias '67

(1/24/24)

John Greanias has been awarded a research grant to develop a curriculum for academic study of the evolution of moral and ethical principles of United States law. The grant was awarded by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Greanias is presently a lecturer at Santa Clara University School of Law and a member of the faculty of Stanford Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop. He previously served as an Illinois Circuit Court Judge (1987- 2008).

Raymond Ricordati III '02

(1/24/24)

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP has elected Raymond R. Ricordati, III to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Michelle Bolos '16

(1/24/24)

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP elected Michelle Bolos to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Jon Padish '14

(12/19/23)

Jon Padish joined Motorola Solutions as the commercial counsel for Applied Technology. He will provide primary legal, regulatory, and contracts guidance for the business unit, leveraging his public sector experience to support Applied Technology.

Jay Shultz '10

(12/11/23)

Jay Shultz has been elected to Tucker Ellis LLP’s partnership effective January 1, 2024. Shultz focuses his practice on product liability, toxic tort, and pharmaceutical liability matters. He is a member of national counsel and local trial counsel teams for clients in industries including vertical transportation, cosmetics, heavy equipment, construction materials, and home appliances.

William McClure '71

(12/11/23)

William (Bill) McClure passed away unexpectedly on October 28 in Naples, Florida, where he lived for with his wife, Carma.

Austin Diehl '23

(12/11/23)

Austin Diehl has joined Stinson LLP as a member of Stinson's Litigation Associates Group in the St. Louis office. Diehl was a Stinson summer associate in 2022.

John Milhiser '97

(12/11/23)

The Sangamon County Board unanimously approved the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as Sangamon County State's Attorney. The appointment is effective November 17 through the end of the term following the 2024 election.

Jeff Wakolbinger '08

(12/11/23)

Jeff Wakolbinger '08 joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in Chicago as a partner in the Intellectual Property and Technology group, where he focuses on litigation involving trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and false advertising.

Thomas Bearrows '82

(12/11/23)

Having completed a 26-year stint as the General Counsel for the University of Illinois System, the longest serving senior executive officer in the University's history, Thomas Bearrows is retiring on December 31, 2023.

Richard Harden '83

(12/11/23)

Richard R. Harden, a partner at Thomas Mamer, LLP, has been reappointed to the Illinois Supreme Rules Committee for another 3-year term. He was first appointed in 2021.

David Cialkowski '98

(12/11/23)

Zimmerman Reed Partner David M. Cialkowski has been named Co-Vice Chair for the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL) Amicus Committee. In his role, Cialkowski will help COSAL give voice to its views to help shape and safeguard antitrust law.

Thomas J. Gordon '67

(11/19/23)

Thomas J. Gordon, 82, of Champaign passed away Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Vicksburg, Miss.

Benjamin M. Williams '08

(11/16/23)

Benjamin M. Williams has joined the Southfield office of Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC as a member of the litigation practice group, focusing on family law cases including divorce, child support and spousal support, and criminal defense. Prior to his arrival at Foster Swift, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney in Chicago, Illinois for almost 13 years.

Corey Anne Tellez '05

(11/16/23)

On November 9, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Corey Anne Tellez to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Department of the Treasury. The White House cited her nearly 20 years of public service, including serving as acting Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of the Treasury and several prominent legislative assistant roles, in its press release announcing Tellez's selection.

Laura Waller '04

(11/16/23)

Laura Waller has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago. A member of the Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice and Tax Department, she advises clients on employment-related matters in corporate transactions and counsels employers on day-to-day legal issues, including hiring practices, personnel issues, employee separations, and restrictive covenants.

Thomas Modeszto '89

(11/16/23)

In June 2023, Tom Modeszto retired from the Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA, after 36 years of federal service, including 27 years as an active duty U.S. Army Judge Advocate. In October 2023, he began employment with The Sander Group, PLLC, which provides legal services and consulting on national security, government contracts, compliance, and litigation-related matters.

Saul Morse '72

(11/16/23)

Saul Morse was recently appointed to the General Assembly Commission on Accessibility of the Capitol. He also retired from Brown, Hay & Stephens LLP where he was Of Counsel.

Dan Campbell '13

(11/16/23)

Dan Campbell was named to Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40 list.

Dominique J. Carroll '11

(10/12/23)

Dominique J. Carroll was selected to the New Jersey Law Journal’s list of New Leaders of the Bar. The annual award is presented to attorneys in the Garden State under the age of 40 who bring both “notable achievements and outstanding potential to the table.”

Neal Connors '89

(10/11/23)

Talofa! Neal Connors received a two-year appointment as an Assistant Attorney General in the criminal division for the U.S. Territorial American Samoa Government.

Reginald Cloyd III '15

(10/11/23)

Indiana Lawyer named Reginald Cloyd III to its inaugural class of Diversity in Law honorees. The honorees were selected for leading efforts to diversify the legal profession across Indiana.

Alyssa Gregory '15

(10/11/23)

Alyssa Gregory has been elevated to Partner at Locke Lord. She concentrates her practice on reinsurance, insurance, and health care disputes and has substantial experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in other complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters.

William Coulson '72

(10/11/23)

William R. Coulson was was honored by Martindale-Hubbell for 30 years of being rated “AV Preeminent,” the “highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards.”

Steven K. Wood '71

(10/11/23)

Steven K. Wood, 83, of Sullivan, passed away September 22, 2023.

Harold A. Baker '56

(10/11/23)

Judge Harold A. Baker, 93, of Champaign died Monday, September 18, 2023, at home with his wife of 72 years, Dorothy, and their three children by his side.

John E. Thies '88

(10/11/23)

John E. Thies has been appointed vice chair of the American Bar Association’s Center for Innovation. He was also recently elected to the Council of the ABA’s Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division Executive Committee. Thies is past president of the Illinois State Bar Association and practices with the Champaign-Urbana law firm of Webber & Thies, PC.

Taisa Markus '86

(10/11/23)

After 35 years of practice in Latin American capital markets and leaving White & Case in 2020, Taisa Markus serves as an adjunct professor at the College. She was recently appointed Visiting Professor at National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy Faculty of Law. At KMA, Taisa supports the English language and business law curricula. As a proud Ukrainian American, she is grateful for the opportunity to help train young lawyers in skills that will be critical in the reconstruction of the country and anticipated foreign investment.

James Streicker '69

(9/20/23)

James “Jim” Streicker passed away on September 10, 2023. 

David Schulman '62

(9/19/23)

David B. Schulman passed away on December 21, 2022, at the age of 83.

Stanley Cichowski '74

(9/19/23)

Stanley Cichowski, LTC (retired), passed away on September 7, 2023. During his career, Stan was a highly respected expert in state and local taxation. He also taught as an adjunct professor at the College of Business MST, University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Thomas D. Berghman '12

(9/19/23)

Munsch Hardt Shareholder Thomas D. Berghman has been featured in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" directory in the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law category. Thomas’ practice focuses on corporate restructuring and bankruptcy related litigation, including representing Chapter 11 debtors, Chapter 7 trustees, landlords, and other parties of interest in all aspects of bankruptcy, such as asset sales and all aspects of litigation.

Thanhan Nguyen '15

(9/19/23)

Munsch Hardt Associate Thanhan "An" Nguyen has been honored in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" directory in the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation categories. An focuses his practice on representing Chapter 11 debtors, trustees, committees and secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy and related litigation.

James D. Jordan '82

(9/19/23)

Munsch Hardt Shareholder James D. "Jim" Jordan has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment categories. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, trade secrets, warranties, covenants not to compete and complex litigation of all sorts.

Claire Craig Evans '03

(9/19/23)

Claire Craig Evans’s memoir of her life in the UK, “High Tea and the Low Down,” was released August 31. It became the #1 bestseller in the categories Travel Humor and England Travel on Amazon in its first week.

Lisa Friedheim-Weis '97

(9/19/23)

After 26 years as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, Lisa Friedheim-Weis was appointed an Administrative Law Judge for the National Labor Relations Board. There are approximately 40 such judges in the country.

Jonathan Kim '18

(9/19/23)

Jonathan S. Kim became an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois – Western Division.

Kheana Pollard '19

(9/19/23)

Bell Nunnally attorney Kheana Pollard has been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 list.

Juan Thomas '96

(9/19/23)

Juan Thomas has been appointed to the Advisory Commission to the Task Force for American Democracy by the American Bar Association. The Advisory Commission will help Task Force members consider ways to depoliticize how elections are administered, educate the public on democracy, and try to foster election innovations that address the causes of politicization.

William Kresse '85

(9/19/23)

William Kresse has been appointed to the Advisory Commission to the Task Force for American Democracy by the American Bar Association. The Advisory Commission will help Task Force members consider ways to depoliticize how elections are administered, educate the public on democracy, and try to foster election innovations that address the causes of politicization.

David Cialkowski '98

(8/22/23)

David Cialkowski was recently recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers in America, a recognition he’s received for the past 5 years.

Juan Thomas ;96

(8/22/23)

Juan Thomas, Founder and Principal of The Thomas Law Group and Of Counsel at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. in Chicago has been elected Secretary of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP), putting him is succession to become President of NCBP in three years. With his election, Mr. Thomas will become the first Past President of the National Bar Association to serve as President of NCBP. The National Conference of Bar Presidents is a national association of lawyers/bar leaders whose mission is to provide high-quality programming and leadership development training for members of the legal community.

James Rinck '82

(8/21/23)

The State Bar of Michigan is bestowing one of its highest honors, the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award, to James R. Rinck for exceptional dedication to the legal profession and commitment to ensuring justice for all. The award will be presented September 21.

Matthew Maurer '87

(8/21/23)

Honorable Matthew Maurer, 62, of Springfield, died Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Brian Shaw '93

(8/21/23)

Lawdragon named Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2023 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.

Nicole Langston '14

(8/21/23)

Vanderbilt Law announced the appointment of Nicole Langston as an Assistant Professor of Law in early August.

Paul Lisnek '83

(8/21/23)

The Luminary Award, recognizing philanthropic and volunteer leadership on behalf of Porchlight and music theater in Chicago, will be presented to Paul Lisnek on September 8 in Chicago.

George Ripplinger '70

(8/21/23)

George R. Ripplinger Jr. of Belleville, IL, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family.

Rob Beard '08

(8/21/23)

Mastercard announced the appointment of Rob Beard as chief legal officer, general counsel and head of Global Policy. He will oversee the company’s legal, public policy, regulatory affairs and litigation teams around the world

Joseph Zingher '90

(8/21/23)

A crime statute has been proposed in Illinois based on research done by Joseph Zingher. The statute, proposed in the name of Zingher and two victims, would make it much easier for the police to investigate and solve cases of "Express Kidnapping."

Tom Lamont '72

(8/21/23)

Tom Lamont was recently appointed by President Biden to the State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee. Lamont, a longtime Springfield attorney, previously served in the Obama administration as Assistant Secretary of the Army.

Susanna Lee '14

(8/21/23)

Susanna Lee has received the Top 10 Thirty Somethings award by the Association of Corporate Counsel. The award recognizes in-house counsel between the ages of 30 and 39 for their innovation, approaches to challenges, contributions to the in-house community, and pro Bono and volunteer work.

Nan Sato '12

(8/21/23)

Nan Sato has been named co-Chair of the International Practice Group of Fisher Phillips LLP.

Saul Morse '72

(8/21/23)

On June 30, 2023, Saul Morse retired from the practice of law. He had been Of Counsel at Brown, Hay, & Stephens LLP in the Springfield office.

Mary Koll '10

(8/21/23)

Mary Koll has been appointed as an associate judge in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, which includes McLean, Ford, Livingston, Logan and Woodford counties.

Christopher Murtaugh '70

(8/21/23)

On Friday, June 23, 2023, Christopher David Murtaugh was honored by the Florida Bar for being a 50-year member in good standing as a part of the Annual Florida Bar Convention.

Floyd Mandell '73

(8/21/23)

On Friday, June 23, 2023, Floyd A. Mandell was honored by the Florida Bar for being a 50-year member in good standing as a part of the Annual Florida Bar Convention.

Robert Hall '73

(8/21/23)

On Friday, June 23, 2023, Robert C. Hall was honored by the Florida Bar for being a 50-year member in good standing as a part of the Annual Florida Bar Convention.

David Cialkowski '98

(7/24/23)

David Cialkowski has been selected to the 2023 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. A partner at Zimmerman Reed, Cialkowski focuses on antitrust, consumer protection, and product liability matters.

Dina Kashat '22

(7/20/23)

Dina D. Kashat has joined the Employer Services practice group of Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC. 

Marron Mahoney '07

(7/20/23)

Of Counsel at Laner Muchin Marron Mahoney was recently inducted as the 56th President of the Appellate Lawyers Association, an association of lawyers who practice in the courts of review and the judges who sit on those courts. 

Joseph Rekrut '19

(7/20/23)

Joseph Rekrut has joined the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Tax Practice.

Erika Piccirillo '13

(7/20/23)

Erika R. Piccirillo has been named a Partner at Cohn Lifland, effective July 1. A member of the Family Law Group, Piccirillo served as a law clerk in the summer of 2013 before joining the firm as an associate in 2014.

Jeanette Stafford Flaningam '47

(7/20/23)

Jeanette Stafford Flaningam passed away on June 3, 2023. In her life, Stafford Flaningam was on the frontier of women seeking advanced degrees (earned a JD and MBA) and entering the professional workplace while having a family and serving her country in the military. Throughout her life, Jeanette strived to contribute and improve the lives of other people in her community.

Lisa Holder White '93

(7/20/23)

Justice Lisa Holder White is running for a full term on the Supreme Court of Illinois after being appointed unanimously on July 7, 2022, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Rita B. Garman.  

Lisa Kpor '14

(7/20/23)

Lisa M. Kpor has become Litigation Counsel at United Airlines after practicing litigation and entertainment law at Holland & Knight LLP in Chicago for nearly a decade.

Melissa Carrington '11

(7/20/23)

Melissa Carrington has accepted a position as a trial attorney with the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

Juan Thomas '96

(7/20/23)

Juan Thomas, founder and principal of The Thomas Law Group and Of Counsel at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. in Chicago, has been elected 3rd Vice President of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), putting him in line to become President of the IBF in three years. With his election, Mr. Thomas will become only the second African American lawyer to serve as President of the IBF, which was founded in 1951 by the Illinois State Bar Association. 

Michael Brody '03

(7/20/23)

In May, Michael Brody was Awarded the Student Appreciation Award by the 2023 Master’s Degree Class for being the faculty member "having the greatest positive impact on the class during the academic year." Brody recently received a second, four-year term appointment from the US Department of Homeland Security to serve as Agency Chair and Visiting Professor at the National Defense University, College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC).

Katherin Legge '11

(7/20/23)

On February 14, 2023, Katherine G. Legge was sworn in as an Associate Judge for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Peoria, Illinois. She was previously employed by the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois and the Tazewell County State's Attorney's Office.

Linzey Jones '82

(7/20/23)

On November 8, 2022, Linzey Jones was retained by the voters in Cook County for his third 6-year term as a circuit court judge. Judge Jones presides in the Bridgeview, IL, courthouse known as District 5.

Ted Kontopoulos '18

(7/20/23)

On July 17, 2023, Ted Kontopoulos joined the Office of Chief Counsel, Associate Chief Counsel (International) for the Internal Revenue Service at the Washington, DC national office as an international tax attorney.

Kevin Veugeler '96

(7/20/23)

Kevin Veugeler has been named an equity partner at HealyScanlon. The firm is now know as Healy Scanlon Veugeler Gannon.

Debra Walker '87

(7/20/23)

The Moms Association at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign elected Judge Debra Walker as President of its Board of Directors.

Michael L. Gutierrez '11

(5/21/23)

Michael L. Gutierrez was named one of 25 attorneys named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers: Business Litigation” list, a program honoring lawyers in a particular field of law as nominated by their peers.

Debra Walker '87

(5/21/23)

Hon. Debra B. Walker will be presented with the IDC Distinguished Service Award in appreciation and recognition of Justice Walker’s outstanding and devoted service to the citizens of Illinois at a reception in June.

Dania Duncan Moreno LLM '07

(5/21/23)

Dania Duncan Moreno LLM '07 has been named to the “2023 Texas Rising Stars” list published by Super Lawyers. 

Mary Kay O'Brien '94

(5/21/23)

Mary Kay O’Brien was honored at the Will County Champions Reception in May as a Champion of the Illinois Bar Foundation for significant contributions to law and society, including dedicated service through the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Gregory E. Pelini '76

(5/21/23)

Gregory E. Pelini passed away peacefully at Carle Hospital in Urbana, surrounded by family on March 26, 2023.

Kerri Holloway '98

(5/21/23)

Kerri J. Holloway JD '98, LLM '01 was appointed as Chief Academic Officer/Provost for the University of Business Innovation and Sustainability with headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Peter Henderson '12

(4/20/23)

Peter Henderson was sworn in on April 1, 2023, as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of Illinois.

Kathryn Cataldo '15

(4/20/23)

Kathryn Cataldo was named as one of Central Illinois Business Magazine's 2022 40 Under Forty award recipients.

Brad Barber '16

(4/20/23)

Brad Barber has joined Hexagon's Autonomy and Positioning Division at its Morton, IL, campus.

Ronald Link '65

(4/20/23)

Ronald C. Link passed away on April 9, 2023, in Chapel Hill, NC.

Leah Setzen '00

(4/20/23)

Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Leah D. Setzen as a Circuit Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. 

Steve Maragides '65

(4/20/23)

Steve Achilles Maragides died December 13, 2022, at age 85.

James Jurgens '67

(4/20/23)

James Byron Jurgens, 81, of Arthur, IL, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2023.

Andrew Vail '03

(3/22/23)

Crain’s Chicago Business selected Andrew Vail as a 2023 Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney, recognizing his successes and accomplishments among Chicago lawyers in the “complex, high-stakes world of litigation” and “headline-making courtroom battles.” Vail is a partner at Jenner & Block, where he is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Hospitality Practice and Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenants Practice.

Justin Zimmerman '12

(3/22/23)

In January, Justin S. Zimmerman was selected to fill an associate judge vacancy in the Third Judicial Circuit. He is also a partner in the Madison County office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgard & Smith.

Taisa Markus '86

(3/22/23)

Taisa Markus retired from from White & Case LLP in 2022, where she had served as a partner in the Latin America Capital Markets Practice. Taisa, who is Ukrainian-American, is now Special Counsel for the Ukraine Project at the Vance Center for International Justice, a civil society group affiliated with the New York City Bar Association. Taisa also teaches a short business law course as an adjunct at the College and encourages other alums to apply. 

Eric Carlson '07

(3/22/23)

Eric L. Carlson was promoted to Managing Director at Burford Capital. Carlson is based in the Chicago office and has responsibility for assessing and underwriting legal risk, particularly in the intellectual property space. He is focused on working with law firms, corporations, and IP holders to assess legal claims and leverage litigation finance.

Sue (Sutkowski) Bettman '89

(3/22/23)

Sue Bettman has joined Brunswick Group, a critical issues advisory firm, as a Partner in their Chicago office. Sue was most recently the General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer of LSC Communications, and prior to that served as General Counsel of each of RR Donnelley, Huron Consulting Group, and True North Communications. Sue began her legal career at Kirkland & Ellis.

Robert McIntire '72

(3/22/23)

Robert McIntire was appointed Resident Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Vermilion County, in January 2023 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Nancy Fahey.

Tony D'Anzica '97

(3/22/23)

On February 2, 2023, Tony L. D'Anzica was installed as President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the second largest Realtor association in New York State, representing over 13,500 members in the counties of Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, and Putnam. Tony also serves a Director of the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Robert Hu '88

(3/22/23)

A faculty member at St. Mary's University School of Law in Texas, Robert Hu recently published Research Guide to Chinese Patent Law and Practice, 2nd ed. via William S. Hein & Co.

Jack Najarian '12

(2/24/23)

Jack Najarian was promoted to shareholder by Chamberlain Hrdlicka during the firm's annual shareholder meeting on Feb. 4, 2023. Najarian is a member of the Corporate, Securities & Finance Practice Group in Houston. He serves businesses ranging in size from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and their owners and has a diverse deal background in business and real estate. 

Sali Wissa '14

(2/24/23)

Sali Wissa was promoted to Partner at Baker McKenzie in the Firm’s Chicago office. Wissa joined the firm in 2014 after graduating from the College of Law and is in Baker’s Transactional Group. Wissa's practice focuses on advising publicly traded companies on all aspects of their reporting obligations, corporate governance matters, and capital raising.

Michael Halpin '08

(2/24/23)

Michael Halpin was sworn in to the Illinois Senate in January 2023, representing the 36th District. Previously, Halpin had served in the House of Representatives for the 72nd District, serving parts of western Illinois near Rock Island.

Jonathan Ksiazek '08

(2/24/23)

Jonathan Ksiazek was elevated to shareholder/partner at Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. on January 1, 2023. He previously spent almost 10 years at a boutique employment/civil rights firm in Chicago. At Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. he focuses his legal practice on employment and litigation matters.

Kozo Yabe '94

(2/24/23)

Kozo Yabe (LLM '94) is Chair of Intellectual Property Center at the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. The Center is a standing committee of nation-wide leaders among intellectual property lawyers in Japan. He is currently a partner of Midosuji LPC Tokyo Office.

Masatoshi Ohara '85

(2/24/23)

Masatoshi Ohara (MCL '85) received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in November 2022. He is a former Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and President of Osaka Bar Association. He is currently a partner of Kikkawa Law Office in Osaka, Japan.

Adam Hearn '13

(2/24/23)

Adam Hearn has been promoted to Lead Consultant at Meridian Compensation Partners. Hearn advises boards of directors on executive compensation and corporate governance matters out of Meridian's Lake Forest/Chicago office.

Lee Muench '11

(2/24/23)

Lee Muench has been elevated to partner at law firm Benesch. At the Benesch Chicago office, Muench focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and internal investigations.

Vivek Malek '04

(1/24/23)

Vivek Malek (LLM '04) took the oath of office as Missouri treasurer on January 17, becoming the first person of color to hold statewide office in Missouri.

Omar Jafri '08

(1/24/23)

Pomerantz LLP attorney Omar Jafri has been promoted to Partner. A member of the Firm’s Securities Litigation Practice Group, Jafri has appeared in over two dozen securities cases, authored over 50 pleadings and briefs, taken and defended over two dozen depositions, and argued numerous substantive motions in the U.S. District Courts as well as multiple appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.

Zachary Kramer '04

(1/24/23)

Zachary Kramer has been named the next dean of Elon University School of Law following a national search. Currently serving as interim dean and the Jonathan & Wendy Rose Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Kramer will formally join the Elon Law community in June.

Nicholas Galea '13

(1/23/23)

Nicholas A. Galea has been promoted to Associate Principal at Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C. An experienced litigator currently representing clients in automotive insurance defense matters, Galea spent seven years as a criminal defense attorney in Illinois and Michigan courts prior to joining Kitch in 2021.

Stuart Lubin '74

(1/23/23)

Following the retirement of the Hon. Michael P. Toomin from the Cook County Courts, Hon. Stuart F. Lubin has been appointed interim acting presiding judge of the Juvenile Justice Division. Judge Lubin has been a judge for 32 years, prior to which he served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender for 17 years.

Richard Miller '97

(1/23/23)

Richard L. Miller II has joined the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Board of Directors. During the course of his career, Richard has served as a speaker, moderator, and organizer of litigation related educational events for IICLE. Richard has also authored 20 IICLE chapters, the majority of which relate to trial advocacy in Illinois state and federal courts.

Kathryn Kaler '10

(1/23/23)

Kathryn L. Kaler was elevated to partner in Neal Gerber Eisenberg's Private Wealth Services practice group on January 1, 2023. She focuses her legal practice on estate and charitable planning.

Timothy Herman '10

(1/23/23)

Timothy Herman has been elevated to Member at Clark Hill. Herman is a Litigation practitioner in Clark Hill’s Chicago office.

Debra Walker '87

(12/20/22)

Justice Debra B. Walker received the Illinois Bar Foundation’s 2022 Distinguished Service to Law & Society Award. The award was presented at the IBF Champions Breakfast on Friday, Dec. 9.

Viviana Martinez '06

(12/20/22)

Viviana Martinez was elected judge for the 14th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois in the November 2022 elections. She assumed office on December 5, 2022.

John Connor '95

(12/20/22)

In the November 2022 elections, John Connor ran for the circuit judge opening in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, and won. After leaving the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office as Major Crimes Chief in 2017 for the Illinois House as the 85th District state representative, he was subsequently elected state senator from Illinois’ 43rd senate district and chaired the Criminal Law committee before running for circuit judge. He was sworn in as a circuit judge on December 5th, 2022.

James Feldman '68

(12/20/22)

Jenner & Block Of Counsel Jim Feldman has been named the recipient of the 2023 Samuel S. Berger Award by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. This award is presented to an Illinois attorney or judge who, like the late Judge Berger, “exemplifies the highest standards of integrity, courtesy, knowledge of family law and demonstrates an extraordinary ability to solve human problems.”

Scott Bennett '02

(12/20/22)

Scott M. Bennett passed away on Friday, December 9th, 2022.

Griffin Flais '22

(12/20/22)

Attorney Griffin Flais has been hired as an Associate at Lavelle Law of Schaumburg, Ill., where he will focus on litigation, family law, and a variety of business law matters.

MaryAllison Mahacek '22

(12/20/22)

Lavelle Law of Schaumburg, Ill., announced the hiring of attorney MaryAllison Mahacek to work in its Litigation practice group and on matters of employment law.

Richard Siehl '77

(12/20/22)

Richard Walter Siehl passed away on October 13, 2022.

Marlen Cortez Morris '06

(12/20/22)

Marlén Cortez Morris has been named a 2022 Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders magazine and selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America."

John Spear '78

(11/17/22)

John Spear, of the law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has completed his recertification, marking his 25th year as a Florida Bar board certified specialist in real estate law.

Linda Fang '05

(11/17/22)

Linda Fang has joined Keller Rohrback L.L.P.’s business group as a partner in its Seattle office. Linda uses her employment litigation background to help small and midsized businesses and nonprofits stay up to date with ever-changing employment laws, minimize risks, and avoid costly legal disputes.

Melvin Jager '62

(11/17/22)

Melvin Francis Jager passed away on October 19, 2022, at the age of 85 in Fort Myers, Florida.

Brian Shaw '93

(11/17/22)

Cozen O'Connor attorney Brian Shaw has been named to the The American College of Bankruptcy Board of Regents, where he will represent the Seventh Circuit Court for a three-year term. A member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, Brian has also been recognized in 2022 by SuperLawyers (Top 100 in Illinois), by Lawdragon (Top 500 Bankruptcy), by Best Lawyers, and by Chambers US.  He also contributes regularly to Law360 on bankruptcy issues.

Tony D'Anzica '97

(11/17/22)

Manhattan Realtor and Property Manager Tony L. D’Anzica has been named the 2023 President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR), New York State's second largest Realtor association. Tony currently serves as HGAR's President-elect and he has been a Director since 2016. He was previously the President of the former Manhattan Association of Realtors which merged with HGAR under Tony's leadership. Tony also serves as a Director of both the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Paul Lisnek '83

(11/17/22)

The City Council of the City of Chicago passed a resolution naming June 19, 2023, as "Paul Lisnek Day" in the city of Chicago. The honor recognizes Paul's long work covering law, politics, and entertainment on television and radio, as well as his extensive philanthropic work for a variety of causes and entities, including the University of Illinois College of Law.

Scott Redman '89

(11/17/22)

Scott Redman has been named as General Counsel-Chief Legal Officer of Drecisco Farms, LLC, which he led in obtaining an Illinois craft cannabis license. Scott also founded the Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association, the trade association for Illinois craft growers, and currently serves as its President.

Tiffany Smith '98

(10/21/22)

Tiffany Smith has been promoted to the role of General Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. She has served as Chief Tax Counsel since 2016 and on the committee since 2007, playing a key role in every tax bill Congress has passed in the last decade and leading the tax team through consideration of historic legislation, most recently the Inflation Reduction Act.

Lisa Kpor '14

(10/21/22)

Lisa M. Kpor has received the Next Gen Emerging Millennial Leader Award from the Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC), a national organization advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. Ms. Kpor is a litigation associate who works in the Holland & Knight Chicago office.

Paul Golden '94

(10/21/22)

"Litigating Constructive Trusts" by Paul Golden, a partner in a Brooklyn civil litigation firm, was published by the ABA in September 2022. Former Illinois professor, James Pfander, provided a blurb for the book.

Mark Hansen '94

(10/21/22)

Mark Hansen, senior associate general counsel for GROWMARK, Inc. in Bloomington, Ill., has been elected vice president of corporate of the International Association of Defense Counsel for the 2022-25 term.

David Nissen '61

(10/21/22)

Former federal prosecutor, David Nissen is having his book, "Perversion of the Pentagon Papers Trial," posthumously published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. The book recounts the political backdrop against which the original crimes were committed then takes readers into the courtroom for a virtual front row seat throughout the trial.

Thomas Bergham '11

(10/21/22)

Thomas Bergham was named to the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Bergham works in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law for Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. 

Thanhan Nguyen '15

(10/21/22)

Thanhan Nguyen was named "One to Watch" in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Nguyen works in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law for Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. 

James Jordan '82

(10/21/22)

James "Jim" Jordan was named to the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Jordan works in Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment for Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. 

Tyler Zmick '16

(9/22/22)

Tyler Zmick '16 has joined Duane Morris LLP’s Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group as an associate in its Chicago office.

Timmy Knudsen '15

(9/21/22)

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has tapped Timmy Knudsen to replace former Ald. Michele Smith, who stepped down last month, as alderman of the 43rd Ward.

Chad Noreuil '95

(9/21/22)

Carolina Academic Press recently published the second edition of The Zen of Passing the Bar Exam by Chad Noreuil. 

Bruce M. Engel '84

(9/21/22)

Goldberg Segalla has added Bruce M. Engel to the firm’s Global Insurance Services group in Chicago.

George B. Barr Sr. '57

(8/23/22)

George Britt Barr, Sr, 89, of Joliet, IL, passed away peacefully August 15, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Stephen Skardon '02

(8/22/22)

On August 17, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the appointment of Stephen Skardon as the City of Chicago's Chief Risk Officer. Skardon served as the acting Chief Risk Officer, overseeing the city’s first-ever enterprise risk assessment, prior to the permanent appointment. Before entering public service, Skardon practiced law at several law firms in Chicago, representing domestic and international insurers in complex environmental insurance coverage disputes.  

Ronald Galowich '59

(8/22/22)

Ronald Galowich, of Glenview, IL, and formerly Chicago and Joliet, IL, passed peacefully at home, Sunday morning, July 24, 2022. Ronald was a valued long-time member of the College of Law's Board of Visitors, serving as President from 1998-2000. He was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007.

Anna Gotfryd '16

(8/22/22)

Anna Gotfryd, a Trial Attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, is prosecuting the federal criminal cases related to the death of Breonna Taylor. On August 4, 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that current and former Louisville, Kentucky police officers were charged with federal crimes related to the death of Breonna Taylor. Charges include federal civil rights offenses, unlawful conspiracies, obstruction offenses, and use of excessive force.

Bill Pipal '12

(8/22/22)

Bill Pipal’s first New York Times crossword puzzle was published on Thursday, July 28th. Bill has also had crossword puzzles published in various other outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and Wall Street Journal.

Eric Martin '96

(8/22/22)

Eric Martin was named co-leader of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's Financial Services Disputes & Investigations group. Eric has an active trial practice representing clients in the securities, consumer finance, and cryptocurrency industries. Eric is based in the St. Louis office.

Debra Bogo-Ernst '00

(8/22/22)

Mayer Brown appointed Debra Bogo-Ernst as managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office.

Debra Walker '87

(7/18/22)

On June 28, 2022, Judge Debra B. Walker of the Circuit Court of Cook County won her primary election for a seat on the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. She has no general election opponent, so she will be installed on the Appellate Court on December 5, 2022.

William Allison '65

(7/18/22)

William A. Allison passed away on June 10, 2022, at Carle BroMenn in Normal, Ill.

Marilyn Johnson '79

(7/8/22)

Judge Marilyn Johnson passed away on June 1, 2022, after a long illness.

Katherine Imp '09

(7/8/22)

Katherine Imp's article with Mark Radcliffe, "Top Billing for NFTs," was featured on the cover of the May 2022 issue of Los Angeles Lawyer.

Melissa Gold '13

(7/8/22)

Melissa Gold has joined Holland & Knight as a litigation associate.

David Peterson '74

(7/8/22)

David E. Peterson, 72, of Springfield, IL, passed away on Monday, February 28, 2022, at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

Richard Pravda '78

(7/8/22)

Richard E. Pravda has earned a Masters in Museum Studies from the School of Professional Studies of the City University of New York Graduate Center/New York Historical Society. After 40 years of practice in the area of civil litigation, he intends to enter a new area of practice. Richard resides with his wife on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York.

Aalok Virmani '99

(7/8/22)

Aalok Virmani has joined DLA Piper LLP as a partner in the Chicago office. Virmani was formerly a partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP's tax practice.

Pedro Cervantes '03

(7/8/22)

Pedro Cervantes passed away on May 26, 2022, in Chicago, IL.

Norman Early '70

(5/24/22)

Norman Early has died at age 76 after a long illness. Early served as Denver’s top prosecutor from 1983 to 1993 and was the only elected Black district attorney in Colorado history.

Brian Shaw '93

(5/24/22)

The American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) has named to its Board of Regents Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice.

Jospeh Bochenek '08

(5/24/22)

Joseph E. Bochenek has been elevated to Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP. Based in the firm’s Denver office, he represents clients in a variety of industries and emerging companies in connection with private debt and equity financing.

Timothy Johnson '72

(5/24/22)

Timothy Johnson passed away Monday, May 9th, 2022, at his Urbana home among family and friends.

Scott Weisenberg '96

(5/24/22)

Scott Weisenberg joined FisherBroyles as a Partner in the firm's Commercial Real Estate Practice.

Lowell Yoder '82

(5/9/22)
Lowell Yoder is the lead author of The Archaic Subpart F Services Rules: Ill-Fitting and Disruptive for Modern Services Businesses, 100 Taxes 39-100 (May 2022).

William Bales Fisch '60

(4/20/22)

William Bales Fisch passed away on July 7, 2021, after a prolonged struggle with heart disease.

Michael McGovern '72

(4/19/22)

Michael "Mike" McGovern of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, March 26th, 2022.

Richard O'Leary '63

(4/19/22)

Richard Edwin "Dick" O'Leary, age 87, passed away on April 4, 2022, at his home in Naples, FL.

Tyrone Thomas '10

(4/19/22)

Tyrone H. Thomas, Jr. is joining Doral Renewables LLC (dba Doral LLC), a leading developer and operator of clean energy generation assets, as General Counsel.

Frederick Stavins '76

(4/19/22)

Frederick C. Stavins, the City Attorney for the City of Champaign since 1981, has announced plans to retire from that position effective May 20, 2022. Serving for more than forty years, Stavins is the longest serving City Attorney and department head in the City’s history.

Jason Barickman '05

(4/19/22)

Illinois State Sen. Jason Barickman will discuss his career in politics and the most recent spring legislative session in a virtual conversation hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on April 21, 2022.

Richard Harden '83

(4/19/22)

Richard R. Harden has been inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers. This honor comes from one of the premier legal associations in North America. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Richard R. Harden has been practicing with Thomas Mamer, LLP since 1986 and is a partner of the firm.

Christopher Stetler '04

(4/19/22)

Christopher Stetler returned to Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP as a partner in its litigation department. He previously served for one year as a law clerk to the Honorable Amy J. St. Eve, who was then a United States District Court Judge, and for 11 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, most recently as Deputy Chief.

Tom Lewcyzkowski '21

(4/19/22)

Tom Lewcyzkowski has joined Lavelle Law as an Associate. Lewcyzkowski will be a part of the firm’s Business Law, M&A, and Real Estate practice groups.

Christopher Yates '87

(3/28/22)
Christopher Yates was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Court of Appeals - District 3, effective April 18, 2022. 

Yates is currently a judge with the 17th Circuit Court of Kent County. He has been with the circuit court since 2008 where he presides over a specialized business docket and has previously handled civil, criminal, and family dockets. Prior to his time with the courts, Judge Yates was a partner with Yates, LaGrand & Denenfeld, PLLC and Willey, Chamberlain & Yates, LLP. He has also served as the chief defender for the Federal Public Defender's Office, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and as an attorney and advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice.  Judge Yates began his law career as a law clerk to Chief U.S. District Judge James Churchill and to U.S. Appellate Judge Ralph Guy.  

Susanna Lee '14

(3/28/22)
Susanna Lee has joined Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) as Corporate Counsel in the Alliances team of the company’s Commercial, Marketing, and Procurement legal group.

Meghan A. Collins '11

(3/25/22)
Meghan A. Collins has joined the Chicago office of McDonald Hopkins as an associate in the firm's Litigation Department, adding her experience to the firm's national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.

Denise Conklin '97

(3/25/22)
Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal services to senior citizens and low-income persons in northern and central Illinois, has named Denise E. Conklin, managing attorney of its Peoria/Galesburg office, as its new executive director.

Nicholas Phillips '15

(3/24/22)
As an attorney in the Messerli Kramer Corporate group, Nick Phillips brings years of business counseling and transactional experience to his clients. He has acted as general counsel to companies located in the U.S. and abroad, helping them draft domestic and international agreements that include terms and conditions of B2B purchases, software and licensing, vendors, marketing, confidentiality, liability waivers, legal services, employment, and executive compensation. He also has broad-based representative experience in the areas of corporate governance, risk management, employment law counseling and dispute resolution, and real estate.

Nick works with his clients to negotiate contracts, litigate disputes, and develop their businesses on a global scale. He is an expert communicator with proficiencies in some of the most commonly spoken languages in the world. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese, proficient in Spanish, and has intermediate understanding of Japanese. This allows him to represent his clients and their interests globally, helping them connect and work with other businesses as they confront trade, compliance, and other corporate challenges.

Elitsa Dimitrova '10

(3/23/22)
Elitsa Dimitrova has been promoted to Partner in the Corporate Group at Freeborn & Peters LLP. Elitsa concentrates her practice in M&A, venture capital and general corporate matters.

Philip Amoa '10

(3/7/22)
Philip Amoa, a partner in McCarter & English’s Corporate practice, has been appointed as Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Philadelphia office.

Alan Greiman '55

(2/16/22)
Hon. Alan Joel Greiman died peacefully at home at age 90 in Chicago, IL.

Craig Giometti '10

(2/8/22)
Craig Giometti has been promoted to partner in Dentons’ Washington, DC office. An experienced litigator in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice, Craig focuses on complex insurance coverage, bad faith and professional liability litigation. He regularly litigates insurance and professional liability matters in courts throughout the country at both the trial and appellate levels.

Titus Potter '17

(2/7/22)
Titus Potter joins Amazon as an Associate Corporate Counsel in the company's NA Consumer Legal Division.

Meg Leta Jones '08

(1/31/22)
Meg Leta Jones delivered a presentation on "The Character of Consent: The History of Cookies and Future of Technology Policy" at the Toronto Innovation Workshop on February 1, 2022. She is an Associate Professor in the Communication, Culture & Technology program at Georgetown University where she researches rules and technological change with a focus on privacy, memory, innovation, and automation in digital information and computing technologies. 

Jon David "JD" Epstein '67

(1/28/22)
Jon David (“JD”) Epstein passed away peacefully in his Galveston,TX home on January 9, 2022.

Alice Curtis Campbell '43

(1/28/22)
Alice (Curtis) Campbell, passed away on Dec. 23, 2021 in Westwood, CA.

Norman Thorpe '58

(1/28/22)
Norman Ralph Thorpe, 87, of Birmingham, Michigan, died on 24 January 2022.

Nicholas O'Conner '10

(1/19/22)
Nicholas O'Conner was promoted to Partner at Locke Lord LLP effective January 1, 2022. Nick concentrates his practice on business, financial services and aviation litigation.

William Bundy "Bill" Wham '47

(1/18/22)
William Bundy “Bill” Wham, of Centralia, Illinois, and Cincinnati, Ohio, died on Monday, January 10, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Fletcher Baldwin '62

(1/18/22)
Fletcher Baldwin passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2020, in Gainesville, FL.

Taylor Gast '15

(1/18/22)
Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C. attorney, Taylor A. Gast, has been elected as shareholder of the firm entering 2022. Gast joined the firm as an associate in 2015. He practices from the firm’s Lansing office. Gast helps businesses and organizations of all sizes and at all stages of development grow and solve problems. He provides practical and thoughtful advice on issues including technology law, data privacy and cybersecurity, startups, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, employee benefits and contracting.

Jeffrey Ward '84

(1/12/22)
In January 2022, Jeffrey S. Ward joined Neal Gerber Eisenberg as a partner in the Chicago-based firm's Intellectual Property practice group. Neal Gerber Eisenberg hired Jeffrey Ward as a partner in the Chicago-based firm's Intellectual Property practice group. Jeffrey's practice centers on patent litigation, trade secret litigation, and strategic counseling for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electrical engineering, agricultural, and food products.

Ronald S. Miller '55

(1/11/22)
Ronald S. Miller, age 89, died suddenly, but peacefully, in Chicago on Sept. 11, 2021.

Edythe H. Kelly '84

(1/10/22)
Edythe H. Kelly passed away on November 28, 2021, in Scottsdale AZ, where she and her husband had been residents since 1985.

Bryce Pfalzgraf '15

(1/7/22)
Bryce G. Pfalzgraf has joined Capes Sokol, a St. Louis-based law firm, as an associate in the Litigation practice group. He handles all types of commercial litigation, including disputes arising out of employment relationships, real estate transactions, shareholder matters, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

Tony D'Anzica '97

(12/21/21)
On October 25, 2021 Tony D'Anzica was elected President-Elect of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors and he will serve as its President-Elect in 2022. Tony was formerly the President of the Manhattan Association of Realtors until 2016, when it merged with the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the second largest Realtor Association in New York State. Tony also serves as Director of the New York State Association of Realtors and as a Director of the National Association of Realtors. Tony is a licensed real estate broker in New York and represents local and international real estate investors. He is the Broker-owner of Dynamax Realty Inc. and Dynamax Realty NYC Inc., both located in New York state.

Mike Morkin '90

(12/21/21)
Mike Morkin has joined Venable’s Chicago Office as a partner in their Commercial Litigation division. Mike will continue to assist clients with their international arbitration and litigation issues. Mike will also serve as Venable’s Growth & Expansion partner focusing on the strategic hiring of partners/groups of partners across the US.

Dave Kendall '84

(12/14/21)
David Lee Kendall, of Hinsdale, IL, age 64, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on November 7, 2021.

Claudia Rustad '99

(12/9/21)
Roeser Tanner & Graham welcomed Claudia M. Rustad to the firm as a principal.

Claudia concentrates her practice in commercial litigation matters, drawing on more than 20 years of experience representing clients in state and federal proceedings, arbitrations and mediations in jurisdictions across the country.

Throughout her career, Claudia has successfully defended and prosecuted cases involving contract breach, real estate and employment disputes, fiduciary duty, professional duty and fraud claims, among others. She also regularly provides outside general counsel services, advising clients on commercial contracts, litigation management, corporate governance, compliance and risk management.

Prior to joining the firm, Claudia served as a trial attorney in the commercial litigation department of a nationally renowned litigation boutique and as Senior Assistant General Counsel at a premier Chicago-based real estate investment trust.

Claudia earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1999 following completion of her B.A. from the University of Illinois in 1996.

Ashok Pinto '03

(12/8/21)
Ashok Pinto joined Intel in November 2021 as Director in the company’s Intellectual Property Policy Group based in Washington, D.C. after having served in all three branches of the U.S. government. He began his legal career in private practice as an IP litigator and most recently was Senior Advisor to the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank and Counselor to both the General Counsel and the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the Treasury Department. He has also held senior positions in Congress – on the House Oversight, Senate Judiciary, and Senate Commerce Committees – and as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office.

Ngozi Okorafor '98

(11/30/21)
Ngozi Okorafor passed away on November 23, 2021 at the age of 48 in Homewood, Illinois. She was the Director of Employment Actions for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and served as a former president of the BWLA (Black Women Lawyers' Association). She was listed as one of "Illinois’ 40 Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" and was a 2020 Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award Honoree. 

Zachary Johns '12

(11/22/21)
In October 2021, Zachary M. Johns was elected to the partnership of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in the Firm's Philadelphia office where he focuses on Antitrust disputes and counseling.

Monique Lashbrook '00

(11/15/21)
Monique Lashbrook has been named a finalist in San Diego Business Journal's Business Women of the Year Awards 2021. This list annually recognizes dynamic women business leaders who have contributed significantly to San Diego's workplaces and communities. Lashbrook is a real estate partner at Snell & Wilmer where she focuses her practice on real estate, corporate and commercial finance-related matters and transactions.

Jeffrey Ekeberg '08

(11/15/21)
Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Jeffrey K. Ekeberg as a shareholder in its Chicago office, expanding its team of attorneys with specialized skills needed to handle a surge in M&A transactions. Ekeberg, a tax attorney, will focus his practice on advising clients on the tax aspects of complex business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and capital markets transactions. He joins Greenberg Traurig from Kirkland & Ellis where he was a tax partner in its Chicago office.

Daniel Gregus '86

(11/15/21)
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that Daniel R. Gregus has been named Director of the Chicago Regional Office, where he has served as acting co-director since June. Mr. Gregus is a 28-year veteran of the SEC and has held leadership roles in both the Division of Enforcement and the Division of Examinations. He has most recently served as the Associate Director of the National Clearance and Settlement Examination Program as well as the Associate Regional Director for the Broker-Dealer and Exchange Examination Program in the Chicago Regional Office.

Dale Chang '06

(11/12/21)
Dale Chang has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins in Chicago, effective January 1, 2022. A member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice in the Litigation & Trial Department he focuses on patent disputes involving a range of leading-edge technologies. He has tried more than a dozen cases in US federal courts and at the US International Trade Commission. He also has experience in challenging and defending patents before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He received his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2006 and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 2001.

Hassen T. Al-Shawaf '12

(10/28/21)
Hassen T. Al-Shawaf was recently selected to serve on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs - Emerging Leaders Class of 2022. He is one of 20 high performing, mid-career professionals from across Chicago’s business, civic, and academic sectors to participate in this leadership development program and deepen their skills and experience analyzing global issues and policies.

Chris Haaff '97

(10/27/21)
Chris S. Haaff completed his first full Ironman distance triathlon at Chattanooga in September 2021. Chris finished the 2.4 mile swim, 116 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run in just under 16 hours. Next summer, Chris will compete at Ironman Wisconsin.

Michael Strauss '04

(10/27/21)
Michael Strauss was honored this month at the A Safe Place annual gala with the Betty Toser "Angel" Award. He also helped to write several laws that recently passed in Illinois.

Joseph Yockey '04

(10/27/21)
In Fall 2021, Joseph Yockey was appointed the David H. Vernon Professor of Law at the University of Iowa College of Law. The David H. Vernon Professorship was established in 2001 through gifts from family, colleagues, and friends in memory of professor and former dean of the law school, David H. Vernon. Professor Yockey is the third holder of the Vernon chair.

Patricia Brown Holmes '86

(10/26/21)
Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila Managing Partner Patricia Brown Holmes has been honored as a “Managing Partner of the Year” by the Corporate Counsel’s annual Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards program. These awards honor general counsel, in-house leaders and law firm partners who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law. In recognizing Judge Holmes, the WIPL selection committee noted her role in shaping RSHC’s culture and designing explicit policies that ensure accountability on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under her leadership, the firm has been recognized by Chambers as “a true diversity and inclusion pioneer for the profession” and was recently noted in Law360’s Diversity Snapshot Report for having one of industry’s the most diverse equity partnerships. 

Michael Osanloo '91

(10/26/21)
Michael Osanloo '91, President and CEO of Portillo's, recently rang the closing bell at Nasdaq to mark the occasion of the company's IPO.

Walter Jones '72

(10/25/21)
Walter Jones passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Walter was a renowned Chicago trial attorney. He started his career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois where he rose to become the highest ranking minority in the history of the office at that time as Chief of the Criminal Division and Special Litigation Counsel in charge of all litigation, both civil and criminal. Subsequently, he founded the minority-owned law firm of Pugh, Jones & Johnson, P.C. where he practiced for almost 30 years, handling many of the firm's most complicated, high profile cases. Through his efforts, the firm became one of the largest minority-owned and managed firms in the Midwest. More recently, Walter joined longtime friends at the prestigious firm of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Monique (Nikki) Bhargava '08

(10/21/21)
Monique (Nikki) Bhargava has joined Reed Smith in the firm’s Entertainment & Media Industry Group as a partner. Bhargava brings her deep knowledge of digital media, advertising, and privacy compliance, including extensive experience in the AdTech and MarTech space. She counsels consumer brands, advertising agencies, and media and technology companies in a broad range of industries. 

Bhargava has been an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law where she has taught advertising and promotions law. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and earned a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.

Bhargava serves on the board of directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services as vice president of affiliate relations, and she is on the executive committee of the South Asian Bar Association of North America. In 2020, she was named to the Chicago Lawyer’s list of 40 Lawyers Under 40, and in 2018, she was honored by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s Notable Minority Lawyers.

David Allen Larson '79

(10/21/21)
David Allen Larson has been elected Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. David is a tenured Professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St Paul, Minnesota, and also is the System Designer for the New York State Unified Court System Small Claims Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Pilot project.

Collin Delaney '08

(10/14/21)
Collin Delaney was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Collin serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas. In his civilian capacity, Collin is an U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Denver, Colorado.

Kirsten Meeder '15

(10/6/21)
Kirsten L. Meeder joins Kogut & Wilson as an associate attorney, concentrating her practice in all areas of family and matrimonial law. Kirsten earned her J.D. in 2015 from the University of Illinois College of Law after completing her B.A. in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan in 2012.

William Henning '82

(10/1/21)
William Henning has been appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to the Work Group on Blockchain Matters. The work group will develop a master plan for the expansion of the blockchain industry in Texas and recommend policies and state investments in connection with blockchain technology. Henning is an Executive Professor of Law at Texas A&M University School of Law. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and a Master of Laws from the University of Illinois . 

Mei Tsang '02

(9/24/21)
Mei Tsang is the newly-elected Secretary for the Orange County Bar Association for a five (5) year term. Mei will be the President of the OCBA by 2025. The OCBA serves 7000 members in Orange County, California. Mei will also be President of the Community Legal Aid of SoCal in 2022, a 60-year-old organization that provides low bono and pro bono legal services to the Southern California people.

Nicholas Starr '20

(9/23/21)
Howard & Howard is pleased to welcome Nicholas W. Starr to the firm. He joins the Trust & Estate Planning Practice Group. Nick joins one of five Howard & Howard locations, continuing his practice out of the Chicago office.

N. Peter Rasmussen '82

(9/16/21)
N. Peter Rasmussen announced his retirement from his position as senior legal analyst with Bloomberg Law. Peter is a recognized expert and frequent author and speaker on federal securities and corporate law. His work has been cited by SEC Commissioners, in agency rulemaking and in Congressional hearings.

Peter lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife Peggy, where he will spend retirement as a battlefield guide. The Rasmussens have three children. Peter may be reached at petenpeg1982@gmail.com.

Jordan Lewandowski '17

(9/15/21)
Jordan Lewandowski joins Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa as an associate in the firm's Business Law and Transactions practice group.

Robert Reiland '75

(8/30/21)
Robert (Bob) N. Reiland of Clarendon Hills, IL passed away on August 11, 2021.

Karen Suhre '82

(8/29/21)
Karen Suhre recently moved from Dallas, Texas to Kansas City, Missouri, and has been admitted to practice in Missouri in addition to Texas. She continues her solo practice in employee benefits and executive compensation matters, and has once again been recognized in the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

Andrew Vail '03

(8/27/21)
Andrew Vail, a litigation Partner at Jenner & Block LLP and general counsel at United Way of Metro Chicago, has been recognized for the Chicago Bar Foundation's Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award, which recognizes lawyers who “display a deep commitment to the fundamental principles of equal protection and equal justice in the community through outstanding pro bono service.”

Robert Porter '12

(8/26/21)
Governor Pritzker appointed Robert Porter as public administrator and public guardian of McClean County, IL.

Saul Morse '72

(8/26/21)
Saul Morse, of Counsel at Brown, Hay & Stephens, has recently been appointed by Governor Pritzker to the Capital Development Board and as Chair of the Quality Care Board of the Illinois Department of Human Services. Both appointments require confirmation by the Illinois State Senate.

Ronald Mottaz '56

(8/26/21)
Ron Mottaz passed away on March 23, 2021 in Alton, Ill.

Folarin Dosunmu '04

(8/23/21)
Folarin Dosunmu is now Vice President & General Counsel at Levy Restaurants in Chicago.

Kurt Reitz '84

(8/20/21)
Kurt Reitz of Thompson Coburn LLP has been recognized by the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (by BL Rankings). He was named as one of the 2022 Lawyers of the Year.

John Wirt '89

(8/20/21)
John Wirt has joined Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. as its general counsel. He is the former president and GC of Epic Sports & Entertainment, a boxing promotions company.


Dave Murray '60

(8/19/21)
David E. Murray was inducted into the Whiteside County Airport Hall of Fame on July 15, 2021. During Murray's tenure, he advised the airport board through changes in rules, regulations, and leases. He and the board worked successfully with many officials of the state of Illinois and the Federal Aviation Administration on airport improvement projects. Dave himself is a pilot and has been flying for 50 years with no accident.

Philip H. Ward '55

(8/19/21)
Philip H. Ward died on July 6, 2020 in Jupiter, FL.

Ole Bly Pace III '66

(8/19/21)
Ole Bly Pace III died on June 2, 2020 in Geneva, IL.

McKensie Villarreal '19

(8/17/21)
McKensie Villarreal has joined Chicago-based firm Novack and Macey LLP as an associate. She will focus her practice on commercial litigation.

Tracey Wolfe '98

(8/13/21)
Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres is pleased to announce that accomplished employment attorney and commercial litigator Tracey Wolfe has joined the firm as partner. Tracey brings more than 20 years of experience across a broad range of commercial and employment matters, adding depth of knowledge and litigation experience to two key areas of practice within the growing firm.

Taylor Gast '15

(8/13/21)
Foster Swift attorney Taylor A. Gast is listed as a “Rising Star” in the Michigan Super Lawyers 2021 edition. This is the first year that he has been listed and is recognized for his work in Business/Corporate law.

Daniel C' Jackson '01

(8/12/21)
Daniel Clark Jackson passed away on June 19, 2021 at the age of 70 in his adopted hometown of Champaign, IL. Following a successful career in business, he enrolled in law school at the University of Illinois at the age of 48. Dan practiced law in Champaign, first, as a prosecuting States Attorney for Champaign county, helping to improve the quality of life of its citizens, before moving on to private practice as a highly respected criminal defense attorney.

 

Vernon Dale Ashmore '63

(8/5/21)
Vernon Dale Ashmore, 83, of Gibson City, IL peacefully passed away at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

William Coulson '72

(7/23/21)
The Cook County Board has reappointed attorney William R. Coulson to another 5-year term on the Board of the Regional Transportation Authority (“RTA”). RTA provides financial and planning oversight of the CTA, Metra, and Pace bus and rail services in the six- county Chicago region. Coulson has served on the Board since 2007, and currently Chairs the RTA Audit Committee.

Michelle Gilbert '86

(7/12/21)
The Chicago Bar Foundation has selected Michelle Gilbert, Legal and Policy Director, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, as the 2021 recipient of the Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award, the premier public recognition for long-time legal aid and public interest law attorneys in the Chicago community.

Dawn Rosemond '96

(7/9/21)
Barnes & Thornburg Partner and Director of Diversity Dawn Rosemond has been named a recipient of the 2021 Anti-Defamation League Midwest Women of Achievement Award, which honors women who "embody the spirit and philosophy of ADL through their efforts to improve communication and understanding". She has served in various roles with the firm since 1996 and was the first Black female to make equity partner at the firm. 

Laura Seidel '92

(7/1/21)
Laura Seidel, a 1992 University of Illinois College of Law graduate, has been named partner at the national law firm of Ballard Spahr. She is a Co-Team Leader of the Insurance Company and Institutional Investments Team and represents leading clients nationwide in the areas of secured lending and commercial real estate. Ms. Seidel has significant experience in structuring, negotiating, and closing loan transactions secured by assets and all types of commercial real estate, including office, retail, industrial, warehouse, multifamily, assisted living, and hotel properties. In addition, Ms. Seidel handles real estate leasing matters and represents clients in the acquisition and disposition of property. She also represents services of commercial mortgage loans involving, particularly, loan defeasances, restructurings and workouts.

Joel Halper '73

(6/29/21)
Joel David Halper, age 73, of Arlington Heights, IL, passed away on Sunday June 27th, 2021.

Matt Gold '16

(6/22/21)
Matt Gold joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division as a Trial Attorney following clerkships with Judge Marvin Aspen and Magistrate Judge Sunil Harjani in the Northern District of Illinois.

Katie Chamberlain '09

(6/19/21)
Katie Chamberlain (J.D., 2009, M.S.L.I.S., 2010) recently moved back to Champaign from Burlington, Vermont. She teaches online graduate courses at the Illinois iSchool and was included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Students for Spring 2021, when she taught Libraries, Information, & Society and Information Ethics. Katie is the guest editor of an upcoming special issue of the Journal of Information Ethics on social justice and ethics.

James K. Whitaker '59

(6/15/21)
James K. Whitaker, age 87 of Munster, IN, passed away on June 2, 2021.

George Michael Oros '65

(6/10/21)
George Michael "Mickey" Oros passed away Saturday, May 15, 2021 in Evansville, IN.

James Schlifke '73

(6/10/21)
James Steven Schlifke of Marina, California, passed away on May 17, 2021.

Helena Kiepura '09

(6/4/21)
Helena Kiepura has joined DLA Piper as a partner in the Patent Litigation practice, based in Washington, DC.

Barbara Crowder '81

(6/1/21)
Retired Madison County Circuit Court Judge Barb Crowder was installed as president of the Illinois Judges Association during the annual meeting June 4. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and raise public understanding of the Illinois judicial system.

Rebecca Ayars Baker '58

(5/17/21)
Rebecca Jean Ayars Baker, a member of the 1956 United States Olympic team and a recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Illinois College of Law, has passed away at the age of 84. She was part of a groundbreaking class of women when she enrolled at the University of Illinois College of Law in 1955. She entered law school at a time when women faced formidable obstacles in the legal profession: Harvard Law School had admitted its first female student only five years earlier, in 1950. Becky was one of only three women in a class of 300.

Omar Jafri '08

(5/13/21)
Omar Jafri has been selected for the National Law Journal's inaugural list of Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs’ Bar under the age of 40 in 2021, a new category in the Elite Trial Lawyers competition.

Bruce Slivnick '81

(5/12/21)
Bruce Slivnick has been teaching in the Paralegal Studies Program of Roosevelt University in Chicago to both undergraduates and graduate paralegal certificate students for 25 years. He works in private practice in Deerfield, Illinois.

Gail Curley '99

(5/12/21)
Col. Gail Curley, an attorney in the U.S. Army who has advised military leaders on national security law, will be the Supreme Court’s new marshal, effective June 21.

Tyler Smith '17

(5/5/21)
On January 1, 2019 Tyler W. Smith accepted a position as associate attorney with Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll & Keller LLC in Peoria, IL.

Paul Dorsey '13

(4/24/21)
Paul Dorsey has joined Rivian Automotive, an electric vehicle startup, as Senior Counsel and will handle Rivian's state regulatory affairs issues.

Thomas Miner '53

(4/19/21)
Thomas H. Miner, 92, of Chicago, passed away peacefully, on April 10, 2021.

Richard Thies '55

(4/13/21)
Richard L. Thies (Dick Thies) of Urbana, IL died peacefully on April 10, 2021. He was 89 years old. 

Bud Alexander '77

(4/9/21)
Bud Alexander was elected McHenry, Illinois Public Library District Trustee.

Marlen Cortez Morris '06

(4/7/21)
Marlén Cortez Morris has joined Ogletree Deakins as shareholder in the firm’s Chicago office. Marlén represents and advises clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters, as well as franchise and commercial litigation matters, in courts and alternative dispute resolution venues and before government agencies nationwide. She has been named to the 2020 Lawyers of Color Nation’s Best list and a 2021 Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Gregory Read '67

(4/6/21)
Gregory Read, BA '64, JD '67, grew up in Champaign. In 1965 he married his college sweetheart, Mary Beth (MB) Bartulis, BS '65. After law school he served for three years as a Navy JAGC officer in Norfolk Virginia. In 1971 the Reads moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and Greg joined the law firm of Sedgwick LLP where he had a 47-year career as a defense product liability attorney. After retiring in 2019, Greg self-published his memoir, Pieces of a Life: My Journey So Far.

John DeLaMar '70

(3/31/21)
John “Jack” DeLaMar passed away on Friday, March 26, 2021, at the age of 75 in Champaign, IL.

Tu Pham '96

(3/27/21)
Tu Pham was elevated to Chief United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

Adam Fleischer '94

(3/25/21)
Adam H. Fleischer, Managing Partner at BatesCarey, earned top ChambersUSA rankings both nationally and in Illinois for his insurance work – one of only two attorneys awarded in both jurisdictions in 2021. Fleischer was lauded as “an effective advocate who is very knowledgeable and professional. Adam is very proficient, collaborative and focused on achieving the best outcome in the most efficient manner.”

Reema Dodin '06

(3/24/21)
Reema Dodin '06, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, was recently profiled in the Daily Beast as a key player in shepherding the COVID-19 relief bill through the Senate approval process.

Thomas Berghman '11

(3/23/21)
Thomas D. Berghman of Munsch Hardt, a Texas-based mid-size commercial law firm, was recently named to the 2021 Texas “Rising Stars” list by Super Lawyers®. Thomas’s practice focuses on corporate restructuring and bankruptcy related litigation, including representing Chapter 11 debtors, Chapter 7 trustees, landlords, and other parties of interest in all aspects of bankruptcy, such as asset sales and all aspects of litigation.

Gary Mowder '65

(3/15/21)
Gary L. Mowder, 80, of Highland Beach, Florida passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021 at his home in Illinois surrounded by family. Gary was a partner at Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago, IL where he practiced law for 55 years until his retirement. Gary concentrated his practice in corporate, banking and sports law. In the 1970's he represented Bill Veeck when he owned the Chicago White Sox and continued to work for the team until it was sold. During his illustrious career he received numerous honors as an Illinois Leading Lawyer and voted by his peers to The Best Lawyers in America publication.

Linda Evers '91

(3/2/21)
Linda R. Evers has been elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), a prominent honorary society that recognizes outstanding legal leadership and community service. Ms. Evers is Chair of Stevens & Lee’s Energy, Communications and Public Utility Group. She represents public utilities and other companies in matters before governmental and regulatory agencies, including the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Ms. Evers is a recipient of the 2010 Berks County Presidential Award of Merit for promoting diversity in the legal profession by teaching business law to grade school children. She was also one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Sigma Omega’s 65th Anniversary Community Partner Honorees and is a member of The National Black Lawyers Top 100.

Douglas Quivey '94

(3/2/21)
Douglas Quivey has been announced as the new acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Quivey has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the same district since Jan. 2019. He is taking over as acting U.S. attorney by virtue of the Vacancies Reform Act. 

Howard Goldman '85

(2/23/21)
Senior attorney Howard B. Goldman recently joined the Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest full-service law firms.

A business attorney for over 30 years, Goldman focuses his practice on the representation of borrowers, lenders, landlords and tenants in all aspects of real estate transactions. He handles finance, sale-leaseback and commercial lease transactions, and he assists clients with the purchase and financing of commercial properties. Goldman also negotiates with lenders regarding COVID-19 and its impact on hospitality and retail properties.

Admitted to practice law in Michigan, Illinois and New York, Goldman received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985. He is a member of the Illinois and New York State bar associations and the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He also serves as the Michigan Chair of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.

Jessica Bregant '09

(2/16/21)
Jessica (“Jessie”) Bregant, a 2009 magna cum laude graduate of the College of Law, is now Professor Bregant, as she has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Law at University of Houston Law Center, with a courtesy joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. She is currently finishing up a Jerome Hall Postdoctoral Fellow at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Nicholas Starr '20

(2/10/21)
Nicholas Starr has joined Lavelle Law, where he will be a part of the Real Estate and Health practice groups.

Daniel Campbell '13 and Kate Bowen '12

(2/9/21)
Dan Campbell and Kate Bowen recently welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Leah Nicole Campbell.

Michael Melbinger '83

(2/7/21)
Michael Melbinger retired from Winston & Strawn and the practice of law after 38 years (24 of them as chair of the practice group), as of January 31, 2021.

Stephanie Tang '15

(2/4/21)
Stephanie L. Tang was promoted to partner at Kogut & Wilson, L.L.C. Stephanie joined the firm as an associate in 2017, focusing on family law. In addition to being a certified mediator, Stephanie is also a Certified Financial Litigator through the AACFL, uniquely positioning her to handle complex financial issues in divorce cases. This promotion comes one year after Stephanie and Mark Scott (2015) welcomed their first son!

Scott Brinkmeier '92

(2/3/21)
Carroll County State’s Attorney Scott Brinkmeier has been named the new associate judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit. The appointment is effective Monday, March 1.

Paul Uhlenhop '61

(2/3/21)
Paul Buscher Uhlenhop, 84, a Senior Partner of the Chicago law firm Lawrence, Kamin, Saunders & Uhlenhop, LLC, and prominent legal expert in financial services compliance and regulation law, passed away on January 30, 2021, surrounded by his devoted family.

Norma Manjarrez '12

(2/2/21)
Norma Manjarrez, an attorney in Ogletree Deakins’ Chicago office, has been elected shareholder at the firm. Norma advises employers in all aspects of the employment relationship and regularly counsels human resources professionals and in-house counsel on sick leave, unemployment, wage and hour issues, employment policies, employee handbooks, compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination statutes, and terminations. Norma is a Co-Chair of ODAdelante, the firm’s business resource group for Latinx attorneys.

Jennifer Gerarda Brown '85

(1/31/21)
Jennifer Gerarda Brown, dean of the School of Law at Quinnipiac University, has been elected to the American Law Institute.

The institute is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and otherwise improve the law. 

Marlén Cortez Morris '06

(1/29/21)
Marlén Cortez Morris, Litigation Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, was selected for inclusion in Crain’s 2020 Notable Minority Executives in Accounting, Consulting & Law, featuring a cohort of 56 who have overcome challenges and bias to rise to the top of their professions and who have stepped up to visible roles in diversity and inclusion initiatives. In 2020, Marlén also was named a Top Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine and a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Matthew Feery '07

(1/29/21)
Matthew Feery was elevated from associate to income principal in the Labor & Employment group at Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist, P.C.

Matt helps employers of all sizes support their business goals by developing best practices, strategies and solutions in compliance with labor and employment laws. In addition to his counseling practice, Matt represents and defends employers in litigation in numerous settings, including state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

Larry Lieberman '63

(1/27/21)
Larry Lieberman (BS 1960, LAW 1963) announced his retirement from the practice of law after practicing continuously from 1963 to December 31, 2020.

Kwin Xie '12

(1/26/21)
Kwin Xie has been recently selected for detail to the Chief Communications Office at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). On detail, he performs the role of speechwriter for the Under Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the USPTO. Kwin concentrates in intellectual property law, and also serves as a primary patent examiner.

Andrew Nevill '13

(1/19/21)
Andrew M. Nevill was promoted to partner at Woodard, Emhardt, Henry, Reeves & Wagner, LLP. Nevill joined the firm as an associate in 2013, focusing on patent and trademark litigation and prosecution. He was formerly a research assistant focusing on computational fluid dynamics and combustion properties of solid fuel rockets.

Pam Sran '18

(1/15/21)
Pam Sran has joined K&L Gates LLP as an associate in the firm's Chicago office where she is a member of the complex commercial litigation and disputes practice group.

Paul Lisnek '83

(1/12/21)
Paul Lisnek has written his 15th book and second work of fiction. “Assume Treason” was published in January 2021 and is the next in his Matt Barlow series. The first book called “Assume Guilt,” was published in 2019. Paul is the political analyst for WGN-TV in Chicago where he anchors “WGN-TV Political Report seen on WGN-TV Sunday Mornings at 9am. He sponsors the annual Paul M. Lisnek Award in Trial Communication and Ethics at the College of Law.

Julia (“Julie”) Pearce Argentieri '10

(1/12/21)
Julia (“Julie”) P. Argentieri has been recently elevated to Principal at Jackson Lewis P.C. Julie works in the firm’s Chicago office and has a broad range of experience representing employers in all stages of federal and state court litigation. She regularly defends administrative charges before the EEOC and IDHR. Julie also routinely counsels clients on a variety of employment practices, including employee handbooks. She conducts employee training seminars, and frequently speaks on employment-related topics.

Amir Ovcina '08

(1/7/21)
Amir Ovcina has been named a partner in the Business Group at Ice Miller LLP.

Susan McGrath '82

(1/5/21)
Susan McGrath was elected on November 3, 2020 and sworn in on December 1, 2020 as the Champaign County Circuit Clerk, the first Democratic candidate ever elected to that position.

Lauren Ferrante '09

(1/4/21)
Lauren A. Ferrante has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm’s Chicago office. Ferrante offers experience representing clients in state and local tax (SALT) controversies and planning matters. Prior to joining Duane Morris, she was a partner in McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s SALT Practice.

Ramona Sullivan '96

(12/21/20)
Ramona Sullivan was elected Resident Circuit Judge in Champaign County on November 3, and was sworn in on December 7, 2020.

Elena Vekilov '13

(12/10/20)
Elena Vekilov has been promoted to Sr. Counsel, Privacy, for Trans Union LLC, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the world. Elena has spent 3 years at TransUnion, focusing primarily on providing product development and regulatory legal support for the enterprise, as well as serving as primary legal counsel for several TransUnion subsidiaries. Her new role will focus on international privacy law compliance and ensuring the enterprise continues leading the industry in using information for good.

Sang-yul Lee '95

(12/7/20)
Sang-yul Lee, a partner at K&L Gates, has been elected a 2020 Fellow to the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. The College is a non-profit professional association honoring the leading lawyers nationwide in the practice of Labor and Employment Law. Fellows are recognized as distinguished members of the labor and employment community who promote achievement, advancement and excellence in the practice by setting standards of professionalism and civility, by sharing their experience and knowledge and by acting as a resource for academia, the government, the judiciary and the community at large.

Matthew Bettenhausen '85

(12/3/20)
Matthew R. Bettenhausen has joined the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he serves as Senior Advisor and Counselor to the Director. Bettenhausen has more than 17 years of federal service, principally as an Assistant United States Attorney with the Department of Justice in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago). 

Hilda Bahena '01

(12/3/20)
Hilda Bahena received the 2020 Distinguished Intern Award from the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) in early December. She was selected for her outstanding contributions to public interest law and pro bono in Illinois. As a law student, she served as a PILI Intern at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. Since then, Hilda has dedicated her entire career to public interest in the service of others. 

Stanley Eisenstein '73

(12/2/20)
Stanley Eisenstein has been presented with the Walter P. Reuther Distinguished Service Award by the United Auto Workers, the highest honor the UAW bestows. The American Institute of Legal Counsel named him one of Illinois’ 10 Best in Labor and Employment Law for 2020. He was named as 2020 Lawyer of the Year, Labor Law - Union, Chicago by Best Lawyers. Both of these are repeat honors.

Andrew Vail '03

(12/2/20)
Andrew Vail, a litigation Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, has been selected to serve as the first-ever United Way general counsel. In this role, Mr. Vail will provide important strategic advice and pro bono legal counsel to help the United Way and its partners throughout Chicagoland fulfill the organization’s mission of improving communities and the common good. Mr. Vail has long served as a chair of Jenner & Block’s pro bono program.

Tessa Lancaster '20

(12/1/20)
Tessa Lancaster has joined Baird Holm LLP as an associate attorney, where she concentrates her practice on health care law. 

James J. Eder '79

(11/27/20)
Associate Judge James J. Eder of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois announced his retirement at the end of 2020 after 19 1/2 years on the bench.  

Karen Layng '87

(11/25/20)
Karen Layng has been elected to the role of National President (also known as the Chair of the National Board of Directors) of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). With her election, Karen became the highest-ranking volunteer member of GSUSA and joined a prestigious group of past National Presidents that extends back to the Movement's founder, Juliette Gordon Low.

Stephanie Sebor '10

(11/24/20)
Stephanie Sebor has been elected partner of Winston & Strawn LLP. She is a member of the Firm's environmental practice, where she represents clients in environmental litigation, transactions, and compliance counseling matters.

Erin O'Boyle-Marr '09

(11/19/20)
Erin O'Boyle-Marr has been named the Deputy Director of Labor Relations and chief labor relations negotiator for the State of Illinois. Erin will be responsible for the negotiation and administration of more than 30 collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations representing State employees and home healthcare workers. Erin will also be the primary labor policy administrator for all State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor. Erin previously served as the Labor Relations Supervisor for Ameren and the Deputy General Counsel for Labor Relations for the State of Illinois.

James Brusatte '77

(11/18/20)
Retired Circuit Judge James Brusatte has received the 2020 Prairie State Legal Services Excellence Award for his contribution to Pro Bono Services.

Calvin R. Stone '48

(11/16/20)
Calvin R. Stone, age 99, of Venice, Florida, formerly of Peoria, Illinois, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020.

Sean Murphy '14

(11/15/20)
Since early 2020, Sean P. Murphy ('14), Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, has been working with the FBI on an investigation involving the importation of nearly 700 kg of cocaine directly from Venezuela. That investigation culminated on November 1, 2020, when an undercover FBI agent received 679.2 kg of cocaine—worth approximately $20 million—directly from two Venezuelan vessels during a high seas transfer. With assistance from Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, both Venezuelan vessels were apprehended. All twenty-six Venezuelan nationals plus four Puerto Rican co-conspirators were arrested, and AUSA Murphy secured an indictment from a federal Grand Jury on allegations including Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance On Board A Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States and Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance into the United States.

Philip D. Amoa '10

(11/11/20)
McCarter & English, LLP has elected Philip D. Amoa to its equity ranks, effective October 1. Philip is based in the firm’s Philadelphia and Delaware offices.

Jay Heath '65

(11/11/20)
Jay Heath passed away on November 6, 2020 in Rockford, IL.

William Snively '60

(11/11/20)
William Snively passed away on November 4, 2020 in Rockford, IL.

Manita Rawat '05

(11/3/20)
The Duane Morris Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) has honored Manita Rawat, managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office, with the Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award.

The award recognizes significant contributions, including professional development, leadership and mentoring, made by a lawyer to women in the legal profession. The award is named in honor of the late Cheryl Blackwell Bryson, a Duane Morris partner in Chicago who died in January 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Bryson was a leader in many significant civic and community causes, and she was repeatedly honored throughout her career as a major pioneer, both as a female lawyer and as a lawyer of color.

Despite her extremely busy schedule, Manita Rawat was chosen for going out of her way to work with young female lawyers and serve as a mentor to them in terms of “work product, marketing and what it means to be a good firm citizen.” She is committed to having open and honest discussions with young attorneys related to practice and personal issues.

Robert B. Vlach '65

(10/30/20)
Robert B. Vlach, of Dallas, TX, passed away on October 20, 2020.

Jenny Goltz '06

(10/26/20)
Jenny Goltz,  a member of Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor and Employment Department, has been named Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Labor and Employment Law Section on Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee.

Michael Strauss '04

(10/26/20)
Michael Strauss was recently honored with the Lake County Bar Association Wayne B. Flanigan Award.  The award was established in 2005 to honor the lifework and spirit of former LCBA President and Prairie State Legal Services Board Member Wayne B. Flanigan. Mr. Flanigan was a strong supporter of pro bono service to the community by representing clients as a pro bono attorney, mentoring Prairie State staff attorneys, recruiting new volunteer lawyers and helping fundraising efforts. The award recognizes a LCBA member attorney who provides extraordinary contributions in providing legal services to indigent members of the Lake County communities.

David Adams '96

(10/23/20)
David Adams was named General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Kaplan North America, one of the world's largest providers of educational services to students, universities, and businesses. David previously served as General Counsel of Kaplan division, Kaplan Higher Education.

Brian Shaw '93

(10/20/20)
Brian Shaw has joined Cozen O’Connor’s nationally recognized Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring Practice in the Chicago office.

Jerome Klose '49

(10/20/20)
Jerome B. Klose, 97, a Chicago patent attorney and WWII veteran, died on Tuesday, Sept.1, 2020.

William L. Hulse '63

(10/16/20)
William L. Hulse, passed away August 23, 2020. He practiced family law for 40 years in Santa Monica, California.

Roderick Courtright MacLeod '58

(10/16/20)
Roderick Courtright MacLeod of Mountain Home, Arkansas, passed away September 26, 2020, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 89.

Robert J. Peters '67

(10/14/20)
Robert J. Peters, 78, attorney at law and 46-year resident of Riverside, IL, died Oct. 10, 2020.

Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09

(10/4/20)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos (JD, '09; MLIS, '10) recently relocated to Burlington, Vermont. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and Vermont. Katie is now adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, where she teaches graduate courses on information policy and information ethics, and a consulting attorney at The Gunderson Law Firm of Chicago.

Stephanie Mills '13

(10/3/20)
Stephanie Mills was promoted to Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon.

Brett Hudspeth '09

(9/25/20)
Brett was recently promoted to the position of Vice President, Clinical Segment Chief Information Officer at Humana, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky.

In this position, Brett will oversee the team of more than 500 technologists and engineers that provide IT solutions for Humana's clinicians, supporting Humana's continued efforts towards improving the health of the communities and members they serve.

James Schmidt '18

(9/25/20)
After a two-year clerkship with Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman, James joins Meyer Capel, a Professional Corporation. James will practice out of the firm’s Champaign office, concentrating in employment, commercial, and appellate litigation.

Taylor Lemick '15

(9/23/20)
Taylor Lemick has joined the Business Law practice group at Lavelle Law. 

Ryan Harding '17

(9/23/20)
Ryan Harding (JD, summa cum laude) has been named an associate of St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice. After serving as a clerk for Chief Judge Theresa L. Springmann of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and Justice Robert J. Steigmann of the Illinois Appellate Court, he will be practicing in Lewis Rice's Litigation Department.

Debra Walker '87

(9/22/20)
Judge Debra Walker was recently appointed as the senior alumnus on the University of Illinois College of Law Diversity Committee. She joins a robust committee of faculty, staff, and students, as well as a more recent alumnus. This is the first time the College has included alumni on this Committee.  She was also recently appointed to the University of Illinois Moms Association Board of Directors.

Elmer C. Hawkins '55

(9/16/20)
Elmer C. Hawkins passed away on September 1, 2020 in Decatur, IL.

Alan King '88

(9/8/20)
Alan King has joined Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila in Chicago and will chair the firm's national Labor & Employment practice. He joins fellow alum and longtime friend Patricia Brown Holmes (c/o 1986) there. Judge Holmes is the firm's managing partner.

Benjamin Sunshine '14

(9/2/20)
Benjamin Sunshine, an associate at Brinkley Morgan, has been included in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2021.

Jeffrey Shebesta '02

(8/31/20)
Jeffrey James "Jeff" Shebesta passed away suddenly at home in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 26, 2020, from a heart attack at age 43. Jeff was an Assistant General Counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield (Mergers and Acquisitions) for Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Tanner Long '19

(8/29/20)
Tanner Long has joined WilliamsMcCarthy LLP as an associate. Long’s practice will focus on employment and labor law, intellectual property law and commercial litigation with a particular interest in supporting new and emerging companies and industries including eSports and gaming, renewable energy and cannabis.

Lawrence Rolle '78

(8/25/20)
Lawrence Rolle ’78 just celebrated his 41st year of practice at RolleLaw in Dallas, Texas. He has been Senior Partner for 34 of those years, is Board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, & has obtained 7 figure jury verdicts in his last 3 trials.

Forrest Serblin '66

(8/25/20)
Forrest D. Serblin, 79, of Peoria, IL, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

Medley "Med" Tornow '65

(8/25/20)
Medley Arden “Med” Tornow, 80, died Friday, August 21, 2020, at the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, IL.

Jonathan Padish '14

(8/25/20)
Jon Padish was recently named Counsel for Defense Contract Management Agency Chicago, U.S. Department of Defense. Jon previously served as Assistant Counsel for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Indianapolis.

Peter S. Gilster '65

(8/25/20)
Peter Stuart Gilster, a 50-year Kirkwood, Missouri resident, passed away May 19, 2019 after an extended illness.

James D. Jordan '82

(8/21/20)
James D. Jordan has been named to the 27th edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He is a shareholder at Munsch Hardt in Texas.

Glenn K. Seidenfeld '69

(8/28/20)
Glenn K. Seidenfeld passed away on February 14, 2020.

Keith H. Hyzer '58

(8/28/20)
Keith H. Hyzer passed away on February 19, 2020.

Maurice P. Raizes '53

(8/28/20)
Maurice P. Raizes passed away on February 26, 2020.

Lindsay W. Wright '86

(8/28/20)
Lindsay W. Wright passed away on March 1, 2020.

Kenneth A. McGaw '53

(8/28/20)
Kenneth A. McGaw passed away on March 9, 2020.

Joseph P. Koval '54

(8/25/20)
Joseph P. Koval passed away on March 15, 2020.

William G. Wells '55

(8/25/20)
William G. Wells passed away on March 30, 2020.

Joe Delay Taylor '41

(8/25/20)
Joe D. Taylor passed away on April 2, 2020.

John R. Luedtke '56

(8/25/20)
John R. Luedtke passed away on March 30, 2020.

Angelo P. Bruscato '64

(8/25/20)
Angelo P. Bruscato passed away on April 17, 2020.

Kevin Howley '84

(8/21/20)
Kevin Howley of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2021 "The Best Lawyers in America" list. He is based in the Milwaukee office.

Harvey Temkin '78

(8/21/20)
Harvey Temkin of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2021 "The Best Lawyers in America" list. He is based in the Madison office.

Darryl Porter '86

(8/19/20)
iMedia Brands, Inc. has appointed Darryl Porter to its board of directors, effective August 11, 2020. Mr. Porter is a proven media executive with over 30 years of diversified business and creative experience in television, film and music. He is the CEO of Iconic Spectrum, a licensing company that specializes in monetizing African American icons like Miles Davis and George Duke across all forms of media.

Dion Joseph Sartorio '81

(8/19/20)
Dion Joseph Sartorio, 63, peacefully passed away on the morning of July 24th, 2020 at his home in Buda, Tx.

John T. Phipps '65

(8/17/20)
John T. Phipps of Champaign, IL passed away on Aug. 11, 2020.

Phillip L. Turner II '62

(8/13/20)
Philip L. Turner II, 84, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 12:16 p.m. Sunday, August 9, 2020 at St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur, IL.

Timothy Liam Epstein '04

(7/31/20)
Timothy Liam Epstein has been named one of Billboard Magazine’s top music lawyers of 2020 for his work on behalf of clients in the live entertainment space. Epstein is a Partner at Duggan Bertsch, LLC.

Wendy Cappelletto '90

(7/24/20)
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), an association of attorneys dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to older adults and people with disabilities, is proud to announce its appointment of Wendy Shparago Cappelletto, Esq., CAP, of Chicago, Ill., as President of the 2020-2021 Board of Directors.

Jason Briesemeister '11

(7/24/20)
Earlier this year, Jason Briesemeister was promoted to Managing Compliance Attorney with Claim Toolkit, a software company specializing in insurance compliance.

David Eisenberg '07

(7/24/20)
David Eisenberg helped form Loftus & Eisenberg, Ltd. where he was named Managing Partner.

Daniel Shirey '86

(7/22/20)
Daniel Shirey was installed as the President of the Detroit Bar Association in June 2020.

Jennifer Gerarda Brown '85

(7/18/20)
Jennifer Gerarda Brown, dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Law, received the Tapping Reeve Legal Educator Award at the Connecticut Bar Association's annual awards celebration on Wednesday, July 22.

Kate O'Malley '93

(7/16/20)
Kate O’Malley has been nominated for the 2020 Excellence in Advocacy Award given by Women in Government Relations. The award goes to advocates who represent their issue, cause, or organization in the public policy arena. Kate and her firm, K.O. Strategies, were nominated for the “Excellence in a State Issue Campaign” category for her work on the “1/2 Cent for Mental Health” campaign in Winnebago County, IL, for which her firm directed strategy and communications. The campaign won by a commanding 24-point margin, 62%-38%. The referendum that passed will generate $12-13 million in local funding for mental health and substance abuse services.

Richard Swanson '59

(7/16/20)
Richard "Dick" Swanson, age 87, died May 3, 2020.

Judy Fernald '74

(7/15/20)
Judy Lunsford Fernald, 73, of Houston, TX passed away on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Aaron Shepley '88

(7/14/20)
Aaron T. Shepley, age 56, Mayor and lifelong resident and advocate of Crystal Lake, IL, died peacefully at home on May 4, 2020.

Thomas Trager '59

(7/14/20)
Thomas Humm Trager, age 88, of Peoria, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Manor Court surrounded by his loving family.

Donald Tolmie '53

(7/14/20)
Donald MacEachern Tolmie passed away on May 26, 2020 at age 91.

Matthew Ryan '82

(7/14/20)
Matthew J. Ryan III, of Springfield, passed away May 27, 2020 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.

Jon Gordon Carlson '67

(7/14/20)
Jon Gordon Carlson passed away on 6/18/2020.

Shari Viner '88

(7/14/20)
Shari Viner passed away in Chicago, IL on June 19, 2020.

Erin Mellen '04

(6/16/20)
Erin (Sylvester) Mellen recently joined the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, as an Associate General Counsel. Erin is leaving the Department of Justice, Tax Division, Criminal Enforcement Section after 10 years as a trial attorney.

Brandon Jackson '12

(6/15/20)
The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) named Brandon Jackson '12 Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month for June. Jackson is an attorney for Brown & Crouppen, a personal injury law firm based in St. Louis, MO. He also serves as Executive Member and Ombudsman of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusivity Committee.

Janneth Lanini (Herrera) '14

(6/10/20)
Janneth Lanini has been elected as President of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) for the 2020-2021 bar year. She will begin serving in that role in July.

Bill Kresse '85

(6/2/20)
Bill Kresse has been appointed to serve on the bipartisan, 10-member American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Election Law. The members constituting the Commission include some of the nation’s top attorneys in the field of election law, including both the Chair and Vice Chair of the Federal Election Commission.

Sam Limentato '94

(5/21/20)
Sam Limentato, a civil attorney in Champaign, has been appointed as a circuit judge in Champaign County. 

Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09

(5/21/20)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos recently relocated to Burlington, Vermont and took the Vermont bar exam. She was admitted to practice and sworn in via video conference in May 2020.

Suzanne Davis '03

(5/11/20)
Suzanne Allison Davis, J.D., M.B.A., assumed leadership as Greenville University’s acting president during the first week of May, following the resignation of GU’s twelfth president, Dr. Ivan Filby. Davis has been appointed to finish the remaining two years of Filby’s three-year term.

Janet Flaccus '85

(5/1/20)
Janet Flaccus, age 70, of Fayetteville, Arkansas died Tuesday, March 3, 2020. She was a law professor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville from 1984-2018.

Daniel Campbell '13

(4/24/20)
Daniel Campbell was promoted to Partner at McDermott Will & Emery in the firm's trial group.

Joseph VanFleet '90

(4/16/20)
Joseph VanFleet, a partner with the Royal Oak, Mich.-based Howard & Howard law firm, has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). VanFleet, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, is a member of Howard & Howard’s Business Litigation Practice Group.

J.J. Polk '04

(4/15/20)
J.J. Polk has been hired by the Chicago Bulls to serve as an assistant general manager. Polk was previously with the New Orleans Pelicans, and is renowned for his salary cap expertise.

Justin Bernbrock '12

(4/15/20)
Justin R. Bernbrock has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's Finance and Bankruptcy practice group as a partner in the Chicago office. 

Mark Goldenberg '73

(4/13/20)
Mark Goldenberg was selected as a recipient of The Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities Foundation Human Spirit Leadership Award at the Fifth Annual Distinguished Leadership Dinner and Fundraiser in February. Established this year, the Human Spirit Leadership Award, presented by the MJCHF, honors individuals who have committed their time, talent and resources to be a contributing leader who values developing an understanding of others. Winners must reflect the values of Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo.

Lenny Sachs '89

(4/10/20)
Lenny Sachs, a partner at Howard & Howard, was selected for the 2020 Distinguished Community Service Award by the Peoria County Bar Association (PCBA). Sachs, who leads the Labor and Employment Group at Howard & Howard, accepted the award at the association’s 112th annual Lincoln Memorial Banquet in late February.

Paul M. Wright '52

(4/2/20)
Retired Circuit Court Judge Paul M. Wright, 92, of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., died peacefully on Monday, March 23, 2020, after an extended illness. Paul practiced law with his brother, Wendell, in Danville before being elected as Vermilion County Probate Judge in 1958. Paul was later elected as a 5th Judicial Circuit Court Judge, retiring as Chief Circuit Court Judge in 1987.

C.P. Hoffman '05

(4/2/20)
In February, C.P. Hoffman was named Legal Director of FreeState Justice, Maryland's LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. They joined FreeState Justice in 2019 as a staff attorney.

Cliff Sladnick '81

(3/31/20)
In October 2019, Cliff joined CoAdvantage in Tampa FL as Vice President, M&A. Cliff has worked with CoAdvantage since 2009 as an investment banker. Cliff also continues on the Board of Directors of Children’s Learning World, a Montessori school, which all 4 of his grown children had attended since 1989.

Ashley Bechtold '11

(3/31/20)
Earlier this year, Ashley Bechtold was named partner at Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC. Ashley concentrates her practice in the areas of family law, estate planning and probate/trust litigation.

Dennis Rendleman '81

(3/31/20)
Dennis Rendleman has been appointed Executive Inspector General for the Office of Illinois State Treasurer.

Sandra Shelson '90

(3/21/20)
Sandra Shelson, executive director of The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, was recently profiled in the Jackson Free Press. Shelson's daughter, Carlisle, is currently a 2L at the University of Illinois College of Law. 

Brian McAleenan '98

(3/10/20)
Brian A. McAleenan has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group in its Chicago office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, McAleenan was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Stephanie Sebor '10

(2/28/20)
Stephanie Sebor has been promoted to Of Counsel at Winston & Strawn LLP. She is a member of the Firm's environmental practice, where she represents clients in environmental litigation, transactions, and compliance counseling matters.

Cari Silverman '11

(2/26/20)
Cari Silverman was named partner at Levin & Perconti in February of 2020. Cari works on many types of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, car and trucking accident, and product and premises liability matters.

Vivek Malik '04

(2/25/20)
Vivek Malik (LLM '04) was appointed to the Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO by Governor Mike Parson.

Angelica Wawrzynek '09

(2/25/20)
Angelica "Angel" Wawrzynek has joined Armstrong, Grove & Wawrzynek LLC in Mattoon, Illinois as a partner. She is the current treasurer of the Eastern Illinois Estate Planning Council and focuses her practice on estate planning and estate administration.

Ellyn Bullock '91

(2/21/20)
Ellyn Bullock was nominated to be a 2019 Angels in Adoption Honoree. The award, hosted by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, honors those who have made an exceptional contribution on behalf of children in need of a family. Ellyn has extensive experience in adoption and has finalized the adoptions of over 1,500 children all over central Illinois.  She also handles guardianships of children and disabled adults. 

Ava George Stewart '03

(2/24/20)
Ava George Stewart is a candidate for the Illinois State Bar Association's (ISBA) Third Vice President. She is currently a member of the ISBA's Board of Governors and serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation.

William Coulson '72

(2/18/20)
William R Coulson authored a feature article in the April 2020 edition of "World War II Magazine" on the 1942 battle of Tulagi. The article is the third Coulson has written for the magazine based on his travels to remote Pacific Island battlefields of the War and their appearance today.

Mervyn Loya '67

(2/11/20)
Mervyn "Merv" Heimo Loya died peacefully on January 22, 2020 surrounded by family after battling Alzheimer's. Merv was born and raised in Monmouth, Illinois, where his father, Heimo, ran the Monmouth College music department. Merv received his B.A. from Monmouth College (majoring in music), an M.A. in Political Science from Columbia University (Scandinavian Studies/Finnish), and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. He worked at Legal Aid in Portland and Eugene, a private law firm in Eugene, and retired from the University of Oregon School of Law where he worked as an assistant dean and director of career services for 22 years.

Emily Fitzgerald '11

(1/31/20)
Emily Fitzgerald has been named partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes, Class Action Defense and Product Liability.

Martin Joseph Knanishu '75

(1/31/20)
Martin Joseph Knanishu passed away at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Veterans Medical Center on June 17, 2019 at the age of 70 with loving family and friends by his side. He graduated from Augustana College was drafted and served in Vietnam, then entered the University of Illinois College of Law and graduated in 1975. Martin’s long career as a lawyer began in the University of Illinois Student Legal Service, then in a long service as a Public Defender and in private practices concentrating in criminal defense law in Champaign, Illinois, Roswell and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Tristan Bullington '09

(1/28/20)
Tristan Bullington has become a shareholder with the law firm Meyer Capel. He will head the firm’s family law division, and also handles criminal cases.

Kenneth Logsdon '09

(1/28/20)
Kenneth (Ken) Logsdon has joined the Dorsey & Whitney LLP's Finance & Restructuring Group in Salt Lake City as a Partner. Mr. Logsdon has particular expertise in leveraged lending transactions, including senior debt, mezzanine and borrower side transactions. His practice focuses on all aspects of debt capital markets and corporate finance. He also provides counsel to national and regional banks, non-bank lenders, private equity funds, and both privately owned and publicly traded companies.

Devon Bruce '93

(1/27/20)
Devon Bruce has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Teachers’ Retirement System in Illinois. Bruce previously served in various public sector roles as the Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, which oversaw approximately $18 billion dollars of pension funds, in addition to service on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Bruce has previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois College of Law and the Trinity College, Dublin, School of Law. He currently serves on various public and charity boards including Navy Pier, the American Ireland Fund, the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago and Car 553. He is a partner at the law firm of Power, Rogers & Smith.

Thomas Asmar '01

(1/27/20)
Thomas Asmar joined Baker McKenzie (Palo Alto) as a partner, bringing nearly 20 years of experience advising companies and private equity funds on all employee benefits and compensation issues related to corporate transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, IPOs and financings. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 2001.

John Manning '81

(1/26/20)
John Manning accepted a position as Senior Counsel at the St. Louis Offices of Thompson Coburn LLP in the Banking and Commercial Finance Practice Group. Mr. Manning Comes to Thompson Coburn after 33 years at Rabobank affiliates, most recently completing a position as General Counsel of Rabo Diversified Services and Rabo AgriFinance.

Joseph Rekrut '19

(1/24/20)
Joseph Rekrut has joined the firm of Hodgson Russ LLP, resident in the Buffalo, NY office. Joe is an associate in the firm’s Business and International Tax practice, where he advises businesses, individuals, and non-profit organizations on tax-related matters and planning.

Paul Gatz '10

(1/23/20)
Reference librarian and respected member of the Ohio State Moritz College of Law community, Paul Gatz, passed away on January 18, 2020. He was 39. Paul earned his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law and worked at the Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Memorial Law Library while pursuing his library science degree. 

Michael Cabonargi '00

(1/22/20)
Michael Cabonargi is a democratic candidate for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk. He is currently vice chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois and commissioner at the Cook County Board of Review.

Susan Welsh '01

(1/21/20)
Susan Welsh joined Schiff Hardin LLP (Chicago) as a partner in the leveraged finance group, where she will focus on middle market transactions and advise lenders and borrowers on various financial transactions ranging from $1 million to $3 billion. She received her J.D. magna cum laude in 2001 and was the Associated Editor of the Illinois Bar Journal, Illinois Law Update.

Jeremiah Posedel '06

(1/15/20)
Jeremiah Posedel has been elected partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, effective Feb. 1, 2020.  Jeremiah is one of 13 attorneys elected in the new partnership class. He is resident in the firm’s Chicago office and assists clients in two distinct but overlapping domains: (i) information technology transactions and (ii) information privacy and security.

T. Donald Henson '67

(1/8/20)
LaSalle attorney T. Donald Henson passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital after a long and brave battle with Lewy body dementia.

Monique Lashbrook '00

(1/6/20)
Monique Lashbrook was named a partner at Troutman Sanders in San Diego effective January 1, 2020.

Louis Peasley '96

(12/24/19)
Louis Peasley, JD/MALIR 1996, serves as the Senior Grants Officer for the US Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. He previously served the US Small Business Administration as Director of Financial Oversight, and the US Department of State as a Procurement and Contracts Officer. He earned a Masters in Secured Information Systems (MSIS) in Cybersecurity from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation. In May 2020 he will receive his Masters in Technology Management from George Mason University.

Brad Yusim '02

(12/16/19)
Brad Yusim passed away on December 11, 2019, after bravely fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer, known as a glioblastoma. He joined Jenner & Block as an associate in 2002 and became a partner in 2010. He quickly distinguished himself with his quiet but focused commitment to delivering excellence for his clients. Over the years, Brad handled a variety of matters, from complex commercial disputes to difficult pro bono criminal cases. In addition to being a quietly fierce advocate, Brad was also known for being extraordinarily decent, a testament to the truth that effective advocacy is rooted in professionalism. He will be sorely missed. 

James Joseph Gende '62

(12/16/19)
Lt. Col. James (Jim) Joseph Gende, USMC Ret., passed away December 13, 2019, in Moline. He served ably and honorably as an officer in the Korean War, and ultimately entered the USMC Reserves, serving for a time as Commanding Officer of the local USMC Reserve Company. Jim practiced law for 35 years and started his own firm, helped create Hungry Hobo, and was one of the start-up owners of SnowStar, the Quad Cities only ski area. He was deeply committed to helping others in his community, serving on many boards, and was a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress in 1973.

Beverly (Ring) Mack '89

(12/16/19)
Ms. Mack was re-elected to the board of directors of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. The DTCI is the professional organization of civil defense attorneys in Indiana promoting excellence in civil litigation and supporting the administration of justice in the courts and mediation.

Jonathan Hughley '11

(12/3/19)
Jonathan Hughley has been elected to partnership at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, effective January 1, 2020. Mr. Hughley prepares and prosecutes domestic and foreign patent applications involving mechanical, electro-mechanical, and software technologies. He also serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Recruiting Committee, and was a previous elected member of the firm’s Associates Committee.

Kiran Gill '19

(11/26/19)
Kiran Gill has joined Schaumberg-based Lavelle Law. Kiran, who earned her B.A. from Northern Illinois University and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, will be part of the Litigation, Employment Law and Immigration practice groups.

Gray Mateo-Harris '08

(11/26/19)
Gray Mateo-Harris joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as a Partner in their Labor & Employment practice group in April of 2018. She was recently honored with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's 40 Under Forty award and the National Bar Association's 40 Under 40 award. She was also selected to serve as a board member for the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation.

Rob Spencer '98

(11/21/19)
Rob Spencer was appointed General Counsel of Henniges Automotive, a global Tier 1 automotive supplier.

Stephen Balsley '72

(11/13/19)
Stephen G. Balsley has been a partner in the Rockford law firm of Barrick, Switzer , Long, Balsley and Van Evera for 47 years. He also served as a bankruptcy trustee continuously since 1973. After 46 years, he retired from the position in June 2019, as one of the longest serving trustees in the United States.

Jacqueline Thompson '19

(11/13/19)
Jacqueline L. Thompson has joined intellectual property law boutique Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP as an associate in the firm's Chicago office. Jackie assists clients with patent preparation and prosecution, product clearance and legal opinions, and IP litigation. She has worked with companies in industries that include chemical engineering, food science, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering, among others.

Harvey Temkin '78

(11/12/19)
Harvey Temkin of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2019 Wisconsin “Super Lawyers” list. He is based in the Madison office.

Kevin Howley '84

(11/12/19)
Kevin Howley of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2019 Wisconsin “Super Lawyers” list. He is based in the Milwaukee office.

Adam Fleischer '94

(11/11/19)
Adam Fleischer was named a 2019 Trailblazer by the National Law Journal, a distinction bestowed on only 17 firms.

Adam received this honor for leading the BatesCarey team and its insurance clients through some of the most difficult coverage issues facing the industry, such as football concussions, school molestation, malicious prosecution and the nation’s opioid epidemic.

Adam is a member of the management committee at the law firm BatesCarey LLP with a national reputation for innovative advocacy in complex insurance and reinsurance coverage issues with respect to the pre-litigation, litigation and appellate stages.

Harold Jensen '63

(11/11/19)
Harold Leonard Jensen, 85, of Urbana passed away  on November 4, 2019 at home surrounded by family. A retired circuit court judge of Champaign County (1975-1996, presiding 1988-1996), Harold Jensen served as a Lt. j.g. in the U.S. Navy on an LST (1955-57) in San Diego. He earned his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1963 and practiced law with the firm of Hatch, Corazza, Baker and Jensen from 1963-1975.

J. David Andrews '60

(11/11/19)
J. David Andrews died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, October 25, 2019. He was 86 years old. Dave joined Perkins Coie in 1960, and over the next 59 years he played a major role in the growth of the firm and the leadership of the Labor & Employment practice. 

Eric Reicin '94

(11/7/19)
BBB National Programs, Inc. announced the appointment of Eric D. Reicin as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 4, 2019. His appointment follows a June 1, 2019 reorganization resulting in the establishment of BBB NP.

Following a nationwide search, Reicin was selected as CEO for his broad experience with transformational change and over 25 years of experience assisting organizations grow. He joins BBB NP after most recently serving as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for MorganFranklin Consulting, LLC. and its parent, MorganFranklin, Inc. After several years of growth, Vaco (backed by Olympus Partners) acquired MorganFranklin on July 31, 2019.

Tracy Douglas '10

(11/4/19)
Tracy Douglas has joined Bet Tzedek Legal Services as an attorney in its medical-Legal partnership with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Jeffrey Senac '09

(10/31/19)
Effective January 1, 2020, Jeffrey Senac has been promoted to partner in the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins.

Jeffrey R. Senac is a member of the Finance Department who focuses his practice on a variety of banking and leveraged finance matters, with a strong concentration on lender-side financing transactions, representing both investment banks and direct lenders. He received his LLM from New York University School of Law in 2010 and his JD from University of Illinois College of Law in 2009.

Michael Jones '77

(10/29/19)
In June, Michael D. Jones was elected Chair of the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. OGERL is the oldest section of the SBOT and has over 4500 members. Michael has been Board Certified in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1992.

Madeleine Sharko '90

(10/25/19)
Madeleine Sharko received the Executive Director's Award from the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program on November 1, 2018 at their Annual Dinner held at Chicago's Union League Club.

Patrick Bedell '04

(10/24/19)
Patrick was selected to the 2019 Forty Under 40 list by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Patrick, a partner at BatesCarey, focuses his practice on advising insurance carriers on a variety of complex matters and representing them in commercial disputes in state and federal courts across the country.

Ernesto Palomo '02

(10/22/19)
Ernesto Palomo (’02) was recognized as Latino Attorney of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA).

Jon Moyers '86

(10/15/19)
Jon M. Moyers has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America.

AnnElyse Gains '13

(10/13/19)
AnnElyse Scarlett Gains was promoted to partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Mrs. Gains is a partner in the Restructuring group at Kirkland and practices in their Washington DC office.

Rex Arney '68

(10/9/19)
The Wyoming State Bar is pleased to announce that Sheridan attorney Rex O. Arney is this year’s recipient of its Gerald R. Mason Professionalism Award. The award was presented at the Bar’s annual meeting and judicial conference, which took place last week in Jackson. The Professionalism Award is given to a Wyoming lawyer who represents the highest standards of ethics and dedication to the law but also recognizes someone who contributes their time and energy to making the Wyoming Bar and its lawyers the best people they can be.

Sarah Perry '00

(10/9/19)
Sarah Perry has announced her intention to run for Piatt County State's Attorney next year. She will run on the March 17 Republican primary ballot.

Adam Hoeflich '91

(10/8/19)
Adam Hoeflich has been named to the Northwestern University Board of Trustees. A partner at Bartlit Beck LLP and a professor of practice at the Pritzker School of Law, Hoeflich is a courtroom lawyer focused on complex litigation, class actions and legal ethics.

Matthew Gold '16

(10/2/19)
Matt Gold '16 began a clerkship with Judge Marvin E. Aspen in the Northern District of Illinois. Previously, Matt clerked for Magistrate Judge Sunil R. Harjani in the Northern District of Illinois and worked at McGuireWoods LLP.

Kristen Osenga '00

(10/1/19)
The University of Richmond School of Law appointed Kristen Jakobsen Osenga as its newest Austin E. Owen Research Scholar. Professor Osenga, who joined the law faculty in 2006, teaches and writes in the areas of intellectual property, patent law, law and language, and legislation and regulation.

Michelle Preiksaitis '91

(9/26/19)
Dr. Michelle Preiksaitis (JD '91) has been appointed the Associate Faculty Chair, Doctoral programs, for the Capella University School of Business and Technology. Michelle earned her PhD in Management in 2016, and has taught and mentored doctoral, master, and bachelor level students for two decades, after practicing law in Illinois for 15 years. She resides in Florida, but has remained an ISBA member and active lawyer in Illinois. She encourages all to consider life-long learning opportunities.

Frances Hulin '71

(9/24/19)
Frances C. Hulin died at home in Urbana on Sept. 23, 2019 after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Sunny Desai '12

(9/20/19)
Sunny Desai was promoted to supervising attorney in Maryland Legal Aid’s Baltimore City Administrative Law Unit.

Sarah Tomkowiak '07

(9/19/19)
Sarah Tomkowiak of Latham & Watkins LLP was recently selected as one of six securities law practitioners under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.

Marshall Eisenberg '71

(9/20/19)
Neal Gerber Eisenberg is pleased to announce that founding partner Marshall E. Eisenberg is being honored by American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) with the prestigious 2019 Jerold S. Solovy Torch of Learning Award. The Torch of Learning Award is presented to a leading individual who has influenced the course of higher learning in the United States and Israel.

Marlén Cortez Morris '06

(9/11/19)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been recognized as a 2019 Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine and selected for inclusion in Negocios Now’s “2019 Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago” in the Law category.

Marlén is a Litigation Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Chicago where she is a member of the Franchising and Distribution Group. Marlén represents and advises clients on a wide range of franchise and distribution, labor and employment, and commercial litigation matters.

Samuel Kauffman '12

(9/11/19)
Samuel Kauffman was named the Jeffrey Ledbetter Young Democrat of the Year by the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

Aleks Ostojic Rushing '15

(9/9/19)
The St. Louis Business Journal has recognized Husch Blackwell attorney Aleks O. Rushing as a member of the publication’s 2019 30 Under 30 class. The annual award series honors “future leaders of the region and the local business community.” The 30 members of the 2019 class were chosen from nearly 300 nominations. Aleks was the only Illini to be featured in the 30 Under 30 2019 class.

Based in Husch Blackwell’s St. Louis office, Rushing is a member of the firm’s Education group and counsels colleges, universities, and schools on investigations, litigation and compliance matters, including alleged student or employee misconduct involving criminal activity, minors on campus, sex, race, age and national origin discrimination.

Martin Akins '92

(8/26/19)
Martin Akins, formerly SVP, General Counsel of Express Scripts Holding Company, has been appointed to Exela Technologies, Inc.'s board of directors.

James Day '63

(8/26/19)
Circuit Judge James W. Day announced that he will not seek retention to the bench when his current term of office as the presiding circuit judge in Greene County expires December 2020. Day will mark 30 years on the bench in 2020. 

Collin Delaney '08

(8/23/19)
Collin Delaney ’08 was appointed an U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Denver, CO. A reservist in the Air Force JAG Corps, he was named Air Force Special Operations Command’s 2018 Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate.

Larry Lee Spears '62

(8/21/19)
Larry Lee Spears of Key West, Florida, formerly of Monmouth, Illinois, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Monmouth.

John D. Spear '78

(8/20/19)
John Spear has joined the Bonita Springs office of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. Spear is a Florida Bar Board Certified real estate expert. For nearly 40 years, he has been representing owners and tenants in Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples and Fort Myers in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate.

Rick Pautler '80

(8/16/19)
Thompson Coburn attorney Rick Pautler was recently named a Lawyer of the Year in the 2020 edition of Best Lawyers in America.

Harvey Temkin '78

(8/16/19)
Harvey Temkin of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c has been named to the 2020 Best Lawyers in America.

Kevin Howley '84

(8/16/19)
Kevin Howley of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c has been named to the 2020 Best Lawyers in America.

Michael Duran '93

(8/12/19)
On June 19th, Michael Duran was named 3M’s Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer reporting directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. In this role, Michael helps to ensure that 3M operates with the highest ethics and integrity and builds on 3M’s reputation for trust and doing business the right way. 3M is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in St. Paul,Mn with over $32 billion in sales, 93,000 employees, and operations 70 countries.

Ralph Turner '73

(8/12/19)
Ralph T. Turner passed away May 7, 2019 in Normal, IL. He was a partner at Hartweg, Turner, Wood & DeVary in Bloomington for more than 40 years, until his retirement at the end of 2018.

Steven Benathen '13

(8/12/19)
Steve will be joining the Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) as Appellate Counsel following completion of his clerkship with the Hon. Ellen Gesmer, Associate Justice of the Supreme of the State of New York, Appellate Division, First Department. CAL provides appellate and post-conviction representation to indigent criminal defendants in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Melissa Gold '13

(8/12/19)
Melissa Gold has joined Thompson Coburn LLP as a litigation associate.

Jordan Ault '07

(8/1/19)
Jordan Ault is a partner in the Jefferson City, Missouri, office of Husch Blackwell. Jordan recently launched and co-chairs the firm's Nonprofit Organizations and Religious Institutions team. In June, he was elected to serve as Chancellor to the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and represents over 700 churches across the state. He is one of four Missouri attorneys to be awarded the 2019 Pro Bono Publico Award from the Missouri Bar for outstanding pro bono service to indigent or low-income persons in need of legal assistance. Jordan received the honor for his work challenging Missouri’s parole policies on behalf of a class of Missouri youthful offenders that received mandatory sentences of life without parole. Jordan helped secure summary judgment in favor of the class, resulting in new parole procedures that give class members a meaningful and realistic opportunity for release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation.

Steve Flores '07

(7/23/19)
Steve Flores, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, has been named a Lawyer of The Year by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI).

Steve advises employers of all sizes on a broad array of matters involving employee benefit plans and executive compensation. He also advises clients on EBEC in mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and lending transactions. He was the founding chair of Winston’s Latina/o Lawyers Alliance affinity group.

Kanok Jullamon '12

(7/23/19)
Consumer Bankruptcy in Thailand, a doctoral thesis by Dr. Kanok Jullamon, is now available at the Thammasat University Library collection in Thailand. After studying at the Illinois Program in Law, Behavior, and Social Science at the University of Illinois College of Law, Dr. Kanok has been associated with Thailand Court of Justice where he drafts and reviews court decisions and orders for justices in the areas of bankruptcy and business reorganization. Dr. Kanok earned a bachelor of laws degree from Chulalongkorn University and master of laws degrees from New York University and the University of Chicago, before receiving his doctorate from the University of Illinois. Dr. Kanok has written extensively on consumer, business, and international bankruptcy as well as foreign court and case management.

Stephanie Tang '15

(7/16/19)
Stephanie Tang recently received the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) Young Lawyer of the Year Award for Cook County. Stephanie was recognized for her significant contributions as an outstanding young lawyer, including her achievements in the practice of law, contributions to the ISBA and legal profession, as well as her service to the community.

Jason Hood '94

(7/15/19)
Jason M. Hood was appointed Assistant Vice President of academic affairs at Eastern Illinois University.

Roman Wuller '86

(7/14/19)
Roman Wuller will become Chair of Thompson Coburn LLP in July 2020. Currently head of the firm's litigation department, Wuller has been with the firm since 1986, and made Partner in 1996.

John Greanias '67

(7/11/19)
Judge John Greanias (Ret.) has completed four years of service as Chair of the City of Mountain View, California, Mediation Program, providing free dispute resolution services for the community. Judge Greanias is continuing to serve as an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, and a member of the faculty teaching the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Stanford Law School.

Larry Eppley '85

(7/8/19)
The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) and 1871 announced Thursday that board member Larry Eppley has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective July 1. Eppley is the Managing Partner of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s Chicago office, a global law firm, where he also leads the firm’s Hospitality Team.

Wayne L. Bickes '58

(7/7/19)
Wayne L. Bickes, 87, of Decatur, IL, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur, IL. After graduation from law school, he joined the firm of Rosenberg and Rosenberg, and became a partner in the firm. Wayne was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, and the Decatur Bar Association. In 2018 he retired from Bickes, Wilson, & Moss, after serving as an attorney for over 50 years. 

J. Michael O'Byrne '49

(7/7/19)
J. Michael O'Byrne died Sunday, June 30, 2019 in Urbana. Mike co-founded the law firm of Reno & O’Byrne (which is now known as O’Byrne, Stanko & Jefferson) in 1950. He practiced law with that same firm for 59 years until his retirement. He was a member of the American, Illinois, and Champaign County bar associations. He was honored as the Illinois Law School Alum of the Month and received the Service Award as the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2002. In 2009, in recognition of his outstanding career as an attorney and member of the community, he was named a Pillar of the Bar.

Chad Allen '01

(6/26/19)
Chad Allen has been named senior vice president and chief risk officer of COUNTRY Financial in Bloomington, Illinois. 

Zachary Johns '12

(6/22/19)
Zachary Johns was profiled in Law.com as a 2019 Lawyer on the Fast Track. Johns, an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, practices antitrust law and litigation.

Robert Johnson '93

(6/22/19)
Taylor English Duma LLP announced the addition of Robert Johnson as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group to expand its presence in the Chicago legal market. Prior to joining Taylor English, Johnson served as a partner and chief diversity partner and inclusion officer at a national, multi-disciplined law firm. Johnson has more than 25 years of experience providing management and consulting services to corporate departments, focusing on various matters involving risk assessment and reduction.

Miranda Soucie '10

(6/21/19)
Miranda Soucie, Partner at Spiros Law, was recently told that the Illinois State Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division (YLD) selected her as the 2018-2019 recipient of the Young Lawyer of the Year Award – Outside Cook County! Miranda was nominated for this award by multiple attorneys and ultimately selected due to her significant contributions as an outstanding young lawyer. Miranda will be recognized for her accomplishments on July 11th at the ISBA Awards Ceremony.

Danielle Kays '04

(6/20/19)
The Illinois Wesleyan Board has elected Danielle Kays as a representative of the Alumni Association.

Donald Aldeen '62

(6/20/19)
Donald Robert Aldeen passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 21, 2019, at 6 p.m.

Kristopher Davis '08

(6/12/19)
Kristopher Davis has accepted a position as partner at Russ August & Kabat, where he focuses on intellectual property and litigation.

Debra Walker '87

(6/4/19)
The Honorable Debra Walker has been named President of the Illinois Judges Foundation (IJF). Walker was installed for a 1-year term on Friday, May 31, at a meeting of the IJF Board of Directors. The IJF was established in 2007 to serve as the charitable arm of the Illinois Judges Association. Its membership includes current sitting and retired judges.

Rayna Gokli McIntyre '09

(6/4/19)
Rayna Gokli McIntyre has been appointed as a District Court Judge, 17th District, in Colorado.

Richard Hanus '88

(5/23/19)
Transcripts from a precedent-setting deportation case Richard Hanus successfully defended - included up to the US Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit – were adapted verbatim for the theatrical production of “The Courtroom”.  The actual case is the subject of the precedent decision,  Keathley v. Holder, 696 F.3d 644 (7th Cir. 2012).  The Courtroom features Tony and Hobie award-winning cast actors and ran Off Broadway in recent months at various site-specific locations across New York City, including at the Thurgood Marshall U.S. District Court House, and more recently at the New York City Bar Association. Following the latter performance, Richard Hanus participated in a lively panel discussion about the play as well as current immigration law issues. Plans are underway for more performances to be presented at locations across the U.S.

Dennis Jacobsen '72

(5/10/19)
Retired longtime Monroe County Circuit Judge Dennis J. Jacobsen of Waterloo passed away May 4 at the age of 76. Jacobsen, a Democrat, was elected Monroe County State’s Attorney in 1976. He was appointed to be an associate judge in the 20th Circuit Court for five years. In 1984, he was elected the resident circuit judge. He retired from the bench in 2001.

David Grassmick '02

(5/3/19)
David Grassmick, a litigation Partner at the Chicago firm of Cope Ehlers, P.C., has coauthored "LexisNexis Practice Guide: New Appleman Illinois Insurance Law," which is set for release on May 31, 2019.

Brian Kramer '00

(5/2/19)
Brian M. Kramer, a patent litigation partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Diego, California, just completed a two-year term as President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego. Brian continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana. His patent litigation practice focuses primarily on clients in the pharmaceutical, life science, and medical device sectors.

Jennifer Clark '96

(4/29/19)
Jennifer (Mussman) Clark was elected to the Lake County (IL) Board in the November 2018 elections. Jennifer is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Economics at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and ran for office because she believes that we need more economists and teachers in government. Jennifer defeated a 32 year Board veteran and acting Chair of the Lake County Board by 18 votes out of over 13,000 votes cast.

Philip Baker Benefiel '48

(4/24/19)
Philip Baker Benefiel, 95, died on April 7, 2019, at home in Champaign. Prior to getting his law degree, Benefiel served in World War II as part of the 667th Field Artillery Battalion at the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine Crossing at Remagen. Following law school, he served as a state's attorney, an Illinois state senator, an associate judge, and circuit judge of the 2nd Circuit. Judge Benefiel's lifelong passion was in social justice. Along with his wife, he founded Volunteers in Probation (VIP), which supported at-risk youth with community mentors. As this model was adopted by adjacent Wabash and Crawford Counties, the name was changed to Cra-Wa-La Volunteers in Probation, an organization which served approximately 1,100 youth over nearly 50 years.

William Coulson '72

(4/24/19)
Chicago attorney William R. Coulson published a feature history article in the June 2019 edition of "World War II Magazine". The article describes the battle of Galloping Horse Ridge on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal and Coulson's recent hike across the battlefield and down the cliffs to the Matanikau River. This is the second of three articles Coulson is writing for the magazine. In the August 2018 edition, Coulson wrote about his hike across the battlefield on Peleliu Island.

Bob Butler '52

(4/22/19)
Bob Butler, one of the longest serving mayors in the United States, died on Monday, April 22nd at 92 years old. He was the mayor of Marion, Illinois for over 50 years. 

Jeff Berman '87

(4/18/19)
Jeff Berman was honored for his years of service to Buffalo Grove at a recent village board meeting. Berman will leave the board in May after serving as trustee for 20 years. A proclamation was read in his honor and a plaque was presented as part of the recognition.

Sven Nylen '02

(4/18/19)
Sven Nylen has joined Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP as a partner in the Chicago office. He is the first bankruptcy attorney to join Benesch's insolvency and creditors' rights practice group in Chicago. He came to the firm in mid-March after spending more than 11 years at K&L Gates LLP. His practice includes restructurings, workouts, bankruptcies and other insolvency-related matters.

Jason Patterson '10

(4/18/19)
Jason Patterson has joined Franczek as a Labor and Employment associate attorney. Jason represents the full spectrum of management clients served by the firm, including private- and public-sector employers in a variety of industries. Jason represents clients in litigation, administrative disputes, and collective-bargaining. He has expansive knowledge of and experience with litigating cases under multiple employment law statutes. He advises clients on employment issues such as termination, discipline, reasonable accommodation requests, employee classification, collective-bargaining agreements, employee handbooks, and wage and hour practices.

Rick Nowak '10

(4/17/19)
Rick Nowak was recently promoted to partner at Mayer Brown. Rick is an experienced trial attorney in state and federal court. His practice is focused on ERISA litigation, employment litigation, consumer class actions, and antitrust law.

Ted Smith '98

(4/17/19)
Ted Smith, a partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, has been inducted into the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL).  Admission to the organization is by invitation only after a rigorous screening process, making it the premier organization of real estate lawyers in the United States.

John Paul Kelly '74

(4/4/19)
John Paul Kelly (Bus '71, Law '74) has been inducted as a Senior Life Fellow in the Dallas Bar Foundation. Fellows of the Dallas Bar Foundation are attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal careers and in their civic contributions. Induction as a Fellow is recognition of dedication and commitment to service, education, and philanthropy.

Joe Saltiel '01

(4/3/19)
Joe Saltiel has joined Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP. Saltiel is a first chair litigator with experience successfully representing clients in courts across the country, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the ITC. He also counsels clients on IP matters such as licensing, opinions, and related commercial agreements.

Mark Keenan '89

(3/28/19)
Mark Keenan has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s labor and employment department as a partner, the firm said in a recent announcement, saying he brings with him extensive experience working for management on union avoidance efforts. His practice has a particular emphasis on assisting employers in lawfully responding to union organizing efforts; having been involved in over 100 union campaigns and having argued numerous traditional labor cases before the National Labor Relations Board and federal courts of appeal.

Andrew Tessman '08

(3/25/19)
Andrew Tessman has joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia as an assistant U.S. attorney. Most recently, he was a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Fresno.

Kristine Tuttle '95

(3/25/19)
Kristine Tuttle has joined Wittman & Lorton, P.C. as a senior attorney. Ms. Tuttle’s practice will consist of general civil litigation, including personal injury, probate, and real estate litigation, banking matters including both creditors’ and debtors’ rights, mineral law (oil, gas and coal rights) and family law.

Corinne Mitchell '15

(3/25/19)
Corinne Mitchell has joined Clayborne & Wagner LLP in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation and Animal Law. Prior to joining Clayborne & Wagner, Mitchell spent two years as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge David R. Herndon in the Southern District of Illinois. She began her career as an associate at HeplerBroom LLC.

Ajay Shah '07

(3/24/19)
Ajay Shah, CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, has been elected to the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association.

Jennifer Vance '01

(3/12/19)
Jennifer Vance, of Bloomington, Ill., was recently promoted to general counsel, secretary and chief legal officer for COUNTRY Financial®, Illinois Farm Bureau and other affiliated companies. In her new role, Vance will serve on COUNTRY Financial’s Leadership Council, oversee OGC, advise the board of directors and executive management and oversee all related legal matters for the organization.

Chad Shear '99

(3/2/19)
Chad Shear, a principal at Fish & Richardson, has been named an “Intellectual Property Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal. Shear was included for “deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of his mission” and for “having achieved remarkable successes.” A leader in Fish’s life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation section, he has handled litigation for pharmaceutical giants Sunovion, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Gilead Sciences, and Allergan pertaining to their life-saving drugs.

Matthew Johns '09

(2/26/19)
Matthew Johns was selected to partnership at Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP in February. Based in the firm's Indianapolis office, Matt focuses his practice on an array of litigation matters and also represents athlete agency firms, coaches, and professional athletes in litigation and NCAA compliance matters.

Amanda Mank '18

(2/25/19)
Amanda Mank has joined the law firm of Craig & Craig as an associate in its Mattoon office.

Matthew Gold '16

(2/20/19)
Matthew Gold recently began a clerkship with Magistrate Judge Sunil R. Harjani in the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to clerking, Matt was a litigation associate at McGuireWoods LLP.

Thomas Benjamin '80

(2/20/19)
Thomas Benjamin has been appointed President of Cambridge Quantum Computing, LLC, the North America subsidiary of Cambridge Quantum Computing Ltd of London (CQC). CQC is a world leading independent quantum computing company combining expertise in Quantum Information Processing, Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Chemistry, Optimisation and Pattern Recognition. Tom was most recently Chief Operating Officer of ANSER, Inc. in Falls Church, VA and Colorado Springs, CO. Tom was awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005. He was a co-founder of InQTel, Inc., a not-for-profit strategic investor launched by CIA in 1999 to accelerate the development and delivery of cutting-edge technologies to national security agencies. Mr. Benjamin also served as Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legislation in his 20 years at CIA.

Scott Britton '85

(2/19/19)
Scott Britton has been elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners for the 14th District. As a commissioner he will supervise government operations focusing on the Cook County Health Care System, the civil and criminal justice system and the Cook County Forest Preserve. He will serve the 5.2 million residents of Cook County and control a governmental budget of $5.96 billion.

James "Rick" Biles '86

(2/16/19)
James Richard "Rick" Biles has retired as District Magistrate Judge for the 30th Judicial District of Kansas.

Timothy Eckhardt '17

(2/17/19)
Timothy A. Eckhardt has joined the Central Illinois law firm of Meyer Capel. He will practice out of the firm's Bloomington office. His practice will concentrate in family law, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, adoption and orders of protection. Prior to joining Meyer Capel, Tim worked in family law litigation and criminal defense in McLean County and the surrounding counties.

Reggie Cloyd '15

(2/1/19)
Reggie Cloyd, of Tressler LLP, has been named a 2019 Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers. 

Pamela Strobel '77

(1/29/19)
The Music Academy of the West has announced the appointment of Pamela Strobel to its Board of Directors for three-year terms. “Pam Strobel’s exceptional history of Arts advocacy and serving the community, so much in line with the academy’s mission, make her a dynamic addition to our board,” said Scott Reed, Music Academy of the West president/CEO.

Strobel is the director of Domtar Corporation, Illinois Tool Works Inc., and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

She serves on the board of the UI Labs of Chicago and the Chicago High School for the Arts, and was a past trustee of the University of Illinois, past chair and life trustee of the Ravinia Festival, and past chair and life trustee of the Civic Consulting Alliance.

Strobel is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicago Network, and the Commercial Club of Chicago where she serves on the executive committee.

Lori Schaffel Goldstein '84

(1/24/19)
Lori Schaffel Goldstein is proud to be selected to the Top 100: 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers and the Top 50: 2019 Women Illinois Super Lawyers. A 35-year employment attorney, she is celebrating 8 years in her solo practice, representing employers and employees at the Law Office of Lori A. Goldstein, LLC.

Zihui Gu '17

(1/24/19)
Zihui (Katt) Gu was invited by the legislator of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan to speak at a legislative meeting on regulation of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. She currently serves as the advisor to the Taiwanese self-regulatory organization APAC Blockchain Development Association and was the first person from mainland China that has been invited to attend such an event in recent decades.

Carol Brook '76

(1/18/19)
Carol Brook has been hired by The John Marshall Law School as a Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence to teach Criminal Procedure. Brook is a prominent Chicago attorney, having recently retired as the Federal Defender for the Northern District of Illinois. She previously served in the Federal Defender Program as Deputy Director, Chief Appellate Attorney, and Staff Attorney. 

Brook has worked in the legal field for more than 40 years and has been active in many professional organizations, such as the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Federal Defenders and more. Brook has also been a leading authority in criminal defense and often speaks to the media about various criminal defense topics, including radical disparity in criminal justice, criminal discovery, ethics, appellate advocacy and sentencing. 

Tanner Warnick '11

(1/18/19)
Tanner Warnick, an attorney with AmLaw 100 firm Polsinelli, has been selected for inclusion in the Arizona Chamber Foundation’s business and political policy professional development program. As an Arizona Industry Fellow, Warnick will participate in a year-long program of monthly full-day workshops led by top business leaders, elected official and policy experts. Warnick is a commercial litigation attorney with a vested interest in making Arizona an attractive place for business to relocate and thrive. He works with corporate clients across a wide range of industries and specializes in insurance recovery and risk management.

Kimberly Janas '06

(1/18/19)
llinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Kim Janas as Chief of Staff. Kim Janas has worked in a variety of positions in state government, including as Secretary of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Formerly, she was an Associate Counsel at the Office of Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, where she advised the Senate Judiciary and Insurance Committees. Janas was also an Assistant Attorney General in the General Law Bureau under Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a Staff Attorney at the Legislative Reference Bureau. Most recently, Janas was the General Counsel for the Illinois State Medical Society and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company.

Matthew Tanner '89

(1/8/19)
Matthew D. Tanner has been elevated to named partner at the newly-named law firm Roeser Tanner & Graham. Tanner is a commercial litigator with more than 25 years of experience at the trial and appellate levels and is a former Assistant United States Attorney in the Illinois Northern District Court.

John Rolf '17

(1/8/19)
John Rolf competed at the 2018 World Championships for Magic: The Gathering in Las Vegas. He finished in 11th place:
https://www.omaha.com/go/games/omaha-lawyer-one-of-people-picked-for-new-magic-the/article_6a281913-fedb-575e-b55f-07a32ee278a0.html

Erin Johnson '11

(1/7/19)
Erin Johnson has been elected a Member in Dickinson Wright's Troy office. Her practice focuses on advising entities and individuals in the acquisition, disposition, leasing, development, and financing, of office, retail, multi-family, and mixed-use projects throughout the United States. She is also experienced in a wide variety of corporate matters including entity formation, organization, and governance. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. Ms. Johnson received her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.

Michael Tipsord '84

(1/5/19)
Michael Tipsord, State Farm President and CEO, has been named to Governor J.B. Pritzker's Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee. 

Jeremy Kruidenier '11

(1/3/19)
Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois announced it has appointed Jeremy Kruidenier, Vice Executive Director of WSDI, to also serve as General Counsel to the executive leadership team. In this expanded role, Kruidenier will continue to lobby and advocate for the regulatory and legislative issues of WSDI members and provide legal expertise.

Since entering the position as Vice Executive Director in August 2015, Kruidenier has represented WSDI in front of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, the Illinois General Assembly and various units of local government.

Kruidenier is the Chair of the Trade and Professional Associations Committee at the Chicago Bar Association and serves on the Alzheimer’s Association of Illinois Junior Board, the Equality Illinois PAC Board, and is a member of the 100 Club of Chicago and the Varsity “I” Association.

Andrew Goldstein '84

(12/30/18)
Andrew Goldstein was named Copyright Lawyer of the Year for Chicagoland for 2019 by Best Lawyers. That makes 3 out of the last 5 years.

David Whitaker '83

(12/21/18)
DLA Piper is pleased to announce that the firm was ranked in the USA Legal 2019 edition of Chambers FinTech. In addition, David Whitaker, partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice received Band 2 ranking in the Legal: Data Protection & Cyber Security category.

Mike Wilson '10

(12/19/18)
Mike Wilson was elected partner at Locke Lord LLP, effective January 1, 2019. Mike is a member of Locke Lord's Private & Equity Venture Capital practice group and represents clients in a wide variety of business transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, debt finance, venture capital and fund formation.

Kelly Shefferly '18

Kelly Shefferly has joined the firm Plunkett Cooney as an associate. He is a member of the Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights and Transactional Law practice groups. Shefferly handles contracts and litigation, including collections and breach of contract claims. He also represents business clients in mergers and acquisitions and real estate law.

Paul Lisnek '83

(12/13/18)
Paul Lisnek released his first fiction work, Assume Guilt: A Matt Barlow Mystery. This new release can be found on Amazon.com.

Anne Secker '80

(12/13/18)
Monterey County Women Lawyers Association (MCWLA) has announced that attorney Anne Secker received the 2018 Lady Justice Lifetime Achievement Award for Legal Advocacy and Community Service. Given annually by MCWLA, Ms. Secker’s award was presented at a dinner on November 29, 2018 at Scales Restaurant in Monterey. Ms. Secker earned her J.D. from University of Illinois in 1980 and joined the law firm of Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss as an attorney the same year. She is a shareholder with Noland Hamerly, an “AV Prominent,” top-ranked law firm providing legal services to the Central Coast region since 1928. Ms. Secker is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the Monterey County Bar Association, California Women Lawyers, and Monterey County Women Lawyers Association, in which she has served on the Board of Directors. From 1983 to 1995 she served as Judge Pro Tempore of Monterey County Court. She holds the highest rating, “AV” from Martindale Hubbell, and is well-respected by her peers, her clients, and the judiciary. Ms. Secker’s education includes a B.A., cum laude, from Northern Illinois University and she also attended Salzburg College in Austria.

Amara Enyia '09

(12/13/18)
Amara Enyia, 35, is an activist, attorney and public policy expert who made headlines for receiving the support of Chicago natives Chance the Rapper and Kanye West in a deep field of candidates to become the next mayor of the third-largest city in the country. https://www.theherald-news.com/2018/12/04/chicago-mayoral-candidate-supported-by-hip-hop-stars-has-ties-to-will-county/ab2vcqm/

Sonia Gipson Rankin '02

(12/13/18)
The University of New Mexico School of Law has welcomed Assistant Professor of Law Sonia M. Gipson Rankin. Assistant Professor Gipson Rankin teaches in the fields of torts, constitutional law, family law, and race and the law. Gipson Rankin’s research is centered on the law and its impact on the Black American community, particularly in the areas of technology and family dynamics. At The University of New Mexico, Gipson Rankin has served as associate dean for Curriculum and Program Development in University College and as a senior lecturer in Africana Studies. In 2018, she was honored as a Woman of Influence, by Albuquerque Business First and is a former president of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association. She has served on state-wide higher education committees and regularly presents on her research at universities, civil rights and public policy conferences.

Robert Britton '07

(12/13/18)
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2019 Robert Britton will be named partner. Mr. Britton will be a partner in the bankruptcy & corporate reorganization department. He has played leading roles in a number of major restructurings, representing debtors, equity owners, creditor groups and distressed investors in acquisitions, out-of-court restructurings and chapter 11 cases.

Heather Waller '10

(12/13/18)
Latham & Watkins LLP promoted Heather A. Waller to partner, effective January 1, 2019. Heather A. Waller is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department who represents clients in both the state and federal courts in a variety of complex litigation matters, including securities, environmental, insurance, and general commercial litigation. She has particular experience defending clients in connection with investigations by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and related civil litigation.

Matthew Hiller '02

(12/13/18)
Matthew Hiller joins DLA Piper’s Litigation practice in Chicago, IL. Hiller joins DLA Piper from the US Attorney’s Office, where he served as an Assistant US Attorney in Kansas City, Missouri, and in Chicago. As a member of the National Security and Cybercrimes Section of the US Attorney’s Office, Hiller’s responsibilities included leading criminal and national security investigations, trying cases in federal court, and consulting for the FBI and Department of Justice across the US with respect to cyber investigative techniques.

Arthur Willis '94

(12/12/18)
Arthur Wesley Willis was sworn in as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge on December 3rd.

Beverly Mack '89

(12/11/18)
Beverly Mack has been named to the board of directors for the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. Her term begins on January 1, 2019.

Michael Wilson '10

(12/5/18)
Michael Wilson has been promoted to Partner in the Chicago office of Locke Lord. Wilson represents private equity funds, startups, banks, insurance companies and other public and private businesses in a variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, debt finance, venture capital, joint ventures and complex corporate restructurings. He has significant private equity experience, including with small business investment companies (SBICs), representing funds and limited partners in portfolio investments, limited partner investments, fund formation and SBIC licensing. Wilson also has substantial experience representing technology companies, ranging from consumer-facing services to business-oriented platforms. He also regularly handles transactions in the energy, health care, food and beverage and insurtech industries.

Sean P. Murphy '14

(12/3/18)
Sean P. Murphy recently accepted an offer to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Puerto Rico as part of the Violent Crimes unit in the Criminal Division. Previously, Sean served the people of the state of New York for over four years as an Assistant District Attorney in the County of the Bronx where he prosecuted varied offenses, including drug trafficking, gang activity, firearms, violent crime, and DWI.

Scott Black '89

(11/30/18)
Scott J. Black has been named a new associate judges for the 11th Judicial Circuit, according to a statement from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Scott Kording '05

(11/30/18)
Scott E. Kording has been named a new associate judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit, according to a statement from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.

Mike Mitchell '80

(11/30/18)
Chapman and Cutler LLP mourns the loss of partner, colleague, and friend, Michael J. Mitchell, who passed away on November 25, 2018 in Chicago. He was 63. Read a tribute to Mitchell published by Chapman and Cutler

Samuel Bernstein '08

Samuel C. Bernstein has been elected partner at McGuireWoods, effective January 1, 2019. He represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies regarding FDA approval pathways, fraud and abuse issues, off-label promotion, adverse event reporting, developing and implementing compliance programs, and other regulatory and compliance matters. 

Phyllis Holmen '74

(11/29/18)
Phyllis Holmen recently received a Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the State Bar of Georgia, for conspicuous service to the cause of jurisprudence and to the advancement of the legal profession in the state of Georgia.

Cody Black '18

(11/28/18)
On Wednesday, November 7, Cody Black along with four other new Foster Swift attorneys were sworn in at the Michigan Supreme Court in Lansing. Cody had previously participated in the firm’s summer associate program. He is based in Lansing as part of the trusts and estates practice group.

Grant Gulovsen '98

(11/25/18)
The CryptoLaw Podcast (www.cryptolawpodcast.com), a weekly discussion of cryptocurrency law & regulation co-founded by 1998 alum Grant Gulovsen in October of 2018, has already interviewed two other College of Law Alumni in its two month existence: Zach Smolinksi (2000) and Wulf Kaal (2005).

Dominique Ritvo '18

(11/16/18)
Dominique Ritvo has joined the Chicago law office of Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth as an associate.

Jess Zimmerman '13

(11/16/18)
Jess Zimmerman joined ARCO Construction, a $2 billion privately held international general contracting firm as Assistant General Counsel in July of 2018. He previously practiced corporate finance and real estate at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Harvey L. Temkin '78

(11/15/18)
Harvey Temkin of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2018 Wisconsin “Super Lawyers” list. He is based in the Madison office.

Kevin Howley '84

(11/15/18)
Kevin Howley of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has been recognized on the 2018 Wisconsin “Super Lawyers” list. He is based in the Milwaukee office.

Brianna Richardson '18

(11/14/18)
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP today welcomed eight new attorneys to the firm in its first all-women class. The new attorneys, who have all been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, will practice in the firm’s Grand Rapids office unless otherwise noted.

One of the eight new attorneys includes Brianna Richardson, who received her law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law where she was the topics editor of Elder Law Journal. She holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in sport and entertainment management from the University of South Carolina. Richardson served as a judicial extern for the Hon. Susan E. Cox of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Karen Suhre '82

(11/14/18)
Karen K. Suhre '82 was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel at its annual dinner in Nashville in September. She also currently serves as co-chair of the Employee Benefit Plans Group of the American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law.

Jason Barickman '05

(11/8/18)
Jason Barickman was reelected to the Illinois Senate, where he represents the 53rd Legislative District and where he serves as the Senate Assistant Republican Leader, Co-Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission, Minority Spokesperson on the Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the Criminal Law, Education, Executive, and Labor committees.

John Milhiser '97

(11/5/18)
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois has appointed John C. Milhiser as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois pending his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Milhiser began his new duties effective Oct. 31, 2018. President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Milhiser in August 2018.

Mike Ball '84

(10/24/18)
Michael F. Ball has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal associations in North America. He is a partner in the firm of McCormick Barstow Sheppard Wayte & Carruth LLP and has been practicing in the firm’s Fresno office for his entire career. His primary litigation focus is on representation of physicians and other healthcare providers.

Craig Young '85

(10/22/18)
Craig Young was named managing partner at Heyl Roster on Oct. 1 and has earned national recognition for his worker’s compensation defense strategies. He is a Canton native and Bradley University graduate, beginning his career at Heyl Royster in 1983 as a summer clerk while enrolled in the University of Illinois College of Law, where he obtained his J.D. degree in 1985. Young became partner at Heyl Royster in 1992.

Stanley Eisenstein '73

(10/16/18)
Stanley Eisenstein has been named as the top Labor Union attorney in Illinois by Leading Lawyers.

Linda Maschek '80

(10/13/18)
Linda Maschek retired in 2018 after serving as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Public Health in Chicago, IL for 25 years. Prior to her ALJ appointment in 1993, Ms. Maschek served as staff counsel for several state agencies located in Chicago.

John Weinman '64

(10/12/18)
John Weinman of Decatur passed away in May, 2017. He was an accomplished lawyer and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Illinois.

Heather Aeschleman '01

(10/10/18)

Kutak Rock is pleased to announce that Heather K. Aeschleman has joined the firm’s Omaha office. She will focus on commercial real estate lending transactions and low income housing tax credit transactions throughout the country. Ms. Aeschleman joins Kutak Rock from Dykema, where she was a partner in the real estate group. She brings to Kutak Rock 17 years of experience in commercial real estate lending, representing institutional lenders in a variety of financing transactions, including construction loans, term loans, unsecured and secured lines of credit, and construction and bridge financing for affordable housing developments with low income housing tax credits.

Michael D. Weis '88

(10/8/18)
Michael D. Weis has joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in Chicago, in the firm's Commercial Transactions Practice Group. Weis, who earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1998, has more than 30 years of experience as a business and commercial transactions attorney and previously served as General Counsel for a long term care organization. Mr. Weis is a Certified Public Accountant.

Lawrence E. "Larry" Maus '64

(10/5/18)
Larry Maus, age 77, died September 12, 2018 in Austin, MN. He graduated from the University of Illinois Law School. He began work for the Baulder Law firm following graduation and began his practice in Spring Valley. He returned to Austin as a litigation attorney for the firm where he worked until his death.

Peter Corsale '03

(10/5/18)
Peter Corsale, shareholder at national law firm Polsinelli, was named a “2018 Diverse Business Leader” by the St. Louis Business Journal for his efforts to promote diversity within the St. Louis region. Corsale was recognized at a luncheon attended by nearly 400 civic and business leaders. Corsale is the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of St. Louis (HBAstl), whose mission is to promote involvement and participation in the legal profession by Hispanic individuals, in both the private and public sector. The organization also works to bring attention to issues facing Hispanics in the St. Louis community, in particular, advancing equal protection for the Hispanic community before the law.

Heath R. Fear '95

(10/5/18)
Heath Fear has been appointed Kite Realty Group Trust's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as of November 5, 2018. Kite Realty Group Trust is a full-service, vertically integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that provides communities with convenient and beneficial shopping experiences. 

Craig S. Young '85

(10/5/18)
Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C., is pleased to announce that University of Illinois College of Law alumnus, Craig S. Young, has been elected as the firm’s next Managing Partner effective October 1, 2018. Heyl Royster is a regional Midwest law firm with more than 120 lawyers and seven offices located in Illinois (Peoria, Champaign, Chicago, Edwardsville, Rockford, and Springfield) and Missouri (St. Louis). The firm provides legal services for businesses and corporations, professionals, healthcare organizations, governmental entities, universities, insurance carriers, and other major institutions. Heyl Royster lawyers have successfully defended clients in all of the federal courts and in each of the 102 counties in the State of Illinois, as well as in courtrooms in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. The firm also counsels clients on all aspects of business life.

Martha Victoria Diaz '02

(10/2/18)
Martha Victoria Diaz was awarded the Mercedes Luque Rosales Government Lawyer Award at the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois 2018 Gala. Martha Victoria Diaz has served the people of Chicago for over 16 years both in public service and private practice. As the chair of HLAI’s judicial evaluation committee, Martha Victoria has revamped and streamlined the judicial evaluation process. Moreover, Martha Victoria was the catalyst to formalizing the committee’s membership selection. Martha Victoria is also a member of the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association. She is Senior Counsel for the City of Chicago’s Law Department in the Legal Information, Investigations and Prosecutions Division where she defends Freedom of Information Act challenges brought into state court as well as defends City of Chicago Departments in FOIA appeals before the Public Access Counsel and Chancery Court.

Robert Dannehl '50

(9/26/18)
The Honorable Robert L. Dannehl, 92, passed away on September 23, 2018. In September 1950, he opened a general law office in Watseka with law classmate Billy Davis, and served two terms as state’s attorney of Iroquois County from 1956 to 1964. In 1976, he was appointed circuit judge to succeed Judge David Oram. His service commenced Jan. 1, 1977, and concluded with his retirement Oct. 31, 1995. He served in Iroquois, Kankakee and Will counties. Among his proudest experiences was a six-year appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Supervisory Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, which also consisted of learning from and working with the best legal minds and trial attorneys in Illinois.

James Pinkstaff '02

(9/11/18)
James M. Pinkstaff, 41, of Urbana passed away on Saturday, September 8, 2018. He worked as a lawyer in the Chicagoland area for several years before starting his own practice in 2015. Outside of the office, he studied taekwondo and jiujitsu and even had a sparring mat on top of the apartment building he owned. San Diego, Calif., was a home away from home for him, and he enjoyed surfing out on the Pacific waves. Friends and family will long remember a driven and focused soul whose intelligence was only outshined by his determination in all things.

Gordon R. Broom '69

(9/11/18)
The 2019 edition of Best Lawyers in America named 15 attorneys from the Midwest defense firm HeplerBroom, including Gordon R. Broom. He practices in class action defense and mass tort litigation in the Edwardsville office.

Katherine Lewis '06

(9/11/18)
Katherine Lewis was named Co-Chair of the Business & Finance group at her current law firm, Much Shelist. She focuses on the numerous legal and business issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions and investments. She also counsels family-owned and midsize businesses in a wide range of industries—including technology, retail, manufacturing and health care.

Tim McGillicuddy '07

(9/11/18)
The Alaska Department of Law announced the appointment of Tim McGillicuddy as the Ketchikan District Attorney, effective Aug. 6. McGillicuddy graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law in 2007 and served as a prosecutor around the country for nine out of the following 11 years. He has practiced in diverse areas of the country from Chicago to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He came to the Ketchikan District Attorney’s office in 2016 and since then has worked a varied caseload including complex homicides, assaults, burglaries, and drug trafficking cases.

James Konetski '84

(9/5/18)
Jim Konetski has recently completed his eighteenth year as a Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County Illinois.

Brandon Peck '09

(8/30/18)
June 6, 2018, Brandon Peck began his tenure as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Peck has been a member since 2009, most recently serving as the First Vice-Chair.

Michele Eaddy '88

(8/29/18)
Michele Eaddy '88, a shareholder at Thrun Law Firm, P.C., has been elected to the NSBA Council of School Attorneys Board of Directors for a two year term.

Federico Rodriguez '98

(8/27/18)
Federico was recently honored with the inaugural Latino Lawyer of the Year award at the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois' Gala Dinner. He was also just sworn into the Board of Managers for the Chicago Bar Association at its annual luncheon. Lastly, the American Bar Association President appointed Federico to the ABA's Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities.

Leslie Gene Lemon '64

(8/27/18)
Gene Lemon passed away peacefully on June 30, 2018. In his final months, he enjoyed playing golf with friends and traveling to the beach in North Carolina which he loved. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cathie Lanier Lemon, his daughters Catherine Lemon Confer and Jennie Lemon Kitz, and his grandchildren Cathie Lanier Confer and Sebastian McIntire Kitz; his brother John Rodney Lemon, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John Boyle '83

(8/27/18)
John F. Boyle is National Fraud Counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance. John is with Meachum, Boyle & Trafman, 225 West Washington Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60606.

Thomas Modeszto '89

(8/27/18)
Tom Modeszto, COL (Ret), USA, has been designated the Deputy Senior Associate Counsel, Acquisition Law Group, at Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Fort Belvoir, VA. Tom previously served with the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps for over 24 years upon his retirement from Active Duty in September 2015.

Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09

(8/27/18)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos recently published an article on the right to be forgotten, delisting, and librarian ethics in the IFLA Journal. Full citation: Kritikos, K. C. (2018). Delisting and ethics in the library: Anticipating the future of librarianship in a world that forgets. IFLA Journal Special Issue on Privacy, 44(2), 183-194. DOI: 10.1177/0340035218773783.

Michael Osanloo '91

(8/16/18)
Michael Osanloo, currently the CEO of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, has been named the CEO of Portillo's effective October 1st. 

Manita Rawat '05

(8/16/18)
Duane Morris LLP has appointed University of Illinois College of Law alumna Manita Rawat managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office. Duane Morris’ Silicon Valley office is one of five in California, including locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Lake Tahoe. The firm has over 800 attorneys worldwide, including 140 in California.

Mike Lause '73

(8/16/18)
Mike Lause, partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, has been named 2019 Best Lawyers St. Louis Public Finance Law Lawyer of the Year.

Miguel Zaldivar '88

(8/16/18)
Miguel Zaldivar has been appointed Regional Chief Executive for Asia Pacific and Middle East at Hogan Lovells

J.D. Epstein '67

(8/15/18)
J.D. Epstein has been included in the 25th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Epstein is of counsel at Greer, Herz & Adams, LLP in Galveston, Texas. 

Kevin P. Fitzgerald '81

(8/8/18)
Kevin P. Fitzgerald, Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, retired on July 6, 2018.

Noah Webster '03

(7/31/18)
Noah Webster has published an article, "5 Steps to Move from a Litigation to Generalist Role," in the ACC Docket, a leading in-house publication. 

Elitsa Dimitrova '10

(7/24/18)
Elitsa Dimitrova ’10 recently joined Freeborn Peters’s Corporate Group as an associate. Elitsa concentrates her practice on representing private companies and venture funds with respect to offering of equity and debt securities; mergers and acquisitions; and compliance with federal and state securities laws. Elitsa also consults clients as it relates to general corporate matters.

Samuel Kauffman '12

(7/24/18)
Sam Kauffman has been appointed to a four-year term on the Pulaski County Planning Board in Arkansas.

Steven Olswang '71

(7/24/18)
In February 2017, Steven Olswang helped launch Washington Technology University, where he is now president. He has spent the last 40-plus years working in higher education. Olswang was part of the University of Washington’s administration when it opened the Tacoma and Bothell campuses in 1990 and later served as chancellor at both schools when they transitioned from two-year to four-year universities in 2006. 

Juan Thomas '96

(7/23/18)
Juan Thomas has been appointed General Counsel of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association. In his role, Thomas will be responsible for the entire governance team and how they align with the college and local chapters. Thomas is a 1992 graduate of Morehouse College.

Sarah Duffy '07

(7/22/18)
Sarah Duffy has been chosen to serve as an Associate Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which includes McLean, Livingston, Logan, Woodford, and Ford Counties.

Michael Chabraja '92

(7/12/18)
Michael Chabraja recently joined Ice Miller’s Tax Exempt Group as a partner. Michael concentrates his practice on representing large trade associations and other nonprofit entities in a variety of risk management issues. He provides advice on matters relating to antitrust, governance, intellectual property and member disputes for nonprofit organizations, including professional societies and trade associations.

Noah Webster '03

(7/11/18)
Noah is now General Counsel and Secretary for Zix, a Dallas company focused on protecting business communications.

Andrew Hale '84

(7/10/18)
Andrew Hale, a trial lawyer who has represented the city of Chicago multiple times in police misconduct cases, was recently profiled in Crain's Chicago Business: 

Steve Gerse '83

(6/25/18)
Steve Gerse is the founder and President of Himalayan Joy Home, a home for abandoned baby girls in northern India. Steve recently retired from Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he had been Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs.

James Brusatte '77

(6/24/18)
James Brusatte has been appointed as a commissioner for the Third Appellate Court District of Illinois to the Board of Commissioners of the Office of the State Appellate Defender.

Charles Leuin '94

(6/14/18)
Charles L. Leuin has joined Benesch’s Chicago office as a partner. His practice focuses on complex employment and commercial litigation. Before joining Benesch, Charles had been a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig since 2005.

Barbara Crowder '81

(6/13/18)
Madison County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Crowder was installed as the 3rd Vice-President of the Illinois Judges Association during the annual meeting on June 1, 2018, at Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and to improve public understanding of the Illinois judicial system.

Mahrukh Hussain '96

(6/12/18)
Mahrukh Hussain received the Corporate Counsel Achievement Award during the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) North America Annual Conference. Hussain is VP - U.S. General Counsel at McDonald's Corporation.

Richard Miller '97

(6/12/18)
Richard L. Miller II, in conjunction with Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), has authored a handbook entitled "Laying Foundations for Introducing Evidence." Mr. Miller will be speaking at, and moderating, a half-day CLE on foundations in Chicago in December 2018. Mr. Miller has published various, additional IICLE chapters and he was named IICLE's "Author of the Year" in 2015.

Marlen Cortez Morris '06

(6/12/18)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been recognized as a 2018 Top Lawyer Under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association and a 2018 Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine. The University of Illinois College of Law’s Latina/o Law Students Association has also honored Marlén as its 2018 Alumnus of the Year.

Alfred Williams '97

(6/8/18)
Alfred Williams has been appointed president of River Valley Community College in New Hampshire. He previously served as the dean of academic affairs and student services at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Connecticut.

Bruce Radke '93

(6/6/18)
Bruce Radke has joined Polsinelli as a shareholder and co-chair of the firm's Privacy & Cybersecurity group, based in Chicago. Bruce counsels clients on a wide variety of privacy and data security issues. He has assisted private- and public-sector clients across multiple industry verticals in connection with incidents ranging from system-wide network intrusions and ransomware attacks to cyber extortion, fraudulent wire transfers, e-mail account compromises, stolen computer hardware, and employee misconduct.

Sarah Ruholl Sehy '16

(6/5/18)
Sarah Ruholl Sehy has filed to run for a seat on the Effingham County Board. She is running for the District B seat, which covers much of the north side of the City of Effingham.

Alex Acerra '14

(6/5/18)
After spending far too long clerking at the Colorado Court of Appeals, Alex has joined the Colorado Attorney General's Office as an Assistant AG. His new role focuses on regulating public utilities in the energy, transportation, and telecom industries.

Norman Olson Jr. '56

(5/25/18)
Norman Olson died May 16, 2018 in Glenview, IL. Norman practiced law in Chicago for nearly 50 years, about half of that as a founding partner of firms with his name on the door, including what is now Olson, Grabill & Flitcraft in Northbrook. Olson’s work there focused not on litigation but on what longtime partner Gregg Flitcraft called transactional work, estate planning and estate administration. For many years, he also provided legal counsel for several area park districts. Olson’s approach to his legal work was simple, Flitcraft said. “He was a very good lawyer who really cared about his clients and tried to do the right thing whether it was the most financially rewarding for the firm or not.”

Meaghan Nelson '10

(5/24/18)
I was promoted in April to Associate General Counsel, Corporate and appointed Assistant Corporate Secretary at Veeva Systems Inc. Veeva Systems Inc. is a leader in cloud-based software for the global life sciences industry. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva has more than 625 customers, ranging from the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. Veeva is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Jim Flesch '80

(5/24/18)
I retired several years ago after a wonderful career as a litigator and trial attorney in Chicago. Francyn and I now live in beautiful Scottsdale AZ where we spend our time hiking, backpacking and competing in ultra marathon cycling races.

Michael Florey '88

(5/22/18)
Michael Florey, a principal at Fish & Richardson, the largest intellectual property law firm in the country, was named a top “Band 1” IP attorney in the 2018 edition of "Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business."

Dave Downey '66 and Jane Hays '79

(5/17/18)
The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois has selected Dave Downey and Jane Hays to receive the Kyle and Phyllis Robeson Philanthropy Award.

Charles Leuin '94

(5/4/18)
Shareholder Charles B. Leuin and associates Ian Burkow and Kyle L. Flynn at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received the “Excellence in Pro Bono Service” award from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, at the 19th Annual Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award Ceremony, May 1, in Chicago.

The award honors attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Emily Grant '00

(4/26/18)
Emily Grant was recently awarded tenure and a promotion to full professor at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS.

Charles Bernardini '72

(4/25/18)
Nixon Peabody LLP Partner Charles R. Bernardini (Law 1972) has been conferred the title of "Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic" by the President of Italy. The order is the highest ranking honor in the Italian republic and is awarded for "merit acquired by the nation" in the arts, economy, literature, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities.

Michael Friman '91

(4/25/18)
Michael Friman has merged his commercial real estate practice with the full-service law firm of Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC, as the head of its Real Estate and Finance Group. He will continue to represent developers, lenders and businesses in mixed-use condominium, apartment, industrial, office and retail projects, as well as leasing, finance and construction matters.

Stacey Tutt '03

(4/23/18)
Stacey Tutt is one of 45 McLean County women who have been nominated for the YWCA Woman of Distinction Awards, which will be presented May 22 at the 29th annual Women of Distinction Awards Banquet.

Michelle Gilbert '86

(4/21/18)
Michelle Gilbert, Supervisory Attorney with LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation), was selected to receive a 2018 United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service, for achieving a vanguard due process victory for Housing Choice Voucher participants.

Jay B. Ross '67

(4/20/18)
Jay B. Ross died of a heart attack at age 76 on Thursday, March 1. He specialized in trademark litigation, licensing, and contract law, and as conditions in the entertainment business evolved, he stayed up-to-date on sampling, streaming, and the use of music and voice talent in video games. His career touched some of the most important people and movements in Chicago's musical history. He was recently profiled on chicagoreader.com.

Martha Coultrap '74

(4/20/18)
Martha F. Coultrap has joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP in New York as a Partner. Her practice focuses on private investment funds and fund investors.

Ryan Gammelgard '06

(4/3/18)
Ryan Gammelgard, '06, received the 2017 Lifesaver Award from Prairie State Legal Services for his contributions and support to pro bono work. He received the Award at the 2017 McLean County Bar Association Holiday Luncheon. Ryan also received the State Farm Law Department Pro Bono Award in 2017, which included a $500 contribution from State Farm to Prairie State Legal Services. For both awards, Ryan was recognized for his work in helping plan a bi-annual pro bono legal clinic conducted by Prairie State Legal Services, the Public Interest Law Initiative, State Farm, and a number of other community organizations. These bi-annual legal clinics have helped serve over 150 people in the last couple of years. In addition, he helped develop a monthly pro bono legal clinic with Prairie State Legal Services and State Farm and also serves as a volunteer attorney for a number of other legal aid organizations.

William Showtis '73

(3/26/18)
William "Bill" Showtis, 69, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Showtis; one son, Joey (Theresa Waxler) Showtis; two sisters, Barbara (husband, Joe) Conti and Beth (husband, Tom) Hamilton; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Amos.

Michael E. Rose '75

(3/19/18)
Michael E. Rose, senior partner in Creighton & Rose, PC, in Portland, Oregon, along with his partner, Beth Creighton, and co-counsel David Park, just obtained the largest jury verdict in a police shooting case in Oregon history.

Larry Liberman '63

(3/7/18)
Congratulations to Larry Lieberman, who received a Special Award of Merit from the State Bar of Arizona at its annual convention in 2017 commemorating 50 years of practicing law in Arizona.

Jason Bohm '03

(3/7/18)
Jason Bohm, a central Illinois prosecutor with civil law experience, has been named as Champaign County’s newest circuit judge. Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman announced that he will take the seat being vacated by Mike Jones. Bohm has been a federal prosecutor in the Central District of Illinois for nine years — four in the Springfield office and the last five in the Urbana office.

Bjay Pak '98

(3/7/18)
Byung J. Pak was honored during a ceremonial dinner hosted by the American Korean Friendship Society Inc. on February 23, 2018. He received the "New American Hero" award.

James Antonopoulos '03

(3/6/18)
Mayer Brown announced that James John Antonopoulos has joined the firm’s global Banking & Finance practice and Structured Finance group as a partner in Chicago. Antonopoulos joins from Kirkland & Ellis.

James Moroni '73

(3/6/18)
James "Jim" Moroni, dad of Jordan Reno Moroni, brother of Renee Berg and the late Bonnie (beloved brother-in-law Jack) Berg, uncle to Dina (Ron) Blazek and the late Cory Berg, great uncle of Carter Blazek, cousin to many and great friend to many, passed away on December 14, 2017.

Taisa Markus '86

(3/1/18)
Taisa Markus has joined White & Case LLP. She is a partner in the Firm's Capital Markets practice in New York. Her practice focuses on cross-border securities offerings, cross-border bank finance and M&A, restructurings and general securities law matters.

Nick Spear '11

(2/26/18)
Franco Moroney Buenik LLC has elevated Nicholas J.R. Spear to income partner. Spear has experience in trying personal-injury cases. He focuses his practice on transportation law, construction law and premises liability matters.

Scott Bennett '02

(2/23/18)
Senate President John Cullerton has appointed State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) as the new chairman of the Senate Criminal Law Committee. A graduate of Illinois State University and University of Illinois Law School, Bennett served as a Champaign County Assistant State’s Attorney before being appointed to the State Senate in 2015. Since arriving in the Senate, Bennett has used his experiences as a prosecutor to push for legislation to assist survivors of sexual assault. He has also led the charge to eliminate statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children.

Stacy Walton Long '04

(2/12/18)
Stacy Walton Long has been named partner at Krieg DeVault. She advises the firm’s healthcare clients regarding security breach incidents and risk assessments involving Protected Health Information and other personal information under HIPAA/HITECH and other Federal and State laws governing the privacy and security of such information. Long represents individual professionals and healthcare providers in licensing and disciplinary matters, and works with mental health providers on confidentiality matters and commitment proceedings. In addition to her health care practice, she represents clients in State and Federal courts in a variety of litigation matters.

Kyle Seelbach '04

(2/9/18)
Kyle Seelbach, partner at Husch Blackwell, led the firm's trial team in a recent pro bono case, where they represented a Missouri man who was charged with 12 counts of assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts. The victory was the firm's first verdict in a jury trial while representing clients as a member of the Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel (MCRC).

Jennifer Martin '95

(2/9/18)
Jennifer Martin has joined Orrice, Herrington & Sutcliffe as the 10th partner in a 17-lawyer group.

Keith Hill '02

(2/9/18)
Keith Hill is the newest elected partner at Heyl Roster. Hill is based in the firm's Edwardsville office, and concentrates his practice on civil litigation, defending clients in product liability, premises liability, professional liability, automobile accidents, employment and labor law, and civil rights.

Gerald Meyer '09

(2/9/18)
Gerald Meyer has been named partner at MoloLamken LLP. Gerald's practice focuses on white collar criminal matters and investigations, complex business litigation, and appellate litigation. He has tried cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, has briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Federal Circuits, and has appeared in other courts in Illinois and New York.

Kowit Somwaiya '91

(1/30/18)
Kowit Somwaiya, Managing Partner and Founder of LawPlus Ltd. and LawPlus Myanmar Ltd., has been appointed to serve as a Director of the International Trademark Association (INTA) Board of Directors for the 2018-2020 term. Previously he was the Co-Chair of the INTA Global Advisory Council for Asia & Pacific and the Chair of the INTA Harmonization of Trademark Law and Practice Committee (2016-2017). INTA, headquartered in New York City, is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth and innovation. 

Lee Smalley Edmon '81

(1/26/18)
Justice Lee Smalley Edmon, Presiding Justice of Division Three of the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal who is noted for her exemplary public service and dedication to advancing the legal profession, will receive the “Ronald M. George Award for Judicial Excellence” from the Beverly Hills Bar Association on February 20, 2018.

Kevin Cukierski '10

(1/19/18)
Kevin Cukierski has been named Associate General Counsel and Global Head of Intellectual Property at Signode Industrial Group LLC, a privately held industrial packaging manufacturer. Signode is a $2.4 billion global company with 88 manufacturing facilities across six continents and over 7,000 employees.

Janet Goldberg McEnery '75

(1/8/18)
Janet Goldberg McEnery has joined the Tampa office of Stearns Weaver Miller as a Shareholder in the Labor & Employment Department.

Wade Iverstine '08

(1/8/18)
Wade Iverstine is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices in the business, corporate, real estate, and bankruptcy groups. He advises investors and lenders in all aspects of real estate transactions, including acquisition and project financing, leasing, land use, site inspection, and survey and title insurance issues. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Patrick M. Flatley of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Christopher Anderson '09

(1/8/18)
Christopher C. Anderson has been named a partner at Neal Gerber Eisenberg.

Jessica John Bowman '08

(1/8/18)
The shareholders of McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma’s largest law firm, have elected Jessica John Bowman a shareholder. John Bowman is a patent attorney and trial lawyer whose practice is primarily focused on intellectual property, environmental, and appellate litigation. She also maintains an active practice before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, assisting numerous retailers, manufacturers, and banking institutions in opposition and cancellation proceedings.

Michael Azzi '10

(1/2/18)
Michael Azzi has been named a partner with Warner Norcross. His practice is focused on complex commercial litigation, particularly in the areas of intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights. He was named a Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star in both 2016 and 2017, and is a member of the Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan and Grand Rapids Bar Association.

Melvin Oden-Orr '96

(12/27/17)
Melvin Oden-Orr has been appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Mr. Oden-Orr, a hearings officer at the City of Portland, will fill a vacancy created by the impending retirement of Judge Edward J. Jones, and his appointment is effective January 1, 2018.

Richard Schmack '80

(12/22/17)
Richard H. Schmack, former DeKalb County State's Attorney, was presented with the 2017 Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award by the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association at the Section's annual meeting in Washington, DC on November 3. The award is presented annually to a public prosecutor for service which exemplifies the obligation to 'seek justice, not merely to convict'. In September, he was also awarded the Northern Illinois University College of Law Public Service Award. Both awards were in recognition of his role in the exoneration of Jack McCullough, who had been wrongfully convicted in 2012 of a 1957 murder. His article on the case, 'Unmaking a Murderer: The Prosecutor's Duty to Remedy Wrongful Convictions', was published in the Summer 2017 edition of the NIU Law Review. Rich recently joined the faculty of the National Drug Court Institute to provide training and assistance, in maintaining best practice standards, to treatment courts throughout the nation.

Madeleine Sharko '90

(12/21/17)
Madeleine Sharko received the Carl H. Rolewick Award from the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program on November 15, 2017 at their Annual Dinner held at Chicago's Union League Club.

John Foltz '73

(12/21/17)
Longtime Monticello attorney John Foltz has retired from the legal profession as of November 7, 2017. His legal career has included time as a circuit attorney out of Bloomington, IL, an assistant states attorney in Logan County, but most of those years have been spent practicing in Monticello, IL.

Bill Jung '83

(12/21/17)
Bill Jung was nominated for a federal judgeship in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, giving him the rare distinction of being nominated for the bench by the three most recent presidents. Jung’s nomination by President Donald Trump follows the expiration of his 2016 nomination by President Barack Obama to fill the seat left vacant by U.S. District Judge Anne Conway. Jung was also nominated in 2008 by President George W. Bush, but his nomination was returned just before Obama took office.

David Horwitch '97

(12/20/17)
David Horwitch has been named President of the Chicago Real Estate Council.

Titus Potter '17

(12/15/17)
Titus Potter has joined the Bronx County District Attorney Office as Assistant District Attorney.

Conrad Scully '17

(12/15/17)
Conrad Scully has joined the Mattoon law firm of Heller, Holmes & Associates, P.C. as an associate. At the firm, Scully will be concentrating in personal injury and wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and commercial litigation. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Coles-Cumberland Bar Association.

Scott Cruz '02

(12/14/17)
Clark Hill announced today that Scott Cruz, a senior attorney in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice was named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “Forty Under 40” list. The list recognizes attorneys who have achieved success and made significant contributions to the Chicago legal community. Nominators praised Cruz, 39, for his commitment to clients and strong work ethic. Fellow attorneys who he has worked with and those he opposed cited his ability to show empathy and his integrity as defining characteristics.

Courtney Segota '09

(12/4/17)
Starting in January of 2018, Courtney Segota will be the new Head of Instructional Services at the University of South Dakota Law Library in Vermillion, SD.

Mary Kay Scott '84

(12/1/17)
Mary Kay Scott was honored with a 2017 Trial Lawyer Excellence Award for Defense Attorney Achievement October 26, 2017. More than 300 trial attorneys and judges were in attendance for the reception and awards ceremony. The program recognized superior outcomes in jury trials from both the plaintiff and defense bar. Mary Kay Scott of Brenner, Monroe, Scott & Anderson Ltd., in Chicago was one of three defense attorneys recognized for her individual body of work in defense of medical negligence cases. Ms. Scott received an award for Trial Lawyer Excellence, in recognition of successful representation of her clients during her years of practice. The day before the event Ms. Scott obtained a not guilty for a defendant radiologist in a trial in Lake County Illinois. Ms. Scott has been Martindale Hubbell AV rated for over 18 years.

Clovia Hamilton '01

(11/29/17)
Dr. Clovia Hamilton has accepted a tenure-track position at Winthrop University in their College of Business Administration.

Daniel Goldfaden '13

(11/21/17)
Daniel Goldfaden played a crucial role in receiving a jury verdict of $4.1 million on behalf of an 85-year-old woman injured in a nursing home when her medications were mismanaged. The verdict is record breaking as the highest Illinois Nursing Home Care Act verdict since 2006, when our firm obtained a $2.9 million dollar Nursing Home Care Act verdict.

Chiedza Nziramasanga Morrison '15

(11/20/17)
Chiedza has joined the Washington State Attorney General's Office Recruitment Team. Chiedza was recently named as one of the Office's Attorney Recruitment Coordinators. Chiedza takes on this role on top of her duties as an AAG for the Antitrust Division in Seattle. As Attorney Recruitment Coordinator, Chiedza oversees the Office's Attorney Recruitment Program, Mentoring Program, and Law Clerk Recruitment Program.

Jennifer Liebman '07

(11/20/17)
Jennifer Liebman has joined the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Housing Equal Opportunity, Region II, New York City.

Thomas Fox '17

(11/17/17)
Thomas Fox recently passed the Illinois Bar Exam and has been hired as an Associate at Lavelle Law in Schaumburg, Illinois. Thomas will serve in the Litigation practice group at the firm.

Harvey Temkin '78

(11/15/17)
Harvey L. Temkin has been named a 2017 Wisconsin Super Lawyer.

Kevin Howley '84

(11/15/17)
Kevin J. Howley has been named a 2017 Wisconsin Super Lawyer.

David Sodergren '88

(11/9/17)
David R. Sodergren, age 54 of Warren and formerly of Rockford and Grand Rapids, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. David is survived by his mother, Patricia Sodergren of Rockford; his sisters-in-law, Sandra Phillips and Pamela (Jack) Henry; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins.

James Davis '05

(11/9/17)
Ropes and Gray has named James Davis a partner in their Silicon Valley office. James focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation in federal courts, as well as before the ITC and the PTAB. Applying his background in electrical and computer engineering, he has represented clients across a broad range of technologies, including semiconductors, analog circuits, wireless technology, consumer electronics, internet services and medical devices.

Craig Schloss '80

(11/9/17)
Craig has joined the law firm of Cozen O'Connor in its San Diego office. Specializing in employment and trade secret litigation, Schloss has extensive experience litigating wrongful termination cases, employee unfair competition/trade secrets disputes, wage and hour class actions, and discrimination, disability accommodation and sexual harassment lawsuits. He also practices before the National Labor Relations Board regarding labor matters on behalf of management.

Emily Wisniewski '17

(11/6/17)
Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC welcomes Emily Wisniewski to the firm. She participated in the firm's summer associate program and was sworn in at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, MI on October 31. Emily is a member of the firm's Business and Corporate practice group where she assists other attorneys with meeting the diverse legal needs of Michigan businesses. She will be based out of Foster Swift's Lansing office.

Dale G. Haake '79

(10/23/17)
Dale G. Haake successfully argued (Jan 2017) in the Third District Court of Appeals (Ottawa) defense of a $1.5 million Oct 2015 jury verdict (Whiteside Co) (Benzakry v. Singh et al. Decision April 2017). The case included unusual circumstances of an appellate court not only granting cross-appeal, but entering judgment in appellate court rather than a remand.

Dan Slack '83

(10/23/17)
Dan Slack has been named to the Board of Directors of The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, a national organization that protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. The Center accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people across the country every year.

Steven Rubin '81

(10/23/17)
Steven D. Rubin was appointed by the President of the Florida Bar to serve as Chair of The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education for 2017-18. Florida has the largest legal specialization program in the Country with 26 areas of certification. Rubin has been Florida Bar Board Certified in real estate law since 1995.

Dorothy "Dottie" (Parson) McDermott '03

(10/18/17)
Dorothy “Dottie” (Parson) McDermott has joined national workplace law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. in Indianapolis as a Principal. Ms. McDermott joined the firm from Ogletree Deakins and focuses her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling.

Albert Salvi '85

(10/13/17)
The American Jurist Institute recognized Waukegan, IL, Attorney Albert Salvi of Salvi & Maher, LLC, as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys in Illinois for 2017. The award honors attorneys “for dedication and excellence in the practice of law.”

David Dorris '73

(10/13/17)
David V. Dorris has been presented the Alumni Achievement Award from Blackburn College. Dorris graduated from the college, located in Carlinville, in 1969. He went on to receive a law degree from the University of Illinois. The award is presented each year to an alum for significant achievement in professional and public service. Dorris has served in a number of professional leadership positions, including as president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He also served as a trustee for the University of Illinois. He continues to practice law in Bloomington at the Dorris Law Firm, P.C.

Rebecca Carcagno '14

(9/27/17)
Rebecca Carcagno has opened her own immigration law firm, The Law Offices of Rebecca Carcagno PLLC, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Christopher Kantas '10

(9/27/17)
Christopher Kantas, associate general counsel to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, has been selected to serve on a health and social-service policy group. Mr. Kantas is currently principal liaison for legal relations for several state departments, including public health, human services, aging, and health care and family services.

Paul Dorsey '13

(9/26/17)
Paul Dorsey has left the staff of Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) to join the National Automobile Dealership Association as a Manager of Legislative Affairs.

N. Peter Rasmussen '82

(9/21/17)
Peter is a senior legal editor with Bloomberg BNA and Bloomberg Law. He has authored several books and articles on federal securities law, and is a frequent contributor to BNA's Corporate Transactions Blog. He will moderate the federal securities regulators panel at the annual meeting of the American Association of Corporate Counsel. He lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife Peggy, who recently retired from her position as a director of international IT for AbbVie.

Stanley Eisenstein '73

(9/20/17)
Stanley Eisenstein has just been named in “Who’s Who in America” by Marquis Publications. He also is included in “Who’s Who in American Lawyers.” In 2016, he was named as one of the 10 Best in its Labor and Employment Law Division by the American Institute of Legal Counsel. He has been elected a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. In 2013, his firm Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Eisenstein, Johnson & Bareck P.C., of which he is its senior labor counsel, was named by U.S. News & World Report as Law Firm of the Year in Labor Law – Union and Workers’ Compensation.

Collin Delaney '08

(9/19/17)
Collin Delaney was appointed as a federal Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. Collin served previously with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Henry Young '11

(9/19/17)
Henry Young recently accepted the position of Senior Technology Policy Advisor at the Department of Commerce’s National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST is responsible for developing standards to protect non-national security federal information systems. Among other areas, NIST's work includes biometrics, cloud computing, cyber-physical systems, quantum computing, health IT, and the NIST Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.

Kate O'Malley '93

(9/18/17)
Kate O’Malley, President and Founder of K.O. Strategies, has launched a new service offering to support the success of women in law firms. Its Supporting Women’s Success™ program offers workshops, individual and group coaching, skills training, firm leadership consulting, and public relations/publicist services to support women in developing business and achieving the success they’ve defined for themselves. K.O. Strategies provides public relations, strategy, communications, advocacy, business development, and strategic planning services to a broad range of clients, including corporations, universities, health systems, and nonprofits. In addition to being a lawyer, Kate is a business owner, entrepreneur, and working mom. She has launched two successful businesses and served as adjunct faculty for a nationally-recognized MBA program.

Austin Kaplan '08

(9/18/17)
Austin Kaplan is the 2017 President of the Austin Young Lawyers Association (www.ayla.org), which serves more than 1,200 young lawyers across Central Texas. Kaplan practices employment and civil rights law. He is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation Fellow, 2016 Austinite of the Year, and the 2016 Austin Under 40 Lawyer of the Year.

Jerry Krulewitch '86

(9/15/17)
Shedd Aquarium is thrilled to announce that University of Illinois graduate Jerry Krulewitch of McDonald’s has joined Shedd Aquarium’s Board of Trustees.

Esperanza Segarra '01

(9/14/17)
Litigation attorney Esperanza Segarra, a partner in the Coral Gables office of the US law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, has been selected to DiversityMBA’s 11th annual list of Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders for 2017. DiversityMBA is a national leadership organization that integrates diversity and inclusion with talent management.

Brian McPheters '73

(9/14/17)
After 13 years on the bench, Champaign County judge Brian McPheters has announced he's ready to retire. Brian McPheters, 72, of Champaign, IL said that his last day as an associate judge will be Dec. 11.

Laura Snyder '94

(9/13/17)
Laura Snyder has published her second book about legal services, entitled "Modernizing Legal Services in Common Law Countries: Will the US Be Left Behind?" The book examines the ways in which common law countries such as England, Australia, and Canada have modernized their regulatory environments for legal services. It critiques stagnant regulation practices in the US and offers a blueprint for effective regulation of legal services to ensure affordable and accessible civil justice for all citizens.

Joshua Naggar '10

(9/12/17)
Joshua Naggar is currently representing Jane Doe in Jane Doe vs. RUSD. The case involves an alleged sexual assualt and sodomy of a special needs student while on a 3rd party contracted school bus. The case has received quite a bit of attention in California, where it is unfolding. 

Stephanie Mills '13

(9/8/17)
Stephanie Mills joined Amazon in July 2017 as Corporate Counsel.

William Conlon '70

(9/5/17)
On November 28th, 2017, Leo Catholic High School will present William Conlon with the Leo Lifetime Achievement Award at their scholarship benefit at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, IL.

Theodore Smith '98

(9/5/17)
Ted Smith has been included on the 2018 Best Lawyers in America list. Smith was selected as a Best Lawyer in Construction and Real Estate Law. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Thomas Mills '93

(8/28/17)
Thomas Mills joins Notre Dame Law School as Kresge Law Library director.

Sam Garrison '01

(8/28/17)
Sam Garrison has been appointed to the board of trustees at St. Johns River State College for a one-year term.

Steven Migala '96

(8/28/17)
Steven Migala, a partner at Lavelle Law in Schaumburg, IL, recently was appointed to Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission.

Larry Lieberman '63

(8/25/17) 
Larry Lieberman was honored by the State Bar of Arizona for 50 years of service to the profession and to the State Bar.

James Brusatte '77

(8/24/17)
James Brusatte has been chosen by Prairie State Legal Services as a "Hero of Justice" along with 40 other recipients in the state of Illinois. This recognition is presented for pro bono services over a 40 year period. James is a retired judge from Ottawa, Illinois.

John Greanias '67

(8/24/17)
Judge John Greanias (Ret.) '67 is a Lecturer in Law at Santa Clara University School of Law. He teaches Advocacy for 2L students, and Introduction to U. S. Law for International LLM students. He also continues to serve on the faculty of the Trial Advocacy program for 2L and 3L students at Stanford Law School.

Austen Zuege '03

(8/22/17)
Austen Zuege is the editor and lead co-author of a new book on patent clearance and freedom-to-operate (FTO) studies entitled "Patent Freedom to Operate Searches, Opinions, Techniques, and Studies." The book was published on August 11, 2017 by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Christina Cullom '11

(8/18/17)
Christina Cullom has joined Pender & Coward as an attorney focusing on local government, insurance defense and civil litigation. An experienced litigator and former prosecutor, Cullom defends state and local government entities in cases involving constitutional violations, tort claims and employment discrimination.

Juan Thomas '96

(8/18/17)
Chicago lawyer Juan Thomas was sworn in August 3, 2017 as president of the National Bar Association, a professional organization for African-American attorneys that historically has fought for civil rights.

Thomas, 46, is a senior attorney in the Chicago office of Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer and practices in family law, real estate, employment and estate planning. He previously served as national vice president and secretary of the 60,000-member organization made up of lawyers, judges, educators and law students.

Chapin Rose '00

(8/18/17)
At the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives' annual meeting, held Thursday, July 27, in Springfield, State Senator Chapin Rose, R-51st District, received the 2017 Illinois Electric Cooperatives' Public Service Award. The award was made in recognition of Sen. Rose's dedicated public service to all citizens of the state of Illinois and for outstanding contributions to the rural electrification program.

James Bartelt '81

(8/18/17)
The Marshfield Area Community Foundation recently announced that James Bartelt has been appointed to the board of directors. The board consists of 15 members who are appointed by individuals or organizations, and they are elected by a majority of the board of directors. The board meets monthly and is responsible for all functions of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation.

Craig Cunningham '09

(8/18/17)
Craig Cunningham, First Vice President-Investment Officer, of Wells Fargo Advisors in Charleston, has been recognized as one of “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” by Forbes.

Adam Jung '06

(8/11/17)
Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. partner Adam Jung has been appointed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Chicago Athletics Advisory Board. The board, comprised of University of Illinois alumni and supporters with deep connections to Chicago, provides assistance and recommendations to the University’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics as it continues to pursue increased exposure and support for Fighting Illini athletics throughout Chicagoland.

Melodie Craft '00

(8/9/17)
Melodie K. Craft, a shareholder in the Dallas office of Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been accepted into the Leadership Dallas Class of 2018.
Program participants receive exposure to issues facing the Dallas community while developing the breadth of their leadership skills and building professional relationships. Through this initiative, the city is provided with an ongoing source of diverse leaders who are committed to serving as catalysts for improving the quality of life for Dallas residents.

Carl Bergetz '96

(7/27/17)
Carl Bergetz, JD, has been appointed chief legal officer of the Rush system. With this appointment, Bergetz also assumes the roles as senior vice president of legal affairs and general counsel for Rush University Medical Center.

Byung Jin Pak '98

(7/26/17)
If confirmed, Byung Jin (“BJay”) Pak of Georgia will serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Pak is currently a member of Chalmers Pak Burch & Adams LLC, where his practice focuses on complex litigation and government investigations. Mr. Pak was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017, during which he served as a Deputy Majority Whip, and as the Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. From 2002 to 2008, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia, where he prosecuted drug trafficking, money laundering, intellectual property, and white-collar crimes. Prior to becoming a Federal prosecutor, he was a litigation associate at Alston & Bird LLP. Mr. Pak clerked for the Honorable Richard Mills of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He received his B.B.A. from Stetson University in 1995 and his J.D., summa cum laude, from University of Illinois College of Law in 1998.

Jeffrey Berman '87

(7/24/17)
On June 9th, Jeffrey Berman (BS ’84 BUS, JD ’87 LAW) was sworn in as the President of the Lake County Bar Foundation. Jeff has nearly 30 years' of experience in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, and his practice currently focuses on class actions and related insurance coverage litigation. Jeff also currently is serving his fifth elected term as a Village Trustee, and as Village President Pro Tem, in the Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. He also serves as Co-Editor of the Docket, the official publication of the Lake County Bar Association.

Greg Scoggins '91

(7/19/17)
Gregg Scoggins '91, of Richmond, VA passed away on March 26, 2017.

Richard Joy '69

(7/13/17)
Richard Marks Joy, 73, of Champaign passed away peacefully in the company of family and friends on Monday July 3, 2017 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL after complications from pancreatic cancer. Richard was a committed volunteer in the Law Competitions Program for 20 years.

Robert Wolff '80

(7/13/17)
Robert M. Wolff, a shareholder in the Cleveland office of Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been recognized with a top ranking in the 2017 edition of the prestigious Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers placed Wolff in Band 1, the guide’s highest distinction.

As a seasoned civil trial attorney, Wolff has more than 30 years of experience representing companies both large and small in the healthcare, energy, transportation, financial and retail industries. He has handled numerous labor arbitrations and has taken over 50 cases to jury verdicts involving matters of wrongful death, age, race disability and sexual discrimination, commercial and various major civil rights class actions, and wage and hour class actions.

Joe Sadler '02

(7/13/17)
Kotz Sangster has named Joe Sadler partner in the firm's downtown Grand Rapids office.

Aleksandra Ostojic Rushing '15

(7/13/17)
Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that associate Aleksandra O. Rushing has been nominated as an Associate Member in The Theodore McMillian Inns of Court. Rushing has an active litigation practice at Husch Blackwell representing clients in the K-12 education, higher education, and healthcare industries.

The Theodore McMillian American Inns of Court is the St. Louis chapter of American Inns of Court, which was founded to promote the highest level of professionalism in the practice of law. Established in 2010 and sponsored by Saint Louis University School of Law, the chapter brings together members of the St. Louis legal community to share best trial practices, enhance individual commitment to professional skills and ethics, and enjoy fellowship.

Elizabeth Herrington '97

(6/28/17)
Beth Herrington was named president of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association in May 2017.

Michael Bess '95

(6/27/17)
Michael Bess has been named a a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in Chicago. He is a member of the Litigation Practice Group serving as a strategic counselor in complex commercial and criminal cases. Bess has significant drafting expertise and has proved instrumental in securing case dismissals, defeating class certifications, and preserving or reversing judgments on appeal. Bess’s experience spans a wide variety of fields, including securities and consumer fraud class actions, product liability, employment discrimination, white collar, criminal, civil rights, environmental, False Claims Act investigations, and state common law actions.

Howard Gum '76

(6/27/17)
The family and bankruptcy law firm of Gum, Hillier & McCroskey, PA, is proud to announce that Howard L. Gum was elected to the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association at its Annual Meeting in Asheville on June 24, 2017. Howard is elected to a three year term of office, the first meeting of which was held Sunday morning. The Board of Governors provides leadership and governance to the NC Bar Association. The Board of Governors also serves as the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the endowment branch of the Association through which the Association gives back to the state and the communities served by the membership.

Kathyrn Pyszka '89

(6/22/17)
Kathryn Pyszka has been named as Associate Regional Director for Enforcement in the SEC's Chicago Office.

Gerald Cassioppi '82

(6/22/17)
Momkus McCluskey Roberts LLC Attorney Gerald A. Cassioppi was elected DuPage County Bar Association President.

Grant Gulovsen '98

(6/16/17)
Grant is currently working with executive producer David Kolko on an international reality competition between up-and-coming social media influencers from the U.S. and China that will be broadcast in both countries. Celebrity guests include YouTube makeup artist Promise Phan as well as Shanghai fashion photographer and Asia's Next Top Model resident judge Todd Anthony Tyler.

Bill Coulson '72

(6/16/17)
Bill Coulson has been reappointed by the Cook County Board to a third five year term on the Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Authority. The RTA is the funding, budgeting, and oversight agency for mass transit - the CTA, Metra, and Pace Bus - in the six-county metropolitan Chicago area.

Thomas Watts Johnston '61

(6/14/2017)
Thomas Watts Johnston, 81, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 7th, 2017, surrounded by his family. His obituary was featured in the Chicago Tribune. 

Erin Johnson '11

(6/14/2017)
This summer, Erin Johnson is taking on a different role when she performs the lead part of Peggy Sawyer in the St. Dunstan’s Theatre Guild of Cranbrook production of "42nd Street." Johnson is no stranger to the theater, having performed in off-Broadway and Broadway productions around the country after earning her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. Johnson is currently an associate at Dickinson Wright PLLC in Troy, Michigan. 

Chris Minelli '08

(6/14/2017)
Ottawa, Illinois attorney and Democrat Chris Minelli plans to run against U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger for the 16th Congressional District seat in 2018.

Barbara Crowder '81

(6/12/2017)
Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder was selected to serve as the Secretary of the Illinois Judges Association.

Clifford M. Carney '52

(6/12/2017)
Clifford M. Carney age 90, passed away May 27th, 2017. Clifford was admitted in to law in 1952, where he remained licensed for 65 years. He was President of the DuPage Bar Association, President of the Election Commission and President of the Lions Club.

Peter Huizenga '63

(6/12/2017)
Peter and Heidi Huizenga have made a generous gift to further oncology research and to honor Kathy Albain, MD, FACP, FASCO at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Raymond Myles Sr. '77

(6/12/2017)
Judge Raymond Myles Sr. passed away on April 10, 2017 in Chicago, IL. Having maintained a prolific career spanning four decades, Raymond was most recently assigned to the Criminal Division of the Cook County Courts at 26th and California where he presided over trials involving misdemeanor offenses and presided over Calendar 4 Courtroom, juvenile court hearing matters.

William Warren '50

(6/6/2017)
UCLA Dean Emeritus William Warren passed away on May 30, 2017 at his home in Santa Monica, California. Bill was a giant in legal education and in his chosen fields of bankruptcy and commercial law.

Lisa Kpor '14

(5/31/2017)
On May 24, 2017, Lisa Mon'a Kpor received an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in recognition of her outstanding commitment to pro bono representation.

Angie Snell '11

(5/25/2017)
Angie Snell has joined Faegre Baker Daniels’ finance and restructuring group. She will practice as an associate in the firm’s Chicago office.

Christine Turner '02

(5/16/2017)
Christine Turner recently relocated from Washington, D.C. to the San Francisco Bay area to join Facebook as the Head of Global Policy for WhatsApp, where she focuses on policy challenges in key global markets.

Sam Garrison '01

(5/16/2017)
Sam Garrison was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees for a term beginning May 15, 2017.

An Nguyen '15

(5/12/2017)
On May 3, 2017 An Nguyen received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award for outstanding pro bono service from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), Chicago's first and pre-eminent legal aid organization. He was selected amongst over 2,300 volunteer attorneys from Chicago and the surrounding areas to receive the award and was honored at CVLS' annual "Law and Disorder" event.

Stephanie Tang '15

(5/12/2017)
On May 3, 2017 Stephanie received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award for outstanding pro bono service from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), Chicago's first and pre-eminent legal aid organization. She was selected amongst over 2,300 volunteer attorneys from Chicago and the surrounding areas to receive the award and was honored at CVLS' annual "Law and Disorder" event.

Christina Alabi '10

(5/11/2017)
Christina is one of just 30 attorneys nationwide to be chosen as a 2017 National Employment Law Council Academy fellow. The NELC's mission is to expand the minority bar that represents management in the field of labor and employment law, to impact global employment law policy and to promote ethnic interest in the profession.

Gilbert Taylor '94

(5/5/2017)
The Hon. Gilbert Taylor is serving as a New York State Family Court Judge assigned in New York City. Appointed to the Bench in March of 2016, Judge Taylor has presides over child protective, juvenile delinquency, family offense and child custody cases. Judge Taylor resides in New York City.

Michael Closen '74

(5/5/2017)
I am Professor of Law Emeritus, John Marshall Law School, Chicago, where I taught for 27 years , and where I am proud to say I was voted a "Professor of the Year" by the law students seven times. I have now published 20 books. I have authored 10 law books, including co-authoring the first and only law school casebooks in the country on Aids Law & Policy and on Notary Law & Practice. My 10th law book, "Notary Public Best Practices," will be released later in 2017. And, I continue to lecture, consult, and testify as an expert witness in legal cases. I have also written 10 fun coffee-table type books on a variety of subjects (mostly about my favorite pastime of RVing and traveling), such as "Maine Memories: A Vintage Picture Postcard Tour." My 10th coffee-table book "Don't Call Them Trailer Trash" was just released in 2017.

Richard Hanus '88

(5/5/2017)
On April 15, 2017, NBC News' Justice Department correspondent Pete Williams featured Margarita Fitzpatrick and her attorney, Richard Hanus, a 1988 College of Law graduate, in a televised national report chronicling Margarita’s fight against deportation after she was wrongly solicited and approved for voter registration at her local Department of Motor Vehicles.

Patricia Pierman Larson '79

(5/4/2017)
Patricia Pierman Larson has retired from Thomson Reuters (formerly West Publishing) after 37 years of service. Patricia began her career as a headnoter and spent the last 19 years as a Director of Judicial Editorial overseeing 100+ attorney editors.

Melissa Prober '95

(4/25/2017)
Melissa Chroman Prober was recently named Executive Director of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Chicago North Shore. Founded in 1893, NCJW is the oldest Jewish women's organization in the US and is an advocate for the rights and well-being of women, children, and families locally, nationally, and around the world.

Rod Adams '85

(4/19/2017)
LeClairRyan proudly announces that Rodney Adams, a shareholder in the national law firm’s Richmond, Virginia, office, and an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is one of two recipients of the Jerry L. Norville Award for Outstanding Educator from the VCU Master of Health Administration class of 2018. Adams, who leads LeClairRyan's professional liability team, has taught Health Care Law and Bioethics at VCU for several years.

Craig Mousin '78

(4/11/2017)
Craig Mousin was recently invited to speak as part of the Visiting Artist Series of DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts and the Office of Mission and Values to explore the pressing challenges of forced migration. The audience had viewed part of a documentary on Syrian refugees, Exodus. View a video of the panel event

Jamie Nicole Johnson '16

(3/30/2017)
Jamie Nicole Johnson will be the keynote speaker at the University of Illinois College of Business MBA Achievement Awards reception on May 5th, 2017. The event is held to congratulate MBA honors students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher and students who are graduating in the top 20% of their class.

Rosa Ochoa-Martinez '97

(3/30/2017)
Rosa Ochoa-Martinez has been hired as a deputy attorney general in the Office of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.

Ann Barron '94

(3/21/2017)
Heyl Royster has announced that attorney Ann C. Barron has become a partner in the firm’s Edwardsville office. Ms. Barron dedicates her practice to civil litigation, including environmental and business-related disputes, nursing home litigation, and personal injury defense. She began her legal career in 1994, serving as a law clerk to the Honorable James D. Heiple of the Illinois Supreme Court. After her clerkship, Ms. Barron worked for two law firms in the St. Louis area. She then served as in-house counsel at Valero in San Antonio, TX. While at Valero she managed complex environmental, commercial, class action and tort litigation matters. In 2013, Ms. Barron joined Heyl Royster as of counsel. Ms. Barron graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.

Debra Walker '87

(3/17/2016)
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Debra Walker is being recognized with a national lifetime achievement award for philanthropy. Walker is the third person and the first judge to receive the annual National Conference of Bar Foundations’ Excellence Award. The group, an organization under the American Bar Association’s Division for Bar Services, supports and shares programming ideas between bar foundations throughout the country. Member organizations include state, county, and smaller bar foundations.

Clarence Redman '66

(3/3/2017)
Clarence O. Redman passed away on January 30, 2017.

Bina Joshi '08

(3/2/2017)
Bina Joshi has been promoted to partner at Schiff Hardin LLP in the firm’s Chicago office. Bina’s practice is centered on environmental litigation, including issues arising under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and related state laws. She regularly helps clients with compliance matters, both in dealing with compliance issues and in the development of compliance programs and plans.

Paul Williamson '73

(3/1/2017)
Mr. Williamson was recently named one of the top trademark attorneys in the U.S. in the 2017 edition of World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000. He earned Silver status in the national “Enforcement and Litigation” category.

Tom Lamont '72

(2/24/2017)
Tom Lamont has recently re-located back to Springfield after serving in Washington D.C. as Assistant Secretary of the Army and subsequently, Vice-Chair of the National Commission on the Future of the Army. He is the principal of Lamont Consulting Services LLC.

Kathleen Feeney '87

(2/20/2017)
In November 2016, Judge Kathleen A. Feeney received the Justice Marilyn J. Kelly Award for Outstanding Judicial Service from the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section for her 16 years on the bench presiding over Family Division cases in the Kent County Circuit Court, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Judge Feeney received the award for being "an outstanding judge with a great reputation" and because she is "passionate, widely respected, acknowledged as a leader by her peers, and is well-known by family law practitioners." Grand Rapids Legal News, 12/23/16, vol. 81, no. 79. Judge Feeney is currently the Presiding Judge of the Family Division in Kent County and the chair of the Michigan Judges Association Family Law Committee; she also serves on the Michigan Supreme Court Civil Jury Instruction Committee and Michigan Family Law Benchbook committee. She remembers fondly The Law Revue and singing The Unemployment Chorus with her fellow law students!

Paul Stone '42

(2/17/2017)
Paul Stone passed away February 11, 2017 at his home in Sullivan, Illinois.

Marlén Cortez Morris '06

(2/3/2017)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been elevated to partner at Cheng Cohen LLC, a leading franchise law firm in Chicago. Marlén represents and advises franchisors, licensors, and distributors on a wide range of issues including labor and employment matters, the enforcement and defense of franchise agreements, and disputes regarding regulatory matters. She has been named a 2017 Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Luc Attlan '06

(2/2/2017)
Luc Attlan has been elected a partner by Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He is a member of the Corporate Group and is based out of the Chicago office. Luc concentrates his practice on international corporate transactions and counseling. Luc advises a broad range of clients, ranging from small businesses to multinational Fortune 50 corporations. He also works with foreign companies seeking to do business in the U.S., as well as U.S. companies in need of assistance with their foreign operations.

Sam Kauffman '12

(1/31/2017)
Sam Kauffman was elected First Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Pulaski County, Arkansas. His term on the Executive Committee runs from 2017 to 2019.

Ryan Gammelgard '06

(1/31/2017)
Ryan D. Gammelgard has been elected President of the McLean County Bar Association. In addition, Ryan was one of 40 emerging leaders from the public and private sectors in Illinois selected to participate in the 2016 Edgar Fellows Program hosted by the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Ryan is Counsel at State Farm in Bloomington, Illinois, where he works on public policy issues related to self-driving cars, drones, and other innovation related matters.

Merrell Bennekin '01

(1/26/2017)
Merrell R. Bennekin has been named Executive Director of the Board of Police Commissioners Office of Community Complaints, a civilian oversight of law enforcement agency in Kansas City, MO. Prior to this appointment he served as Deputy Executive Director, a position he has held since 2008. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice with the Metropolitan Community College system, teaching courses in Criminology and Criminal Investigations. He is also a P.O.S.T. certified instructor with the Kansas City Regional Police Academy and teaches courses focused on mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and conflict de-escalation. Merrell is married to the former Kedra Williams '01 and they have two daughters, Avery and Angela.

Rachel Janutis '95

(1/26/2017)
Rachel Janutis has been appointed dean of the Capital University Law School. Named interim dean at the Law School in 2014, Dean Janutis is the first female dean of the Law School and has been a member of Capital's law faculty since 2002. Prior to her appointment as interim dean, she had served as the Law School’s associate dean for Academic Affairs since 2010, and previously as director of Faculty Development. She is highly regarded by students, faculty, and administration for her work as both a future-focused teacher and administrator.

Susan Bursztynsky '86

(1/26/2017)
Susan (Frank) Bursztynsky has been named Executive Director of ADV & SAS, a domestic violence and sexual assault agency in Streator, Illinois. Prior to this position, she was President & CEO of Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy & Child Development (formerly, Easter Seals of LaSalle & Bureau Counties). She had also served as Director of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council and managing attorney with Prairie State Legal Services in Ottawa. Susan lives in Ottawa, Illinois, with her husband, Zenon. They have three daughters, including Jessica, who is a UIUC student.

Keyonn Pope '09

(1/25/2017)
Keyonn L. Pope '09 was recently promoted to Partner within the Chicago office of Reed Smith LLP. His practice focuses on all aspects of complex IP litigation matters, with an emphasis on patents, trademarks, unfair competition, trade secrets, trade dress, and copyrights. Keyonn has extensive experience handling matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, namely trademark and patent prosecution, inter parties review petitions, and trademark oppositions and cancellations. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to media and entertainment matters, including counseling clients on matters related to music and product licensing, distribution, and management. Keyonn holds various leadership roles within the firm and is active in pro bono and community activities. He is also a member of the College of Law's Alumni Board.

Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09

(2/3/2017)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will co-present "Privacy and Cloud Services in Public Libraries: The Case of BiblioCommons" at the 2017 Information Ethics Roundtable of the Association for Information Science and Technology Information Policy Special Interest Group held in Champaign, Illinois. This project for the Center for Information Policy Research analyzes patron privacy in public libraries that use cloud-based discovery layers.

(1/24/2017)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will present a co-paper at the 9th International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML) held from May 23-26, 2017, in Limerick, Ireland. The paper, “Legal and policy implications of licenses between library and information science open access journal publishers and authors: A qualitative case study,” investigates the similarities and differences in the licenses (contracts or agreements) used by five sampled LIS open access journals to illuminate the effects of open access on information policy and to recommend best practices.

Andrea M. Augustine '97

(1/20/2017)
Andrea M. Augustine has been named co-chair of the Patent Preparation and Prosecution division of Duane Morris' Intellectual Property Practice Group. Augustine focuses her practice in the areas of strategic counseling for patent and trademark procurement (domestic and foreign) and portfolio management in the electrical, mechanical and consumer product industries. She assists clients in drafting and negotiating IP-related agreements, including joint development, supply, licensing, sponsored-research, consultant and confidentiality agreements. Augustine performs freedom-to-operate, design-around, infringement and validity analyses; counsels clients on trade secret protection; and assists clients on due diligence for licensing and acquisition matters.

Adam Wirtz '09

(1/18/2017)
Adam Wirtz has been hired as an associate attorney at 
Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, located in Naperville, Illinois.

Jasmine Hernandez '06

(1/6/2017)
Jasmine Hernandez is now the 1st Vice-President (and President-elect) of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. 
Jasmine is an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office in its Juvenile Justice Bureau. In addition to her work with AABA, Jasmine is immediate past president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago, editorial board member of the CBA Record, as well as a member of the Women's Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

Dr. Kanok Jullamon JSD '12

(1/2/2017)
Dr. Kanok Jullamon has been appointed as the deputy secretary-general of the Institute of Legal Education for the Thai Bar Association. Dr. Jullamon also has been appointed a bankruptcy specialist by Ramkhamhaeng University for its doctoral programs. He continues to teach bankruptcy law, comparative law, and English for lawyers at universities in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand.

Patricia Brown Holmes '86

(12/22/16)
Patricia Brown Holmes has been named Person of the Year by Chicago Lawyer Magazine. An excerpt from their website says, "
Holmes, the second black woman to serve as president of The Chicago Bar Association and a founding member of the Black Woman Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, is well-thought of throughout the legal community and South Side Chicago."

Adrian Barr '03

(12/19/2016)
Adrian Barr recently earned the prestigious Chicago Bar Foundation Sun-Times Public Interest Law Fellowship for his legal aid work.

Marissa Meli '14

(12/19/2016)
Marissa Meli joined the Green Bay Packers in June 2016 as Corporate Transactions Counsel.

Jeff Brodin '84

(12/19/2016)
Jeff Brodin was awarded the Frances Perkins Award for Public Service at the ABA Labor and Employment Section Annual Meeting in Chicago on November 11. He was also inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers at the annual College dinner the following evening.

Willis Tribler '60

(12/16/2016)
Willis R. (“Bill”) Tribler, a founding member and senior partner of the law firm of Tribler Orpett & Meyer, died early Saturday, December 3, after a brief hospitalization.

Dan Flannell '77

(12/12/2016)
Dan Flannell, chief judge of the sixth judicial circuit and presiding judge of Moultrie County, is trading his robe for a newly created position as city administrator of Sullivan, IL.

Dawn Rosemond '96

(12/7/2016)
Barnes & Thornburg LLP has announced that Dawn Rosemond, a litigation partner in its Fort Wayne office, has been named Director of Diversity, Professional Development and Inclusion. Rosemond has been with Barnes & Thornburg for 20 years, joining as an associate in 1996. She has been a partner since 2005.

Ashley Dus '16

(12/6/2016)
Chicago-based law firm Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth is pleased to announce that Ashley Dus, (J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2016) has joined the firm as an associate. Dus concentrates her practice in professional negligence and product liability, defending both physicians and lawyers against malpractice claims and manufacturers against product liability claims.