Park, Nelson and Van Vooren join Califf & Harper
Califf & Harper, P.C. is pleased to welcome Robert T. Park, Steven L. Nelson, and Joseph N. Van Vooren as the newest additions to the firm. As of July 1, 2012, Park, Nelson, and Van Vooren have joined Califf & Harper as shareholders bringing along their expertise relating to new and existing firm practice areas. In addition to the many practice areas Califf & Harper, P.C. already offers its clients, the firm will now assist clients with insurance defense, creditor bankruptcy claims, and workers’ compensation defense.
About the new shareholders:
Robert T. Park practices mainly in the areas of general civil and commercial litigation and insurance defense, has appeared before the Illinois Supreme Court, and is licensed to appear before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Park has a long-standing history of involvement with the Illinois State Bar Association and Rock Island Optimist Club. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and his law degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Mr. Park has practiced law in the Quad Cities area for more than 37 years adding to Califf & Harper, P.C.’s proud service in this area since 1869.
Steven L. Nelson has an extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation defense and bankruptcy practices and is licensed to appear before all five United States Bankruptcy Courts in Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Nelson is a native of the Quad Cities and graduate of Alleman High School in Moline. Mr. Nelson graduated from Western Illinois University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a Political Science minor, and received his law degree from Drake University Law School. Although Mr. Nelson adds bankruptcy and workers’ compensation defense to Califf & Harper’s practice areas, he also practices in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, collections, and estate planning.
Joseph N. Van Vooren graduated at the top of his law school class from the Northern Illinois University College of Law after graduating from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Mr. Van Vooren’s experience in workers’ compensation and insurance defense will be highlighted by other Califf & Harper practice areas in which he is also involved such as civil and commercial litigation and employment law. Mr. Van Vooren was recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2009 and 2010 “Rising Star” for his accomplishments in civil and commercial litigation thus far in his career.
The addition of Park, Nelson, and Van Vooren marks the most recent in several additions and mergers Califf & Harper has seen since the firm’s establishment in 1869. With this addition, Califf & Harper, P.C. has seventeen (17) attorneys ready and willing to assist clients, making Califf & Harper the largest of the Quad Cities law firms headquartered in Illinois. All three attorneys have long-standing relationships and involvement in the Quad Cities legal and public communities, which are principles Califf & Harper, P.C. considers of high importance. Further, the addition of these attorneys from Rock Island reinforces Califf & Harper’s dedication to providing quality legal representation to the entire Quad Cities area.