Chicago Area

Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C., a law firm formed last year by seasoned attorneys and ISBA Susan Valentine, Lydia Bueschel, and another attorney, has established its practice in commercial litigation and real estate matters. The firm has already experienced significant growth, adding new client engagements, and hiring its sixth attorney in May.

Operating from newly remodeled and expanded offices at 105 W. Adams, VAB also recently became certified as a women-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and was admitted for membership in the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF.)

“We’re excited about the growth we’ve seen in less than a year both in terms of new engagements and additional attorneys whom we’ve added to support our growing client base,” said shareholder Susan Valentine. “And, we’re thrilled to be certified as a women-owned business and to be admitted to NAMWOLF membership. In addition to serving our clients with excellence, one of our core values is to provide employment opportunities for women and minorities, and we are committed to the advancement, promotion, and recognition of minorities and women.”

Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. This week-long Master Series program, which runs from October 16, 2017 – October 20, 2017 in Chicago, trains practitioners to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.

The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane—two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases. They are co-authors of the “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide.” [The “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide” is included with the purchase of this program.] They are co-founders of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution, which was established in 2001. The academy offers courses in mediation methods and techniques, and also conducts national and international mediation competitions for students in undergraduate school and law school. For more information about the academy, visit www.inadr.org

Click here for more information and to register.

Hon. Marjan Staniec, Cook County associate judge, passed away in January 2017. He was a resident of Norridge, Illinois at the time of passing.

Hon. Staniec earned his bachelor of law in 1941, his masters of laws in 1942, and his J.D. in 1957 from Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C.

He worked as an administrator for the U.S. Social Security Administration. Later, he was a columnist for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Your Social Security in Chicago Tribute, and co-producer and host of Social Security Tele-Line. From 1965-1968, he was the assistant regional director of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He was an associate judge for the Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County, from 1968-1976 and an adjunct professor of law at Loyola University from 1986-1987.

The ISBA will soon fill two vacant Assembly seats in Cook County. One Cook County seat has a one-year term and the other has a two-year term. Both terms begin immediately – the two-year vacancy will be filled first. Assembly members must reside in their circuit or district.

In accordance with paragraph 3.8(a) of the ISBA's Policy and Procedures on Association Elections, ISBA is notifying members that Khara Coleman of Oak Park and Jill O’Brien of Chicago have filed nominating petitions to be elected to the two ISBA Assembly vacancies from Cook County.

Any eligible ISBA member in Cook County wishing to be considered for these vacancies must submit a nominating petition to ISBA Executive Department by email to kweaver@isba.org, as described in the Policy and Procedures on Association Elections. This nominating petition must be submitted no later than July 13, 2017. You are asked to also forward the original Nominating Petition to the attention of ISBA Executive Department, 424 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.

According to the Policy, if no other candidates file a nominating petition, Ms. Coleman and Ms. O’Brien will be declared elected. If other nominating petitions are filed, the Board of Governors shall fill the seat from the candidates nominated.