Chicago Area

ISBA member Christopher J. Maurer, associate attorney at Anderson & Associates, P.C., was elected treasurer of the DuPage Bar Foundation on May 23, 2017.

The DuPage Bar Foundation is the charitable division of the DuPage County Bar Association. It awards scholarships to law students, and it also awards grants to organizations, such as the Family Shelter Service and National Alliance on Mental Illness, which serves disadvantaged communities.

Earlier in May, Mr. Maurer also received the DuPage Legal Assistance Foundation’s Pro Bono Service Award at the DuPage Bar Association's Annual Law Day Luncheon. He is one of two attorneys to have received the award for volunteering over 100 hours of pro bono time representing low-income clients in the community.

Mr. Maurer has been a licensed and practicing attorney since 1997. He joined Anderson & Associates, P.C. in 2002, and he has extensive experience in family law, including divorce, custody/parenting disputes, grandparent rights, and complex financial litigation. He also has experience handling contested probate matters and preparing estate plans for his clients. Attorney Maurer is also a licensed and practicing mediator in family law cases, and he has been appointed by the courts to represent the rights of children as a guardian ad litem in contested cases involving minor children.

ISBA members Jacqueline S. Pesenko and Stephanie L. Tang recently joined Kogut & Wilson, LLC.

Jacqueline Pesenko focuses her practice in the areas of matrimonial and family law. She prosecutes cases on behalf of victims of violence, abuse, neglect, and felony crimes. She brings an extensive background in social work, psychology, and counseling services. Jacqueline received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she earned a certificate in child and family law, the President’s Award for Service, and  the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award.

Michael J. Tardy, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced his retirement effective August 1, 2017, following a sterling 40-plus year career with the Judicial Branch. Tardy was named acting director in September 2011 and was officially appointed as director in January 2012.

"Throughout his long career, Mike has been an invaluable asset to the Supreme Court. An innovative administrator, a gifted leader, and a skillful diplomat, Mike has helped steer the Third Branch of Illinois government through some of its most difficult challenges. During a period of budgetary uncertainty, social change and rapid technological innovation, Mike has been instrumental in insuring that the judicial system remains available to all who need its protections," said Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. "He has overseen the implementation of statewide electronic filing and the introduction of new measures to improve pretrial release practices. He has helped place Illinois at the forefront of initiatives to improve access to justice, and his contributions have been critical to our implementation of new measures to insure that Illinois judges receive the best possible training and education."

Director Tardy served in both clinical and administrative positions within the Illinois judicial branch for the past 41 years. He initially worked for the Circuit Court of Cook County Social Service Department, a court agency charged with providing community-based supervision for adult misdemeanor and DUI offenders in Cook County. In his 13 years with the Cook County department, he started as a case worker and worked his way to district supervisor, managing three offices and a staff of 40.

Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP (“SFGH”) announced Monday that Jeffrey D. Shelley has joined the firm as counsel in its Chicago office.

Jeff focuses his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, charitable planning, tax matters, business transactions, and intellectual property. His scientific, tax, and business background gives him unique insights when providing individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners, and family offices with personal and business solutions.

Before joining SFGH, Jeff was the principal estate planning attorney at another law firm, where he also worked on business and intellectual property matters. Prior to entering private legal practice, Jeff worked as a Big Four professional services firm consultant, where he advocated for clients in complex business tax credit matters. He has also prepared patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Before practicing law, Jeff gained extensive business experience as a research scientist for a Fortune 500 company that manufactures and markets consumer and health care products worldwide. During his career there, he developed and launched next-generation products and manufacturing processes and was granted several product and process patents. Jeff has been named as an inventor in multiple utility patents.