The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Chicago Area

  • December 23, 2015 | People
    Matrimonial Attorney Selwyn M. Skevin Joins Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving

    The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, the leading national family law firm based in Chicago, has named matrimonial attorney Selwyn M. Skevin as their newest attorney. Skevin is experienced in all aspects of family law including emergency orders of protection, child support, and custody battles.

    Skevin understands what it’s like to grow up without a father because as a young child, he lost his own father. He knows the challenges that children with fractured families may face throughout adolescence and the lasting impacts they have on them, which helps him in his practice as a divorce attorney.

  • December 21, 2015 | People
    Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP grows restructuring practice with addition of Michael H. Traison

    Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP (“SFGH”), announced on Wednesday that Michael H. Traison has joined its corporate restructuring and creditor’s rights practice as a partner.

    Michael has been a pillar in the global restructuring community for the past 35 years—during which time he has represented debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees and asset purchasers in deals throughout the United States and around the world. His client-centric and leveled approach to solving complex financial problems has made him a considerable asset to his clients and peers alike. Michael’s desire to help people extends well beyond the office doors and into the global community. For decades, Michael has served as a tireless civic leader and advocate for human rights, with a special focus on Poland, the Jewish people and Israel. He was awarded The Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his civic leadership by its President in 2012.

  • December 21, 2015 | Practice News
    1st District Appellate Court has opening for Assistant Legal Research Director

    The First District Appellate Court has an opening for Assistant Legal Research Director. More information is available below and at http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Employment/Appellate/2015/Legal_Research_Asst_Dir_1st.asp

  • December 17, 2015 | People
    Lateral Associate, Law School Grads Join Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP

    Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP welcomes a lateral associate and two recent law school graduates to the firm’s Chicago office.

    Jack A. Gould joins the firm from Matushek, Nilles & Sinars, L.L.C., where he was also an associate. He focuses his practice on Asbestos Litigation, Product Liability and General Trial Practice. Mr. Gould received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2011 and his B.A. cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008.

    Associate Ryan J. Devall focuses his practice on Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes, Environmental Law, and Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy. Mr. Devall received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2015 and his B.A. from the University of California at San Diego in 2011.

    Associate Lena M. Shapiro focuses her practice on Medical Negligence and Healthcare, Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes, Product Liability, and Intellectual Property Litigation and Transactional Services. Ms. Shapiro received her J.D. from the University of Illinois in 2015 and her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2012.

  • December 17, 2015 | Practice News
    Department of Justice has openings for attorney, law student volunteer

    The U.S. Department of Justice has an attorney vacancy in the criminal division of the Rock Island Office. Applications are being accepted through Dec. 31, 2015. Find out more at http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/assistant-united-states-attorney-criminal-11

    There is also an opening for a summer law student volunteer in the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the Chicago Immigration Court, 525 W. Van Buren. Applications must be received by Jan. 19. Find out more at http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/law-student-volunteer-summer-116

  • December 14, 2015 | People
    J. Robert Murphy 1923-2015

    J. Robert "Bob" Murphy passed away peacefully at home in Geneva on November 18, 2015, just days before his 92nd birthday. He was born November 26, 1923 in Chicago, to William and Louise (Florence) Murphy. 

    Bob graduated from West Aurora High School in 1941 and received a scholarship to Harvard University. While at Harvard, in 1943, Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army. He served in the Army Air Force for three years before returning to Harvard to resume his education, entering and attending Harvard Law School from 1946 to 1948. Bob then returned to Aurora, where he opened his law practice in 1949. 

    Bob married Teresa (Chambers) on September 4, 1950, and together, they had six children. 

  • December 11, 2015 | People
    Judge Allan Masters Joins Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving

    The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, the leading national family law firm based in Chicago, has named former domestic relations Judge Allan W. Masters as their newest attorney. Judge Masters was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge of Cook County by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2001. He left the bench in 2014. Masters oversaw domestic relations cases ranging from child support to orders of protection.

    “I am excited having Allan Masters on my team,” said dads’ rights attorney Jeffery M. Leving. “He will continue doing great work in family court matters as well as providing valuable insight to clients. Many more children’s lives will be saved.”

    After law school Judge Masters was hired by the FBI to be a Special Agent. He then joined the Cook County State’s Attorney Office in Chicago. Later he founded and managed his highly regarded law firm, where he practiced family law and criminal defense before being appointed as a judge.

    Masters graduated from Loyola University where he received a Bachelor of Science and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and California. Masters is also a member of the Illinois Judges Association.

  • December 10, 2015 | People
    Schiller Ducanto & Fleck names Gregory C. Maksimuk newest partner

    The law firm of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP is proud to announce the promotion of Gregory C. Maksimuk to partner. Having joined the firm in 2011, Maksimuk has devoted his entire professional career to helping clients involved in complex divorces move their cases efficiently toward resolution. He concentrates on complicated, high-net-worth financial matters for C-suite executives, business owners, and their spouses.

    “Schiller DuCanto & Fleck has an established reputation as the leader in family law,” said Maksimuk. “I am truly honored and grateful to be named partner at a firm with so many highly skilled and competent attorneys.”

    Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP is the largest family law firm of its kind in the country. It is internationally recognized as a model for firms that practice family law and focus to achieve the best possible results for affluent clients. Its mission to ensure quality, knowledge and experience to clients is evident through numerous award recognitions, including being named as one of the best law firms by U.S. News & World Report from 2011-2015. Schiller is also recognized as having outstanding lawyers according to peer-rating based publications such as Best Lawyers in America and Law Dragon Top 500.

  • December 10, 2015 | ISBA News | Events
    Joint Midyear Meeting set to kickoff

    The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association are pleased to invite you to celebrate the profession and consider issues of mutual interest to the bench and bar during our annual Midyear Meeting. 

    December 10-12, 2015

    The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
    301 East North Water Street, Chicago, Illinois

    This year's highlights include:

  • December 10, 2015 | People
    Hon. Jean Prendergast Rooney 1970-2015

    Even though her leukemia returned after she endured a stem cell transplant, Judge Jean Prendergast Rooney didn’t let that prevent her from hosting Thanksgiving.

    She ordered a catered Thanksgiving meal — making sure it was gluten-free for celiac-sensitive relatives — and arranged a sit-down dinner for 10 in her room at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

    Two weeks later, the respected jurist died at 45, leaving three children behind.

    Jean Prendergast Rooney, an appellate law expert and judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, died Tuesday at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

    She was the first woman from her law class to become a member of the judiciary, according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, her former classmate at Loyola University School of Law.

    “And this is an impressive feat,” Madigan noted at Mrs. Rooney’s swearing-in, “in part because Jean was the youngest member of our law school class ­going through Loyola’s elite six-year­ accelerated program. So Jean finished college and started law school while the rest of her peers were struggling through what was hopefully their senior year.”