People

Former ISBA Executive Director John H. Dickason, 84, of Coral Gables, FL passed away February 2, 2016. He was born June 3, 1931 in Wooster, OH, a twin son of the late Donald E. and Martha (Hamilton) Dickason. He graduated from Champaign, IL High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from Dartmouth College. John and his wife Barbara (Bobbie) were married June 20, 1953 in Christ Episcopal Church, Bronxville, NY. He served in the U.S. Army (1954-1956).

He was Director of Administrative Services for the Illinois State Bar Association from 1960-1970 and then served as Executive Director until 1985. In 1985 he became the Vice President for Finance and Administration of the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust which assisted basic medical researchers.  

Ava George Stewart, principal of the Law Office of Ava George Stewart located on Chicago’s Near North Side, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and will serve a two-year term.

The Foundation raises funds for distribution to Illinois nonprofit organizations whose mission is to provide free legal services to those with limited means. It also provides assistance to lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. In 2015, the Foundation took on the responsibility of a statewide expansion of the Illinois JusticeCorps to provide trained part-time student volunteers to serve as guides in courthouses. This year, the Foundation will distribute more than $850,000 in funds.

Louis G. Apostol, Executive Director and General Counsel for the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and Chicago attorney, was elected to the Associated Colleges of Illinois Board of Directors on February 1, 2016.

Mr. Apostol is the current Chair of the NIU College of Law Board of Visitors and on the Board of Directors for the NIU Alumni Association. He formerly served as Commissioner / Trial Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims and as Public Administrator of Cook County.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that a team of four leading intellectual property partners from Brinks, Gilson & Lione has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s Intellectual Property Department. This seasoned group of IP litigators brings depth and breadth of experience in all phases of trademark litigation, including preliminary injunctions, judge and jury trials, federal appeals and trademark trial and appeal board proceedings. They build on Barnes & Thornburg’s thriving IP practice.

The team includes John T. Gabrielides, a prominent trademark and copyright litigator with more than 25 years of experience. Each team member served their former firm in administrative leadership roles, including on the board of directors and executive committee. Their arrival, which follows on the heels of two new IP partners in Minneapolis, underscores Barnes & Thornburg’s increasing IP bench strength across the country.