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  • 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 16, 2015 | People
    Daniel McCleery Joins Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu and Mitchell LLP

    When Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman asked William McCleery to speak at the 2015 Admission Ceremony for the Fourth Judicial District in Springfield on November 6, he humbly accepted. Among the fifty-two lawyers to be sworn in from the fourth district, was his son, Daniel McCleery. William said “I was honored to address this talented group of young men and women and take great pride knowing Daniel was one of them.”

  • December 15, 2015 | People
    Petro appointed to Citrix ShareFile Advisory Board

    Nerino J. Petro, Jr., has been appointed to the Citrix ShareFile® Advisory Board. This Board is composed of 17 members who will collaborate with Citrix® providing advice on the use of ShareFile® in the legal marketspace and to develop a new product that helps lawyers manage their practices more effectively, efficiently and productively.   Citrix® solutions are in use at more than 400,000 organizations and by over 100 million users globally, including law firms and their staff. 

    When asked about selections for the new Board, Bill O’Boyle of Citrix explains, “When developing vertical specific solutions, our core strategy involves consulting with industry thought leaders. Nerino Petro and Jeff Krause have many years of highly respected experience in legal technology and are considered experts in the field.  We are grateful for their participation and service on our advisory board.”

    Nerino J. Petro, Jr. is the Chief Information Officer at HolmstromKennedy in Rockford.  Recognized nationally as a speaker and author on legal technology and practice management, Petro speaks throughout the US and abroad on these topics. HolmstromKennedy is a century-old, 17-lawyer firm providing innovative solutions to complex issues throughout Northern Illinois, with offices in Rockford and Byron.

  • December 15, 2015 | People
    Quincy Attorney Rapp to chair MCLE Board

    The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that effective January 1, 2016, Quincy attorney James A. Rapp will chair the Supreme Court’s Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board.

    The Supreme Court adopted minimum continuing education requirements for Illinois attorneys in September, 2005. The board is composed of nine members including attorneys, judges, and a non-lawyer member. Rapp is a charter member of the governing board and has served as Vice Chair and on the board’s rules and regulations as well as finance committees. There are approximately 106,000 attorneys in Illinois subject to the requirements.

  • December 14, 2015 | People
    Thomas Smith 1939-2015

    Thomas R. Smith, 76, of Danville passed away at home on Monday (Nov. 23, 2015).

    Thomas was born Aug. 6, 1939, to Kenneth and Naydean (Phillips) Smith. He married Nancy (Underwood) Nixon on June 6, 1975; she survives.

    Also surviving are a stepdaughter, Melissa (Matthew) Muirhead of Danville; his children, Kenneth Smith of Milwaukee, Thomas Smith of Zionsville, Ind., Melinda Smith of Zionsville, Michele (Mark) Jones of Monrovia, Ind.; and eight grandchildren, including a very special grandson, Grant Thomas Muirhead.

    He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Smith.

    As a youth, he was active in Boy Scout of America, earning his Eagle Scout badge and representing his council several times in both national and international gatherings. He was a member of the Danville Jaycees, serving a term as president. He was an avid sports fan, especially Illini sports and the Indianapolis Colts.

    Thomas graduated from Danville High School in 1957, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. where he was a member of the golf team in 1961, and the University Of Illinois College Of Law in 1964.

    He practiced law in Danville for 50 years and was a partner in the law firm of Acton & Snyder. Thomas was also a member of both the Illinois and Indiana State Bar Associations, as well as the Vermilion County Bar Association.

  • 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 | 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.”

  • December 8, 2015 | People
    Segal McCambridge Welcomes Elangie Lozada to its Chicago Office

    Segal McCambridge Singer and Mahoney, Ltd. is pleased to welcome Elangie Lozada as an associate in its Chicago office.

    Elangie Lozada is an associate attorney concentrating her work on the defense of toxic tort claims. Ms. Lozada has experience in all stages of litigation. Prior to joining Segal McCambridge as an associate, Ms. Lozada worked for the firm through the Student Associate Program.

    Ms. Lozada earned her J.D. at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was an active member of the Moot Court Honor Society and Trial Advocacy teams. While in law school, Ms. Lozada worked as a law clerk at other Chicago law firms gaining experience in both civil and criminal law at both the state and federal level. She also gained legal experience working as an intern for the Honorable Raul Vega of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago. She is fluent in both Spanish and Italian and has acted as a translator in her legal work.