People

Duncan Tyree Smith was born the seventh of eight children born to the union of Woodrow Smith, and Mildred Pauline Harris in Chicago, Illinois. 

Duncan loved his family, his Fraternity and his music. He also was a brilliant scholar while attending Meridian High School; completing his under grad degree at Southeast Missouri State University and his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University School of Law. After spending time working at his practice, Duncan also worked with CASA helping disturbed youth. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Craig Pierre and one sister, Loretta Diane. 

Duncan leaves to cherish his memory his wife Myra Smith, daughter, Admire Miracle both of Tamms, Illinois, two sons; William Cole of Tamms, Illinois and Javon Davis of Antioch, Tennessee. Three brothers, two sisters; Woodrow, Jr.(Betsy) of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Clareon (Larry) Crider of Aurora, Illinois, Cheri (Willie) Johnson of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Desmond (Terry) Smith of Chicago, Illinois and Dwight (Sandra) of Flossmore, Illinois and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in‐laws, other relatives and friends. 

Services have been held.

ISBA leaders attended the 12th Annual Peoria County Bar Association Diversity Luncheon on Oct. 21 at the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette. Bradley University Athletic Director Chris Reynolds (left) served as the keynote speaker. ISBA leaders in attendance included (from left after Reynolds) ISBA President Umberto S. Davi, ISBA Board member Sonni Choi Williams, ISBA President-elect Vincent F. Cornelius and ISBA 3rd Vice President James F. McCluskey.

DLA Piper is pleased to announce that Sandy Wall has rejoined the firm's Franchise & Distribution practice after spending more than ten years at McDonald’s Corporation.  Sandy practiced franchise and distribution law with DLA Piper for almost nineteen years before she began her tenure at McDonald’s.

Most recently, Sandy served as Managing Counsel of the Franchise practice at McDonald’s, where she led the team of lawyers responsible for franchise law compliance matters.  Sandy was responsible for the preparation of the company’s disclosure document and the issuance of all franchise agreements.  She also oversaw the transfers of all McDonald’s restaurants, including sales between franchisees and the purchase and sale of company-owned restaurants. Gloria Santona, McDonald’s General Counsel characterized Sandy as “an excellent attorney and a true client advocate, with exceptionally deep expertise in franchising law.  She has a nuanced understanding of how to effectively navigate complex relationships with owner/operators and in preparing and handling franchise disclosures.”

Sandy’s extensive in-house experience also includes over three years at Sears, Roebuck and Co., where she was an associate general counsel.  In that role, Sandy oversaw commercial contacts, including vendor agreements, dealer agreements, license agreements with third-party independent contractors, consulting agreements and strategic sourcing initiatives.  She was also integrally involved in putting together several start-up franchise programs while at Sears.

Miller Canfield announces that Illinois State Representative Arthur Turner II (D-Chicago) has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the Chicago office. Rep. Turner was elected as State Representative from Illinois’ 9th Legislative District in 2011, and has since joined the House of Representatives leadership as Assistant Majority Leader, where he continues to serve. He has served as a member of the Committees for Appropriations-General Service, as well as the Committees of Judiciary; Revenue & Finance; Sex Offenses Subcommittee (for which he is sub-Chairperson); Real Estate, Property, Probate, Trust; Property Tax Subcommittee; Sales and Other Taxes Subcommittee. In addition to his work as State Representative, Mr. Turner was an associate at Johnson & Bell (Chicago, IL) from 2013 until earlier this year, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law.

“We’re delighted to have Representative Turner join our firm,” said Michael McGee, CEO of Miller Canfield. “We continue to strengthen our growing presence in Chicago, and Rep. Turner joins a strong team of public finance lawyers with a broad range of capabilities, to which we continue to add.”

Rep. Turner joins other Miller Canfield municipal finance law experts including Darryl R. Davidson, Paul Durbin and Maribel Mata Benedict in the Chicago office. The addition of Rep. Turner to Miller Canfield’s Chicago office follows on the heels of the firm recently adding Mata Benedict,  12 lawyers from the law firm of Kubasiak Fylstra Thorpe & Rotunno, as well as environmental principal Lawrence Falbe, labor and employment principal Amy Zdravecky, and real estate principal Joseph Huntzicker.