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  • March 13, 2015 | People
    Davi Law Group, LLC opens Joliet office

    Davi Law Group, LLC is pleased to announce the opening of the firm’s newest office at 58 N. Chicago Street, 7th Floor, Joliet, Illinois 60432. The Joliet law office marks the fourth location for Davi Law Group, LLC, which already has established law offices in Warrenville, Wheaton and Downtown Chicago.

    “We are excited about moving into Joliet and the continued growth of the firm. We hope this new office will help meet the legal needs of individuals and families in the Will County area,” says Principal and Founding Attorney of Davi Law Group, LLC, Dion U. Davi.

    Will County divorce attorneys Dion U. Davi, Adam C. Gynac and Lana K. Eliopulos will serve clients from the Joliet office. The experienced legal team will assist clients with family law matters including divorce, child support, child custody, parentage and guardianship. The Joliet attorneys also have experience handling estate planning matters and real estate transactions.

  • March 12, 2015 | People
    Ann Callis to Join Edwardsville Law Firm

    Former Chief judge Ann Callis today announced she will be joining the Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli and Rowland law firm in Edwardsville.

    Callis brings over 20 years of experience to the firm with her start in the community in 1990 when she served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Madison and St. Clair Counties. Callis was elected Circuit Judge in 2000, and became the first female Circuit Judge and the first female Chief Judge in Madison County.  In 2009, Callis created the first Veterans’ Court in Illinois, which sought to reintegrate veterans into society. Years later, the Madison County Veterans' Treatment Court has become a model for similar programs around the nation.

    With deep ties to the community and a commitment to the future of Madison County, Callis will concentrate on the firm’s Commercial Law Division to further develop business growth in the area.

    Founding partner, Mark Goldenberg stated, “We are pleased to announce that Ann Callis will be joining our firm. Ann’s impressive legal career and dedication to improving the lives of individuals in Illinois closely aligns with our firm’s core values. Ann’s professional commitment and passion will be a valuable asset to our team as we continue serving local and regional clients.”

    "I’m thrilled to join the prestigious law firm of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli and Rowland here in Edwardsville,” said Callis. “This opportunity will allow me the chance to focus on a division within the firm to grow business and provide the best possible representation to create powerful and lasting additions in our community.”

  • March 11, 2015 | People
    Calvin Campbell 1924-2015

    In his early 20s, Calvin Campbell saw college as a nearly impossible dream for an African-American in the segregated South during the Depression, his family said.

    He had returned from combat in World War II permanently scarred — losing a finger and part of his left hand — and it took a wily Army guidance counselor to convince this battle-scarred veteran to try college for a semester, said Mr. Campbell's daughter, Cathy.

    "She told him, 'You can always quit.' But she must have seen something in my father that made her believe in him."

    Mr. Campbell went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Howard University in Washington in 1948, and then earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1951.

    In November 1978, he became the fourth African-American elected to the Illinois Appellate Court.

    "He was a mentor of mine," said First District Appellate Court Judge Shelvin Louise Marie Hall. "He was a very courtly, gentlemanly and kind person, who taught me a lot."

    Mr. Campbell, 90, died of respiratory failure on Thursday, Feb. 12, at The Carlton at the Lake, a nursing facility in Chicago, his family said.

  • March 9, 2015 | People
    Friedman elected Chair of the Family & Juvenile Law Section of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

    Bruce E. Friedman, a principal with the Clayton-based law firm of Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C., has been elected as Chair of the Family & Juvenile Law Section of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis for the 2015-16 term. The section strives to improve the practice of family law and juvenile law, including domestic relations and related areas, and provides programs to discourage child abuse.

  • March 6, 2015 | People
    Romanucci & Blandin, LLC promotes Rebecca Neubauer to Associate Attorney

    Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, a leading personal injury and civil trial practice law firm in Chicago, proudly appoints Rebecca Neubauer to associate attorney. Prior to this recent appointment, Neubauer served as law clerk for the firm and contributed to cases concerning police misconduct, excessive force and school bullying and hazing.  

    “We welcome the addition of Rebecca on our team as an associate attorney,” said Stephan Blandin, Principal and Partner at Romanucci & Blandin. “Rebecca has proven herself a dedicated legal advocate of those who have been wrongly abused or neglected, and we look forward to her support on behalf of our clients.”

    Rebecca Neubauer began her tenure at Romanucci & Blandin as a law clerk in late 2013 following law clerk appointments since 2012 at other Chicago-based law firms. At these firms, her work focused on plaintiffs’ personal injury, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse matters. Rebecca also clerked for the Honorable Elizabeth M. Budzinski, Cook County Circuit Court, where she prepared judicial opinions on civil cases. Rebecca’s passion for helping those who have suffered injustices inspired her to become a personal injury attorney.

  • March 4, 2015 | People
    PILI launches community law clinic at Legal Prep Charter Academy

    Pro Bono Attorneys Serve Legal Prep Families and Neighbors in Garfield Park

    The Alumni Network Leadership Council of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) has partnered with Legal Prep Charter Academy and Chicago Volunteer Legal Service (CVLS) to launch the Legal Prep Community Law Clinic, a community-based clinic for the student families and neighbors of Legal Prep in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood.

    Through the Community Law Clinic, Alumni of PILI’s Law Student Internship and Graduate Fellowship Programs volunteer to help families and neighbors of Legal Prep students address critical legal needs. With the support of CVLS staff, these volunteers provide pro bono services on all civil, non-fee generating, non-class action cases. Types of cases might include family law, eviction, consumer debt, foreclosure, adult/child guardianship, and more.

    The Community Law Clinic is held on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Legal Prep. The first clinic took place in January 2015. In addition to organizing the Clinic and recruiting Alumni to volunteer, PILI has invited law firms that offer PILI’s Graduate Fellowship Program to “adopt” a Clinic session. The firm would be responsible for recruiting four to six PILI Alumni from among its attorneys (PILI currently has over 3,600 Alumni, many of whom work in Chicago) to volunteer with the Clinic for that month. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which has sponsored the largest number of PILI Fellows of any firm, has been the first to sign on and adopt the month of November 2015.

  • March 4, 2015 | People
    Robert Fuchs 1929-2015

    Robert J. "Bob" Fuchs' life was one of service to others.

    The 85-year-old Army veteran and former Cary mayor and village trustee died Jan. 2 in Lisle.

    His vision and leadership helped guide the McHenry County village toward becoming a robust suburban community, while preserving its small-town charm, family members say.

    "He was a leader – smart, educated," said Fuchs' daughter Mary Ann McLean of Elmhurst.

    Fuchs was a graduate of DePaul University College of Commerce and DePaul Law School. He moved with his family from Chicago to Cary in 1961. He served as a village trustee from 1965 to 1969, when he was elected mayor – a­ post he held until 1976.

    "Being mayor was just one further act of service on his part," McLean said. "He was a role model of hard work and integrity."

    As a part-time mayor for a town of 4,500 residents, Fuchs' job didn't end at village hall.

    People would call our home all the time," McLean said. "Once we were just having a huge rainstorm in early 1970s. He got a bunch of buckets, got in the car and started helping people bail out their basements. A year or two after that, the village upgraded the storm water system."

  • March 4, 2015 | People
    Warren Carl Behr 1921-2015

    Warren Carl Behr, 93,  died Sunday, February 1 at Vista Medical Center East. He was born on February 6, 1921, in Oak Park, Illinois, he He spent his early childhood in Cleveland and the family later moved to Chicago. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1939 and attended Wright Junior College in Chicago before entering the US Army.

    Warren served in the Artillery during World War II and upon returning home married Ruth Helen Collins. They moved to Champaign, Illinois, where he earned a bachelor degree and later a juris doctor degree. He moved to Waukegan with his young family where he was a title officer with Chicago Title and Trust. Later he was appointed Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County and in subsequent years also served as Waukegan Town Clerk and Waukegan Township Supervisor.

    He was a longstanding 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight. He practiced law in private practice until 1993, when he and his wife moved to San Benito, TX. He and his wife returned to Lake County in 2002 and moved to the Victory Lakes Retirement Community in Lindenhurst. At Victory Lakes he was very active in many activities and especially enjoyed singing with the Vocalaires group.

  • March 4, 2015 | People
    William K. Bass 1955-2015

    William Kieran “Bill” Bass age 59, passed away peacefully February 9, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his family at his home in Evanston. Son of William and Jacqueline Kay Bass, Bill was 1974 graduate of St. John’s Jesuit High School (Toledo, OH) and received a Film degree from New York University. He received his Juris Doctorate cum laude from the University of Toledo. Bill received the prestigious Burton R. Maddux Scholarship for academic achievement and was inducted into the Order of the Coif, legal education’s equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.

    Bill was a veteran trial and appellate attorney who specialized in matrimonial law and father’s rights; he was currently practicing with The Law Firm of Jeffrey Leving Ltd. He recently was awarded the “Heart of the Firm” the firm’s most prestigious award. Bill was an avid reader and a collector of literature and shared his mother’s love for art. He loved music and attended the Lollapalooza music festivals each summer in Chicago with his friends and children. He lit up a room with his sense of humor and loved practical jokes. Bill’s greatest joy was being a father and spending time with his four children

  • March 4, 2015 | People
    Edward J. Vertovec 1923-2015

    Edward J. Vertovec, of Elmhurst, died on the 12th of January at the age of 91.

    Ed was born in Elmhurst on March 13th, 1923, to Frank and Caroline Vertovec. He grew up in Elmhurst with his 5 siblings: Fran, Frank, Carl, Ray, and Jean.

    He later graduated from Elmhurst College and received his law degree from DePaul University. During World War II, he served in the Air Force, specializing in radar navigation training.

    Following his service, Ed married his beloved wife Betty J. Pace on June 21, 1947. According to Ed, Betty made their 67 years of marriage total happiness and bliss. Ed lived and maintained a local law practice in Elmhurst where he championed numerous public works projects, including the advancement of the Chamber of Commerce and the Elmhurst Park District, along with Co-Chairing the Underpass Committee. Ed was presented the Thousand Points of Light Volunteer Award by President George H.W. Bush in a ceremony in Salt Lake City.

    In 1988 Ed and Betty retired to Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. Ed devoted countless hours to his lifelong love of volunteer work, donating his time to multiple organizations including The Chatham County Victim Witness Assistance Program, The Chatham County Juvenile Court Panels (which assisted judges in caring for minors), The Village Library at Skidaway, and The Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua, Wisconsin.