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  • March 3, 2015 | People
    Christine Bolger named partner at Firsel Ross

    The law firm of Firsel Ross is pleased to announce that Christine S. Bolger has been named as a partner in the firm.

    Bolger, whose practice is concentrated in large and small commercial real estate transactions, has been an attorney with Firsel Ross since 2013 and has worked with both Michael Firsel and Michael Ross since 1998. She represents local and national clients in real estate transactions, including acquiring, selling, leasing, and financing real property located throughout the United States. She has experience handling multi-million dollar complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and financing of shopping centers, multi-family properties, vacant land, multiple parcel assemblages, industrial buildings, hotels, and manufactured home communities. Bolger also maintains a specialty in construction law, and advises clients on general corporate law issues. She holds degrees from the University of Illinois – Chicago and the Loyola University School of Law.

    For more information about the Firsel Ross law firm, visit www.rfrlegal.com.

    About Firsel Ross:

  • March 3, 2015 | People
    Jennifer Dlugosz joins Husch Blackwell’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation Team

    Husch Blackwell welcomes Associate Jennifer L. Dlugosz to its Chicago office. Dlugosz is a litigator joining the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team.

    Dlugosz previously served as a litigation associate with Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago (2007-2015). While there, she worked on a variety of complex commercial litigation, including qui tam litigation, product liability, insurance and breach of contract matters, and has litigated in state and federal courts across the country. Initially upon receiving her J.D., Dlugosz served as an attorney for Chicago Metropolis 2020’s CLEAR Initiative (2006-2007), which reviewed and proposed reform of the Illinois Criminal Code.

    Dlugosz received her J.D., with high honors, from the Chicago-Kent College of Law (2006), where she graduated Order of the Coif and received five CALI Excellence for the Future awards. Dlugosz received her B.A., magna cum laude, in Business and Politics, from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill. (2002).

    Clients rely on Husch Blackwell’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportationteam of multidisciplinary attorneys to handle industry-specific challenges head-on. From sourcing and transporting raw materials to distributing manufactured products globally, the firm is immersed in all aspects of the industrial production sector.

    About Husch Blackwell

  • February 27, 2015 | People
    Evanston wins 19th Annual Northwest Suburban Bar Association Mock Trial Invitational

    Evanston Township High School’s team was victorious at the recent 19th Annual Northwest Suburban Bar Association Mock Trial Invitational. The contest was held on February 18, 2015 in the courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Third Municipal District in Rolling Meadows. Twenty-four local high school teams, comprised of over 400 students, participated in this Invitational.

    Kevin Kappock, Mock Trial Team Coach at Evanston High School was thrilled with his teams’ triumph.

    “The NWSBA Mock Trial is one of the premier high school competitions in Illinois. Our team has always considered it a highlight of the season and we are thrilled to have been honored with this year’s first place. The NWSBA has consistently demonstrated an unsurpassed dedication to high school mock trials and the education of our students,” said Kappock.

    St. Charles North High School took second place, finishing a mere six points out of first, and Chicago Christian High School landed third. Individual honors were awarded to Elena Von Stee from Timothy Christian High School for Outstanding Attorney and Lucia Garrett from Maine West High School for Outstanding Witness. The students were judged on a point-scale of not-effective (1) to outstanding (5) on various courtroom roles, from witness performance, direct exam by attorneys and cross and recross exam by attorneys.

  • February 25, 2015 | People
    Tammy L. Wade joins Johnson & Bell's Health Care Practice

    Seasoned trial attorney, Tammy L. Wade, brings her medical malpractice defense practice to Johnson & Bell.  Ms. Wade joins Johnson & Bell as a shareholder. Her addition to the firm further strengthens Johnson & Bell’s Health Care practice, which already represents many of the largest and most sophisticated hospital and nursing home providers in metropolitan Chicago and northwest Indiana.

    “Demand for legal services continues to grow for our health care clients in Chicago and northwest Indiana,” stated Brian C. Fetzer, shareholder and co-chair of the firm’s Health Care group.  “Tammy’s addition not only deepens our group’s trial experience, but she is also adding some great clients to our firm.”

    Ms. Wade concentrates her practice on the defense of hospitals, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals in all phases of medical malpractice litigation. She also represents clients in commercial litigation matters and has extensive experience in complex product liability litigation. She is recognized by the American Hospital Association as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management. Prior to joining Johnson & Bell, Ms. Wade was a Partner at Ruff, Weidenaar & Reidy, Ltd (nka Ruff, Freud, Breems & Nelson Ltd.).

  • February 25, 2015 | People
    Doherty joins Motherway & Napleton

    Motherway & Napleton LLP has added Brion W. Doherty as an associate.

    Doherty's practice is focused on trials involving serious injury and wrongful death. He handles cases stemming from auto and truck accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe property conditions, civil rights violations, construction accidents, and dangerous products.

    He has obtained numerous favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients over the years. Among those accomplishments, he helped obtain a verdict of $1.3 million verdict for a client seriously injured due to unsafe property conditions at a service station.

    In addition to his legal work, Brion is active in several local and national lawyers' groups. He serves as on the Chicago Bar Foundation's Board, is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyer's Association, acts as the secretary for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services' Board of Directors, and is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

    Brion has been named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers every year from 2010 to 2015. He has been a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, a prominent legal newspaper in Chicago, since 2012.

    Brion obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2001 and his legal degree from DePaul University College of Law in 2007.

  • February 25, 2015 | People
    Tejas Shah joins Franczek Radelet as immigration counsel

    Franczek Radelet is pleased to welcome Tejas Shah to the Firm as immigration counsel. Tejas, who will lead the Firm’s immigration practice, provides employers with comprehensive advice and counsel with respect to virtually all immigration issues affecting employers. Tejas assists employers in hiring and retaining talented foreign-national employees, sponsoring employees for permanent residency or temporary visas (H-1B, O-1, E-2, R-1, E-3, L-1), assisting with I-9 audits, and offering guidance to ensure compliance with the complex and evolving immigration rules, executive actions, and legislation.

    “Tejas’ experience and practice are a perfect complement to our extensive labor, employment, employee benefits, and education practices,” commented David P. Radelet, co-chair of the Firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. “With the arrival of Tejas, we can offer employers an even more robust and comprehensive scope of services, advice and counsel on the wide range of issues they are facing each and every day,” add James C. Franczek, Jr., president of the Firm.

    Tejas’ experience has led to several leadership appointments, including current co-chair of the South Asian Bar Association of North America’s immigration committee, 2014 president of the Indian American Bar Association of Chicago, and, starting in mid-2015, chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s International and Immigration Law Section Council. Tejas earned his J.D. from George Washington National Law School in 2006 and his B.S. in economics from Duke University in 2002.

  • February 19, 2015 | People
    Betsy Pendleton Wong 1949-2015

    Betsy Pendleton Wong, 65, of Champaign passed away peacefully on Friday morning (Jan. 23, 2015) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, after a courageous fight with cancer.

    Betsy was born on Sept. 19, 1949, in Urbana, the daughter of John and Eleanor Pendleton. She met her soul mate and love of her life, Kam Wu Wong, on a float trip down the Grand Canyon and married him on Aug. 8, 1970, in Champaign.

    She is survived by her loving husband; two sons, David (Adriane) of La Grange and Michael (Jennifer) of Elgin; a granddaughter, Allyssa, and two grandsons, Devin and Blake; her father, John (the late Eleanor) Pendleton; and siblings, Don (Julienne) Pendleton of Marshall, Ill., Pamela (Robert) Thickens of Mequon, Wis., Kip (Anne) Pendleton of Woodbury, Minn., and Sandie (Terese) Pendleton of Shorewood, Wis.

    Also surviving are 11 nieces and nephews, three grand-nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Bon-Bon.

    Betsy received a B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1971, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1974.

    After graduating from law school, Betsy joined the law firm of Phebus, Tummelson, Bryan & Knox and subsequently opened her own law office and continued practicing law in Champaign County for 40 years.

    Betsy practiced law with tenacity, a passion for justice, remarkable ingenuity and a deep loyalty to clients, often forging friendships with those whom she represented.

    Betsy had a thirst for knowledge that led her to spend an endless number of hours reading books and frequenting the public library.

  • February 19, 2015 | People
    Robert Neely 1923-2015

    Robert Joseph (Bob, Bobby Joe) Neely, 92, a resident of rural Grantsburg, passed from this life Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Mr. Neely is survived by his wife, Sharon, (nee Bremer) Foss Neely.

    Mr. Neely was born Jan. 22, 1923, in Marion, to Ralph and Lanta (Brush) Neely. He was the beloved grandson of the late Honorable Rufus and Emma Neely and the precious nephew of the late Bertha Otey, Horace Neely and John Neely.

    Mr. Neely graduated from Marion High School in 1940. Following high school, Mr. Neely worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., where he met his late wife, Lois LeMay Neely. While in Washington D.C., he took courses at George Washington University and Georgetown University. He graduated from St. Louis University in 1950 and later became the Metro Division Manager for State Farm Insurance Agency. In 1955, he completed his academic studies with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri Law School at Kansas City, number one in his class, as well as, a member of the prestigious Order of the Bench and Robe. In 1960, Mr. Neely moved his young family to Marion, where he opened his private practice. Mr. Neely served as the Massac County State’s Attorney from 1969 to 1972. In 1972, he moved his practice to Metropolis, and then to Vienna, in 1993, where he has practiced law as a true servant to all until the present time. Mr. Neely practiced law for no other reason than that he loved the truth. He loved serving others, and he truly gave himself to the needs of anyone and everyone through his wisdom and legal practice.

  • February 19, 2015 | People
    Morse named partner at Arnstein & Lehr

    The national law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP has elevated Kevin H. Morse to partner in the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights and Commercial Litigation practice groups.

    Mr. Morse’s practice involves the representation of businesses, financial institutions, trustees, and individuals in a broad range of insolvency related matters, including out-of-court restructurings, distressed sales, in-court Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, and litigation. Prior to joining Arnstein & Lehr LLP, he served as the judicial law clerk for the Hon. Thomas B. Donovan in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles). He earned his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and his B.A. from University of Colorado at Boulder.

    About Arnstein & Lehr
    Arnstein & Lehr LLP, with offices in Illinois and Florida, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected law firms. Since its founding in 1893, the firm has served clients of all sizes throughout the U.S. and abroad. It is a full-service firm with attorneys practicing in five main practice areas - business, litigation, local government, tax and estate planning services and real estate. Clients include governmental bodies, health care entities, financial institutions, trade associations, individuals and a broad range of businesses in the retail, industrial, manufacturing, distribution, technology and services sectors. For more information visit: www.arnstein.com.

  • February 18, 2015 | ISBA News | People
    Past President Richard Thies presented prestigious “Lincoln the Lawyer” Award

    Urbana attorney Richard L. Thies was presented the prestigious “Lincoln the Lawyer” Award by The Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA) during the organization's annual Lincoln's Birthday Banquet February 12 in Springfield. Thies is just the eleventh person to receive the award, which recognizes individuals who reflect the character and ideals of Abraham Lincoln in their legal careers.

    “For more than half a century, Richard Thies has served the interests of his clients with skill and integrity, has worked enthusiastically in support of countless civic and charitable organizations, and has provided leadership to the legal profession,” said ALA Board Member Thomas Johnson, who nominated Thies for the award. “Richard is an unfailing, unflinching exemplar of civic virtue and personal honor who is, in Vachel Lindsay's words, 'Lincoln hearted' – Lincoln hearted in every good way.”