People

Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. welcomes partner Todd J. Schneider and associate Scott A. Sissel to the firm. Schneider has been practicing law for 15 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and business succession planning. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., he was a partner at Holland & Knight. Schneider received his J.D. from Marquette University (1995) and his B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University (1992). Sissel has been practicing law for six years and focuses his practice on estate planning and administration and related tax matters. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., Sissel practiced law at McGuireWoods. Sissel received his J.D. (2003) and his B.S. in Accounting (2001), both from the University of Iowa. He received his LL.M. in Taxation from Northwestern University School of Law (2004) and is also a Certified Public Accountant (2006). Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. is a law firm focused on federal income tax, estate tax and gift tax planning and controversy resolution for individuals and closely-held businesses.  The firm is one of the largest law firms devoted exclusively to income tax and estate planning and related litigation in the Chicago area.  For more information, visit the firm’s website at  www.levinschreder.com.

The law firm of Zumpano Patricios & Winker, P.A. (ZP&W) announced today that it is opening an office in Chicago.  The new location will commence with three attorneys, including a strong managing partner, Arthur Bresnahan, who is joining the firm having come from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, where he spent 15 years developing a transactional and regulatory practice, particularly in technology and regulated industries. His past experience includes work as a government official with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State in Baghdad, Iraq, where he was responsible for legal and policy issues relating to the rebuilding of Iraq’s communications and information technology infrastructure.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. “We are thrilled to open in Chicago with this remarkable talent as an entry point into our nation’s Midwest,” said Joseph Zumpano, ZP&W’s chairman and managing partner. Zumpano’s association with Bresnahan spans 20 years, and is rooted in their law school days when the two were roommates at Georgetown Law. The Chicago office, located at Old Orchard Towers, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Suite 230, marks a unique development in national law firm expansion.  While Miami has been an attractive addition to Chicago firms, a South Florida firm opening in Chicago is far less frequent. “It has been exciting to see Joe’s firm take pioneering strides in the business of law, and produce such outstanding results for clients,” said Bresnahan.  “Chicago is ready for this vision and I am thrilled to be part of the firm and its growth.” Also joining the new office are Arthur S. Bresnahan, father of the managing partner as senior counsel, and Patrick Huver, an associate. Bresnahan Sr. earned his J.D. at Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. He has extensive experience in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and is authorized to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Patrick Huver earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and has experience in estate planning, business law, asset protection planning, nonprofit law and has worked with Bresnahan on regulatory matters.

[caption id="attachment_12863" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jim Asmussen"][/caption] Polsinelli Shughart PC welcomes James R. Asmussen to the Chicago office as shareholder to the firm’s General Corporate practice in the Business department. The addition of Asmussen supports a growing trend for Chicago entrepreneurs – growth of new businesses and an uptick in merger and acquisitions. “Jim is a savvy, experienced business attorney who can provide sound, imaginative solutions to a client’s legal needs at any stage of his company’s life cycle,” said Managing Director/Chicago Anthony J. Nasharr. “Our firm is committed to recruiting veteran attorneys like James, who can expand the depth and breadth of our services in resourceful ways that benefit our clients the most.” Asmussen earned his law degree, magna cum laude, in 1989 from the University of Illinois College of Law. He served on the Illinois Law Review and was a member and associate editor of the Order of the Coif. Asmussen earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting at Villanova University in 1985 and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association.

[caption id="attachment_12812" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Judge Michael Hyman presents the Decalogue Society Presidential Citation Award to Andrea Schleifer."][/caption] The Decalogue Society of Lawyers bestowed its Presidential Citation Award on Andrea M. Schleifer at the  76th Annual Meeting and Installation of Decalogue Officers on Thursday, June 17th at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. According to outgoing Decalogue President Barry Goldberg, “Andrea Schleifer was selected to receive the Presidential Citation Award because of her unswerving and long-time devotion to Decalogue, and for being at the forefront of virtually every social justice action spearheaded by Decalogue this past year, without ever seeking personal credit.”  Goldberg also added, “Among other actions, Andy acted on Decalogue’s behalf to advocate for religious and cultural sensitivity training among Judges and attorneys.  She virtually single-handedly acted to bring Decalogue’s concerns to the attention of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organization when the Egyptian government officially acted to prevent Jewish researchers, doctors and cancer survivors from entering the country to attend an international conference on Breast Cancer Awareness.” She was chiefly responsible for Decalogue being a co-sponsor at the memorial service held at Emanuel Congregation in Chicago on behalf of the victims of the mass shooting at a GLBT Community Center in Tel Aviv last fall. Schleifer is the founder and principal of Andrea M. Schleifer & Associates, P.C., a Chicago-based firm concentrating in family law and general civil litigation.  Schleifer served as a board member of Decalogue between 2002 and 2009 and also for eight years between 1987 and 1995.  She was President of the Decalogue for the 2008-2009 term.