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.”

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:

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.).

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.