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  • April 11, 2013 | People
    Sandberg Phoenix welcomes John Gilbert as new counsel

    The newest member of Sandberg Phoenix’s Edwardsville office, John Gilbert has an extensive portfolio of work and a wealth of experience representing some of the largest companies in the United States. 

    Sandberg Phoenix Managing Partner John Sandberg commented, “John is a tremendous attorney whose diverse background and deep knowledge of business law will add significant value to both existing and new clients for our firm. We’re very happy to have him on our team.”

    John studied at the University of Illinois (Phi Beta Kappa) and Washington University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and before the United States Supreme Court, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States District Courts. John is a member of the Illinois State, Madison County and St. Clair County Bar Associations and currently serves on the ISBA Standing Committee on Mentoring and as chairman of the Hearing Board for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

    A former member of the Illinois Civil Service Commission from 1978 to 1991, John currently serves as a lecturer in Management and Marketing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a position he has held since 1985, teaching courses in business ethics, business law, cyberlaw and labor and employment law.

  • April 9, 2013 | People
    Tomasik Kotin Kasserman unites stars from Corboy, Clifford Offices

    A brand new firm continuing a tradition of excellence, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, opens its doors this week.  After decades with the greats of Chicago law, Corboy & Demetrio partners Dan Kotin and Shawn Kasserman and Clifford Law Offices partner Tim Tomasik now are joining forces to build a practice proudly dedicated to representing the interests of those seriously injured or killed as the result of wrongful conduct.

    Collectively, the attorneys of the TKK law firm have won more than $400 million in settlements for their clients over the years, working on some of the highest-profile legal cases in popular memory.  Tomasik, who frequently handles aviation and personal injury issues, represented victims of the 2002 John Hancock Center scaffolding collapse and was part of the team handling the World Trade Center property damage litigation in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.  Kotin, a personal injury and wrongful death attorney, represented victims in the 2003 Cook County Administration Building fire and has served as lead counsel in numerous high profile cases involving fires, train derailments and other catastrophes.  Kasserman, who is best known for his work representing the families of children killed by defectively designed products, has also served as lead counsel in matters including train derailments, bus crashes, the Nicor mercury spill and the Amoco cancer cluster in Naperville.

  • March 14, 2013 | People
    Califf & Harper, P.C. welcomes Brian R. Tunis to the Firm

    Califf & Harper, P.C. is pleased to welcome Brian R. Tunis to the firm as a new associate attorney. Mr. Tunis focused his undergraduate studies in Finance at the University of Iowa graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2009. While attending law school at the University of Iowa College of Law from 2009 to 2012, Mr. Tunis was a member of the Iowa Law Review. 

    Mr. Tunis was also heavily involved with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program which provides free income tax assistance for lower-income taxpayers.  Graduating with distinction in 2012, Mr. Tunis passed the Illinois Bar in November 2012.

    Califf & Harper, P.C. has offices in Moline and Naperville.

  • February 21, 2013 | People
    Larsen joins Klein, Stoddard, Buck & Lewis, LLC

    The law firm of Klein, Stoddard, Buck & Lewis, LLC of Sycamore, Illinois is pleased to announce that Attorney Richard G. Larsen has joined our firm as an Associate Attorney.

    Mr. Larsen comes to the firm from Myler, Ruddy & McTavish in Aurora, Illinois, where he has been an associate and partner for 26 years. Attorney Larsen practices primarily in the area of bankruptcy and commercial law, representing debtors and creditors in all Chapters under the Bankruptcy Code. In addition, he also handles real estate matters, collections and foreclosures for debtors and creditors.

    Mr. Larsen is a graduate of Aurora University (BA magna cum laude, 1982) and NIU College of Law (J.D. magna cum laude, 1986). Mr. Larsen looks forward to serving the legal needs of DeKalb / Sycamore and the surrounding communities. He is willing and able to accept cases and referrals in DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Ogle, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, LaSalle and Kendall Counties.

  • February 21, 2013 | People
    Gronewold joins Howard & Howard's Peoria office

    Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Timothy D. Gronewold has joined the firm. He will practice out of the firm’s Peoria Office.

    Mr. Gronewold concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, labor and employment law and construction law. 

    Mr. Gronewold is active in his local community and serves as the Chairperson for the Morton Business District Development and Redevelopment Committee and serves on the Morton Micro Grant Review Committee. He also serves on a planning committee for the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross.

    Mr. Gronewold received his B.S. from the Washington University Olin School of Business in 2003 and his J.D. from the Washington University School of Law in 2008.  He is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois and before the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. 

  • February 12, 2013 | People
    Giannoulias named partner at Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered

    Stavros S. Giannoulias has recently been named a partner in the Litigation Group of Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered, a Chicago-based law firm.

    Stavros concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and trust & estate litigation. He works closely with business owners and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of general business, financial services and investor relations matters, especially focused on mitigating the risks that could impact growth and decrease stakeholder value.

    Clients rely on Stavros for a wide range of business and personal counsel for issues such as contract disputes, commercial real estate and lease disputes, trade secret misappropriation, business torts, employment disputes, trust asset valuations, trustee contract rights and breaches of fiduciary duties.  His specialty is working with business owners and their families to proactively minimize the likelihood they will face litigation. In cases where litigation is unavoidable, however, Stavros aggressively asserts and protects his clients’ rights and has a proven track record of successfully resolving disputes in litigation.

    Stavros earned his law degree with Honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002 and his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in 1999.  

  • February 12, 2013 | People
    Aaron Zarkowsky promoted to Principal at Deutsch, Levy & Engel

    Aaron Zarkowsky joined Deutsch, Levy & Engel, Chartered in 1998 as an Associate, became a Member of the firm in 2003, and is now a Principal. Aaron concentrates his practice in the field of secured transactions, in which he represents banks in commercial loan transactions, including construction and development loans and large syndicated loans, work-outs and enforcement matters.  Aaron's practice also includes corporate and business law, including mergers and acquisitions, and real estate transactions.

  • February 11, 2013 | People
    Christopher Zdarsky Joins Quarles & Brady's Chicago Office

    The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that Christopher J. Zdarsky has joined the firm's Chicago office as an associate in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

    Prior to joining the firm, Zdarsky served as an assistant public defender for the Lake County Public Defender’s Office, Misdemeanor Division. While in law school, he worked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Felony Trial Division as a 711 legal intern. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from Chicago-Kent College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin.

    About Quarles & Brady LLP

    Quarles & Brady LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 400 attorneys practicing from offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Naples and Tampa, Fla.; Chicago, Ill; Madison and Milwaukee, Wis.; Washington, D.C.; and Shanghai, China. The firm provides an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients, which range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Additional information about the firm may be found at www.quarles.com, and on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

  • February 8, 2013 | People
    Katarinna McBride joins Harrison & Held as partner

    Katarinna McBride has joined the Chicago firm of Harrison & Held as partner. She was formerly a partner with Handler Thayer, LLP.

    Katarinna counsels individuals, entrepreneurs, family businesses, family offices and charitable organizations on advanced transfer-tax strategies. She renders holistic and sophisticated advice and implements tax and asset protection strategies to safeguard family assets and businesses. She represents clients in all stages of their relationships, whether it is a sale of their business, an executive agreement, or a new marriage, and expertly crafts and negotiates premarital and post-marital agreements.

    Katarinna is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is the Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates Section Council. Katarinna serves on the advisory board to establish the Illinois Masters in Estate Planning (LL.M Program). She authors the Estate Planning column for the Illinois Bar Journal and publishes for Trusts & Estates Magazine and numerous other publications. She received the Service Award for her role as Editor for the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates publication.

  • February 7, 2013 | People
    Howard & Howard names Donna Goelz shareholder in Peoria office

    Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC is pleased to announce that Donna M. Goelz has become a shareholder with the firm.  Ms. Goelz practices out of the firm’s Peoria office.

    Ms. Goelz concentrates her practice in corporate, regulatory and compliance matters for financial institutions­­­­­­­­­. She received her B.S., with honors, from Washington University in 1981 and her J.D., cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law in 1985 where she was the Articles Editor for the Law Journal. 

    Prior to joining Howard & Howard, Ms. Goelz had extensive experience working with one of St. Louis’ largest law firms representing major banks, thrifts and related holding companies in corporate, regulatory and securities law matters. She provided legal direction during the formation of entities, acquisitions, securities offerings and other regulatory matters related to banking and financial organizations.

    Ms. Goelz is admitted to both the Illinois State Bar and the Missouri Bar.