The law firm of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen announces that five attorneys have become partners with the firm: Renee Monfort, Jana Brady, Michael Denning, Heidi Ruckman, and Patrick Cloud.

Renee Monfort began practicing law in 1990. She joined Heyl Royster’s Urbana office in 2009. Her practice focuses on the defense of healthcare providers and other professionals in professional liability litigation. She provides general counsel to individual health care professionals, multi-specialty clinics and hospitals on administrative, policy and risk management matters. Her practice also includes representation of clients in administrative proceedings before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Jana Brady joined the firm’s Rockford office following graduation from law school in 2003. She focuses her practice on the defense of civil litigation and federal practice, particularly in the context of employment law, civil rights, medical malpractice, correctional medicine, insurance coverage, school law, and nursing home cases, and further practices in the areas of health care law and creditors' rights in the context of lien adjudication.

Michael Denning was a summer associate for the firm’s Peoria office and served as Senior Law Clerk to Justice Tom Lytton of the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District prior to joining Heyl Royster’s Rockford office in 2004. He concentrates his practice in civil litigation, including defense medical malpractice and nursing home litigation; auto, premises and trucking litigation; and the defense of toxic tort and asbestos claims.

Heidi Ruckman began practicing law in 2000. She joined Heyl Royster’s Rockford office in 2006. She concentrates her practice in civil litigation, including defense of premises and auto litigation, business related disputes, and the defense of toxic tort and asbestos claims.

Patrick Cloud was a summer associate for the firm during law school and joined the firm in its Edwardsville office following graduation in 2004. He concentrates his practice on toxic tort matters, insurance coverage litigation, complex civil litigation, and governmental law.

The law firm of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen has more than 100 lawyers among its offices in Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Rockford, Edwardsville, and Chicago, Illinois. The firm provides legal services for businesses and corporations, professionals, healthcare organizations, governmental entities, universities, insurance carriers, and other major institutions.

For more information, please visit our web site at www.heylroyster.com.