Best Practice: Approaches to client transition during a law firm succession

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

Asked and Answered

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. Our firm is a 24 attorney firm in the western Chicago suburbs. We have 10 partners - five are in their early 60s. We represent small to mid-size business clients. Recently we have been discussing the eventual retirement of the senior partners and approaches to client transition. We would appreciate your thoughts.

Buford, Meyerson appointed Circuit Judges in Cook County

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

Pamela McLean MeyersonAndrea M. BufordThe Illinois Supreme Court and Justice Mary Jane Theis announced Tuesday the appointment of attorneys Andrea M. Buford and Pamela McLean Meyerson as Cook County Circuit Judges.

Ms. Buford was appointed by the Court to fill the at-large vacancy created by the retirement of Pamela E. H. Veal. The appointment is effective May 17, 2013 and will terminate December 1, 2014, when the position is filled by the 2014 General Election.

ISBA’s Reel MCLE Series: Flight – How Many Ethical Dilemmas Can You Spot?

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

Join us in Chicago on May 16 for this unique four-hour program in which the Hollywood hit movie Flight is used as a sounding board for identifying, understanding, and analyzing the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. The legal issues woven throughout the story’s plot make this the perfect educational tool for learning about professional responsibility!

The program opens with a short presentation and review of the Illinois Rules of Professional Responsibility, as well as a review of recent Supreme Court decisions on Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission findings. The movie is then presented to attendees as an alternative approach to traditional CLE programs with the speakers stopping the movie when the on-screen attorney is faced with an ethical dilemma. The dilemmas will then be analyzed by the presenters and discussed by the group before moving on to more of the video. A discussion on the differences between real practice and the movie is also included.

This Master Series seminar qualifies for 3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Quick takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case Russell v. SNFA and the criminal cases People v. Domagala, People v. Martinez, People v. Lloyd and People v. Colyar.

CIVIL

Russell v. SNFA

By Alyssa M. Reiter, Williams, Montgomery & John Ltd.

This helicopter-crash case provoked two important long-arm-jurisdiction issues: whether due process protection under the Illinois long-arm statute is greater than federal due process protectionsand whether to apply a narrow or broad version of the stream-of-commerce theory.

Defendant SNFA manufactured a custom tail-rotor bearing in France used in a helicopter manufactured by an Italian company. That manufacturer’s wholly-owned subsidiary located in Pennsylvania sells defendant-produced parts and sells helicopters incorporating defendant’s parts. SNFA knew that the manufacturer incorporated its products into its helicopters for sale in America but did not know the final destination.

SNFA does not have any direct United States customers for its custom-made helicopter parts. SNFA does not have any offices, property, assets or employees in Illinois.

Since 1997, SNFA has sold aerospace bearings to a company located in Rockford. Those bearings are a different model and type from those involved in this case. 

A helicopter containing an SNFA part crashed in Illinois.

E-Clips and section newsletters now mobile friendly

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

The copy of these publications delivered right to your inbox are now much more user-friendly on a handheld device.

You can also now access the most current issue of E-Clips at the tap of a button. Just go to http://www.isba.org/eclips/current and save an icon to your homescreen.

The entire ISBA website has also become mobile friendly - find out more at iln.isba.org/blog/2013/04/09/isba-website-goes-mobile

CLE: Civil Practice and Procedure Update – 2013

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

Update your civil practice knowledge with this top-rated, full-day seminar in Chicago on April 26 that addresses all phases of the trial—from setting the proper foundation and successfully prosecuting/defending a case, to developing a powerful and effective closing argument! Topics include: filing the lawsuit; pleadings; good faith settlement of claims; motions to dismiss; discovery; requests to admit; Supreme Court Rule 213; motions in limine; closing arguments; post-trial motions; and obtaining the circuit court review of administrative decisions. A discussion on temporary restraining orders and injunctive relief is also included. Practitioners with all levels of experience will benefit by attending this seminar.

The program is presented by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section and qualifies for 5.50 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

 

Illinois Supreme Court: no appellate jurisdiction while foreclosure is pending

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Mark S. Mathewson

In EMC Mortgage Corporation v. Kemp, 2012 IL 113409, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the appellate court lacks jurisdiction to hear a challenge to an order issued while a mortgage foreclosure action is underway.

"In this climate where homeowners often raise technical issues that result in delays in foreclosure proceedings in order to remain in their residences rent-free as long as they can, appeals may be becoming more prevalent," writes Robert Hanley in the latest ISBA Bench and Bar newsletter. "This opinion [issued in February] provides an excellent refresher course on the appealability of interlocutory orders generally, and of orders in foreclosure cases particularly." Read his analysis.