SHAREHOLDERS
Michael B. Roche (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, December 15, 1941; admitted to bar, 1966, Illinois; 1967, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar, 1982 and U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court; 1984, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana; 1994, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Education: University of Notre Dame (A.B., 1963; J.D., 1966). Staff Member, Notre Dame Lawyer, 1965-1966. Author: "The Plight of the Sexual Psychopath: A Legislative Blunder and Judicial Acquiescence," and "Ethical Problems Raised by The Neighborhood Law Office," Notre Dame Lawyer, 1966. Co-Author: "Securities Law: Seventh Circuit Review of Remedies, Definitions, Standing and Sanctions," Chicago-Kent Law Review, 1979. Arbitrator: National Association of Securities Dealers, 1988; National Futures Association, 1988; New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 1988. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Elton Chaney and Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1028, AFL-CIO v. Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, d/b/a Pace Northwest Division, and Brett Burkhardt, Regional Manager, 52 F.3d 623 (7th Cir. 1995); Hard Rock Cafe Licensing Corporation, a New York Corporation v. Concession Services, Incorporated, 955 F.2d 1143 (7th Cir. 1992); Lawson Products, Inc., et al v. Avnet, Inc., 782 F.2d 1429 (7th Cir. 1986); Ellis v. City of Chicago, 272 F.Supp.2d 729 (N.D.Ill. 2003); Alfred N. Koplin v. Labe Federal Savings and Loan Association, 748 F.Supp. 1336 (N.D.Ill. 1990); Hyatt International Corporation v. Inversiones Los Jabillos, et al, 558 F.Supp. 932 (N.D. Ill. 1982); Winterland Concessions Company, d/b/a Winterland Productions, Raindrop Products, Inc., d/b/a Rolling Stones, et al v. Sileo, et al, 528 F.Supp. 1201 (N.D. Ill. 1981); Schaefer, et al v. First National Bank of Lincolnwood, et al, 509 F.2d 1287 (7th Cir. 1975); Forkin v. PaineWebber Incorporated, {1988-1989 Transfer Binder} Fed.Sec.L.Rep. (CCH) 97, 94, 128 and 129 (C.D. Ill. 1988); Geldermann, et al v. Stathis, et al, 177 Ill.App.3d 414, 532 N.E. 2d 366 (1st Dist. 1988); Muzikowski v. Paramount Pictures, 477 F.3d 899 (7th Cir. 2007). Practice Areas: Securities; Employment Law; Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Business Litigation.Email: Michael B. Roche
Thomas M. Crisham (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, 1939; admitted to bar, 1965, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1971, U.S. Supreme Court; 1978, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Education: Loyola University (B.B.A., 1962; J.D., cum laude, 1965). Alpha Sigma Nu. Recipient, Medal of Excellence, Loyola Law Alumni Association, 1993. Listed: "Pillar of the Legal Community," and among top 5% of Illinois Attorneys by Leading Lawyers Network, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; Named by peers as one of Illinois' Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009. Listed in 2007, 2008 and 2009 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America. Associate Editor, Loyola Law Review. Member: Editorial Advisory Board, Insurance Outlook, 1989-1990; Board of Advisors, Expert Evidence Reporter, 1989-1990. Contributing Author: Architects/Engineers Liability: Claims Against Design Professionals, John Wiley & Sons, Spring 1987, Second Edition, June 1995; Prosecuting and Defending Insurance Claims, John Wiley & Sons, 1989. President, Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago, 1975-1976. Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association. Member, Board of Directors, Lawyers for Civil Justice, 1988-1990. Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates. Member: Illinois Association of Defense Trial Lawyers; International Association of Defense Counsel; DRI (Defense Research and Trial Lawyers Institute - Past President and Chairman of the Board); the Society of Trial Lawyers of Illinois; Law Club of Chicago; International Society of Barristers (Illinois Liaison, 2009); Loyola Law School Circle of Advocates; Illinois Bar Foundation. Member: Chicago Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Appellate Lawyers Association. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; Master of the Bench, Judge Howard T. Markey Chapter, 1989; American Inns of Court; Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates American College of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers. [Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps]. Practice Areas: Professional Liability Litigation; Product Liability; Complex Commercial Litigation; Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation; Construction Law; Environmental Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Thomas M. Crisham
Edward J. Copeland (Shareholder) admitted to bar, 1959, Illinois; 1981, New York. Education: Carleton College (B.A., 1955); University of London, London, England (Certificate, 1957); Northwestern University (J.D., 1958). Member, House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly, 1967-1971. Chairman, Bank of the North Shore, Northbrook, Illinois, 1976-1981. Chairman, Board of Education, State of Illinois, 1981-1983. Member, State of Illinois Board of Education, 1974-1983. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Business Transactions; School Law.Email: Edward J. Copeland
Joseph J. Stevens (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, October 10, 1935; admitted to bar, 1964, Illinois. Education: St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (B.A., 1957); DePaul University (B.A., 1961; J.D., 1964). Practice Areas: Labor Law; Business Enterprises; Business Litigation.Email: Joseph J. Stevens
Robert A. Michalak (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, October 28, 1945; admitted to bar, 1970, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northeastern District of Illinois; 1973, U.S. Tax Court; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., 1967); Loyola University (J.D., 1970). Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1972. Member: Chicago (Member, Committees on: Federal Taxation; Past Chair, Employee Benefits; Corporation Law), Illinois State (Member and Past Chair, Employee Benefits Section Council; Federal Taxation Section) and American (Member, Joint Committee on Employee Benefits; Section of Taxation) Bar Associations; American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants; Illinois Certified Public Accountant Society (Member and Past Chair, Federal Taxation Section). [Illinois National Guard, 1970-1976]. Practice Areas: Tax Law; Employee Benefits; General Corporate; Business Enterprises.Email: Robert A. Michalak
Ernest W. Irons (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, May 30, 1949; admitted to bar, 1976, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar; 1991, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois and U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; 1996, New York. Education: Wabash College (B.A., 1970); University of Michigan; Washington University (J.D., 1976). Associate Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly, 1975-1976. Member: American Bar Association; Lawyers Club of Chicago. Practice Areas: Securities Litigation; Employment Litigation; Business Law.Email: Ernest W. Irons
Charles H. Cole (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar. Education: Illinois Institute of Technology (B.S., with honors, 1974); John Marshall Law School (J.D., with honors, 1977). Editor in Chief, John Marshall Journal of Practice and Procedure, 1976-1977. Author: "Developments in Property Damage Coverage Issues, an Examination of an Occurrence," IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter, 1992; "Fear of Future Harm: Stating A Claim for Damages," IDC Quarterly, Second Quarter, 1995. Columnist, Professional Liability, IDC Quarterly, 1996-1997. Adjunct Professor of Law, Products Liability and Trial Advocacy, Illinois Institute of Technology-Kent School of Law, 1980-1984. Instructor, IDC Trial Academy, 1992-1993. Faculty, IADC Trial Academy, Stanford University School of Law, 2008. Lecturer: "Walking the Line in Damages Arguments in Child Cases," DRI Damages Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2008; "Arguing Damagesin Catastrophic Loss Cases," Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Annual Trial Tactics Seminar, 2008; "Use of an Annuity Expert to Reduce Damages," IDC Annual Trial Tactics Seminar, 1989; "Civil Practice," Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1978. Member, Board of Directors, 2006-2009, Illinois State Representative, 2001-2004, Member, Annual Meeting Steering Committee, 2005-2008 and Public Policy Committee, 2007-2008 and Board Liaison, Commercial Litigation Committee, 2007-2008, Defense Research Institute. President, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 2001-2002. President-Elect, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 2000-2001. Second Vice President, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1998-1999. Secretary-Treasurer, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1997-1998. Member, Board of Directors, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1993-1997; Chairman, Insurance Symposium, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1997. Chairman, Professional Liability Committee, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1994-1997. Chairman, Annual Trial Tactics Seminar, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, 1987. Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, 1987-1994. Member: Illinois State and American Bar Associations; International Association of Defense Counsel; Society of Trial Lawyers; Leading Illinois Attorneys; Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Insurance Coverage; Commercial Litigation; Products Liability; Professional Liability; Architectural Malpractice; Construction Litigation; Engineering Malpractice.Email: Charles H. Cole
Daniel V. Kinsella (Shareholder) born Western Springs, IL, June 17, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar; U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Oakland University (B.A., 1973); University of Illinois (J.D., 1977). Member: American Bar Association (Member, Section on Labor and Employment Law). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Employment Litigation; Labor Arbitration; Labor Litigation; Business Litigation.Email: Daniel V. Kinsella
L. Andrew Brehm (Shareholder) born Dayton, Ohio, May 31, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar, 1985; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1994, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Notre Dame (A.B., with high honors, 1976); University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1979). Arbitrator, National Association of Securities Dealers, 1987-1998. Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, 1987. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Reported Cases: PaineWebber v. Farnam, 870 F.2d 1286 (7th Cir. 1989); Hard Rock Cafe Licensing Corp. v. Concession Services, Inc., 955 F.2d 1143 (7th Cir. 1992); Weiss v. Ganz, 26 F.Supp.2d 655 (S.D.N.Y., 1998); Koplin v. Labe Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n, 748 F.Supp. 1336 (N.D. Ill. 1990); Capalbo v. PaineWebber Incorporated, 694 F.Supp. 1315 (N.D. Ill. 1988) and 672 F.Supp. 1048 (N.D. Ill. 1987); Wabash, Inc. v. Avnet, Inc., 516 F.Supp. 995 (N.D. Ill. 1981). Practice Areas: Securities; Employment; RICO and other Commercial Litigation; Business Law; ERISA Litigation.Email: L. Andrew Brehm
David M. Giangrossi (Shareholder) born Elmhurst, Illinois, March 23, 1952; admitted to bar, 1979, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A., 1974); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1979). Chairman, Village of Cary Zoning Board of Appeals, 1992. Chairman, Village of Cary Planning Commission, 1994. Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Probate Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Family Law; Business Enterprises.Email: David M. Giangrossi
Thomas G. Draths (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, July 8, 1952; admitted to bar, 1980, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar; U.S. Claims Court; 1995, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 1998, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Education: Dartmouth College (A.B., 1975); DePaul University (J.D., 1980). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment(65%); Civil Litigation(20%); Construction(5%); Real Estate(5%); Business Enterprises(5%).Email: Thomas G. Draths
Michael F. Braun (Shareholder) born Joliet, Illinois, November 8, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1991, Trial Bar; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1993, U.S. Supreme Court; 2001, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.A., 1978; J.D., magna cum laude, 1981). Instructor, Northern Illinois University College of Law, 1985-1988. Member: Illinois State and American Bar Associations (Member, Sections on: Litigation; Labor and Employment Law; Business Law). Reported Cases: Gordon v. Degelmann, 29 F.3d 295 (7th Cir. 1994); Willis v. Bell, 999 F.2d 284 (7th Cir. 1993), 726 F.Supp. 1118 and 784 F.Supp. 1360 (N.D. Ill. 1992); Bordelon v. Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees, 8 F.Supp.2d 779 (1998); Midwest Decks, Inc. v. Butler & Baretz Acquisitions, Inc., 272 Ill.App.3d 370, 649 N.E.2d 511 (1st Dist. 1995); Dolezal v. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, S.C., 266 Ill.App.3d 1070, 640 N.E.2d 1359 (1st Dist. 1994). Practice Areas: General Civil Litigation; Employment Litigation and Counseling; Commercial Litigation; Restrictive Covenants; NASD Arbitration; Business Enterprises.Email: Michael F. Braun
Jeffrey T. Kubes (Shareholder) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1956; admitted to bar, 1981, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois including Trial Bar; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2004, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Education: Loyola University; Eastern Illinois University (B.S., 1978); Northern Illinois University (J.D., with honors, 1981). Author: "Konstant Contract Clause Starts Four-Year Clock Ticking," April 2009; "The Ethics of the Practice - Keeping Your License Intact," February 11, 2009; "Learning to Recognize Risk: A Case Study," May 13, 2008; "Don't Be Disabled by the ADA," September 13, 2007; "Defamation Claims Against Experts," September 2007; "Potential Benefits and Risks of Offshore Outsourcing," September 2007; Members of the Political Action Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois; panelist on current events affecting interests of structural engineers, August 30, 2007; 46th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys; moderator of three day seminar presented to attorneys involved with the representation of design professionals throughout the United States, Chicago, Illinois, May 16-18, 2007; "Design of Construction Basics," May 15, 2007; "Consultant Liability," February 8, 2007; "Effects of Cutting Corners," lecture, January 9, 2007; "Hiring Foreign Workers" and "Out-of-State Engineering Experts," DRI-For the Defense, September, 2006; Several articles published in DRI-Critical Path, 2005-2006; "Avoiding Litigation-Learning from Prior Mistakes," September, 2006; "The Ethics of the Practice-Keeping Your License Intact," September, 2006; "The Pros and Cons of Working with a Construction Manager," May, 2006; "Residential Projects-The Real Money Pit," May, 2006; "Joint and Several Liability Issues: Defending Multiparty Cases," March, 2006; "Avoiding the Courtroom-Learning from the Mistakes of Others," November, 2005; "Avoiding Pitfalls in Construction Litigation, "Defense Counsel Journal, Vol. 72, April, 2005; "Legal Issues Affecting the Practice of Civil Engineering and Wetland Consulting," March, 2004; "The Perils of Third-Party Practice in Construction Litigation," February, 2004; "Avoiding the Courtroom - A Few Simple Rules," October, 2003; "Defective Construction Claims," April, 2003; "Legal Issues Affecting The MEP Engineer," April, 2003; "Technology Round Table," March, 2003; "Architects/Engineers' Liability: Latest Trends," February, 2003; "Claim Prevention for Illinois Design Professionals," April, 2002; "The Design Professional in the Electronic Age," June, 2002; "Requests for Information - Protecting Against Greedy Contractors," June, 2001; "May a Design Professional Electronically Seal or Sign Drawings," August, 2001; "Contracts and Lawsuits - Is This The Remedy," November, 2001; "Illinois Law for Design Professionals, Part II," November, 2001; Lorman Education Institute lectures: "Illinois Law for Design Professionals," November 2000; "Professional Liability Update," October, 1999; "Broad Interpretation of the ADA-Owners, Contractors, and Design Professionals Beware," DRI Construction Law, March, 1999; Preferred Risk Management and Association of Licensed Architects. Authors: "Tort Trends Publication," for ISBA Tort Litigation Committee, 1992-1995; "My Insurance Company is Insolvent - Now What...," Hinshaw Reports: Torts, 1991-1995. Faculty: John Marshall Law School, 1997-1998. Paralegal Institute, 1992-1994. Member: American Institute of Architects - Chicago Chapter; American Society of Civil Engineers; Association of Licensed Architects; Structural Engineers Association of Illinois. Member: DuPage, Chicago (Officer and Chairman, Tort Litigation Committee, 1993-1996), Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute (Member, Construction Law Committee-Architectural/Engineering Leader, 2005-2008); International Association of Defense Counsel (Vice Chair, Construction Law Committee, 2004-2006); Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel; Society of Trial Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors, 2005-2007); Professional Liability Underwriting Society; Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys; Leading Lawyers Network. Reported Cases: Konami (Am.) Inc. v. Hartford Ins. Co., of Ill., 326 Ill.App.3d 874, 761 N.E.2d 1277 (2nd Dist. 2002) Marquez v. Pettibone Corporation, Rule 23 Order, No. 1-95-3530 (1st Dist. December 31, 1997); Weiner v. Kennedy & Associates, Rule 23 Order, No. 1-02-2658 (1st Dist. December 26, 2003); Board of Managers of Village Centre Condominium Ass'n, Inc. v. Wilmette Partners, 198 Ill.2d 132 (2001); Guerino v. Depot Place Partnership, 191 Ill.2d 314, 730 N.E.2d 1094 (2000); Elmdale Development v. Alan R. Yore, et al., Rule 23 Order, No. 1-07-0305 (Ill. App. Ct., 1st Dist., Aug. 21, 2007); First Bank & Trust v. 3Com Corp., Rule 23 Order, No. 1-06-0091(Ill. App. Ct., 1st Dist., June 29, 2007). Practice Areas: Construction Law; Complex Commercial Litigation; Professional Liability Litigation; Products Liability; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Jeffrey T. Kubes
John P. O'Malley (Shareholder) born Evanston, Illinois, 1965; admitted to bar, 1991, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Marquette University (B.S., 1987); DePaul University (J.D., with honors, 1991). Order of the Coif. Member: Illinois State Bar Association (Member, Insurance Coverage Committee); Society of Trial Lawyers of Illinois; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Insurance Coverage; Litigation; Intellectual Property.Email: John P. O'Malley
Eric M. Fogel (Shareholder) born New York, March 15, 1955; admitted to bar, 1987, Illinois. Education: Pomona College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1977); The University of Michigan (M. A., 1980; M.B.A., 1986; J.D., 1986). Phi Beta Kappa. Adjunct Professor of Law, International Business, McGeorge University School of Law, Sacramento, California, 1996. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Business Law; Venture Capital; Business Enterprises.Email: Eric M. Fogel
Douglas A. Hanson (Shareholder) born Park Ridge, Illinois, September 5, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., Accountancy, with highest honors, 1983); Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., with high honors, Valedictorian, 1987). Order of the Coif. Editor-in-Chief, Chicago-Kent Law Review, Volume 63, 1987. Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1983. Co-Author: "Taxation: Substance v. Form and Other Esoterica," 62 Chicago-Kent Law Review 657 (1986). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial and Residential Real Estate(15%); Real Estate Development(10%); Construction Law(10%); Condominium Law(10%); General Corporate(15%); Probate(15%); Estate Planning(10%); Estates and Trust(10%); Taxation(5%).Email: Douglas A. Hanson
James L. Komie (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, June 23, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Illinois. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., with high distinction and high honors, 1984; J.D., cum laude, 1987). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Employment Law; Securities Litigation; Business Litigation.Email: James L. Komie
Eric C. Marshall (Shareholder) born Oak Park, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1984, Illinois. Education: Yale University (B.A., Philosophy, 1980); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1984). Phi Delta Phi. Former Employment: Katten, Muchin & Zavis, 1984-1987. In-House Corporate and Commercial Transactions Counsel: BP Americas, BP Amoco, Amoco Corporation 1987-2000 (including Amoco Chemical Europe, Geneva, Switzerland, 1995-1998); Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, 2000-2007; Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C., 2007 (Shareholder). Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations; 3Arts Chicago Foundation (Board of Directors); Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (Contributor); Chicago Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Chemical Industry Transactions; Outsourcing; Energy Contracts; International Joint Ventures; International Commercial Transactions; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures.Email: Eric C. Marshall
Lauren E. DeJong (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1994, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Hope College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1991); Northwestern University (J.D., 1994). Member: Chicago, DuPage County, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Probate; Estate Planning; Estate and Trust Administration.Email: Lauren E. DeJong
Steven P. Pherson (Shareholder) born West Lafayette, Indiana, January 21, 1959; admitted to bar, 1994, Illinois, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and Trial Bar. Education: University of Vermont (B.A., 1981); John Marshall Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1994). Practice Areas: Commodities; Securities Litigation; Employment Litigation; Business Law.Email: Steven P. Pherson
Jean M. Prendergast (Shareholder) born Oak Lawn, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1994, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 2000, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 2001, U.S. Supreme Court; 2005, Federal Trial Bar. Education: Loyola University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1993; J.D., 1994). Member: Chicago Bar Association Moot Court Team, 1993; Loyola National Trial Team, 1994. Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Practice/Advocacy; Clark Beardman Callaghan Award for Trial Advocacy, 1994. Selected, "40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch", Member of Class of 2007. Loyola Consumer Law Reporter, Case Editor, 1993-1994. The Bar Examiner, Student Editor and Author, 1993-1994. Law Clerk: Hon. Mary Jane Theis, Illinois Appellate Court, 1994-1996; Hon. Mary Ann McMorrow, Illinois Supreme Court, 1996-1997. Author: "Foreign Legal Consultant Rules: Effective or Expendable?" 63 The Bar Examiner, No. 1 (Feb. 1994); "Making the Most of Your Oral Argument," 90 ILL. B. J. 207 (April 2002). Loyola University School of Law, Instructor in Appellate Advocacy, 1999-2000. Vice-Chair, Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. Listed, Illinois Super Lawyer, 2007, 2008, 2009. Member: Chicago Bar Association (Member, Young Lawyers Section; Co-Chair, Appellate Law Committee, 1994); Appellate Lawyers Association (Vice President, 2009-1010; Secretary 2008-2009; Treasurer, 2007-2008; Committee Chair, Illinois Supreme Court Cases Pending; Member, Board of Directors, 2000-2002); Women's Bar Foundation (Member, Board of Directors); Women's Bar Association of Illinois (Member, Board of Directors, 2002-2003); Illinois Society of Trial Lawyers; Illinois State Bar Association (Member, Special Committee, Appellate Practice, 2001-2002). Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Professional Liability Litigation; Appellate Practice; Insurance Litigation.Email: Jean M. Prendergast
Jeffrey D. Barclay (Shareholder) born Chicago, Illinois, April 14, 1964; admitted to bar, 1996, Illinois. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1986); DePaul University (J.D., 1996).Email: Jeffrey D. Barclay
PARTNERS
Richard J. Juarez (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois, August 2, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., with honors, 1987); DePaul University (J.D., 1992). Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Construction Law; Personal Injury; Premises Liability; Legal Malpractice; Business Litigation.Email: Richard J. Juarez
Michael D. Lee (Partner) born Brooklyn, New York, April 6, 1968; admitted to bar, 1994, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; 2006, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., 1991); Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., 1994). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; General Litigation.Email: Michael D. Lee
Thomas W. Mulcahy (Partner) born Evergreen Park, Illinois, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, Illinois; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 2007, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana. Education: Indiana University - Bloomington (B.A., 1997); John Marshall Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Professional Liability; Maritime Law; Construction and Design Law.
Gerald T. Rohrer, Jr. (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois, February 7, 1968; admitted to bar, 1997, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Dayton (B.A., 1991); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1997). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. Reported Cases: Mercantile National Bank v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (Supreme Court Rule 23 Order issued April 27, 2001, 1st Dist. No. 1-00-2502); Robert Elsinga v. Kenny Kiewit Shea, a Joint Venture (Supreme Court Rule 23 Order issued December 30, 2002, 1st Dist. No. 1-01-3848); Michael Dahlen v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, et al. (Supreme Court Rule 23 Order issued April 21, 2003, 1st Dist. No. 1-01-3145); Paszkowski v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, et al., 789 N.E.2d 343 (1st Dist. 2003); Martens v. MCL Construction, et al. 807 N.E.2d 480 (1st Dist. 2004); Paszkowski v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, et al. 820 N.E.2d 401 (Ill. 2004). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation(40%); Construction Liability(20%); Appellate Practice(15%); Premises Liability(10%); Insurance Coverage(10%); Wrongful Death(5%); Defense Litigation; Automobile.Email: Gerald T. Rohrer, Jr.
David J. Sullivan (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 2004, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., Accounting, 1993); Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1996. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Professional Liability Defense; Real Estate.Email: David J. Sullivan
Frank D. Zaffere, III (Partner) born Easton, Maryland, 1948; admitted to bar, 1974, New York; 1978, District of Columbia; 1980, Illinois. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., cum laude, 1970); Georgetown University (J.D., 1973). Beta Gamma Sigma. Editor, Law and Policy in International Business, Georgetown University, 1972-1973. Member: Chicago and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Business Law.Email: Frank D. Zaffere, III
ASSOCIATES
Brian S. Hormozi (Associate) born Carol Stream, Illinois; admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois. Education: Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 2006). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Employment Law.Email: Brian S. Hormozi
Jin-Ho Chung (Associate) born Seoul, Korea, August 25, 1971; admitted to bar, 1997, Minnesota; 1999, Illinois. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1994; J.D., 1996). Co-founder of the Univ. of Michigan Journal of Race and Law. Co-author: "Vacating an Award Based on Arbitrator Misclassification"; PLI Coursebook chapter, "The Protocol After Five Years". Member: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Languages: Korean. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Arbitration; Defamation Law; Insurance Litigation.Email: Jin-Ho Chung
Michael J. Faley (Associate) born Chicago, Illinois, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., Accounting, 1998); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2002). Illinois Certificate of Certified Public Account, 1999. Member: Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Michael J. Faley
Margaret M. Fitzsimmons (Associate) born Wheaton, Illinois, 1979; admitted to bar, 2007, Illinois. Education: DePaul University (B.A., 2002); Loyola University (J.D., 2007). Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations; Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation; Construction Law; Professional Liability.Email: Margaret M. Fitzsimmons
Ryan T. Johnson (Associate) born Des Moines, Iowa, October 27, 1977; admitted to bar, 2003, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 2000); Drake University Law School (J.D., 2003). Member: Chicago and American Bar Associations.Email: Ryan T. Johnson
James J. McNamara (Associate) born Chicago, Illinois, August 27, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, Illinois. Education: University of Chicago (B.A., 2001); Seton Hall University (J.D., 2005). Practice Areas: Securities and Commodities Litigation; Commercial and Employment Litigation.Email: James J. McNamara
Edward C. Nowak (Associate) born Hammond, Indiana, May 4, 1970; admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois. Education: Illinois State University (B.A., 1993); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2006). Member: Chicago and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Securities; Commodities.Email: Edward C. Nowak
Peggy Joyce Osterman (Associate) born 1974; admitted to bar, 2002, Illinois. Education: Creighton University; Georgetown University Law Center. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment.Email: Peggy Joyce Osterman
J. Victor Peterson (Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, Illinois. Education: Colorado College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1989); Northwestern University (M.A., 1993; Ph.D., 1998); University of Chicago (J.D., 2001). Phi Beta Kappa. Member, Chicago Journal of International Law. Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: J. Victor Peterson
Clare J. Quish (Associate) born Chicago, Illinois, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Northwestern University (B.A., 1997); Loyola University School of Law, Chicago (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Adjunct Professor, Appellate Advocacy, Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, 2003-2004. Member: Appellate Lawyers Association; Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Professional Liability Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Coverage Litigation.Email: Clare J. Quish
Michael T. Roche (Associate) born Evanston, Illinois, March 8, 1975; admitted to bar, 2002, Illinois. Education: Marquette University (B.S., 1997); Loyola University (J.D., 2002). Member, Loyola University Law Review. Co-Author: "Between A Rock and A Hard Place: Balancing the Interests of The Principal and Obligee," Construct!, Vol. 14, No. 1, published by the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Fall, 2004. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Trade Secret Misappropriation; Employment Litigation; Commercial Real Estate Foreclosure; Mechanics Liens.Email: Michael T. Roche
Michelle L. Savin (Associate) born Northbrook, Illinois; admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois. Education: Emory University (B.B.A., 2003); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 2006). Member: American and Chicago Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Securities; International Commercial Transaction.Email: Michelle L. Savin
OF COUNSEL
David I. Addis (Of Counsel) born Chicago, Illinois, April 16, 1963; admitted to bar, 1988, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1992, U.S. Tax Court. Education: Indiana University (B.S., high distinction and departmental honors in Accounting, 1985); Boston University (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1985. Speaker: Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships, National Business Institute, 1997. Illinois Secretary of State, Business Organizations Acts Advisory Committee, 2002-2005. Member: Chicago (Committees: Corporation and Business Law; Commercial Finance and Transactions; Securities Law; Patent, Trademark and Copyrights; Computer Law), Illinois State (Sections: Corporation and Securities Law; Intellectual Property) and American (Committees: Business Law; Intellectual Property) Bar Associations; Institute of Illinois Business Law. Practice Areas: Domestic Business Transactions; Corporate Formation and Alteration; Limited Liability Company Law; Business Enterprises; Intellectual Property.Email: David I. Addis
Alison Barkley (Of Counsel) born Chicago, Illinois, August 8, 1949; admitted to bar, 1977, Illinois. Education: Thornton Community College (A.A., 1969); University of Illinois (B.S., 1971); DePaul University (J.D., cum laude, 1976). Member: Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: General Corporate; Estates and Trusts; Estate Management; Estate Planning and Administration(50%); Trusts(50%); Wealth Planning; Health Planning; Business Enterprises.Email: Alison Barkley
Harry C. Benford III (Of Counsel) born Johnstown, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1937; admitted to bar, 1963, Illinois. Education: University of Pittsburgh (B.A., cum laude, 1958); Harvard University (LL.B., 1961). Pi Sigma Alpha. Member: Chicago (Member, Probate Practice and Elder Law Committees) and Illinois State Bar Associations; Chicago Estate Planning Council. [Lt. Col. (Ret.), U.S. Army Reserve, 1961-1984]. Practice Areas: Estate and Trust Administration; Trust and Estate Related Litigation; Estate Planning.Email: Harry C. Benford III
Laurie A. Martin Montplaisir (Of Counsel) born Kouts, Indiana; admitted to bar, 1996, Illinois. Education: Purdue University (B.S., with distinction); Loyola University (J.D., cum laude). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Corporate; Litigation; Transactions; Business Enterprises.Email: Laurie A. Martin Montplaisir
Thomas J. Paravola (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1981, Illinois. Education: Elmhurst College (B.A., 1978); University of Illinois (J.D., 1981). Practice Areas: Employee Benefits Law.Email: Thomas J. Paravola
John J. Pembroke (Of Counsel) born Evergreen Park, Illinois, May 27, 1950; admitted to bar, 1979, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1980, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1981, U.S. Tax Court; 1986, U.S. Claims Court. Education: University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (B.S., with honors and distinction in Accounting, 1975); Northwestern University (J.D., 1979). Beta Gamma Sigma. Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1976. Personal Financial Planner, 2002. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American (Member, Section on Taxation) Bar Associations.
Elisha M. Prero (Of Counsel) born Detroit, Michigan, June 22, 1954; admitted to bar, 1981, Illinois. Education: Loyola University, Chicago (B.A., 1978); University of Michigan (J.D., 1981). Psi Chi. Recipient, Key Award. Member, Advisory Board, National Jewish Law Review, 1984-1987. Co-Author: "The Blue Pencil," Column, The CBA Record, 1988-1991. Lecturer, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 1989-1992. Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Decalogue Society of Lawyers. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Real Estate; Business Enterprises.
Robert D. Snow, Jr. (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 2001, Illinois. Education: Western Illinois University (B.A., 1984); The John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2001). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Robert D. Snow, Jr.
Neal R. Stevens (Of Counsel) born Fort Collins, Colorado, December 24, 1970; admitted to bar, 1997, Wisconsin; 1999, New York; 2009, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. (Not admitted in Illinois). Education: Colgate University (B.A., 1993); University of Wisconsin (J.D., cum laude, 1997); New York University School of Law (LL.M., 2000). Practice Areas: Tax Law.Email: Neal R. Stevens
David E. Zarski (Of Counsel) born Chicago, Illinois, March 28, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Illinois. Education: Southern Illinois University (B.S., 1978); DePaul University College of Law (J.D., 1983). Contributing Author, updates of Truth In Lending by Rohner/Miller. Frequent Speaker and Author, both domestically and internationally, on Transactional, Banking and other financial topics. Speaker: on Fair Credit Reporting, Fair Lending, and special concerns with various asset classes, including Real Estate, Medical Receivables, Watercraft, Aircraft and Manufactured Housing before conferences presented by the Credit Law Institute; "Regulatory Concerns and Structural Preferences of US Companies and Banks Acquiring Troubled Assets From Asian Banks," annual meeting, International Bar Association, Auckland, New Zealand, 2005. Presented paper, "Interaction between Laws Enacted as a Result of Terrorist Activities and Laws Protecting Financial Privacy" before a conference at the Center for International Legal Studies, 2003. Former Faculty, Center for International Legal Studies, Salzburg, Austria. Visiting Professor, and has taught classes in International Corporate Law, Petrozavodsk State University Law School, Petrozavodsk, Russia, covering the laws relating to the organization of for-profit entities under the laws of the United States, England, France and Germany. Elected Member, Congress of Fellows for the Center. Designated as a subject matter expert concerning formation of questions and answers by the National Conference of Bar Examiners in the area of Commercial Paper/Negotiable Instruments. Member: American and International Bar Associations. Fellow: Center for International Legal Studies. Practice Areas: Securitization; Structured Finance; Banking; Financial Institution Regulation; Consumer Finance Law; Business Enterprises; Cross Border Finance; Debt and Equity Finance; Debt Finance; Commercial Finance; Asset Based Finance; Finance; Aircraft Acquisitions; Aircraft Finance and Leasing.Email: David E. Zarski