Henry Brunngraber has joined St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice as an associate practicing in the Corporate Department. Henry maintains a broad business law practice concentrating on various corporate matters. During law school, Henry served as an Articles Editor for the Journal of Law, Technology & Policy. He graduated as valedictorian of his class and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.

Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen LLP announced the addition of Susana J. Lum as an associate in the firm’s distinguished Real Estate Department in February 2025. 

1/24/24: Mary Gilmore has joined Fox Rothschild in the Chicago office as an Associate in the Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy Department.

Fernando Diaz has joined Gunster’s Real Property practice as of counsel at its Fort Lauderdale office. Experienced in transactions, compliance, and litigation, Diaz brings a 360-degree perspective in helping clients mitigate and resolve environmental risks and disputes. With his specialty in the complex environmental issues that arise in transactions, Diaz advises clients on risk allocation, environmental due diligence, provisions in purchase, sale and financing agreements, and environmental insurance. He also helps clients with annexations, site plans, comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings and large-scale master plan approvals.

Pam Sran was elected to serve as a General Director to the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Chicago for the 2025 bar year. SABA’s mission is to promote the professional growth of members, mentor law students and new lawyers, provide services to the local community and partner with other minority organizations. Sran previously served as a General Director during the 2023 bar year and was a member of the Judicial Reception Committee and Annual Gala Committee.

ArentFox Schiff has promoted Alex Garel-Frantzen to partner, effective January 1, 2025. Alex represents businesses in a wide variety of environmental regulatory, permitting, transactional, and litigation matters for the firm.

Hassen Al-Shawaf recently joined the Board of Directors of RefugeeOne, a Chicago-based organization that has helped more than 20,500 refugees since 1982.

1/24/24: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP elected Michelle Bolos to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

1/24/24: Lathrop GPM LLP has promoted Matthew Walker to its 2024 partner class. Walker’s practice includes all areas of environmental law, including litigation, regulatory compliance, and assistance with corporate transactions.

1/24/24: Stephanie Sebor has joined Jenner & Block’s Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Practice as a partner in the firm’s Chicago office.

1/24/24: Hannah R. Lamore ’16 has been named a partner with Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC based in Joliet, IL. She concentrates her practice in municipal law and civil litigation, representing individuals and entities throughout Illinois.

2/22/24: Aleks O. Rushing was named a partner at Husch Blackwell, effective January 1, 2024.

2/22/24: Brandon Dixon was recently elevated to Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

2/22/24: For her work focused on family building through third-party reproduction as a solo attorney at Pineapple Law, PLLC, Morgan Schumann has been awarded the American Bar Association Family Law Diversity Fellowship.

2/22/24: Modern Counsel has named Susanna Lee to its 35 under 35 list for 2024. The program recognizes leaders who are rising stars in the legal industry and represent the next generation of leadership.

2/22/24: Andrew M. Barrios has been promoted to partner at Reed Smith LLP in the firm’s Chicago office. Andrew is a member of the Insurance Recovery Group, representing corporate policyholders in a wide range of coverage matters.

3/21/24: James Schmidt was recently promoted to shareholder at Meyer Capel, a Professional Corporation. James practices in the firm’s litigation department in employment and appellate law, among other practice areas.

3/21/24: Susanna Lee received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award by the College of Law’s Asian Law Students Association at its annual Alumni Student Reception on March 1st.

3/21/24: Christopher Kantas was hired as General Counsel of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, a healthcare organization with over 100 locations and 2,500 providers and other employees throughout the state.

3/21/24: Susan Lester recently joined Kimberly Clark as Assistant General Council, Baby & Child Care, North America. In this role, Susan will partner with the Baby and Childcare business to deliver on their strategic advertising and marketing initiatives. Additionally, in December 2023 she received a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Alumni Award for her efforts in pro bono and public interest law service in the communities.

4/23/24: Thomas D. Berghman has been promoted to Equity Shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas. Thomas is a member of the Firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring + Insolvency practice, where he represents virtually all constituencies in bankruptcy proceedings.

4/23/24: Bodman PLC announced Ryan C. Washburn has joined the firm as a senior associate in the Business Practice Group, based in the firm’s Ann Arbor office.

4/23/24: Susanna Lee ’14 has been named to the National Association of Women Lawyers’ 2024 Rising List. The NAWL Rising List recognizes early- to mid-career attorneys committed to NAWL’s mission by either advancing women in the profession or advocating for women under the law.

Chris Grant was awarded Lawyer of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Media at their awards ceremony on February 13, 2025.

Daniel P. McLaughlin has been selected to be a United States Magistrate Judges for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court announced earlier this year. McLaughlin will fill the magistrate judge vacancy created when then-Magistrate Judge Sunil Harjani was confirmed as an United States District Judge.

S. Asra Husain has joined the executive board of Muhsen, a national disability rights and inclusion organization.

Marlén Cortez Morris was featured by Hispanic Executive magazine as a “catalyst for change.” In this feature, Marlén talks about her personal journey to a career in law as a first-generation Latina lawyer, the need for more Latino/a lawyers in the legal field, and tips and resources to help others navigate this path.

Austin Kaplan received the 2025 David H. Walter Community Excellence award from the Austin Bar Association at the annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala.

Kirsten A. Milton has been named managing principal of nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C.’s Chicago office. Kirsten represents management in a wide range of labor and employment issues with a particular focus on complex litigation, and she routinely counsels clients on day-to-day workplace matters.

Geri Lynn Arrindell has joined Constangy as a partner in its St. Louis office.

Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced that Christina Soohee Kye has been appointed as a Circuit Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Fourth Subcircuit.

Mike Babbitt passed away on February 3, 2025, at the age of 42.

The Orange County Bar Association recently named Mei Tsang as its president. Mei was also profiled in the January issue of OC Lawyer.

1/24/24: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP has elected Raymond R. Ricordati, III to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

1/24/24: Clark Hill, an AmLaw200 law firm, has promoted James English to member. He practices out of the firm’s Houston office with the Environmental & Natural Resources group.

2/22/24: Lathrop GPM LLP Partner Laura Labeots has been named to the Notable Women in Law list for 2024 by Crain’s Chicago Business. The honor recognizes Labeots for her work as a mentor and role model for other women in her firm and the broader community.

3/21/24: In March of 2023, Hilda Bahena was appointed Associate Judge in Cook County. Prior to her appointment, she served as Executive Director Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crime following stints with Catholic Charities and Legal Aid.

4/23/24: Hua Howard Wang has been promoted to Partner at Windels Marx Lane & MIttendorf, LLP, in the Madison, NJ office, where he has practiced since 2019. Howard’s practice focuses on patent litigation and opinion work related to pharmaceutical, medical device and chemical fields.

4/23/24: Faegre Drinker announced its 2024 leadership appointments, including Brian Garrison as the Indianapolis office leader. Garrison is a labor and employment partner who has been with the firm since 2005. He represents and counsels employers on a broad range of complex labor and employment matters, with a particular focus on traditional labor issues.

4/23/24: Collin Delaney was selected for the U.S. Air Force’s 2023 Donald C. Rasher Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the JAG Corps’ education and training programs. Collin is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve and serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 301st Fighter Wing. In his civilian capacity, Collin is a U.S. Administrative Law Judge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

5/20/24: Christopher W. Pratt has been appointed an at-large circuit judge on the Eighth Judicial Circuit, with his appointment effective June 10. Previously, Pratt was Adams County’s chief public defender; he will now fill the remainder of a term left vacant with the removal of Judge Robert Adrian.

Elected in 2022, Michael Chmiel’s term as Chief Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois runs through the end of November of 2024. He was previously appointed and then elected as a Circuit Judge in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Lake County Circuit Judge Christen L. Bishop was honored as the 2024 Justinian of the Year by the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism for her work as the presiding judge of the Restorative Justice Division.

Sang-yul Lee, a partner at the firm of K&L Gates, started his term this fall as President of the Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF). Sang-yul served as first vice president and second vice president during the previous two years. He has been a leader within the bar and foundation communities, including past service as the president of the NAPABA Law Foundation.

This past October, Richard Starnes retired from the State of Missouri after serving as an Assistant Attorney General for 23 years. A member of the Attorney General’s Office’s Criminal Appeals Unit, Richard represented the state in hundreds of cases before the Missouri Court of Appeals, Missouri Supreme Court, and U.S. Supreme Court. Richard now serves as Legal Counsel for the Cole County Juvenile Officer in Jefferson City, Missouri, and pastors a small church at the Lake of the Ozarks.

2/22/24: Tucker Ellis LLP attorney Jason Torf has been named to the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list in the area of Bankruptcy: Business.

2/22/24: On February 15, judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Illinois voted to select Robert E. Jacobson as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

3/21/24: Civil Rights Attorney Deidre Baumann was a candidate for the open judicial vacancy as judge of the 7th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County in the March 19th, Democratic Primary Election.

4/23/24: Rachel Janutis was appointed the Geraldine W. Howell Professor of Law at Capital University Law School. The professorship recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

4/23/24: Lewis Roca proudly announces the appointment of Jennifer Van Kirk to its Executive Committee, effective April 1, 2024. A seasoned partner based in the Phoenix office, Van Kirk specializes in intellectual property law. Her background spans trademark and brand protection, copyright licensing, and international trademark strategies.

Illinois Appellate Court Justice Debra B. Walker will receive the Illinois Judges Foundation Distinguished Service Award at the IJF Annual Reception on October 10, 2024.

Dan Slack retired from his role as Executive Director of the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado at the end of 2021. He is enjoying free time trail running and climbing mountains in the United States and in Brazil while continuing to serve on the board of directors of Leave No Trace, Inc.

Tom Stipanowich, William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution and Professor at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law, recently received Pepperdine’s Howard A White Award for Excellence in Teaching. Stipanowich, a nationally known scholar on arbitration and mediation law and practice, was also named to the California Dispute Resolution Hall of Fame by the California Lawyers Association.

1/24/24: Helen Hartnell passed away in late 2023. She taught international law at numerous institutions and was a full-time faculty member at Golden Gate University (GGU) School of Law in San Francisco from 1997 until 2013.

1/24/24: Hon. Mark A. Feyen has announced his retirement from the Ottawa County Probate Court. Now in his 35th year, Judge Feyen took to the bench on January 1, 1989, after winning election in November of 1988. He won re-election five times.

3/21/24: Shelly Davis Knuppel, 63, passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer at her home in Petersburg on January 11, 2024.

3/21/24: Peter Rasmussen recently retired from Bloomberg Law and is enjoying his time serving on two non-profit boards, taking parts in community theater, and reveling in the role of grandpa to a future Illini.

5/20/24: After more than 23 years with the financial services company Swift, Patrick Krekels is retiring as General Counsel at the end of June. In retirement, he plans to study art history, travel, volunteer, catch up on reading, and spend more time with family.

Roger Littman has retired from the active practice of law at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym in Chicago and accepted “of counsel” status. Along the way, Martindale-Hubbell conferred AV status, its highest recommendation, followed by regular naming to Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers. He was elected to Advocate membership in the American Board of Trial Advocacy and was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. The majority of his trials involved representation of defendants in medical malpractice cases.

William R. Coulson was named a Superlawyer for 2025 by Thomson-Reuters. Coulson operates an IP/entertainment law practice out of Glenview, Illinois, and serves as a Director of the Regional Transportation Authority in Chicago.

Champaign native and Army veteran James Kearns passed away in early October at age 79. He spent the entirety of his legal career with Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen and continued actively practicing law and sharing his wisdom with colleagues until his death.

John L. Wildeboer recently published An Illinois Slavery Primer: Slavery and Indentured Servants Through the Lens of the Illinois Supreme Court (Amazon Books), in conjunction with his presentation, “Slavery in Illinois” at the 8th Annual Slave Dwelling Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 3–5, 2024.

Judge Jeffrey Ford (ret.) was awarded The Leadership and Therapeutic Justice Award by the Illinois Association of Problem-Solving Courts at its 2024 conference. The award is in recognition of substantial contributions to promoting problem-solving courts in Illinois by implementing and enhancing therapeutic justice responses to persons with behavioral health disorders.

Robert V. Boharic, age 79, USMC Veteran, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at home on January 12, 2025.

Michael Kreloff announced his retirement from the practice of law as of December 31, 2024. Known as “one of the top ten Illinois Election Lawyers (because there are only seven),” he will continue to advise local and national candidates of the Democratic Party.

4/23/24: John F. Early, of Elgin, IL, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Thomas “Tim” J. Penn, Jr. passed away at his home in Peoria, Ill., on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Bruce N. Cook died Thursday, January 2, 2025, in Saint Louis, MO, at the age of 84. After serving four years in the Navy, Bruce earned his law degree and started his own law firm and served as a Democratic national and state central committeeman during his career.

Robert “Bob” Laverne Watson, 87, of Brighton, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025. After earning his law degree, Bob worked for the State Department and Illinois Attorney General before opening his own firm in his hometown.

Robert L. Watson died Saturday, January 11, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 87.

After 55 years as a practicing attorney, Allen Jacobs has retired as of January 31, 2023.

William “Bill” Matheson Ahlenius passed away on December 18, 2024. Bill was a double Illini and a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and ultimately achieved the rank of Commander. Bill spent the majority of his career at the Peoria, Illinois, firm of Swain, Johnson, and Gard, making partner and becoming a well-respected pillar of the Peoria legal community. Bill’s granddaughter, Blair Engerman, followed in his footsteps and graduated from the College of Law in 2020.

David Murray, retired partner of Ward Murray Pace and Johnson of Sterling, Illinois, was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award by the FAA for 50 years of safe flying without an accident or violation of an FAA regulation.

1/24/24: John Greanias has been awarded a research grant to develop a curriculum for academic study of the evolution of moral and ethical principles of United States law. The grant was awarded by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Greanias is presently a lecturer at Santa Clara University School of Law and a member of the faculty of Stanford Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop. He previously served as an Illinois Circuit Court Judge (1987- 2008).

4/23/24: Henry E. “Woody” Kramer died on December 12, 2023, at the age of 82. He was a partner in the Brainard, Bower & Kramer law firm in Charleston, Illinois, and practiced law there for nearly 50 years.

David E. Morewitz, tax attorney, financial specialist, and founder of the Steamship Quanza Project, passed away at the age of 91 in New York City.

Wayne L. Hanold, 92, died on Monday, November 18, 2024, at his home in Peoria, Illinois