Class Notes
Class Notes are displayed in the order that they are received. You may also view notes by decade, or by class year – simply click on the decade or click on the + symbol to expand the decade and display by year. If a given class year does not appear, notes do not exist for that particular year.
Lawrence Kern '88
(7/22/24)
Holland & Knight recently announced Lawrence "Larry" Kern has been elevated to partner in the Private Wealth Services Group in Chicago; he was previously a shareholder in the firm.
Patrick Krekels '88
(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.
John E. Thies '88
(10/11/23)
John E. Thies has been appointed vice chair of the American Bar Association’s Center for Innovation. He was also recently elected to the Council of the ABA’s Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division Executive Committee. Thies is past president of the Illinois State Bar Association and practices with the Champaign-Urbana law firm of Webber & Thies, PC.
Robert Hu '88
(3/22/23)
A faculty member at St. Mary's University School of Law in Texas, Robert Hu recently published Research Guide to Chinese Patent Law and Practice, 2nd ed. via William S. Hein & Co.
Alan King '88
(9/8/20)
Alan King has joined Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila in Chicago and will chair the firm's national Labor & Employment practice. He joins fellow alum and longtime friend Patricia Brown Holmes (c/o 1986) there. Judge Holmes is the firm's managing partner.
Aaron Shepley '88
(7/14/20)
Aaron T. Shepley, age 56, Mayor and lifelong resident and advocate of Crystal Lake, IL, died peacefully at home on May 4, 2020.
Shari Viner '88
(7/14/20)
Shari Viner passed away in Chicago, IL on June 19, 2020.
Richard Hanus '88
(5/23/19)
Transcripts from a precedent-setting deportation case Richard Hanus successfully defended - included up to the US Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit – were adapted verbatim for the theatrical production of “The Courtroom”. The actual case is the subject of the precedent decision, Keathley v. Holder, 696 F.3d 644 (7th Cir. 2012). The Courtroom features Tony and Hobie award-winning cast actors and ran Off Broadway in recent months at various site-specific locations across New York City, including at the Thurgood Marshall U.S. District Court House, and more recently at the New York City Bar Association. Following the latter performance, Richard Hanus participated in a lively panel discussion about the play as well as current immigration law issues. Plans are underway for more performances to be presented at locations across the U.S.
Michael D. Weis '88
(10/8/18)
Michael D. Weis has joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in Chicago, in the firm's Commercial Transactions Practice Group. Weis, who earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1998, has more than 30 years of experience as a business and commercial transactions attorney and previously served as General Counsel for a long term care organization. Mr. Weis is a Certified Public Accountant.
Michele Eaddy '88
(8/29/18)
Michele Eaddy '88, a shareholder at Thrun Law Firm, P.C., has been elected to the NSBA Council of School Attorneys Board of Directors for a two year term.
Miguel Zaldivar '88
(8/16/18)
Miguel Zaldivar has been appointed Regional Chief Executive for Asia Pacific and Middle East at Hogan Lovells.
Michael Florey '88
(5/22/18)
Michael Florey, a principal at Fish & Richardson, the largest intellectual property law firm in the country, was named a top “Band 1” IP attorney in the 2018 edition of "Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business."
David Sodergren '88
(11/9/17)
David R. Sodergren, age 54 of Warren and formerly of Rockford and Grand Rapids, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. David is survived by his mother, Patricia Sodergren of Rockford; his sisters-in-law, Sandra Phillips and Pamela (Jack) Henry; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins.
Richard Hanus '88
(5/5/2017)
On April 15, 2017, NBC News' Justice Department correspondent Pete Williams featured Margarita Fitzpatrick and her attorney, Richard Hanus, a 1988 College of Law graduate, in a televised national report chronicling Margarita’s fight against deportation after she was wrongly solicited and approved for voter registration at her local Department of Motor Vehicles.