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.
Jennifer Van Kirk '96
(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.
Rachel Janutis '95
(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.
Deidre Baumann '92
(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.
Robert Jacobson '96
(2/19/24)
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.
Jason Torf '98
(2/19/24)
Tucker Ellis LLP attorney Jason Torf has been named to the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list in the area of Bankruptcy: Business.
John Milhiser '97
(12/11/23)
The Sangamon County Board unanimously approved the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as Sangamon County State's Attorney. The appointment is effective November 17 through the end of the term following the 2024 election.
David Cialkowski '98
(12/11/23)
Zimmerman Reed Partner David M. Cialkowski has been named Co-Vice Chair for the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL) Amicus Committee. In his role, Cialkowski will help COSAL give voice to its views to help shape and safeguard antitrust law.
Lisa Friedheim-Weis '97
(9/19/23)
After 26 years as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, Lisa Friedheim-Weis was appointed an Administrative Law Judge for the National Labor Relations Board. There are approximately 40 such judges in the country.
Juan Thomas '96
(9/19/23)
Juan Thomas has been appointed to the Advisory Commission to the Task Force for American Democracy by the American Bar Association. The Advisory Commission will help Task Force members consider ways to depoliticize how elections are administered, educate the public on democracy, and try to foster election innovations that address the causes of politicization.
David Cialkowski '98
(8/22/23)
David Cialkowski was recently recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers in America, a recognition he’s received for the past 5 years.
Juan Thomas ;96
(8/22/23)
Juan Thomas, Founder and Principal of The Thomas Law Group and Of Counsel at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. in Chicago has been elected Secretary of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP), putting him is succession to become President of NCBP in three years. With his election, Mr. Thomas will become the first Past President of the National Bar Association to serve as President of NCBP. The National Conference of Bar Presidents is a national association of lawyers/bar leaders whose mission is to provide high-quality programming and leadership development training for members of the legal community.
Brian Shaw '93
(8/21/23)
Lawdragon named Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2023 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.
Joseph Zingher '90
(8/21/23)
A crime statute has been proposed in Illinois based on research done by Joseph Zingher. The statute, proposed in the name of Zingher and two victims, would make it much easier for the police to investigate and solve cases of "Express Kidnapping."
David Cialkowski '98
(7/24/23)
David Cialkowski has been selected to the 2023 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. A partner at Zimmerman Reed, Cialkowski focuses on antitrust, consumer protection, and product liability matters.
Lisa Holder White '93
(7/20/23)
Justice Lisa Holder White is running for a full term on the Supreme Court of Illinois after being appointed unanimously on July 7, 2022, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Rita B. Garman.
Juan Thomas '96
(7/20/23)
Juan Thomas, founder and principal of The Thomas Law Group and Of Counsel at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. in Chicago, has been elected 3rd Vice President of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), putting him in line to become President of the IBF in three years. With his election, Mr. Thomas will become only the second African American lawyer to serve as President of the IBF, which was founded in 1951 by the Illinois State Bar Association.
Kevin Veugeler '96
(7/20/23)
Kevin Veugeler has been named an equity partner at HealyScanlon. The firm is now know as Healy Scanlon Veugeler Gannon.
Mary Kay O'Brien '94
(5/21/23)
Mary Kay O’Brien was honored at the Will County Champions Reception in May as a Champion of the Illinois Bar Foundation for significant contributions to law and society, including dedicated service through the Illinois Bar Foundation.
Kerri Holloway '98
(5/21/23)
Kerri J. Holloway JD '98, LLM '01 was appointed as Chief Academic Officer/Provost for the University of Business Innovation and Sustainability with headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Tony D'Anzica '97
(3/22/23)
On February 2, 2023, Tony L. D'Anzica was installed as President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the second largest Realtor association in New York State, representing over 13,500 members in the counties of Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, and Putnam. Tony also serves a Director of the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
Kozo Yabe '94
(2/24/23)
Kozo Yabe (LLM '94) is Chair of Intellectual Property Center at the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. The Center is a standing committee of nation-wide leaders among intellectual property lawyers in Japan. He is currently a partner of Midosuji LPC Tokyo Office.
Richard Miller '97
(1/23/23)
Richard L. Miller II has joined the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Board of Directors. During the course of his career, Richard has served as a speaker, moderator, and organizer of litigation related educational events for IICLE. Richard has also authored 20 IICLE chapters, the majority of which relate to trial advocacy in Illinois state and federal courts.
John Connor '95
(12/20/22)
In the November 2022 elections, John Connor ran for the circuit judge opening in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, and won. After leaving the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office as Major Crimes Chief in 2017 for the Illinois House as the 85th District state representative, he was subsequently elected state senator from Illinois’ 43rd senate district and chaired the Criminal Law committee before running for circuit judge. He was sworn in as a circuit judge on December 5th, 2022.
Brian Shaw '93
(11/17/22)
Cozen O'Connor attorney Brian Shaw has been named to the The American College of Bankruptcy Board of Regents, where he will represent the Seventh Circuit Court for a three-year term. A member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, Brian has also been recognized in 2022 by SuperLawyers (Top 100 in Illinois), by Lawdragon (Top 500 Bankruptcy), by Best Lawyers, and by Chambers US. He also contributes regularly to Law360 on bankruptcy issues.
Tiffany Smith '98
(10/21/22)
Tiffany Smith has been promoted to the role of General Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. She has served as Chief Tax Counsel since 2016 and on the committee since 2007, playing a key role in every tax bill Congress has passed in the last decade and leading the tax team through consideration of historic legislation, most recently the Inflation Reduction Act.
Paul Golden '94
(10/21/22)
"Litigating Constructive Trusts" by Paul Golden, a partner in a Brooklyn civil litigation firm, was published by the ABA in September 2022. Former Illinois professor, James Pfander, provided a blurb for the book.
Mark Hansen '94
(10/21/22)
Mark Hansen, senior associate general counsel for GROWMARK, Inc. in Bloomington, Ill., has been elected vice president of corporate of the International Association of Defense Counsel for the 2022-25 term.
Chad Noreuil '95
(9/21/22)
Carolina Academic Press recently published the second edition of The Zen of Passing the Bar Exam by Chad Noreuil.
Eric Martin '96
(8/22/22)
Eric Martin was named co-leader of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's Financial Services Disputes & Investigations group. Eric has an active trial practice representing clients in the securities, consumer finance, and cryptocurrency industries. Eric is based in the St. Louis office.
Aalok Virmani '99
(7/8/22)
Aalok Virmani has joined DLA Piper LLP as a partner in the Chicago office. Virmani was formerly a partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP's tax practice.
Brian Shaw '93
(5/24/22)
The American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) has named to its Board of Regents Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice.
Scott Weisenberg '96
(5/24/22)
Scott Weisenberg joined FisherBroyles as a Partner in the firm's Commercial Real Estate Practice.
Denise Conklin '97
(3/25/22)
Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal services to senior citizens and low-income persons in northern and central Illinois, has named Denise E. Conklin, managing attorney of its Peoria/Galesburg office, as its new executive director.
Tony D'Anzica '97
(12/21/21)
On October 25, 2021 Tony D'Anzica was elected President-Elect of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors and he will serve as its President-Elect in 2022. Tony was formerly the President of the Manhattan Association of Realtors until 2016, when it merged with the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, the second largest Realtor Association in New York State. Tony also serves as Director of the New York State Association of Realtors and as a Director of the National Association of Realtors. Tony is a licensed real estate broker in New York and represents local and international real estate investors. He is the Broker-owner of Dynamax Realty Inc. and Dynamax Realty NYC Inc., both located in New York state.
Mike Morkin '90
(12/21/21)
Mike Morkin has joined Venable’s Chicago Office as a partner in their Commercial Litigation division. Mike will continue to assist clients with their international arbitration and litigation issues. Mike will also serve as Venable’s Growth & Expansion partner focusing on the strategic hiring of partners/groups of partners across the US.
Claudia Rustad '99
(12/9/21)
Roeser Tanner & Graham welcomed Claudia M. Rustad to the firm as a principal.
Claudia concentrates her practice in commercial litigation matters, drawing on more than 20 years of experience representing clients in state and federal proceedings, arbitrations and mediations in jurisdictions across the country.
Throughout her career, Claudia has successfully defended and prosecuted cases involving contract breach, real estate and employment disputes, fiduciary duty, professional duty and fraud claims, among others. She also regularly provides outside general counsel services, advising clients on commercial contracts, litigation management, corporate governance, compliance and risk management.
Prior to joining the firm, Claudia served as a trial attorney in the commercial litigation department of a nationally renowned litigation boutique and as Senior Assistant General Counsel at a premier Chicago-based real estate investment trust.
Claudia earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1999 following completion of her B.A. from the University of Illinois in 1996.
Ngozi Okorafor '98
(11/30/21)
Ngozi Okorafor passed away on November 23, 2021 at the age of 48 in Homewood, Illinois. She was the Director of Employment Actions for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and served as a former president of the BWLA (Black Women Lawyers' Association). She was listed as one of "Illinois’ 40 Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" and was a 2020 Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award Honoree.
Chris Haaff '97
(10/27/21)
Chris S. Haaff completed his first full Ironman distance triathlon at Chattanooga in September 2021. Chris finished the 2.4 mile swim, 116 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run in just under 16 hours. Next summer, Chris will compete at Ironman Wisconsin.
Michael Osanloo '91
(10/26/21)
Michael Osanloo '91, President and CEO of Portillo's, recently rang the closing bell at Nasdaq to mark the occasion of the company's IPO.
Tracey Wolfe '98
(8/13/21)
Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres is pleased to announce that accomplished employment attorney and commercial litigator Tracey Wolfe has joined the firm as partner. Tracey brings more than 20 years of experience across a broad range of commercial and employment matters, adding depth of knowledge and litigation experience to two key areas of practice within the growing firm.
Dawn Rosemond '96
(7/9/21)
Barnes & Thornburg Partner and Director of Diversity Dawn Rosemond has been named a recipient of the 2021 Anti-Defamation League Midwest Women of Achievement Award, which honors women who "embody the spirit and philosophy of ADL through their efforts to improve communication and understanding". She has served in various roles with the firm since 1996 and was the first Black female to make equity partner at the firm.
Laura Seidel '92
(7/1/21)
Laura Seidel, a 1992 University of Illinois College of Law graduate, has been named partner at the national law firm of Ballard Spahr. She is a Co-Team Leader of the Insurance Company and Institutional Investments Team and represents leading clients nationwide in the areas of secured lending and commercial real estate. Ms. Seidel has significant experience in structuring, negotiating, and closing loan transactions secured by assets and all types of commercial real estate, including office, retail, industrial, warehouse, multifamily, assisted living, and hotel properties. In addition, Ms. Seidel handles real estate leasing matters and represents clients in the acquisition and disposition of property. She also represents services of commercial mortgage loans involving, particularly, loan defeasances, restructurings and workouts.
Gail Curley '99
(5/12/21)
Col. Gail Curley, an attorney in the U.S. Army who has advised military leaders on national security law, will be the Supreme Court’s new marshal, effective June 21.
Tu Pham '96
(3/27/21)
Tu Pham was elevated to Chief United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
Adam Fleischer '94
(3/25/21)
Adam H. Fleischer, Managing Partner at BatesCarey, earned top ChambersUSA rankings both nationally and in Illinois for his insurance work – one of only two attorneys awarded in both jurisdictions in 2021. Fleischer was lauded as “an effective advocate who is very knowledgeable and professional. Adam is very proficient, collaborative and focused on achieving the best outcome in the most efficient manner.”
Linda Evers '91
(3/2/21)
Linda R. Evers has been elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), a prominent honorary society that recognizes outstanding legal leadership and community service. Ms. Evers is Chair of Stevens & Lee’s Energy, Communications and Public Utility Group. She represents public utilities and other companies in matters before governmental and regulatory agencies, including the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Ms. Evers is a recipient of the 2010 Berks County Presidential Award of Merit for promoting diversity in the legal profession by teaching business law to grade school children. She was also one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Sigma Omega’s 65th Anniversary Community Partner Honorees and is a member of The National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Douglas Quivey '94
(3/2/21)
Douglas Quivey has been announced as the new acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Quivey has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the same district since Jan. 2019. He is taking over as acting U.S. attorney by virtue of the Vacancies Reform Act.
Scott Brinkmeier '92
(2/3/21)
Carroll County State’s Attorney Scott Brinkmeier has been named the new associate judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit. The appointment is effective Monday, March 1.
Ramona Sullivan '96
(12/21/20)
Ramona Sullivan was elected Resident Circuit Judge in Champaign County on November 3, and was sworn in on December 7, 2020.
Sang-yul Lee '95
(12/7/20)
Sang-yul Lee, a partner at K&L Gates, has been elected a 2020 Fellow to the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. The College is a non-profit professional association honoring the leading lawyers nationwide in the practice of Labor and Employment Law. Fellows are recognized as distinguished members of the labor and employment community who promote achievement, advancement and excellence in the practice by setting standards of professionalism and civility, by sharing their experience and knowledge and by acting as a resource for academia, the government, the judiciary and the community at large.
David Adams '96
(10/23/20)
David Adams was named General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Kaplan North America, one of the world's largest providers of educational services to students, universities, and businesses. David previously served as General Counsel of Kaplan division, Kaplan Higher Education.
Brian Shaw '93
(10/20/20)
Brian Shaw has joined Cozen O’Connor’s nationally recognized Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring Practice in the Chicago office.
Wendy Cappelletto '90
(7/24/20)
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), an association of attorneys dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to older adults and people with disabilities, is proud to announce its appointment of Wendy Shparago Cappelletto, Esq., CAP, of Chicago, Ill., as President of the 2020-2021 Board of Directors.
Kate O'Malley '93
(7/16/20)
Kate O’Malley has been nominated for the 2020 Excellence in Advocacy Award given by Women in Government Relations. The award goes to advocates who represent their issue, cause, or organization in the public policy arena. Kate and her firm, K.O. Strategies, were nominated for the “Excellence in a State Issue Campaign” category for her work on the “1/2 Cent for Mental Health” campaign in Winnebago County, IL, for which her firm directed strategy and communications. The campaign won by a commanding 24-point margin, 62%-38%. The referendum that passed will generate $12-13 million in local funding for mental health and substance abuse services.
Sam Limentato '94
(5/21/20)
Sam Limentato, a civil attorney in Champaign, has been appointed as a circuit judge in Champaign County.
Joseph VanFleet '90
(4/16/20)
Joseph VanFleet, a partner with the Royal Oak, Mich.-based Howard & Howard law firm, has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). VanFleet, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, is a member of Howard & Howard’s Business Litigation Practice Group.
Sandra Shelson '90
(3/21/20)
Sandra Shelson, executive director of The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, was recently profiled in the Jackson Free Press. Shelson's daughter, Carlisle, is currently a 2L at the University of Illinois College of Law.
Brian McAleenan '98
(3/10/20)
Brian A. McAleenan has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group in its Chicago office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, McAleenan was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.
Ellyn Bullock '91
(2/21/20)
Ellyn Bullock was nominated to be a 2019 Angels in Adoption Honoree. The award, hosted by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, honors those who have made an exceptional contribution on behalf of children in need of a family. Ellyn has extensive experience in adoption and has finalized the adoptions of over 1,500 children all over central Illinois. She also handles guardianships of children and disabled adults.
Devon Bruce '93
(1/27/20)
Devon Bruce has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Teachers’ Retirement System in Illinois. Bruce previously served in various public sector roles as the Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, which oversaw approximately $18 billion dollars of pension funds, in addition to service on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Bruce has previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois College of Law and the Trinity College, Dublin, School of Law. He currently serves on various public and charity boards including Navy Pier, the American Ireland Fund, the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago and Car 553. He is a partner at the law firm of Power, Rogers & Smith.
Louis Peasley '96
(12/24/19)
Louis Peasley, JD/MALIR 1996, serves as the Senior Grants Officer for the US Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. He previously served the US Small Business Administration as Director of Financial Oversight, and the US Department of State as a Procurement and Contracts Officer. He earned a Masters in Secured Information Systems (MSIS) in Cybersecurity from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation. In May 2020 he will receive his Masters in Technology Management from George Mason University.
Rob Spencer '98
(11/21/19)
Rob Spencer was appointed General Counsel of Henniges Automotive, a global Tier 1 automotive supplier.
Adam Fleischer '94
(11/11/19)
Adam Fleischer was named a 2019 Trailblazer by the National Law Journal, a distinction bestowed on only 17 firms.
Adam received this honor for leading the BatesCarey team and its insurance clients through some of the most difficult coverage issues facing the industry, such as football concussions, school molestation, malicious prosecution and the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Adam is a member of the management committee at the law firm BatesCarey LLP with a national reputation for innovative advocacy in complex insurance and reinsurance coverage issues with respect to the pre-litigation, litigation and appellate stages.
Eric Reicin '94
(11/7/19)
BBB National Programs, Inc. announced the appointment of Eric D. Reicin as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 4, 2019. His appointment follows a June 1, 2019 reorganization resulting in the establishment of BBB NP.
Following a nationwide search, Reicin was selected as CEO for his broad experience with transformational change and over 25 years of experience assisting organizations grow. He joins BBB NP after most recently serving as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for MorganFranklin Consulting, LLC. and its parent, MorganFranklin, Inc. After several years of growth, Vaco (backed by Olympus Partners) acquired MorganFranklin on July 31, 2019.
Madeleine Sharko '90
(10/25/19)
Madeleine Sharko received the Executive Director's Award from the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program on November 1, 2018 at their Annual Dinner held at Chicago's Union League Club.
Adam Hoeflich '91
(10/8/19)
Adam Hoeflich has been named to the Northwestern University Board of Trustees. A partner at Bartlit Beck LLP and a professor of practice at the Pritzker School of Law, Hoeflich is a courtroom lawyer focused on complex litigation, class actions and legal ethics.
Michelle Preiksaitis '91
(9/26/19)
Dr. Michelle Preiksaitis (JD '91) has been appointed the Associate Faculty Chair, Doctoral programs, for the Capella University School of Business and Technology. Michelle earned her PhD in Management in 2016, and has taught and mentored doctoral, master, and bachelor level students for two decades, after practicing law in Illinois for 15 years. She resides in Florida, but has remained an ISBA member and active lawyer in Illinois. She encourages all to consider life-long learning opportunities.
Martin Akins '92
(8/26/19)
Martin Akins, formerly SVP, General Counsel of Express Scripts Holding Company, has been appointed to Exela Technologies, Inc.'s board of directors.
Michael Duran '93
(8/12/19)
On June 19th, Michael Duran was named 3M’s Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer reporting directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. In this role, Michael helps to ensure that 3M operates with the highest ethics and integrity and builds on 3M’s reputation for trust and doing business the right way. 3M is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in St. Paul,Mn with over $32 billion in sales, 93,000 employees, and operations 70 countries.
Jason Hood '94
(7/15/19)
Jason M. Hood was appointed Assistant Vice President of academic affairs at Eastern Illinois University.
Robert Johnson '93
(6/22/19)
Taylor English Duma LLP announced the addition of Robert Johnson as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group to expand its presence in the Chicago legal market. Prior to joining Taylor English, Johnson served as a partner and chief diversity partner and inclusion officer at a national, multi-disciplined law firm. Johnson has more than 25 years of experience providing management and consulting services to corporate departments, focusing on various matters involving risk assessment and reduction.
Jennifer Clark '96
(4/29/19)
Jennifer (Mussman) Clark was elected to the Lake County (IL) Board in the November 2018 elections. Jennifer is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Economics at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and ran for office because she believes that we need more economists and teachers in government. Jennifer defeated a 32 year Board veteran and acting Chair of the Lake County Board by 18 votes out of over 13,000 votes cast.
Ted Smith '98
(4/17/19)
Ted Smith, a partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, has been inducted into the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). Admission to the organization is by invitation only after a rigorous screening process, making it the premier organization of real estate lawyers in the United States.
Kristine Tuttle '95
(3/25/19)
Kristine Tuttle has joined Wittman & Lorton, P.C. as a senior attorney. Ms. Tuttle’s practice will consist of general civil litigation, including personal injury, probate, and real estate litigation, banking matters including both creditors’ and debtors’ rights, mineral law (oil, gas and coal rights) and family law.
Chad Shear '99
(3/2/19)
Chad Shear, a principal at Fish & Richardson, has been named an “Intellectual Property Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal. Shear was included for “deep passion and perseverance in pursuit of his mission” and for “having achieved remarkable successes.” A leader in Fish’s life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation section, he has handled litigation for pharmaceutical giants Sunovion, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Gilead Sciences, and Allergan pertaining to their life-saving drugs.
Arthur Willis '94
(12/12/18)
Arthur Wesley Willis was sworn in as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge on December 3rd.
Grant Gulovsen '98
(11/25/18)
The CryptoLaw Podcast (www.cryptolawpodcast.com), a weekly discussion of cryptocurrency law & regulation co-founded by 1998 alum Grant Gulovsen in October of 2018, has already interviewed two other College of Law Alumni in its two month existence: Zach Smolinksi (2000) and Wulf Kaal (2005).
John Milhiser '97
(11/5/18)
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois has appointed John C. Milhiser as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois pending his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Milhiser began his new duties effective Oct. 31, 2018. President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Milhiser in August 2018.
Heath R. Fear '95
(10/5/18)
Heath Fear has been appointed Kite Realty Group Trust's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as of November 5, 2018. Kite Realty Group Trust is a full-service, vertically integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that provides communities with convenient and beneficial shopping experiences.
Federico Rodriguez '98
(8/27/18)
Federico was recently honored with the inaugural Latino Lawyer of the Year award at the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois' Gala Dinner. He was also just sworn into the Board of Managers for the Chicago Bar Association at its annual luncheon. Lastly, the American Bar Association President appointed Federico to the ABA's Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities.
Michael Osanloo '91
(8/16/18)
Michael Osanloo, currently the CEO of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, has been named the CEO of Portillo's effective October 1st.
Juan Thomas '96
(7/23/18)
Juan Thomas has been appointed General Counsel of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association. In his role, Thomas will be responsible for the entire governance team and how they align with the college and local chapters. Thomas is a 1992 graduate of Morehouse College.
Michael Chabraja '92
(7/12/18)
Michael Chabraja recently joined Ice Miller’s Tax Exempt Group as a partner. Michael concentrates his practice on representing large trade associations and other nonprofit entities in a variety of risk management issues. He provides advice on matters relating to antitrust, governance, intellectual property and member disputes for nonprofit organizations, including professional societies and trade associations.
Charles Leuin '94
(6/14/18)
Charles L. Leuin has joined Benesch’s Chicago office as a partner. His practice focuses on complex employment and commercial litigation. Before joining Benesch, Charles had been a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig since 2005.
Mahrukh Hussain '96
(6/12/18)
Mahrukh Hussain received the Corporate Counsel Achievement Award during the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) North America Annual Conference. Hussain is VP - U.S. General Counsel at McDonald's Corporation.
Richard Miller '97
(6/12/18)
Richard L. Miller II, in conjunction with Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), has authored a handbook entitled "Laying Foundations for Introducing Evidence." Mr. Miller will be speaking at, and moderating, a half-day CLE on foundations in Chicago in December 2018. Mr. Miller has published various, additional IICLE chapters and he was named IICLE's "Author of the Year" in 2015.
Alfred Williams '97
(6/8/18)
Alfred Williams has been appointed president of River Valley Community College in New Hampshire. He previously served as the dean of academic affairs and student services at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Connecticut.
Bruce Radke '93
(6/6/18)
Bruce Radke has joined Polsinelli as a shareholder and co-chair of the firm's Privacy & Cybersecurity group, based in Chicago. Bruce counsels clients on a wide variety of privacy and data security issues. He has assisted private- and public-sector clients across multiple industry verticals in connection with incidents ranging from system-wide network intrusions and ransomware attacks to cyber extortion, fraudulent wire transfers, e-mail account compromises, stolen computer hardware, and employee misconduct.
Charles Leuin '94
(5/4/18)
Shareholder Charles B. Leuin and associates Ian Burkow and Kyle L. Flynn at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received the “Excellence in Pro Bono Service” award from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, at the 19th Annual Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award Ceremony, May 1, in Chicago.
The award honors attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Michael Friman '91
(4/25/18)
Michael Friman has merged his commercial real estate practice with the full-service law firm of Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC, as the head of its Real Estate and Finance Group. He will continue to represent developers, lenders and businesses in mixed-use condominium, apartment, industrial, office and retail projects, as well as leasing, finance and construction matters.
Bjay Pak '98
(3/7/18)
Byung J. Pak was honored during a ceremonial dinner hosted by the American Korean Friendship Society Inc. on February 23, 2018. He received the "New American Hero" award.
Jennifer Martin '95
(2/9/18)
Jennifer Martin has joined Orrice, Herrington & Sutcliffe as the 10th partner in a 17-lawyer group.
Kowit Somwaiya '91
(1/30/18)
Kowit Somwaiya, Managing Partner and Founder of LawPlus Ltd. and LawPlus Myanmar Ltd., has been appointed to serve as a Director of the International Trademark Association (INTA) Board of Directors for the 2018-2020 term. Previously he was the Co-Chair of the INTA Global Advisory Council for Asia & Pacific and the Chair of the INTA Harmonization of Trademark Law and Practice Committee (2016-2017). INTA, headquartered in New York City, is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth and innovation.
Melvin Oden-Orr '96
(12/27/17)
Melvin Oden-Orr has been appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Mr. Oden-Orr, a hearings officer at the City of Portland, will fill a vacancy created by the impending retirement of Judge Edward J. Jones, and his appointment is effective January 1, 2018.
Madeleine Sharko '90
(12/21/17)
Madeleine Sharko received the Carl H. Rolewick Award from the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program on November 15, 2017 at their Annual Dinner held at Chicago's Union League Club.
David Horwitch '97
(12/20/17)
David Horwitch has been named President of the Chicago Real Estate Council.
Kate O'Malley '93
(9/18/17)
Kate O’Malley, President and Founder of K.O. Strategies, has launched a new service offering to support the success of women in law firms. Its Supporting Women’s Success™ program offers workshops, individual and group coaching, skills training, firm leadership consulting, and public relations/publicist services to support women in developing business and achieving the success they’ve defined for themselves. K.O. Strategies provides public relations, strategy, communications, advocacy, business development, and strategic planning services to a broad range of clients, including corporations, universities, health systems, and nonprofits. In addition to being a lawyer, Kate is a business owner, entrepreneur, and working mom. She has launched two successful businesses and served as adjunct faculty for a nationally-recognized MBA program.
Laura Snyder '94
(9/13/17)
Laura Snyder has published her second book about legal services, entitled "Modernizing Legal Services in Common Law Countries: Will the US Be Left Behind?" The book examines the ways in which common law countries such as England, Australia, and Canada have modernized their regulatory environments for legal services. It critiques stagnant regulation practices in the US and offers a blueprint for effective regulation of legal services to ensure affordable and accessible civil justice for all citizens.
Theodore Smith '98
(9/5/17)
Ted Smith has been included on the 2018 Best Lawyers in America list. Smith was selected as a Best Lawyer in Construction and Real Estate Law. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Thomas Mills '93
(8/28/17)
Thomas Mills joins Notre Dame Law School as Kresge Law Library director.
Steven Migala '96
(8/28/17)
Steven Migala, a partner at Lavelle Law in Schaumburg, IL, recently was appointed to Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission.
Juan Thomas '96
(8/18/17)
Chicago lawyer Juan Thomas was sworn in August 3, 2017 as president of the National Bar Association, a professional organization for African-American attorneys that historically has fought for civil rights.
Thomas, 46, is a senior attorney in the Chicago office of Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer and practices in family law, real estate, employment and estate planning. He previously served as national vice president and secretary of the 60,000-member organization made up of lawyers, judges, educators and law students.
Carl Bergetz '96
(7/27/17)
Carl Bergetz, JD, has been appointed chief legal officer of the Rush system. With this appointment, Bergetz also assumes the roles as senior vice president of legal affairs and general counsel for Rush University Medical Center.
Byung Jin Pak '98
(7/26/17)
If confirmed, Byung Jin (“BJay”) Pak of Georgia will serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Pak is currently a member of Chalmers Pak Burch & Adams LLC, where his practice focuses on complex litigation and government investigations. Mr. Pak was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017, during which he served as a Deputy Majority Whip, and as the Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. From 2002 to 2008, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia, where he prosecuted drug trafficking, money laundering, intellectual property, and white-collar crimes. Prior to becoming a Federal prosecutor, he was a litigation associate at Alston & Bird LLP. Mr. Pak clerked for the Honorable Richard Mills of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He received his B.B.A. from Stetson University in 1995 and his J.D., summa cum laude, from University of Illinois College of Law in 1998.
Greg Scoggins '91
(7/19/17)
Gregg Scoggins '91, of Richmond, VA passed away on March 26, 2017.
Elizabeth Herrington '97
(6/28/17)
Beth Herrington was named president of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association in May 2017.
Michael Bess '95
(6/27/17)
Michael Bess has been named a a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in Chicago. He is a member of the Litigation Practice Group serving as a strategic counselor in complex commercial and criminal cases. Bess has significant drafting expertise and has proved instrumental in securing case dismissals, defeating class certifications, and preserving or reversing judgments on appeal. Bess’s experience spans a wide variety of fields, including securities and consumer fraud class actions, product liability, employment discrimination, white collar, criminal, civil rights, environmental, False Claims Act investigations, and state common law actions.
Grant Gulovsen '98
(6/16/17)
Grant is currently working with executive producer David Kolko on an international reality competition between up-and-coming social media influencers from the U.S. and China that will be broadcast in both countries. Celebrity guests include YouTube makeup artist Promise Phan as well as Shanghai fashion photographer and Asia's Next Top Model resident judge Todd Anthony Tyler.
Gilbert Taylor '94
(5/5/2017)
The Hon. Gilbert Taylor is serving as a New York State Family Court Judge assigned in New York City. Appointed to the Bench in March of 2016, Judge Taylor has presides over child protective, juvenile delinquency, family offense and child custody cases. Judge Taylor resides in New York City.
Melissa Prober '95
(4/25/2017)
Melissa Chroman Prober was recently named Executive Director of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Chicago North Shore. Founded in 1893, NCJW is the oldest Jewish women's organization in the US and is an advocate for the rights and well-being of women, children, and families locally, nationally, and around the world.
Rosa Ochoa-Martinez '97
(3/30/2017)
Rosa Ochoa-Martinez has been hired as a deputy attorney general in the Office of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.
Ann Barron '94
(3/21/2017)
Heyl Royster has announced that attorney Ann C. Barron has become a partner in the firm’s Edwardsville office. Ms. Barron dedicates her practice to civil litigation, including environmental and business-related disputes, nursing home litigation, and personal injury defense. She began her legal career in 1994, serving as a law clerk to the Honorable James D. Heiple of the Illinois Supreme Court. After her clerkship, Ms. Barron worked for two law firms in the St. Louis area. She then served as in-house counsel at Valero in San Antonio, TX. While at Valero she managed complex environmental, commercial, class action and tort litigation matters. In 2013, Ms. Barron joined Heyl Royster as of counsel. Ms. Barron graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Rachel Janutis '95
(1/26/2017)
Rachel Janutis has been appointed dean of the Capital University Law School. Named interim dean at the Law School in 2014, Dean Janutis is the first female dean of the Law School and has been a member of Capital's law faculty since 2002. Prior to her appointment as interim dean, she had served as the Law School’s associate dean for Academic Affairs since 2010, and previously as director of Faculty Development. She is highly regarded by students, faculty, and administration for her work as both a future-focused teacher and administrator.
Andrea M. Augustine '97
(1/20/2017)
Andrea M. Augustine has been named co-chair of the Patent Preparation and Prosecution division of Duane Morris' Intellectual Property Practice Group. Augustine focuses her practice in the areas of strategic counseling for patent and trademark procurement (domestic and foreign) and portfolio management in the electrical, mechanical and consumer product industries. She assists clients in drafting and negotiating IP-related agreements, including joint development, supply, licensing, sponsored-research, consultant and confidentiality agreements. Augustine performs freedom-to-operate, design-around, infringement and validity analyses; counsels clients on trade secret protection; and assists clients on due diligence for licensing and acquisition matters.
Dawn Rosemond '96
(12/7/2016)
Barnes & Thornburg LLP has announced that Dawn Rosemond, a litigation partner in its Fort Wayne office, has been named Director of Diversity, Professional Development and Inclusion. Rosemond has been with Barnes & Thornburg for 20 years, joining as an associate in 1996. She has been a partner since 2005.