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.
Collin Delaney '08
(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.
Brian Garrison '06
(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.
Hua Howard Wang '05
(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.
Hilda Bahena '01
(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.
Laura Labeots '03
(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.
James English '08
(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.
Raymond Ricordati III '02
(1/24/24)
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP has elected Raymond R. Ricordati, III to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Jeff Wakolbinger '08
(12/11/23)
Jeff Wakolbinger '08 joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in Chicago as a partner in the Intellectual Property and Technology group, where he focuses on litigation involving trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and false advertising.
Benjamin M. Williams '08
(11/16/23)
Benjamin M. Williams has joined the Southfield office of Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC as a member of the litigation practice group, focusing on family law cases including divorce, child support and spousal support, and criminal defense. Prior to his arrival at Foster Swift, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney in Chicago, Illinois for almost 13 years.
Corey Anne Tellez '05
(11/16/23)
On November 9, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Corey Anne Tellez to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Department of the Treasury. The White House cited her nearly 20 years of public service, including serving as acting Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Department of the Treasury and several prominent legislative assistant roles, in its press release announcing Tellez's selection.
Laura Waller '04
(11/16/23)
Laura Waller has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago. A member of the Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice and Tax Department, she advises clients on employment-related matters in corporate transactions and counsels employers on day-to-day legal issues, including hiring practices, personnel issues, employee separations, and restrictive covenants.
Claire Craig Evans '03
(9/19/23)
Claire Craig Evans’s memoir of her life in the UK, “High Tea and the Low Down,” was released August 31. It became the #1 bestseller in the categories Travel Humor and England Travel on Amazon in its first week.
Rob Beard '08
(8/21/23)
Mastercard announced the appointment of Rob Beard as chief legal officer, general counsel and head of Global Policy. He will oversee the company’s legal, public policy, regulatory affairs and litigation teams around the world
Marron Mahoney '07
(7/20/23)
Of Counsel at Laner Muchin Marron Mahoney was recently inducted as the 56th President of the Appellate Lawyers Association, an association of lawyers who practice in the courts of review and the judges who sit on those courts.
Michael Brody '03
(7/20/23)
In May, Michael Brody was Awarded the Student Appreciation Award by the 2023 Master’s Degree Class for being the faculty member "having the greatest positive impact on the class during the academic year." Brody recently received a second, four-year term appointment from the US Department of Homeland Security to serve as Agency Chair and Visiting Professor at the National Defense University, College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC).
Dania Duncan Moreno LLM '07
(5/21/23)
Dania Duncan Moreno LLM '07 has been named to the “2023 Texas Rising Stars” list published by Super Lawyers.
Leah Setzen '00
(4/20/23)
Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Leah D. Setzen as a Circuit Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County.
Andrew Vail '03
(3/22/23)
Crain’s Chicago Business selected Andrew Vail as a 2023 Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney, recognizing his successes and accomplishments among Chicago lawyers in the “complex, high-stakes world of litigation” and “headline-making courtroom battles.” Vail is a partner at Jenner & Block, where he is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Hospitality Practice and Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenants Practice.
Eric Carlson '07
(3/22/23)
Eric L. Carlson was promoted to Managing Director at Burford Capital. Carlson is based in the Chicago office and has responsibility for assessing and underwriting legal risk, particularly in the intellectual property space. He is focused on working with law firms, corporations, and IP holders to assess legal claims and leverage litigation finance.
Michael Halpin '08
(2/24/23)
Michael Halpin was sworn in to the Illinois Senate in January 2023, representing the 36th District. Previously, Halpin had served in the House of Representatives for the 72nd District, serving parts of western Illinois near Rock Island.
Jonathan Ksiazek '08
(2/24/23)
Jonathan Ksiazek was elevated to shareholder/partner at Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. on January 1, 2023. He previously spent almost 10 years at a boutique employment/civil rights firm in Chicago. At Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. he focuses his legal practice on employment and litigation matters.
Vivek Malek '04
(1/24/23)
Vivek Malek (LLM '04) took the oath of office as Missouri treasurer on January 17, becoming the first person of color to hold statewide office in Missouri.
Omar Jafri '08
(1/24/23)
Pomerantz LLP attorney Omar Jafri has been promoted to Partner. A member of the Firm’s Securities Litigation Practice Group, Jafri has appeared in over two dozen securities cases, authored over 50 pleadings and briefs, taken and defended over two dozen depositions, and argued numerous substantive motions in the U.S. District Courts as well as multiple appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
Zachary Kramer '04
(1/24/23)
Zachary Kramer has been named the next dean of Elon University School of Law following a national search. Currently serving as interim dean and the Jonathan & Wendy Rose Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Kramer will formally join the Elon Law community in June.
Viviana Martinez '06
(12/20/22)
Viviana Martinez was elected judge for the 14th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois in the November 2022 elections. She assumed office on December 5, 2022.
Scott Bennett '02
(12/20/22)
Scott M. Bennett passed away on Friday, December 9th, 2022.
Marlen Cortez Morris '06
(12/20/22)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been named a 2022 Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders magazine and selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America."
Linda Fang '05
(11/17/22)
Linda Fang has joined Keller Rohrback L.L.P.’s business group as a partner in its Seattle office. Linda uses her employment litigation background to help small and midsized businesses and nonprofits stay up to date with ever-changing employment laws, minimize risks, and avoid costly legal disputes.
Stephen Skardon '02
(8/22/22)
On August 17, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the appointment of Stephen Skardon as the City of Chicago's Chief Risk Officer. Skardon served as the acting Chief Risk Officer, overseeing the city’s first-ever enterprise risk assessment, prior to the permanent appointment. Before entering public service, Skardon practiced law at several law firms in Chicago, representing domestic and international insurers in complex environmental insurance coverage disputes.
Debra Bogo-Ernst '00
(8/22/22)
Mayer Brown appointed Debra Bogo-Ernst as managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office.
Katherine Imp '09
(7/8/22)
Katherine Imp's article with Mark Radcliffe, "Top Billing for NFTs," was featured on the cover of the May 2022 issue of Los Angeles Lawyer.
Pedro Cervantes '03
(7/8/22)
Pedro Cervantes passed away on May 26, 2022, in Chicago, IL.
Jospeh Bochenek '08
(5/24/22)
Joseph E. Bochenek has been elevated to Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP. Based in the firm’s Denver office, he represents clients in a variety of industries and emerging companies in connection with private debt and equity financing.
Jason Barickman '05
(4/19/22)
Illinois State Sen. Jason Barickman will discuss his career in politics and the most recent spring legislative session in a virtual conversation hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on April 21, 2022.
Christopher Stetler '04
(4/19/22)
Christopher Stetler returned to Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP as a partner in its litigation department. He previously served for one year as a law clerk to the Honorable Amy J. St. Eve, who was then a United States District Court Judge, and for 11 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, most recently as Deputy Chief.
Meg Leta Jones '08
(1/31/22)
Meg Leta Jones delivered a presentation on "The Character of Consent: The History of Cookies and Future of Technology Policy" at the Toronto Innovation Workshop on February 1, 2022. She is an Associate Professor in the Communication, Culture & Technology program at Georgetown University where she researches rules and technological change with a focus on privacy, memory, innovation, and automation in digital information and computing technologies.
Ashok Pinto '03
(12/8/21)
Ashok Pinto joined Intel in November 2021 as Director in the company’s Intellectual Property Policy Group based in Washington, D.C. after having served in all three branches of the U.S. government. He began his legal career in private practice as an IP litigator and most recently was Senior Advisor to the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank and Counselor to both the General Counsel and the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the Treasury Department. He has also held senior positions in Congress – on the House Oversight, Senate Judiciary, and Senate Commerce Committees – and as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office.
Monique Lashbrook '00
(11/15/21)
Monique Lashbrook has been named a finalist in San Diego Business Journal's Business Women of the Year Awards 2021. This list annually recognizes dynamic women business leaders who have contributed significantly to San Diego's workplaces and communities. Lashbrook is a real estate partner at Snell & Wilmer where she focuses her practice on real estate, corporate and commercial finance-related matters and transactions.
Jeffrey Ekeberg '08
(11/15/21)
Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Jeffrey K. Ekeberg as a shareholder in its Chicago office, expanding its team of attorneys with specialized skills needed to handle a surge in M&A transactions. Ekeberg, a tax attorney, will focus his practice on advising clients on the tax aspects of complex business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and capital markets transactions. He joins Greenberg Traurig from Kirkland & Ellis where he was a tax partner in its Chicago office.
Dale Chang '06
(11/12/21)
Dale Chang has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins in Chicago, effective January 1, 2022. A member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice in the Litigation & Trial Department he focuses on patent disputes involving a range of leading-edge technologies. He has tried more than a dozen cases in US federal courts and at the US International Trade Commission. He also has experience in challenging and defending patents before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He received his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2006 and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 2001.
Michael Strauss '04
(10/27/21)
Michael Strauss was honored this month at the A Safe Place annual gala with the Betty Toser "Angel" Award. He also helped to write several laws that recently passed in Illinois.
Joseph Yockey '04
(10/27/21)
In Fall 2021, Joseph Yockey was appointed the David H. Vernon Professor of Law at the University of Iowa College of Law. The David H. Vernon Professorship was established in 2001 through gifts from family, colleagues, and friends in memory of professor and former dean of the law school, David H. Vernon. Professor Yockey is the third holder of the Vernon chair.
Monique (Nikki) Bhargava '08
(10/21/21)
Monique (Nikki) Bhargava has joined Reed Smith in the firm’s Entertainment & Media Industry Group as a partner. Bhargava brings her deep knowledge of digital media, advertising, and privacy compliance, including extensive experience in the AdTech and MarTech space. She counsels consumer brands, advertising agencies, and media and technology companies in a broad range of industries.
Bhargava has been an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law where she has taught advertising and promotions law. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and earned a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.
Bhargava serves on the board of directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services as vice president of affiliate relations, and she is on the executive committee of the South Asian Bar Association of North America. In 2020, she was named to the Chicago Lawyer’s list of 40 Lawyers Under 40, and in 2018, she was honored by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of Chicago’s Notable Minority Lawyers.
Collin Delaney '08
(10/14/21)
Collin Delaney was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Collin serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas. In his civilian capacity, Collin is an U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Denver, Colorado.
Mei Tsang '02
(9/24/21)
Mei Tsang is the newly-elected Secretary for the Orange County Bar Association for a five (5) year term. Mei will be the President of the OCBA by 2025. The OCBA serves 7000 members in Orange County, California. Mei will also be President of the Community Legal Aid of SoCal in 2022, a 60-year-old organization that provides low bono and pro bono legal services to the Southern California people.
Andrew Vail '03
(8/27/21)
Andrew Vail, a litigation Partner at Jenner & Block LLP and general counsel at United Way of Metro Chicago, has been recognized for the Chicago Bar Foundation's Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award, which recognizes lawyers who “display a deep commitment to the fundamental principles of equal protection and equal justice in the community through outstanding pro bono service.”
Folarin Dosunmu '04
(8/23/21)
Folarin Dosunmu is now Vice President & General Counsel at Levy Restaurants in Chicago.
Daniel C' Jackson '01
(8/12/21)
Daniel Clark Jackson passed away on June 19, 2021 at the age of 70 in his adopted hometown of Champaign, IL. Following a successful career in business, he enrolled in law school at the University of Illinois at the age of 48. Dan practiced law in Champaign, first, as a prosecuting States Attorney for Champaign county, helping to improve the quality of life of its citizens, before moving on to private practice as a highly respected criminal defense attorney.
Katie Chamberlain '09
(6/19/21)
Katie Chamberlain (J.D., 2009, M.S.L.I.S., 2010) recently moved back to Champaign from Burlington, Vermont. She teaches online graduate courses at the Illinois iSchool and was included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Students for Spring 2021, when she taught Libraries, Information, & Society and Information Ethics. Katie is the guest editor of an upcoming special issue of the Journal of Information Ethics on social justice and ethics.
Helena Kiepura '09
(6/4/21)
Helena Kiepura has joined DLA Piper as a partner in the Patent Litigation practice, based in Washington, DC.
Omar Jafri '08
(5/13/21)
Omar Jafri has been selected for the National Law Journal's inaugural list of Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs’ Bar under the age of 40 in 2021, a new category in the Elite Trial Lawyers competition.
Marlen Cortez Morris '06
(4/7/21)
Marlén Cortez Morris has joined Ogletree Deakins as shareholder in the firm’s Chicago office. Marlén represents and advises clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters, as well as franchise and commercial litigation matters, in courts and alternative dispute resolution venues and before government agencies nationwide. She has been named to the 2020 Lawyers of Color Nation’s Best list and a 2021 Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.
Reema Dodin '06
(3/24/21)
Reema Dodin '06, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, was recently profiled in the Daily Beast as a key player in shepherding the COVID-19 relief bill through the Senate approval process.
Jessica Bregant '09
(2/16/21)
Jessica (“Jessie”) Bregant, a 2009 magna cum laude graduate of the College of Law, is now Professor Bregant, as she has accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Law at University of Houston Law Center, with a courtesy joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. She is currently finishing up a Jerome Hall Postdoctoral Fellow at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Marlén Cortez Morris '06
(1/29/21)
Marlén Cortez Morris, Litigation Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, was selected for inclusion in Crain’s 2020 Notable Minority Executives in Accounting, Consulting & Law, featuring a cohort of 56 who have overcome challenges and bias to rise to the top of their professions and who have stepped up to visible roles in diversity and inclusion initiatives. In 2020, Marlén also was named a Top Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine and a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.
Matthew Feery '07
(1/29/21)
Matthew Feery was elevated from associate to income principal in the Labor & Employment group at Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist, P.C.
Matt helps employers of all sizes support their business goals by developing best practices, strategies and solutions in compliance with labor and employment laws. In addition to his counseling practice, Matt represents and defends employers in litigation in numerous settings, including state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
Amir Ovcina '08
(1/7/21)
Amir Ovcina has been named a partner in the Business Group at Ice Miller LLP.
Lauren Ferrante '09
(1/4/21)
Lauren A. Ferrante has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm’s Chicago office. Ferrante offers experience representing clients in state and local tax (SALT) controversies and planning matters. Prior to joining Duane Morris, she was a partner in McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s SALT Practice.
Hilda Bahena '01
(12/3/20)
Hilda Bahena received the 2020 Distinguished Intern Award from the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) in early December. She was selected for her outstanding contributions to public interest law and pro bono in Illinois. As a law student, she served as a PILI Intern at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. Since then, Hilda has dedicated her entire career to public interest in the service of others.
Andrew Vail '03
(12/2/20)
Andrew Vail, a litigation Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, has been selected to serve as the first-ever United Way general counsel. In this role, Mr. Vail will provide important strategic advice and pro bono legal counsel to help the United Way and its partners throughout Chicagoland fulfill the organization’s mission of improving communities and the common good. Mr. Vail has long served as a chair of Jenner & Block’s pro bono program.
Erin O'Boyle-Marr '09
(11/19/20)
Erin O'Boyle-Marr has been named the Deputy Director of Labor Relations and chief labor relations negotiator for the State of Illinois. Erin will be responsible for the negotiation and administration of more than 30 collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations representing State employees and home healthcare workers. Erin will also be the primary labor policy administrator for all State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor. Erin previously served as the Labor Relations Supervisor for Ameren and the Deputy General Counsel for Labor Relations for the State of Illinois.
Manita Rawat '05
(11/3/20)
The Duane Morris Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) has honored Manita Rawat, managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office, with the Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award.
The award recognizes significant contributions, including professional development, leadership and mentoring, made by a lawyer to women in the legal profession. The award is named in honor of the late Cheryl Blackwell Bryson, a Duane Morris partner in Chicago who died in January 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Bryson was a leader in many significant civic and community causes, and she was repeatedly honored throughout her career as a major pioneer, both as a female lawyer and as a lawyer of color.
Despite her extremely busy schedule, Manita Rawat was chosen for going out of her way to work with young female lawyers and serve as a mentor to them in terms of “work product, marketing and what it means to be a good firm citizen.” She is committed to having open and honest discussions with young attorneys related to practice and personal issues.
Jenny Goltz '06
(10/26/20)
Jenny Goltz, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor and Employment Department, has been named Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Labor and Employment Law Section on Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee.
Michael Strauss '04
(10/26/20)
Michael Strauss was recently honored with the Lake County Bar Association Wayne B. Flanigan Award. The award was established in 2005 to honor the lifework and spirit of former LCBA President and Prairie State Legal Services Board Member Wayne B. Flanigan. Mr. Flanigan was a strong supporter of pro bono service to the community by representing clients as a pro bono attorney, mentoring Prairie State staff attorneys, recruiting new volunteer lawyers and helping fundraising efforts. The award recognizes a LCBA member attorney who provides extraordinary contributions in providing legal services to indigent members of the Lake County communities.
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09
(10/4/20)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos (JD, '09; MLIS, '10) recently relocated to Burlington, Vermont. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and Vermont. Katie is now adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, where she teaches graduate courses on information policy and information ethics, and a consulting attorney at The Gunderson Law Firm of Chicago.
Brett Hudspeth '09
(9/25/20)
Brett was recently promoted to the position of Vice President, Clinical Segment Chief Information Officer at Humana, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky.
In this position, Brett will oversee the team of more than 500 technologists and engineers that provide IT solutions for Humana's clinicians, supporting Humana's continued efforts towards improving the health of the communities and members they serve.
Jeffrey Shebesta '02
(8/31/20)
Jeffrey James "Jeff" Shebesta passed away suddenly at home in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 26, 2020, from a heart attack at age 43. Jeff was an Assistant General Counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield (Mergers and Acquisitions) for Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Timothy Liam Epstein '04
(7/31/20)
Timothy Liam Epstein has been named one of Billboard Magazine’s top music lawyers of 2020 for his work on behalf of clients in the live entertainment space. Epstein is a Partner at Duggan Bertsch, LLC.
David Eisenberg '07
(7/24/20)
David Eisenberg helped form Loftus & Eisenberg, Ltd. where he was named Managing Partner.
Erin Mellen '04
(6/16/20)
Erin (Sylvester) Mellen recently joined the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, as an Associate General Counsel. Erin is leaving the Department of Justice, Tax Division, Criminal Enforcement Section after 10 years as a trial attorney.
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09
(5/21/20)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos recently relocated to Burlington, Vermont and took the Vermont bar exam. She was admitted to practice and sworn in via video conference in May 2020.
Suzanne Davis '03
(5/11/20)
Suzanne Allison Davis, J.D., M.B.A., assumed leadership as Greenville University’s acting president during the first week of May, following the resignation of GU’s twelfth president, Dr. Ivan Filby. Davis has been appointed to finish the remaining two years of Filby’s three-year term.
J.J. Polk '04
(4/15/20)
J.J. Polk has been hired by the Chicago Bulls to serve as an assistant general manager. Polk was previously with the New Orleans Pelicans, and is renowned for his salary cap expertise.
C.P. Hoffman '05
(4/2/20)
In February, C.P. Hoffman was named Legal Director of FreeState Justice, Maryland's LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. They joined FreeState Justice in 2019 as a staff attorney.
Vivek Malik '04
(2/25/20)
Vivek Malik (LLM '04) was appointed to the Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO by Governor Mike Parson.
Angelica Wawrzynek '09
(2/25/20)
Angelica "Angel" Wawrzynek has joined Armstrong, Grove & Wawrzynek LLC in Mattoon, Illinois as a partner. She is the current treasurer of the Eastern Illinois Estate Planning Council and focuses her practice on estate planning and estate administration.
Ava George Stewart '03
(2/24/20)
Ava George Stewart is a candidate for the Illinois State Bar Association's (ISBA) Third Vice President. She is currently a member of the ISBA's Board of Governors and serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation.
Tristan Bullington '09
(1/28/20)
Tristan Bullington has become a shareholder with the law firm Meyer Capel. He will head the firm’s family law division, and also handles criminal cases.
Kenneth Logsdon '09
(1/28/20)
Kenneth (Ken) Logsdon has joined the Dorsey & Whitney LLP's Finance & Restructuring Group in Salt Lake City as a Partner. Mr. Logsdon has particular expertise in leveraged lending transactions, including senior debt, mezzanine and borrower side transactions. His practice focuses on all aspects of debt capital markets and corporate finance. He also provides counsel to national and regional banks, non-bank lenders, private equity funds, and both privately owned and publicly traded companies.
Thomas Asmar '01
(1/27/20)
Thomas Asmar joined Baker McKenzie (Palo Alto) as a partner, bringing nearly 20 years of experience advising companies and private equity funds on all employee benefits and compensation issues related to corporate transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, IPOs and financings. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 2001.
Michael Cabonargi '00
(1/22/20)
Michael Cabonargi is a democratic candidate for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk. He is currently vice chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois and commissioner at the Cook County Board of Review.
Susan Welsh '01
(1/21/20)
Susan Welsh joined Schiff Hardin LLP (Chicago) as a partner in the leveraged finance group, where she will focus on middle market transactions and advise lenders and borrowers on various financial transactions ranging from $1 million to $3 billion. She received her J.D. magna cum laude in 2001 and was the Associated Editor of the Illinois Bar Journal, Illinois Law Update.
Jeremiah Posedel '06
(1/15/20)
Jeremiah Posedel has been elected partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, effective Feb. 1, 2020. Jeremiah is one of 13 attorneys elected in the new partnership class. He is resident in the firm’s Chicago office and assists clients in two distinct but overlapping domains: (i) information technology transactions and (ii) information privacy and security.
Monique Lashbrook '00
(1/6/20)
Monique Lashbrook was named a partner at Troutman Sanders in San Diego effective January 1, 2020.
Brad Yusim '02
(12/16/19)
Brad Yusim passed away on December 11, 2019, after bravely fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer, known as a glioblastoma. He joined Jenner & Block as an associate in 2002 and became a partner in 2010. He quickly distinguished himself with his quiet but focused commitment to delivering excellence for his clients. Over the years, Brad handled a variety of matters, from complex commercial disputes to difficult pro bono criminal cases. In addition to being a quietly fierce advocate, Brad was also known for being extraordinarily decent, a testament to the truth that effective advocacy is rooted in professionalism. He will be sorely missed.
Gray Mateo-Harris '08
(11/26/19)
Gray Mateo-Harris joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as a Partner in their Labor & Employment practice group in April of 2018. She was recently honored with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's 40 Under Forty award and the National Bar Association's 40 Under 40 award. She was also selected to serve as a board member for the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation.
Jeffrey Senac '09
(10/31/19)
Effective January 1, 2020, Jeffrey Senac has been promoted to partner in the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins.
Jeffrey R. Senac is a member of the Finance Department who focuses his practice on a variety of banking and leveraged finance matters, with a strong concentration on lender-side financing transactions, representing both investment banks and direct lenders. He received his LLM from New York University School of Law in 2010 and his JD from University of Illinois College of Law in 2009.
Patrick Bedell '04
(10/24/19)
Patrick was selected to the 2019 Forty Under 40 list by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Patrick, a partner at BatesCarey, focuses his practice on advising insurance carriers on a variety of complex matters and representing them in commercial disputes in state and federal courts across the country.
Ernesto Palomo '02
(10/22/19)
Ernesto Palomo (’02) was recognized as Latino Attorney of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA).
Sarah Perry '00
(10/9/19)
Sarah Perry has announced her intention to run for Piatt County State's Attorney next year. She will run on the March 17 Republican primary ballot.
Kristen Osenga '00
(10/1/19)
The University of Richmond School of Law appointed Kristen Jakobsen Osenga as its newest Austin E. Owen Research Scholar. Professor Osenga, who joined the law faculty in 2006, teaches and writes in the areas of intellectual property, patent law, law and language, and legislation and regulation.
Sarah Tomkowiak '07
(9/19/19)
Sarah Tomkowiak of Latham & Watkins LLP was recently selected as one of six securities law practitioners under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.
Marlén Cortez Morris '06
(9/11/19)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been recognized as a 2019 Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine and selected for inclusion in Negocios Now’s “2019 Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago” in the Law category.
Marlén is a Litigation Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Chicago where she is a member of the Franchising and Distribution Group. Marlén represents and advises clients on a wide range of franchise and distribution, labor and employment, and commercial litigation matters.
Collin Delaney '08
(8/23/19)
Collin Delaney ’08 was appointed an U.S. Administrative Law Judge for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Denver, CO. A reservist in the Air Force JAG Corps, he was named Air Force Special Operations Command’s 2018 Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate.
Jordan Ault '07
(8/1/19)
Jordan Ault is a partner in the Jefferson City, Missouri, office of Husch Blackwell. Jordan recently launched and co-chairs the firm's Nonprofit Organizations and Religious Institutions team. In June, he was elected to serve as Chancellor to the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and represents over 700 churches across the state. He is one of four Missouri attorneys to be awarded the 2019 Pro Bono Publico Award from the Missouri Bar for outstanding pro bono service to indigent or low-income persons in need of legal assistance. Jordan received the honor for his work challenging Missouri’s parole policies on behalf of a class of Missouri youthful offenders that received mandatory sentences of life without parole. Jordan helped secure summary judgment in favor of the class, resulting in new parole procedures that give class members a meaningful and realistic opportunity for release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation.
Steve Flores '07
(7/23/19)
Steve Flores, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, has been named a Lawyer of The Year by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI).
Steve advises employers of all sizes on a broad array of matters involving employee benefit plans and executive compensation. He also advises clients on EBEC in mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and lending transactions. He was the founding chair of Winston’s Latina/o Lawyers Alliance affinity group.
Chad Allen '01
(6/26/19)
Chad Allen has been named senior vice president and chief risk officer of COUNTRY Financial in Bloomington, Illinois.
Danielle Kays '04
(6/20/19)
The Illinois Wesleyan Board has elected Danielle Kays as a representative of the Alumni Association.
Kristopher Davis '08
(6/12/19)
Kristopher Davis has accepted a position as partner at Russ August & Kabat, where he focuses on intellectual property and litigation.
Rayna Gokli McIntyre '09
(6/4/19)
Rayna Gokli McIntyre has been appointed as a District Court Judge, 17th District, in Colorado.
David Grassmick '02
(5/3/19)
David Grassmick, a litigation Partner at the Chicago firm of Cope Ehlers, P.C., has coauthored "LexisNexis Practice Guide: New Appleman Illinois Insurance Law," which is set for release on May 31, 2019.
Brian Kramer '00
(5/2/19)
Brian M. Kramer, a patent litigation partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Diego, California, just completed a two-year term as President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego. Brian continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana. His patent litigation practice focuses primarily on clients in the pharmaceutical, life science, and medical device sectors.
Sven Nylen '02
(4/18/19)
Sven Nylen has joined Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP as a partner in the Chicago office. He is the first bankruptcy attorney to join Benesch's insolvency and creditors' rights practice group in Chicago. He came to the firm in mid-March after spending more than 11 years at K&L Gates LLP. His practice includes restructurings, workouts, bankruptcies and other insolvency-related matters.
Joe Saltiel '01
(4/3/19)
Joe Saltiel has joined Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP. Saltiel is a first chair litigator with experience successfully representing clients in courts across the country, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the ITC. He also counsels clients on IP matters such as licensing, opinions, and related commercial agreements.
Andrew Tessman '08
(3/25/19)
Andrew Tessman has joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia as an assistant U.S. attorney. Most recently, he was a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Fresno.
Ajay Shah '07
(3/24/19)
Ajay Shah, CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, has been elected to the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association.
Jennifer Vance '01
(3/12/19)
Jennifer Vance, of Bloomington, Ill., was recently promoted to general counsel, secretary and chief legal officer for COUNTRY Financial®, Illinois Farm Bureau and other affiliated companies. In her new role, Vance will serve on COUNTRY Financial’s Leadership Council, oversee OGC, advise the board of directors and executive management and oversee all related legal matters for the organization.
Matthew Johns '09
(2/26/19)
Matthew Johns was selected to partnership at Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP in February. Based in the firm's Indianapolis office, Matt focuses his practice on an array of litigation matters and also represents athlete agency firms, coaches, and professional athletes in litigation and NCAA compliance matters.
Kimberly Janas '06
(1/18/19)
llinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Kim Janas as Chief of Staff. Kim Janas has worked in a variety of positions in state government, including as Secretary of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Formerly, she was an Associate Counsel at the Office of Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, where she advised the Senate Judiciary and Insurance Committees. Janas was also an Assistant Attorney General in the General Law Bureau under Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a Staff Attorney at the Legislative Reference Bureau. Most recently, Janas was the General Counsel for the Illinois State Medical Society and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company.
Amara Enyia '09
(12/13/18)
Amara Enyia, 35, is an activist, attorney and public policy expert who made headlines for receiving the support of Chicago natives Chance the Rapper and Kanye West in a deep field of candidates to become the next mayor of the third-largest city in the country. https://www.theherald-news.com/2018/12/04/chicago-mayoral-candidate-supported-by-hip-hop-stars-has-ties-to-will-county/ab2vcqm/
Robert Britton '07
(12/13/18)
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2019 Robert Britton will be named partner. Mr. Britton will be a partner in the bankruptcy & corporate reorganization department. He has played leading roles in a number of major restructurings, representing debtors, equity owners, creditor groups and distressed investors in acquisitions, out-of-court restructurings and chapter 11 cases.
Matthew Hiller '02
(12/13/18)
Matthew Hiller joins DLA Piper’s Litigation practice in Chicago, IL. Hiller joins DLA Piper from the US Attorney’s Office, where he served as an Assistant US Attorney in Kansas City, Missouri, and in Chicago. As a member of the National Security and Cybercrimes Section of the US Attorney’s Office, Hiller’s responsibilities included leading criminal and national security investigations, trying cases in federal court, and consulting for the FBI and Department of Justice across the US with respect to cyber investigative techniques.
Scott Kording '05
(11/30/18)
Scott E. Kording has been named a new associate judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit, according to a statement from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Samuel Bernstein '08
Samuel C. Bernstein has been elected partner at McGuireWoods, effective January 1, 2019. He represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies regarding FDA approval pathways, fraud and abuse issues, off-label promotion, adverse event reporting, developing and implementing compliance programs, and other regulatory and compliance matters.
Jason Barickman '05
(11/8/18)
Jason Barickman was reelected to the Illinois Senate, where he represents the 53rd Legislative District and where he serves as the Senate Assistant Republican Leader, Co-Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission, Minority Spokesperson on the Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the Criminal Law, Education, Executive, and Labor committees.
Heather Aeschleman '01
(10/10/18)
Kutak Rock is pleased to announce that Heather K. Aeschleman has joined the firm’s Omaha office. She will focus on commercial real estate lending transactions and low income housing tax credit transactions throughout the country. Ms. Aeschleman joins Kutak Rock from Dykema, where she was a partner in the real estate group. She brings to Kutak Rock 17 years of experience in commercial real estate lending, representing institutional lenders in a variety of financing transactions, including construction loans, term loans, unsecured and secured lines of credit, and construction and bridge financing for affordable housing developments with low income housing tax credits.
Peter Corsale '03
(10/5/18)
Peter Corsale, shareholder at national law firm Polsinelli, was named a “2018 Diverse Business Leader” by the St. Louis Business Journal for his efforts to promote diversity within the St. Louis region. Corsale was recognized at a luncheon attended by nearly 400 civic and business leaders. Corsale is the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of St. Louis (HBAstl), whose mission is to promote involvement and participation in the legal profession by Hispanic individuals, in both the private and public sector. The organization also works to bring attention to issues facing Hispanics in the St. Louis community, in particular, advancing equal protection for the Hispanic community before the law.
Martha Victoria Diaz '02
(10/2/18)
Martha Victoria Diaz was awarded the Mercedes Luque Rosales Government Lawyer Award at the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois 2018 Gala. Martha Victoria Diaz has served the people of Chicago for over 16 years both in public service and private practice. As the chair of HLAI’s judicial evaluation committee, Martha Victoria has revamped and streamlined the judicial evaluation process. Moreover, Martha Victoria was the catalyst to formalizing the committee’s membership selection. Martha Victoria is also a member of the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association. She is Senior Counsel for the City of Chicago’s Law Department in the Legal Information, Investigations and Prosecutions Division where she defends Freedom of Information Act challenges brought into state court as well as defends City of Chicago Departments in FOIA appeals before the Public Access Counsel and Chancery Court.
James Pinkstaff '02
(9/11/18)
James M. Pinkstaff, 41, of Urbana passed away on Saturday, September 8, 2018. He worked as a lawyer in the Chicagoland area for several years before starting his own practice in 2015. Outside of the office, he studied taekwondo and jiujitsu and even had a sparring mat on top of the apartment building he owned. San Diego, Calif., was a home away from home for him, and he enjoyed surfing out on the Pacific waves. Friends and family will long remember a driven and focused soul whose intelligence was only outshined by his determination in all things.
Katherine Lewis '06
(9/11/18)
Katherine Lewis was named Co-Chair of the Business & Finance group at her current law firm, Much Shelist. She focuses on the numerous legal and business issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions and investments. She also counsels family-owned and midsize businesses in a wide range of industries—including technology, retail, manufacturing and health care.
Tim McGillicuddy '07
(9/11/18)
The Alaska Department of Law announced the appointment of Tim McGillicuddy as the Ketchikan District Attorney, effective Aug. 6. McGillicuddy graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law in 2007 and served as a prosecutor around the country for nine out of the following 11 years. He has practiced in diverse areas of the country from Chicago to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He came to the Ketchikan District Attorney’s office in 2016 and since then has worked a varied caseload including complex homicides, assaults, burglaries, and drug trafficking cases.
Brandon Peck '09
(8/30/18)
June 6, 2018, Brandon Peck began his tenure as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Peck has been a member since 2009, most recently serving as the First Vice-Chair.
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09
(8/27/18)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos recently published an article on the right to be forgotten, delisting, and librarian ethics in the IFLA Journal. Full citation: Kritikos, K. C. (2018). Delisting and ethics in the library: Anticipating the future of librarianship in a world that forgets. IFLA Journal Special Issue on Privacy, 44(2), 183-194. DOI: 10.1177/0340035218773783.
Manita Rawat '05
(8/16/18)
Duane Morris LLP has appointed University of Illinois College of Law alumna Manita Rawat managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office. Duane Morris’ Silicon Valley office is one of five in California, including locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Lake Tahoe. The firm has over 800 attorneys worldwide, including 140 in California.
Noah Webster '03
(7/31/18)
Noah Webster has published an article, "5 Steps to Move from a Litigation to Generalist Role," in the ACC Docket, a leading in-house publication.
Sarah Duffy '07
(7/22/18)
Sarah Duffy has been chosen to serve as an Associate Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which includes McLean, Livingston, Logan, Woodford, and Ford Counties.
Noah Webster '03
(7/11/18)
Noah is now General Counsel and Secretary for Zix, a Dallas company focused on protecting business communications.
Marlen Cortez Morris '06
(6/12/18)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been recognized as a 2018 Top Lawyer Under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association and a 2018 Franchise Legal Player by 1851 Franchise Magazine. The University of Illinois College of Law’s Latina/o Law Students Association has also honored Marlén as its 2018 Alumnus of the Year.
Emily Grant '00
(4/26/18)
Emily Grant was recently awarded tenure and a promotion to full professor at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS.
Stacey Tutt '03
(4/23/18)
Stacey Tutt is one of 45 McLean County women who have been nominated for the YWCA Woman of Distinction Awards, which will be presented May 22 at the 29th annual Women of Distinction Awards Banquet.
Ryan Gammelgard '06
(4/3/18)
Ryan Gammelgard, '06, received the 2017 Lifesaver Award from Prairie State Legal Services for his contributions and support to pro bono work. He received the Award at the 2017 McLean County Bar Association Holiday Luncheon. Ryan also received the State Farm Law Department Pro Bono Award in 2017, which included a $500 contribution from State Farm to Prairie State Legal Services. For both awards, Ryan was recognized for his work in helping plan a bi-annual pro bono legal clinic conducted by Prairie State Legal Services, the Public Interest Law Initiative, State Farm, and a number of other community organizations. These bi-annual legal clinics have helped serve over 150 people in the last couple of years. In addition, he helped develop a monthly pro bono legal clinic with Prairie State Legal Services and State Farm and also serves as a volunteer attorney for a number of other legal aid organizations.
Jason Bohm '03
(3/7/18)
Jason Bohm, a central Illinois prosecutor with civil law experience, has been named as Champaign County’s newest circuit judge. Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman announced that he will take the seat being vacated by Mike Jones. Bohm has been a federal prosecutor in the Central District of Illinois for nine years — four in the Springfield office and the last five in the Urbana office.
James Antonopoulos '03
(3/6/18)
Mayer Brown announced that James John Antonopoulos has joined the firm’s global Banking & Finance practice and Structured Finance group as a partner in Chicago. Antonopoulos joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
Scott Bennett '02
(2/23/18)
Senate President John Cullerton has appointed State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) as the new chairman of the Senate Criminal Law Committee. A graduate of Illinois State University and University of Illinois Law School, Bennett served as a Champaign County Assistant State’s Attorney before being appointed to the State Senate in 2015. Since arriving in the Senate, Bennett has used his experiences as a prosecutor to push for legislation to assist survivors of sexual assault. He has also led the charge to eliminate statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children.
Stacy Walton Long '04
(2/12/18)
Stacy Walton Long has been named partner at Krieg DeVault. She advises the firm’s healthcare clients regarding security breach incidents and risk assessments involving Protected Health Information and other personal information under HIPAA/HITECH and other Federal and State laws governing the privacy and security of such information. Long represents individual professionals and healthcare providers in licensing and disciplinary matters, and works with mental health providers on confidentiality matters and commitment proceedings. In addition to her health care practice, she represents clients in State and Federal courts in a variety of litigation matters.
Kyle Seelbach '04
(2/9/18)
Kyle Seelbach, partner at Husch Blackwell, led the firm's trial team in a recent pro bono case, where they represented a Missouri man who was charged with 12 counts of assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts. The victory was the firm's first verdict in a jury trial while representing clients as a member of the Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel (MCRC).
Keith Hill '02
(2/9/18)
Keith Hill is the newest elected partner at Heyl Roster. Hill is based in the firm's Edwardsville office, and concentrates his practice on civil litigation, defending clients in product liability, premises liability, professional liability, automobile accidents, employment and labor law, and civil rights.
Gerald Meyer '09
(2/9/18)
Gerald Meyer has been named partner at MoloLamken LLP. Gerald's practice focuses on white collar criminal matters and investigations, complex business litigation, and appellate litigation. He has tried cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, has briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Federal Circuits, and has appeared in other courts in Illinois and New York.
Wade Iverstine '08
(1/8/18)
Wade Iverstine is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices in the business, corporate, real estate, and bankruptcy groups. He advises investors and lenders in all aspects of real estate transactions, including acquisition and project financing, leasing, land use, site inspection, and survey and title insurance issues. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Patrick M. Flatley of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Christopher Anderson '09
(1/8/18)
Christopher C. Anderson has been named a partner at Neal Gerber Eisenberg.
Jessica John Bowman '08
(1/8/18)
The shareholders of McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma’s largest law firm, have elected Jessica John Bowman a shareholder. John Bowman is a patent attorney and trial lawyer whose practice is primarily focused on intellectual property, environmental, and appellate litigation. She also maintains an active practice before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, assisting numerous retailers, manufacturers, and banking institutions in opposition and cancellation proceedings.
Scott Cruz '02
(12/14/17)
Clark Hill announced today that Scott Cruz, a senior attorney in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice was named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “Forty Under 40” list. The list recognizes attorneys who have achieved success and made significant contributions to the Chicago legal community. Nominators praised Cruz, 39, for his commitment to clients and strong work ethic. Fellow attorneys who he has worked with and those he opposed cited his ability to show empathy and his integrity as defining characteristics.
Courtney Segota '09
(12/4/17)
Starting in January of 2018, Courtney Segota will be the new Head of Instructional Services at the University of South Dakota Law Library in Vermillion, SD.
Clovia Hamilton '01
(11/29/17)
Dr. Clovia Hamilton has accepted a tenure-track position at Winthrop University in their College of Business Administration.
Jennifer Liebman '07
(11/20/17)
Jennifer Liebman has joined the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Housing Equal Opportunity, Region II, New York City.
James Davis '05
(11/9/17)
Ropes and Gray has named James Davis a partner in their Silicon Valley office. James focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation in federal courts, as well as before the ITC and the PTAB. Applying his background in electrical and computer engineering, he has represented clients across a broad range of technologies, including semiconductors, analog circuits, wireless technology, consumer electronics, internet services and medical devices.
Dorothy "Dottie" (Parson) McDermott '03
(10/18/17)
Dorothy “Dottie” (Parson) McDermott has joined national workplace law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. in Indianapolis as a Principal. Ms. McDermott joined the firm from Ogletree Deakins and focuses her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling.
Collin Delaney '08
(9/19/17)
Collin Delaney was appointed as a federal Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. Collin served previously with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Austin Kaplan '08
(9/18/17)
Austin Kaplan is the 2017 President of the Austin Young Lawyers Association (www.ayla.org), which serves more than 1,200 young lawyers across Central Texas. Kaplan practices employment and civil rights law. He is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation Fellow, 2016 Austinite of the Year, and the 2016 Austin Under 40 Lawyer of the Year.
Esperanza Segarra '01
(9/14/17)
Litigation attorney Esperanza Segarra, a partner in the Coral Gables office of the US law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, has been selected to DiversityMBA’s 11th annual list of Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders for 2017. DiversityMBA is a national leadership organization that integrates diversity and inclusion with talent management.
Sam Garrison '01
(8/28/17)
Sam Garrison has been appointed to the board of trustees at St. Johns River State College for a one-year term.
Austen Zuege '03
(8/22/17)
Austen Zuege is the editor and lead co-author of a new book on patent clearance and freedom-to-operate (FTO) studies entitled "Patent Freedom to Operate Searches, Opinions, Techniques, and Studies." The book was published on August 11, 2017 by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Chapin Rose '00
(8/18/17)
At the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives' annual meeting, held Thursday, July 27, in Springfield, State Senator Chapin Rose, R-51st District, received the 2017 Illinois Electric Cooperatives' Public Service Award. The award was made in recognition of Sen. Rose's dedicated public service to all citizens of the state of Illinois and for outstanding contributions to the rural electrification program.
Craig Cunningham '09
(8/18/17)
Craig Cunningham, First Vice President-Investment Officer, of Wells Fargo Advisors in Charleston, has been recognized as one of “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” by Forbes.
Adam Jung '06
(8/11/17)
Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. partner Adam Jung has been appointed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Chicago Athletics Advisory Board. The board, comprised of University of Illinois alumni and supporters with deep connections to Chicago, provides assistance and recommendations to the University’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics as it continues to pursue increased exposure and support for Fighting Illini athletics throughout Chicagoland.
Melodie Craft '00
(8/9/17)
Melodie K. Craft, a shareholder in the Dallas office of Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been accepted into the Leadership Dallas Class of 2018. Program participants receive exposure to issues facing the Dallas community while developing the breadth of their leadership skills and building professional relationships. Through this initiative, the city is provided with an ongoing source of diverse leaders who are committed to serving as catalysts for improving the quality of life for Dallas residents.
Joe Sadler '02
(7/13/17)
Kotz Sangster has named Joe Sadler partner in the firm's downtown Grand Rapids office.
Chris Minelli '08
(6/14/2017)
Ottawa, Illinois attorney and Democrat Chris Minelli plans to run against U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger for the 16th Congressional District seat in 2018.
Christine Turner '02
(5/16/2017)
Christine Turner recently relocated from Washington, D.C. to the San Francisco Bay area to join Facebook as the Head of Global Policy for WhatsApp, where she focuses on policy challenges in key global markets.
Sam Garrison '01
(5/16/2017)
Sam Garrison was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees for a term beginning May 15, 2017.
Bina Joshi '08
(3/2/2017)
Bina Joshi has been promoted to partner at Schiff Hardin LLP in the firm’s Chicago office. Bina’s practice is centered on environmental litigation, including issues arising under the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and related state laws. She regularly helps clients with compliance matters, both in dealing with compliance issues and in the development of compliance programs and plans.
Marlén Cortez Morris '06
(2/3/2017)
Marlén Cortez Morris has been elevated to partner at Cheng Cohen LLC, a leading franchise law firm in Chicago. Marlén represents and advises franchisors, licensors, and distributors on a wide range of issues including labor and employment matters, the enforcement and defense of franchise agreements, and disputes regarding regulatory matters. She has been named a 2017 Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers.
Luc Attlan '06
(2/2/2017)
Luc Attlan has been elected a partner by Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He is a member of the Corporate Group and is based out of the Chicago office. Luc concentrates his practice on international corporate transactions and counseling. Luc advises a broad range of clients, ranging from small businesses to multinational Fortune 50 corporations. He also works with foreign companies seeking to do business in the U.S., as well as U.S. companies in need of assistance with their foreign operations.
Ryan Gammelgard '06
(1/31/2017)
Ryan D. Gammelgard has been elected President of the McLean County Bar Association. In addition, Ryan was one of 40 emerging leaders from the public and private sectors in Illinois selected to participate in the 2016 Edgar Fellows Program hosted by the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Ryan is Counsel at State Farm in Bloomington, Illinois, where he works on public policy issues related to self-driving cars, drones, and other innovation related matters.
Merrell Bennekin '01
(1/26/2017)
Merrell R. Bennekin has been named Executive Director of the Board of Police Commissioners Office of Community Complaints, a civilian oversight of law enforcement agency in Kansas City, MO. Prior to this appointment he served as Deputy Executive Director, a position he has held since 2008. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice with the Metropolitan Community College system, teaching courses in Criminology and Criminal Investigations. He is also a P.O.S.T. certified instructor with the Kansas City Regional Police Academy and teaches courses focused on mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and conflict de-escalation. Merrell is married to the former Kedra Williams '01 and they have two daughters, Avery and Angela.
Keyonn Pope '09
(1/25/2017)
Keyonn L. Pope '09 was recently promoted to Partner within the Chicago office of Reed Smith LLP. His practice focuses on all aspects of complex IP litigation matters, with an emphasis on patents, trademarks, unfair competition, trade secrets, trade dress, and copyrights. Keyonn has extensive experience handling matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, namely trademark and patent prosecution, inter parties review petitions, and trademark oppositions and cancellations. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to media and entertainment matters, including counseling clients on matters related to music and product licensing, distribution, and management. Keyonn holds various leadership roles within the firm and is active in pro bono and community activities. He is also a member of the College of Law's Alumni Board.
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos '09
(2/3/2017)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will co-present "Privacy and Cloud Services in Public Libraries: The Case of BiblioCommons" at the 2017 Information Ethics Roundtable of the Association for Information Science and Technology Information Policy Special Interest Group held in Champaign, Illinois. This project for the Center for Information Policy Research analyzes patron privacy in public libraries that use cloud-based discovery layers.
(1/24/2017)
Katie Chamberlain Kritikos, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will present a co-paper at the 9th International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML) held from May 23-26, 2017, in Limerick, Ireland. The paper, “Legal and policy implications of licenses between library and information science open access journal publishers and authors: A qualitative case study,” investigates the similarities and differences in the licenses (contracts or agreements) used by five sampled LIS open access journals to illuminate the effects of open access on information policy and to recommend best practices.
Adam Wirtz '09
(1/18/2017)
Adam Wirtz has been hired as an associate attorney at Roscich & Martel Law Firm, LLC, located in Naperville, Illinois.
Jasmine Hernandez '06
(1/6/2017)
Jasmine Hernandez is now the 1st Vice-President (and President-elect) of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. Jasmine is an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office in its Juvenile Justice Bureau. In addition to her work with AABA, Jasmine is immediate past president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago, editorial board member of the CBA Record, as well as a member of the Women's Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
Adrian Barr '03
(12/19/2016)
Adrian Barr recently earned the prestigious Chicago Bar Foundation Sun-Times Public Interest Law Fellowship for his legal aid work.