Category: 1990s

David A. Rahnis recently joined Lerch, Early & Brewer as Senior Counsel.

Chris Haaff was named the 2026 Volunteer Captain of the Year for the Ironman Chattanooga triathlons.

Sam Limentato is the Senior Associate Director of the Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism at the University of Illinois College of Law. He recently completed a term of three years on the board of Champaign County’s Crisis Nursery, an organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. He also completed a term as Chair of the Bench & Bar Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Juan R. Thomas, of Counsel at Clifford Law Offices, has been recognized in Crain’s Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law 2026. A respected litigator and former founder of The Thomas Law Group, Juan has spent decades advocating for clients and advancing the legal profession. His successful defense of a Naperville, IL student in a widely watched school-ticketing case helped spur legislative reform in Illinois. This year Juan became President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and President of the Illinois Bar Foundation. Juan is believed to be among the first lawyers to serve as President of two major legal organizations during the same bar year.

Andy Reisman joined the Emory University School of Law as an Assistant Teaching Professor, where in 2026–27 he will teach Evidence, Business Associations, and Depositions and Discovery. His article, “The Unbearable Lightness of Data: Ephemeral Messages and Evolving Ethical Duties,” is forthcoming in the Spring 2027 issue of the University of Richmond Law Review.

Earlier this year, Brian Shaw was named by the American College of Bankruptcy as Chair of its Board of Regents. In May, Shaw was also named the recipient of a pro bono award from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Judge Federico M. Rodriguez was recently elected 2nd Vice-President of the Illinois Latino Judges Association.

Prabha Parameswaran was recently honored with the 2026 ALSA Distinguished Alumni Award. She was also included in the 2026 cohort of World Contracting & Commerce Foundation’s Inspiring Women, which recognizes remarkable leaders who are shaping the future of commerce through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to positive change.  

After more than 18 years as a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Hon. Patrick Sherlock retired in August 2025. Shortly after my retirement, he joined ADR Systems, LLC. as a mediator.

On November 26, 2025, Laura Kotelman was sworn in as a Commissioner of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners by the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County.