Firm Life

The Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys announced that it inducted Lyman & Nielsen partner Jennifer A. Nielsen, public and private construction-related transactions and litigation, as the group's president; Barnes & Thornburg partner Clifford J. Shapiro, construction law and litigation, as vice president; Perkins Coie partner Alexandra R. Cole, real estate, as secretary; and Ogletree Deakins shareholder Randolph E. Ruff as treasurer.

The group also announced that K&L Gates partner Daniel G. Rosenberg, construction and insurance coverage litigation, and Hinshaw & Culbertson partner John E. Sebastian, surety bond, construction and commercial litigation, have been named members of the invite-only group.

The Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund Inc. (ATG) announced that Senior Vice President and general counsel August R. Butera has been elected to serve a one-year term as president of the Illinois Land Title Association. Arden K. Miner, senior manager of ATG's underwriting and escrow departments, has been elected to a three-year term on the association's board of directors.

Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge and Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon have officially combined to form Edwards, Wildman, Palmer. The two firms announced plans to merge in August. The new firm has 14 offices and 650 attorneys.

Aronberg Goldgehn Davis Garmisa member Cynde H. Munzer has been appointed liaison to the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession.

Roetzel & Andress, an Ohio-based law firm, acquired Lewis, Overbeck & Furman. Eight Lewis, Overbeck & Furman lawyers will join Roetzel & Andress.

McAndrews, Held & Malloy founding partner John J. Held received an award from the Legal Services Corp. for his pro bono work for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.

The Chicago Inn of Court has honored Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride for his contributions to the legal profession with the "Judge Joel M. Flaum Award."

Schiff Hardin partner Renee Cipriano has been named co-chair of Keep Chicago Beautiful. The organization also honored Cipriano at a luncheon with its "President's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award," which is given to individuals who have donated significant volunteer hours to environmental causes.

Stahl Cowen announced that the firm is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The firm focuses on business matters, including commercial litigation, dispute resolution, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, real estate development and corporate planning.

Shefsky & Froelich associate Susan Poll-Klaessy, litigation, has been selected to serve as an ambassador for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Shareholder Kim R. Walberg, commercial litigation, has been recognized by the National Association of Professional Women with its 2011-2012 "Woman of the Year Award."

Victor P. Henderson and Samuel E. Adam have launched their own trial law boutique, Henderson, Adam. Henderson left a partnership with Holland & Knight. Adam was a sole practitioner.

McDermott Will & Emery associate Randall J. Ortman has been appointed a member of the board of directors of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago.

Vedder Price announced that it opened an office in London. The firm said the new office will complement its existing offices in Chicago, New York and Washington D.C., and help expand its global transportation finance practice group.

Baker & Daniels has combined with Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson. The new firm will have 770 attorneys and be known as Faegre Baker Daniels on Jan. 1.

Corboy & Demetrio partner Thomas A. Demetrio has been appointed chairman of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Board of Overseers.

Bryan Cave partner Mary Clare Bonaccorsi will lead the firm's life sciences and health-care client service group starting on Jan. 1.

Thaddeus J. Makarewicz, chief legal counsel for the Cook County assessor's office, was honored for his leadership and dedication to Chicago's Polish community by the Kosciuszko Foundation.

Dykema associate Bryan J. Anderson, litigation, was named to the board of directors of Common Threads, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago that is dedicated to educating children about the importance of nutrition and physical well-being.

Arnstein & Lehr associate Robert A. Mc Kenzie, tax and aviation, has been honored for his volunteer efforts by the Cessna 150-152 International Fly-In Foundation with the "Gordon Ellis Award."

The Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) honored three lawyers at its Joint Professional Dinner. The WBAI presented "Women With Vision Awards" to Sharon R. Barner, a partner at Foley & Lardner; Paula Hudson Holderman, the chief attorney development officer at Winston & Strawn; and Andrea S. Kramer, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery.

Husch Blackwell received the 2011 "Long Term Involvement" corporate partner award from the Chicago Area Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Drinker Biddle & Reath partner Jesse H. Ruiz, corporate and securities, has received three separate honors: Ruiz became the first recipient of Wal-Mart Stores' inaugural "Legal Spark Award"; the National Association of State Boards of Education's "Distinguished Service Award"; and the SOS Children's Villages of Illinois' "Leader of Hope Award."

Jennifer E. Bae and Samuel S. Bae announced that Bae Law Offices has relocated to 2720 S. River Road., Suite 36, in Des Plaines.

Ogle County State's Attorney John B. Roe has been appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice.

>Partners

Holland & Knight partner Steven M. Elrod has assumed the role of executive partner of the Chicago office.

Robert L. Shuftan, the managing partner at the former Wildman Harrold, will serve as the newly formed Edwards Wildman's deputy managing partner and chairman of its strategic planning committee. Walter G.D. Reed, who served as the managing partner at Edwards Angell will be Edwards Wildman's managing partner.

Handler Thayer promoted Daniel C. Cole, capital investment, finance, joint ventures and real estate, to partner.

>Moves

Associate Jennifer M. Lee, business and commercial litigation, from Skadden; and associate Michael D. Kim, corporate finance, from Horwood Marcus & Berk; made the jump to Dykema. Kim returns after having previously been an associate at Dykema.

To Dykema: associate Michael D. Kim, corporate finance, from Horwood Marcus & Berk; and associate Jennifer M. Lee, business and commercial litigation, from Skadden. Kim returns after having previously been an associate at Dykema.

To SmithAmundsen: of counsel Jack Harrington, aerospace, from Eclipse Aerospace in New Mexico.

To Ulmer & Berne: associate Kasey M. Folk, complex business and commercial litigation, from Canel, King & Jones.

To Shefsky & Froelich: associates Jonathan B. Amarilio, appellate and commercial litigation; Matthew E. Berry, general real estate; and Rachel L. Schaller, commercial litigation.

To Seyfarth Shaw: senior counsel James R. Beyer, labor and employment, from Accenture.

To Pugh, Jones & Johnson: partner Lorraine M. Tyson, public finance, from Mayer Brown.

To Bryan Cave: associate Peter Matejcak, tax advice and controversy client service.

To The Pritzker Group: in-house private equity counsel Jonathan D. Kron, from Mayer Brown.

To Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving: attorneys Genevieve Elizabeth O'Toole, from the Office of Guardian Ad Litem in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Katherine A. Coba from the St. Joseph County, Ind., public defender's office, both in custody and paternity and visitation and support; and attorney Rachel L. Pack, family law and complex litigation, from Potratz & Associates.

To Levin Schreder & Carey: associate Margaret L. Hudgins, wealth protection, estate planning and trust administration, from Horwood Marcus & Berk.

To Scandaglia & Ryan: associate Michael S. Shapiro, commercial litigation, complex tort defense and civil rights defense, from SmithAmundsen.

To Horwood Marcus & Berk: partners Robert Dunn Glick, corporate and lending; Eric S. Rein, creditors in workout and restructuring transactions; Martin W. Salzman, banking; and Robert A. Smoller, securities, bank regulatory, lending and corporate; all from Dykema.

To Myers Carden & Sax: associates Renee M. Zelinski, medical malpractice defense, from Anderson, Rasor & Partners; and Aaron Bitterman, medical malpractice defense, from Wilson Elser Moscowitz Edelman & Dicker in New York.

To Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan: partner Andrew H. Schapiro, intellectual property, appeals and white-collar and securities litigation, from Mayer Brown.

To Levin Ginsburg: partner Dean J. Tatooles, commercial litigation and banking, from Tressler; and of counsel Cynthia B. Stevens, intellectual property, from Foley & Lardner.

To Quarles & Brady: partner D. Linden Barber, health law, from the Drug Enforcement Administration in Indianapolis.

To Howard & Howard: David C. Van Dyke, civil litigation, from Cassiday Schade.

To Chuhak & Tecson: associate Mark J. Johnson, banking, real estate, litigation and corporate transactions and business, from Novoselsky Law Offices.

To Ulmer & Berne: associate Mark R. Anderson, patent counseling, litigation and prosecution, from McDermott Will & Emery.

To Aon Corp.: Chief Operating Officer Audrey H. Rubin, law department operational issues, from Rubin Solutions.

To Paul Hastings : partner Mark D. Pollack, litigation, from Arthur Andersen.

To Sidley Austin : chief diversity officer Sarah L. Olson, diversity and the retention and promotion of women, from the firm formerly known as Wildman Harrold.

To Daley Mohan Groble : partner Pamela Nehring, environmental, from BNSF Railway Co.

To Keating Law Offices: attorney John J. Walz, personal-injury and professional malpractice litigation.

To Freeborn & Peters: partners Edward L. Filer, Tina M. Bird, Adam C. Toosley and associate Ashley W. Brandt, all in real estate and land use, from Clark Hill; and partner Mark R. Goodman, insurance and reinsurance, from Dewey & LeBoeuf.

To Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona: attorneys Susan R. Rogers and Anastasia Xinos, contested probate and guardianship, from the Law Offices of Rogers & Associates in Naperville.

To Much Shelist: special counsel Warren Lupel and Jonathan L. Loew, both in litigation and dispute resolution, from Lupel Weininger.

To Latimer LeVay and Fyock: associate Darrow A. Abrahams, commercial litigation, from Hogan Lovells.

To Swanson, Martin & Bell: associates Jennifer E. Dicken, medical negligence and health care, from Hall Prangle and Schoonveld; Thomas B. Fullerton, real estate litigation, transactional services and creditor's rights, from James B. Carroll & Associates; John R. Knowles, toxic tort litigation and product and premises liability, from Heineke & Burke; and Troy M. Sphar, commercial litigation, business disputes and employment litigation, from David G. Trout & Associates.

To Handler Thayer: partners David A. Berek, advanced planning and family, from Credit Suisse Group; Katarinna McBride, advanced planning and family, from Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli & Swerdlove; and Andrew D. Morton, sports and entertainment, from Morton Advisors; and associate Christine E. McKillip, commercial, from Piccione, Keeley & Associates.