Firm Life
Arnstein & Lehr Partner Samuel H. Levine, real estate litigation, was appointed secretary of the Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking, Collections & Bankruptcy Law Section Council for the 2012-2013 year.
Barnes & Thornburg Partner Clifford J. Shapiro, construction law and litigation, was selected to join The American College of Construction Lawyers.
Cook County public guardian's office Deputy Public Guardian Charles P. Golbert was named editor-in-chief of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Inc.'s biannual journal and Director of Intake Wendy S. Cappelletto was named to its board of directors.
Corboy & Demetrio Associate Edward G. Willer, construction negligence, product liability and premises liability, was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. His appointment expires Dec. 31, 2013.
David A. Axelrod & Associates Partner David A. Axelrod, complex litigation, was named a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which recognize trial lawyers who have won million and multimillion awards, settlements and verdicts.
DePaul University School of Law emeritus law professor and International Human Rights Law Institute President Emeritus M. Cherif Bassiouni received the West Suburban Bar Association's "Lincoln Award" for his work in helping to establish new constitutions and legal systems in Bahrain and Libya.
Husch Blackwell Partners Julie A. Katz, IP litigation, and Edward D. Manzo, IP litigation, portfolio development and client counseling, received "Distinguished Service Medals" from the Linn Inn Alliance.
John Marshall Law School Writing Resource Center Director and assistant professor Lurene M. Contento was selected as the 2012 "Deborah Hecht Memorial Writing Contest Award" winner. She won the award for her article, "Freeing Students to Write More Effectively — Taking the Fear Out of Plagiarism."
The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association honored Cook County Circuit Judge Paul P. Biebel Jr., presiding judge of the Criminal Courts Division, with its "Freedom Award" and Hull Partners founding Principal Kevin M. Hull, John Marshall Elder Law Program Director and professor Barry A. Kozak, Illinois Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza and Roberts McGivney Zagotta Principal Nicholas C. Zagotta with "Distinguished Service Awards."
Katten Muchin Rosenman Partner Kevin M. Foley, regulatory compliance, received an "Achievement Award" from the Futures Industry Association. Foley has served as the association's outside counsel on regulatory matters for about 20 years.
Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving President Jeffery M. Leving, who represents fathers in family law matters, was honored with IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law's "Professional Achievement Award for 2012."
Novack and Macey Partner John F. Shonkwiler, commercial litigation, was named a member of the board of directors for Chicago Lights, an outreach organization at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
Polsinelli Shughart Associate Tiffany R. Harper, loan enforcement, commercial litigation and bankruptcy, received the "Rising Star for 2012" award from the Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago.
Power Rogers & Smith Partner Todd A. Smith received the seventh annual "Senator Paul Wellstone Award" from Citizen Action/ Illinois for his career and contributions as president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Quarles & Brady Partner and Chairwoman Janine M. Landow-Esser, environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Administration law, received Chicago United's 2011 "Ambassador Award" and Partner Kevin E. Slaughter, mergers and acquisitions and public finance, received its 2011 "Visionary Honorary Mention" for their support of the Chicago United/Chicago Scholars' Career Mentoring Initiative.
Schiff Hardin received the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's "Thomas L. Sager Award" for its diversity achievements in the Midwest region.
Sidley Austin Partner Michele Ilene Ruiz, private investments, and Drinker Biddle & Reath Partner Jesse H. Ruiz, mergers and acquisitions, received the "Barristers Philanthropic Award" from the Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program. The group honored Michele Ruiz for her work with Kanoon Elementary Magnet School and Jesse Ruiz for his service on the Chicago Board of Education and the U.S. Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission.
SmithAmundsen Partner Julie A. Proscia, employment litigation and labor, was elected to the board of directors of Fox Valley United Way.
Swanson, Martin & Bell Partner Richard J. Keating Jr., general liability defense and commercial litigation, received the "Time and Eternity Award" during Marist High School's 25-year alumni reunion. Keating graduated from the high school in 1987.
Williams Montgomery & John Partner David L. Applegate acted as the master of ceremonies for Columbia College Chicago's John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition.
> Law Firms
Gordon and Pikarski relocated its offices to 55 W. Monroe St.
Robbins, Salomon & Patt relocated its offices to 180 N. LaSalle St. from 25 E. Washington St.
Former Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission Hearing Board Chairwoman and Litigation Counsel Allison L. Wood opened her own firm, Legal Ethics Consulting. She focuses on preventative ethics counseling, disciplinary and malpractice defense and expert evaluations.
> Promotions
(From left to right) Katie L. Becker, Timothy J. Rechtien, Bradley J. Van Pelt and Katherine L. Fink recently became shareholders in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff.
Banner & Witcoff promoted Katie L. Becker, patent prosecution and counseling; Katherine L. Fink, intellectual property litigation; Timothy J. Rechtien, patent litigation; and Bradley J. Van Pelt, IP litigation, prosecution and counseling, to shareholder.
Cassiday Schade elected Melissa A. Anderson, insurance coverage and commercial litigation; Ehren V. Bilshausen, construction and transportation litigation; Bradford A. Burton, construction law and environmental and toxic tort litigation; Brook M. Carey, commercial litigation; Jeffrey A. Hesser, general negligence and medical malpractice defense; Jamie L. Hull, insurance coverage and commercial litigation; Paul T. Kleppetsch, construction, product-liability and transportation defense; Anthony J. Longo, medical, construction and product-liability defense; and Mark A. Sansone, litigation, to partner.
K&L Gates named Alan L. Barry, patent, trademark and copyright litigation, as administrative partner of the firm's Chicago office.
Matushek, Nilles & Sinars promoted James T. Rollins, defense of asbestos, pharmaceutical and medical device claims, to equity partner; and Megan S. Slowikowski, asbestos, product liability, toxic torts and occupational injury, to partner.
Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney promoted Catherine E. Goldhaber, product liability and toxic torts/hazardous substances, to equity shareholder; and Michael H. Cantieri, construction and toxic torts/hazardous substances; Jason P. Eckerly, commercial and toxic torts/hazardous substances; and Adam J. Jagadich, construction and products liability, to shareholder.
Ulmer & Berne elected Michael D. Switzer, patent litigation and IP counseling, to the firm's seven-member management committee. Switzer also serves as partner-in-charge of the firm's Chicago office.
> Moves
To Azam Chandran & Gilani: Partner Tarun J. Chandran, corporate and transactions, from Paul Hastings. Due to his addition, the firm changed its name and moved its offices to 333 N. Michigan Ave.
To Bryan Cave: Associate Kathrine B. Dixon Hanna, environmental client service, from the office of Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
To Cozen O'Connor: Partner Richard T. Ruzich and Associate Elese E. Hanson, intellectual property litigation, from Duane Morris.
To HeplerBroom: Associates Andrew D. Dorn, from MacMunnis, and Kimberly D. Musick, from Fish Law Group, who both practice in asbestos, toxic tort and products liability.
To Husch Blackwell: Partner Robert M. Gould, patent and trademark litigation, from Duane Morris.
To Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth: Associate Katherine L. Dzik, professional negligence, product-liability and commercial litigation, from Clifford Law Offices.
To Greenberg Traurig: Shareholder Alan R. Greenfield, franchising, licensing and distribution, from DLA Piper.
To Hinshaw & Culbertson: Partners Paul S. Nicolosi, real estate and business law, Gino Galluzzo, business law, and Gregory E. Cox, business and municipal law; Associates Kelly Hintzsche and Kelly H. Huo; and Paralegal Kevin Schauer, all from Nicolosi & Associates.
To Howard & Howard: Partner Jude M. Sullivan, corporate, mergers and acquisitions and private equity, from K&L Gates.
To IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law: Marsha Ross-Jackson, assistant dean for student professional development, executive director of the Institute for Law and the Workplace, and lecturer, from the Cook County Health and Hospitals System.
To Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving: attorney Adam M. Salzman, family law and child custody, from the Cook County public guardian's office.
To Matushek, Nilles & Sinars: Associates Amy M. Callaghan, toxic tort and asbestos litigation defense, from Mulherin, Rehfeldt & Varchetto; and Charles M. Alva and Jack A. Gould, toxic tort and asbestos litigation defense.
To McDermott Will & Emery: Partner Kristian A. Werling, corporate and private equity funds in the life sciences area, from McGuireWoods.
To McGuireWoods: Partner Christina M. Egan, government, regulatory and criminal investigations, from the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois.
To Much Shelist: Associates Phillippe G. Holland, corporate law, from Jones Day; and Michael A. Minea, IP and technology transactions, from Mayer Brown.
To Myers Carden & Sax: Associate Thomas H. Hayden III, defense of nursing homes, from Parrillo, Weiss & O'Halloran.
To Polsinelli Shughart: Shareholders Ronald R. Dietrich, real estate finance, and Eric G. Greenfield, real estate development transactions, from Greenberg Traurig.
To Reed Smith: Senior Associate Christine E. Nielsen, privacy and data security, from the Illinois attorney general's office.
To Rubin & Norris: Associate Caitlin R. Fitzpatrick, commercial and residential real property tax, from Allstate Investments LLC.
To Schiff Hardin: Associate Brian L. Josias, white-collar criminal defense, along with securities and complex commercial litigation, from Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker, Poulos & Campbell.
To Thompson Coburn: Of Counsel and retired Appellate Justice Alan J. Greiman, litigation, from JAMS.
To Valorem Law Group: Partner Manotti L. Jenkins, patent and trademark litigation and counseling, from solo practice.