Chicago Area

The DuPage Association of Women Lawyers (DAWL) honored ISBA President Paula H. Holderman (right) and ISBA Past President Irene Bahr (left) on Oct. 10, during a luncheon at Klein Creek Golf Club, in Winfield. The awards recognized Holderman and Bahr for their “inspiration of women in bar leadership.” Holderman and Bahr are pictured at right with DAWL President Chantelle Porter.

Kubasiak, Fylstra, Thorpe & Rotunno, P.C., (KFTR) a full-service, independent Chicago-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Sanford M. “Sandy” Stein has joined the firm as chair of its Environmental, Energy and Land Use Group and as Director of Government Relations.

“KFTR is delighted that Sandy chose to join us in a leadership role,” says Gerald E. Kubasiak, president of KFTR. “Sandy’s varied talents allow him to serve clients across a range of related disciplines in a seamless fashion.”

Stein’s practice includes land use, zoning and environmental matters in a transactional context and litigation matters at the administrative, trial and appellate levels. Stein also has extensive experience in infrastructure development, clean and renewable energy, and public finance and public-private development projects. Stein is also a registered lobbyist and represents clients in matters involving local, state and federal government entities.

“I was looking for a well-established firm that would offer clients sophisticated expertise at reasonable rates. KFTR, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, was the perfect fit,” Stein says.

 “Sandy is at the peak of a distinguished career,” notes Raymond A. Fylstra, a founding member of KFTR. “With Sandy as a key member of our team, we look forward to the continued expansion of our firm.”

About KFTR

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Friday the appointment of Evanston attorney Jerry A. Esrig as Cook County Circuit Judge in the Ninth Judicial Subcircuit.

Mr. Esrig, a resident of the Ninth Subcircuit, was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Allen S. Goldberg. The appointment is effective October 30, 2013 and will terminate December 1, 2014, when the position is filled by the 2014 General Election.

Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended the appointment to the Supreme Court after she announced an open application process and after the candidates were reviewed by bar associations and Justice Theis' bipartisan screening committee.

Hon. William Robert Quinlan, age 73, passed away on Oct. 1 in Wilmette. 

Quinlan was a native of Chicago's South Side and graduated from Loyola University's School of Law in 1963. He served as corporation counsel for the city of Chicago under Mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael A. Bilandic and Jane M. Byrne. He was elected as a Cook County Circuit Court judge in 1980. In that position, he presided over trials involving the Rosemont Horizon roof collapse, cases stemming from a salmonella outbreak and the first asbestos trial here. Quinlan was appointed to the 1st District Appellate Court in 1985 and elected the next year.

In January 2003, Bill was recognized as a Laureate of the Illinois State Bar Association Academy of Illinois Lawyers. In October 2005, he received the Illinois Bar Foundation's Distinguished Award for Excellence. Bill was a member of the Society of Trial Lawyers, the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the American Bar Association Council of the Section of Litigation. He was also a Fellow of the American and Illinois Bar Foundations.

Bill served as Judicial Liaison of the Illinois State Bar Association since 1995 and as Chairman of the Judicial Advisory Council of Cook County since 1991. Bill also served as Special Counsel to the President and Parliamentarian of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, and was Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago under Mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael Bilandic and Jane Byrne.