Chicago Area

ISBA members Mary D. Cascino of Chicago and Darcy J. Chamberlain of Oak Brook were elected Fellows to the College at the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel's (ACTEC) 2011 national meeting held in mid-October at the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California.

Established in 1949, ACTEC is a nonprofit association of more than 2,600 trust and estate lawyers who practice throughout the United States, Canada and the world. Candidates for election as an ACTEC Fellow must meet rigorous eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, no less than 10 years experience in the active private practice of probate and trust law or estate planning.

"ACTEC includes the premier trust and estate practitioners and law professors and we welcome the fall 2011 Fellows who have demonstrated exceptional skill and made significant contributions to the field of trust and estate law," said ACTEC President, Mary F. Radford. "ACTEC offers an incomparable environment for practitioners and professors to engage with the best and the brightest on "hot topics" and presents state, regional and national opportunities for collegiality."

Membership in The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel is by election of the Regents of the College. Individual lawyers and law professors who meet the membership criteria are nominated by fellows of the College, and subject to careful review by both state and national membership selection committees, prior to consideration by the Regents of the College.

Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Taylor, Ltd. is pleased to announce our newest associate.

David G. Weldon joins our Chicago office where he will concentrate on labor and employment law. He counsels employers in all aspects of employment law including hiring, terminations, employee discipline, labor relations, policies and practices, employee leaves and state and federal employment discrimination matters. David also represents employers in the defense of civil rights, employment, and tort claims in both state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies.  

David joined Robbins, Schwartz as a law clerk during his second year of law school. In that position, he worked primarily with the labor and employment practice group.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that Freddrenna M. Lyle has been appointed Circuit Judge of Cook County, Second Subcircuit. This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Michael W. Stuttley. It is effective Dec. 16, 2011 and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.

The Illinois Bar Foundation will honor Belleville attorney ISBA Board member Russell K. Scott with the foundation’s prestigious 2011 Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award. The award will be presented at a meeting of the ISBA's Midyear Meeting in Chicago.  Past recipients of the award include U.S. Senators Alan Dixon and Paul Simon, Illinois Supreme Court justices, federal judges and noted attorneys. Scott is a senior litigation officer with Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. and co-manager of the firm’s Southern Illinois Practice Group, based in Belleville.

The award honors Scott for significant contributions to law, society and the Illinois Bar Foundation and The Fellows program. Founded more than 50 years ago, the foundation ensures meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those of limited means, and assists lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.  Find our more at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org.

With Greensfelder, Scott’s practice includes the defense of legal and medical malpractice suits, product liability actions, industrial accident cases, premises liability, automobile, construction, insurance coverage, class action, toxic tort, general commercial and personal injury litigation. He is also a certified mediator.

Scott was inducted into the Academy of Illinois Lawyers in 2009. He is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and fellow and board member of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution.