Chicago Area

Lauren S. Shapiro has joined the Chicago Office of Robbins Schwartz Nicholas Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., where she will concentrate on labor and employment law.  She counsels employers in all aspects of labor and employment law including hiring, terminations, reductions in force, employee discipline issues, labor relations, policies and practices, employment agreements, settlement agreements, severance matters and federal and state employment discrimination matters. Prior to joining Robbins Schwartz, Lauren served as an Associate General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150. Since its founding in 1970, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor Ltd. has provided a full range of legal services to educational institutions, public entities and private sector clients.  With offices in Chicago, Joliet, Decatur and Collinsville, Robbins, Schwartz is uniquely positioned to serve schools, colleges and municipal bodies, as well as clients in the corporate sector throughout Illinois.  For a complete description of the legal services provided by Robbins Schwartz visit the Firm’s website at www.rsnlt.com

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that seven former Lovells LLP attorneys have joined the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation Practice. The group, led by Gail Goering, Eric Haab and Neal Moglin will reside in Foley’s Chicago office. Goering, Haab and Moglin join Foley as partners. Also joining the firm from Lovells are Kay Wilde as of counsel, Peter Steffen as senior counsel, and Edward Diffin and Katherine Markowski as associates. All of the group’s partners have been recognized as leading practitioners in the field of insurance and reinsurance law by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Euromoney and Super Lawyers, and are listed in Who’s Who Legal Illinois and The International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers. “The arrival of Gail, Eric, Neal and their colleagues marks a major accomplishment for Foley's Insurance and Reinsurance practice,” said Gordon Davenport III, chair of Foley’s Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation Practice Group. “The vast experience they bring in advising clients on a broad array of complex insurance and reinsurance issues will further enhance the service our firm has been providing to clients in the insurance industry for more than 100 years.” Foley & Lardner LLP continually evolves to meet the changing legal needs of our clients. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices and more than 60 practices, Foley strives to provide high-caliber business and legal insight. Our team-based approach, proprietary client service technology, and practice depth enhance client relationships while seeing clients through their most complex legal challenges.

With the arrival of several new partners and associates in recent months, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP now has 100 attorneys practicing among its three offices. Attorneys John D. Malarkey and Richard P. Tauras have joined Swanson, Martin & Bell as partners. Mr. Malarkey, formerly at Freeborn & Peters, now serves as Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Litigation and Services Practice Group. Mr. Tauras, formerly at Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey, focuses his practice on the defense of toxic tort, product liability and professional negligence. The firm has also welcomed associates Eric M. Anderson, Jeffrey S. Becker, Dane A. Bolinger, Andrew H. Calcutt, Jason M. Clarke, Megan E. Schneider, Ryan J. Sullivan, Christopher D. Wehrman and Shera D. Wiegler. These partners and associates are preceded by numerous other additions in past months. In fact, since February 2009, Swanson, Martin & Bell has added 18 new attorneys. “We are thrilled with our ability to grow despite a challenging economy,” said Managing Partner Timothy D. Nickels. “These additional attorneys allow us to offer a broader range of experience to our clients.” Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is a nationally recognized litigation firm with offices in Chicago, Libertyville and Lisle. Since its inception in 1992, the firm has grown to approximately 100 attorneys in nineteen practice areas. Website: www.smbtrials.com.

Clarence Graves, 96, passed away on April 24, 2010. Mr. Graves was a former founding member and attorney for the Elmhurst Art Museum. Mr. Graves graduated from North Park College in 1938. He received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1943. He passed the bar in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy the next day. He served in WWII and started to practice probate and real estate law in 1946 at 77 W. Washington in Chicago. Mr. Graves moved his practice to Elmhurst in the 1980s. "Even in retirement he helped whoever he could with legal matters," said his daughter, Nancy Olson.