Chicago Area

[caption id="attachment_8283" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Amy Gardner"][/caption] Ungaretti & Harris LLP Litigation Partner Amy M. Gardner has been selected by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) to receive one of its prestigious 2010 Marshall Memorial Fellowships. Ms. Gardner is one of 54 emerging American leaders who were chosen for distinguishing themselves in their respective professions while demonstrating a commitment to enhancing relationships between the United States and Europe.  She is one of four from Illinois and the only Illinois attorney to receive the honor this year.  Since its inception 28 years ago, the program has attracted more than 1,650 of the best and brightest American and European professionals. During a 24-day European travel program, Ms. Gardner and other Fellows will explore political, economic and social institutions and issues impacting the United States and Europe.  They will meet formally and informally with policymakers and prominent members of the business, government, political, non-governmental organizations and media communities who will provide a local perspective on transatlantic and domestic issues. Following the Fellowship, Ms. Gardner intends to use the knowledge she gains to educate Ungaretti & Harris attorneys and clients on conducting business, particularly related to commercial and intellectual property litigation matters, in foreign jurisdictions. At Ungaretti & Harris, Ms.

Chief Circuit Judge Stephen J. Culliton has announced that the Court has appointed Jeffrey R. York to the position of Public Defender for DuPage County. Mr. York has been serving as the Interim Public Defender for DuPage County since November of 2009. He began his career with the DuPage County Public Defender's Office as an Assistant Public Defender in 1997 and was promoted to Public Defender in 2000. He became a Supervising Assistant Public Defender in 2006 and Deputy Public Defender in 2007. Mr. York is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law (1996) and was admitted to the practice of law in the same year. His professional memberships include the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts has announced that the 21st Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Ronald J. Gerts as an associate judge. Mr. Gerts received his undergraduate degree in 1968 from Brown University and his Juris Doctor in 1977 from John Marshall Law School. Mr. Gerts has been affiliated with the Kankakee County Public Defender's Office and his solo practice in Bourbonnais.

[caption id="attachment_8201" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Frank Sommario"][/caption] Frank A. Sommario, an associate attorney at the Chicago law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, was elected and installed treasurer of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (WCLA), Ltd., at a dinner meeting held January 23 at the Drake Hotel. Sommario was first elected to the WCLA Board of Directors in 2008 and served in that capacity for fiscal years 2008-09.  He became a member of the organization in 2001. The WCLA was established to promote fellowship among members of the bar engaged in the trial of workers’ compensation matters; promote, foster and sponsor legislation relating to workers’ compensation and its administration; aid, assist and cooperate with judicial tribunals and administrative bodies in matters relating to the administration of workers’ compensation laws; and improve quality of service to the general public for workers’ compensation legal services. Prior to joining Romanucci & Blandin, Sommario was a partner in a firm which represented petitioners in their workers’ compensation claims, and while in law school, was a law clerk for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.  A certified public accountant, as well as a registered investment advisor, he received his J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law in 2000 and his B.S.