Events

The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) will present its Distinguished Award for Excellence to Peter J. Birnbaum, president and CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. on Oct. 17 at the 16th Annual Gala.

The 2014 Gala will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago. The event is co-chaired by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. IBF board co-chairs are Deane B. Brown, Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove LLP, and Shawn S. Kasserman, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC.

The award, selected by the Illinois Bar Foundation’s board of directors, celebrates one attorney each year for making a major contribution to law and society. Past winners include Mayor Richard M. Daley, Scott Turow, Mary A. Dempsey, Jerold S. Solovy, Joseph A. Power, Jr., Bernard M. Judge, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Burke, and Newton N. Minow. IBF is the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association,

The 2014 ISBA Midyear Meeting and Joint Meeting with the Illinois Judges Association will be held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois from Dec. 11– 13. Take advantage of this opportunity to make your reservations for lodging early. Reservations at the Sheraton may either be made online at www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/isba2014 or by calling 800.325.3535. Please be sure to advise that you are attending the ISBA/IJA Meeting when making your reservation. Rates for 2014 are $149 for single or double occupancy, plus tax. Check-in after 3:00 p.m. and check-out before 12:00 p.m.

The deadline for making reservations for lodging is on or before November 17. Reservations received after this date will be subject to availability. The deposit will be forfeited for all no-shows, early departures and cancellations less than 72 hours prior to arrival.

Watch in the coming months for additional details, schedule of events and registration information on our website www.isba.org and Illinois Lawyer Now.

The Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Bar Foundation, Illinois Judges Association, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Alliance of Illinois Judges, Illinois Judicial Council and the Jewish Judges Association of Illinois are teaming up for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) 20th annual Race Judicata Sprint for Justice 5K Run/Walk. This fundraising event takes place on Sept. 4 in Chicago’s Grant Park.

T-shirts will be provided for team members. All proceeds from Race Judicata go to the general operating costs of CVLS, which works to provide legal services to the poor and working poor of Chicago. The four organizations will host a tent that will serve as the main gathering point for team members. Food and water will be available at the tent. The entry fee is $34 through August 22nd. Register under the team name WBAI, ISBA, IBF, IJA, AIJ, IJC, JJAI at www.cvls.org/judicata.

A roast to celebrate ISBA Past President Herb Franks' more than 50 years of service in the legal profession will be held on Aug. 8 at Donley's Village Hall Banquets, 8512 S. Union Road in Union. The evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner and roast at 7 p.m. Donation levels range from $75-$500. All proceeds from the event will benefit Prairie State Legal Services.

Featured roasters include Illinois Supreme Court Justices Anne Burke and Thomas Kilbride, Secretary of State Jesse White, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, McHenry County Judge Michael Caldwell, Appellate Court judges Richard Goldenhersh and Mary Schostock and ISBA Past Presidents Paula H. Holderman and Tim Eaton. Attorney General Lisa Madigan will make the opening remarks.

For more information, contact Ann Sprague at asprague@fgmlaw.com or (815) 923-2107.