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  • April 25, 2016 | People
    Rock Island Attorney appointed to IBF Board of Directors

    Michael J. Warner, a partner in the personal injury law firm of Warner & Zimmerle, in Rock Island, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and will serve a two-year term.

    The Foundation raises funds for distribution to Illinois nonprofit organizations whose mission is to provide free legal services to those with limited means. It also provides assistance to lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. The Foundation also oversees the Illinois JusticeCorps program, which provides trained part-time student volunteers to serve as guides in courthouses. This year, the Foundation will distribute more than $850,000 in funds.

    Warner has been a lawyer in private practice since 1972 after serving for a year in the Rock Island State’s Attorneys Office. He has been a member of the Rock Island Bar Association since 1971. He was a board member of the Mississippi Valley Alzheimer’s Association and is a past president of the Rock Island County Mental Health Board.

  • April 22, 2016 | People
    Bohemian Lawyers Association announces nearly 30,000 in grants

    The Bohemian Lawyers Association (BLA) will award 9-10 scholarships totaling between $27,000- $30,000 on Thursday, May 26, at the Riverside Country Club. The expected breakdown by local law school is as follows: 3 to attendees of the University of Notre Dame Law School, 2 to attendees of Loyola University School of Law, 2 to attendees of Northern Illinois University College of Law, 1 each to attendees of the John Marshall Law School, Southern Illinois University School of Law and Marquette University Law School.

    BLA has now awarded over $200,000 in scholarships through 102 grants since 1998. 

  • April 18, 2016 | People
    Justice Laura Cha-Yu Liu 1966-2016

    Illinois Appellate Court Justice Laura Cha-Yu Liu died Friday after a long battle with breast cancer at age 49.

    The first Chinese-American woman to be elected judge in Illinois and the first Asian-American to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court; Liu was known for her work for equal access to the courts for non-English speakers, as well as her volunteer work and awards she garnered in the legal community, her family said in a statement.

    She was born July 19, 1966, in downstate Carbondale, where her parents were foreign exchange students. She graduated from Youngstown State University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

    Liu moved to Chicago after graduation to live with relatives, and worked for 19 years as a civil litigation attorney focused on health care and employment law.

    Even after being diagnosed with cancer, she continued with her career and won the election to the Circuit Court of Cook County, becoming the first Chinese-American female judge in state history. She primarily worked in the Chancery division. The Illinois Supreme Court later appointed her to the Illinois Appellate Court, where she became the first Asian-American to serve on that court.

    Liu is survived by her daughter Sophie, husband Michael Kasper, parents Yih-Wu and Becky Liu, sister Jessica, brother Eric, and her in-laws Dennis and Nancy Kasper.

  • April 14, 2016 | People
    Brotine named assistant general counsel

    In December, the Illinois Association of School Boards announced the retirement of General Counsel, Melinda Selbee, after 26 years of service with the Association. It was also announced at that time that IASB’s Assistant General Counsel, Kimberly Small, would take the reins in the general counsel position.

    Now, after a several-month search, IASB has announced that Maryam Brotine has accepted the position of assistant general counsel.

    Brotine is currently working as a senior associate with the law firm Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., Bolingbrook, where she practices school law. Brotine will start her duties at IASB on April 11.

    “It’s a perfect fit,” said Small. “Maryam has a wealth of experience in school law and is very aware of the Association’s work with providing policy to school districts.”

  • April 8, 2016 | People
    Elmhurst Attorney helps raise funds for disadvantaged children in the community

    On Thursday, March 17, the Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 14th annual Children’s Endowment Fund (CEF) dinner at Quartino Ristorante in Chicago. Over 60 supporters were in attendance as the 2016 CEF recipients, Bear Necessities and Pro Bono Network, each received a noteworthy check for $4,000. Since the founding of the Justinian Society in 1921, it has become one of the largest ethnic bar associations in the U.S.

    The mission of the CEF is to assist disabled or disadvantaged children in our community. Since starting the CEF in 2002 during his term as President, Romanucci & Blandin Principal and Partner, Antonio M. Romanucci and the Justinian members have raised critical funds for a wide range of recipients including: Make-A-Wish Foundation, Illinois Eye Institute, and Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland.

    “This year the Justinian Society was extremely proud to provide both Bear Necessities and the Pro Bono Network with sizeable grants that we know will go towards making an immediate impact in their networks,” said Romanucci & Blandin Partner and first vice president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Frank A. Sommario. “Bear Necessities funds cancer research and provides for the immediate needs of children and families battling cancer, while the Pro Bono Network provides an opportunity for Chicago based attorneys to provide legal services for those in need. Both are extremely worthy causes.”

  • April 7, 2016 | People
    Richard Dudley Borah 1947-2016

    69-year-old Richard Dudley Borah of Fairfield died at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, March 27, 2016 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN.  He graduated from Southern Illinois University.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Adjutant General Corps in Vietnam, receiving the rank of Sergeant.  Mr. Borah received several service medals including the Bronze Star.  After his separation from the army in November 1970, he returned to Vietnam to work in the U.S. Embassy and was one of the last few to vacate the Embassy.  He also taught English classes in a school while in Vietnam.  He taught “English as a Second Language” at Frontier Community College for newly arriving local Vietnamese refugees beginning in 1979.  In 1999, he attended law school at John Marshall Law School in Chicago and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2002.  He first practiced in Bushnell before returning to Fairfield.  Mr. Borah was a faithful member and servant in the St. Edwards Catholic Church in Fairfield and loved farming, gardening and fishing.

  • April 6, 2016 | People
    ATG Executive Earns National Title Professional Designation

    Attorney Christine Sparks, vice president – claims and audit for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG®, http://www.atgf.com/), has been awarded the National Title Professional (NTP) designation by the American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry. Sparks is also the current president of the Illinois Land Title Association.

    ATG President and CEO Peter Birnbaum said, “We are proud that Christine has achieved this prestigious honor, which acknowledges her professionalism, work ethic and extensive knowledge of the land title insurance industry.”

    Through the NTP designation, ALTA recognizes land title professionals who have demonstrated the knowledge, experience and dedication essential to the safe and efficient transfer of real property. The designation represents a measure of achievement and commitment to career development, and brings Sparks enhanced status in the industry and among industry colleagues. Sparks will also have the advantage of special NTP benefits and recognition at ALTA events and state Land Title Association meetings.

  • March 31, 2016 | People
    Ansel, Parker and Amundson join Meyer Capel

    Meyer Capel, the largest, most diversified law firm headquartered in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois proudly announces the addition of Champaign attorney Marc J. Ansel as a shareholder of the firm and attorneys Alyx J. Parker and Dane C. Amundson as associates with the law firm. Attorneys Ansel, Parker and Amundson practiced law together as Ansel Law, Ltd. prior to joining Meyer Capel’s litigation department.

    A veteran litigator, Marc Ansel, has practiced law continuously in Champaign County, Illinois for over 40 years and is a graduate of both the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois College of Law. Mr. Ansel is a respected trial lawyer concentrating in civil litigation, including complex business and commercial litigation, construction disputes, unfair competition, arbitration, mediation, injury and insurance matters. He is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution, as advocate, arbitrator and mediator. He has handled numerous jury and bench trials, as well as appeals before all Illinois appellate courts, the Illinois Supreme Court, the Federal court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Ansel has also been involved in alternative dispute resolution as an advocate, arbitrator and mediator.

  • March 29, 2016 | People
    Bina Reappointed to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission

    The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that Chicago partner, Mark W. Bina, has been reappointed to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).

    Mark will serve another year on the commission which is the state agency overseeing the licensing and discipline of all Illinois-licensed attorneys. He also sits on the ARDC’s Hearing Board which serves as a fact-finder conducting evidentiary hearings for attorneys charged with misconduct, and also sits on the ARDC's Oversight Committee.

  • March 28, 2016 | People
    Arnstein & Lehr LLP bolsters Bankruptcy Practice

    The national law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP welcomes William A. Williams to its Chicago office as an associate in the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights and Litigation Practice Groups.

    “We are excited to welcome Bill to Arnstein & Lehr,” said Michael L. Gesas, Managing Partner of Arnstein’s Chicago office.

    Mr. Williams chose to join Arnstein because, he says, “As a newly minted lawyer, I was looking for two things. First, I sought an environment in which I would be challenged to step outside of my comfort zone and grow as an attorney each and every day. Second, I wanted a chance to contribute real value to a team early in my career. In my opinion, Arnstein & Lehr strikes a fantastic balance, offering both highly sophisticated work and early opportunities for substantive experience.”