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  • February 10, 2016 | People
    William C. (Bill) Prather 1921-2016

    William C. (Bill) Prather, 94, of Toledo, Illinois died on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016 while recuperating at Cumberland Rehab & Health Care, Greenup, Illinois. Respecting the wishes of William C. Prather, no funeral nor memorial service is scheduled. 

    Bill Prather was born February 20, 1921 in Toledo, the only child of Hollie Cartmill Prather and Effie Ferne (Deppen) Prather. He is survived by several cousins and many friends. 

    Bill was a 1938 graduate of Casey High School, Casey, IL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1942 where, with Betty Stiglitz, he was Co-President of the Student Government Association. Bill received his Juris Doctorate degree, also from the University of Illinois, in 1947 and was admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court that same year. Bill was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1978. 

  • February 10, 2016 | People
    Theodore 'Ted' Spak 1932-2016

    Theodore ("Ted") Spak, 83, passed away January 20, 2016. An attorney, CPA, businessman, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Ted was a diamond life master and certified bridge teacher, as well as a devoted philanthropist.

    Ted was born in Chicago, and attended Northwestern University, graduating with an accounting degree in 1953 and from the law school in 1956. After practicing law from 1956-62, he established Theodore Spak & Associates, a public insurance adjusting firm, where he served as President until his retirement. He relocated to Miami, Florida in 1976.

  • February 9, 2016 | People
    Philip J. Rock 1937-2016

    Philip Rock, an Oak Park Democrat who led the Illinois Senate as its president during his 22 years in Springfield, died early Friday.

    Rock, 78, first rose to the post of Illinois Senate president in 1979 and left the Senate in 1993.

    His obituary describes him as "a Catholic, a Democrat and a Cubs fan ... but not necessarily in that order."

    He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sheila, as well as three daughters and a son.

    State Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, remembered Rock as a mentor.

  • February 4, 2016 | People
    Former ISBA Executive Director John H. Dickason 1931-2016

    Former ISBA Executive Director John H. Dickason, 84, of Coral Gables, FL passed away February 2, 2016. He was born June 3, 1931 in Wooster, OH, a twin son of the late Donald E. and Martha (Hamilton) Dickason. He graduated from Champaign, IL High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from Dartmouth College. John and his wife Barbara (Bobbie) were married June 20, 1953 in Christ Episcopal Church, Bronxville, NY. He served in the U.S. Army (1954-1956).

    He was Director of Administrative Services for the Illinois State Bar Association from 1960-1970 and then served as Executive Director until 1985. In 1985 he became the Vice President for Finance and Administration of the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust which assisted basic medical researchers.  

  • February 3, 2016 | People
    Kurt Peter Klein 1943-2016

    The Honorable Judge Kurt Peter Klein, 72, Sycamore, Illinois passed away Friday, January 15, 2016, in Arizona with his beloved wife, Linda by his side. 

    Kurt was born September 30, 1943, to Edmund and Rose (Ortman) Klein. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan. He graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago and DePaul University Law School. He began his legal career as an Assistant for the Cook County States Attorney's Office. He moved to DeKalb County in 1977 where he became a contributing member of the DeKalb County community. He served as the First Assistant in the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office. He was a founding member of the Gallagher, Klein and Brady law firm. He was an attorney for 43 years and served as a Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit for the last 17 years of his career, 11 years as Presiding Judge of DeKalb County. During his time as judge he was an integral part of the historical preservation and recent courthouse expansion as well as being a leading force in creating the 23rd judicial circuit, DeKalb and Kendall Counties. He also established the first Juvenile Safe House for at risk youth.

  • February 3, 2016 | People
    Ava George Stewart appointed to Board of Directors of Illinois Bar Foundation

    Ava George Stewart, principal of the Law Office of Ava George Stewart located on Chicago’s Near North Side, 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. In 2015, the Foundation took on the responsibility of a statewide expansion of the Illinois JusticeCorps to provide trained part-time student volunteers to serve as guides in courthouses. This year, the Foundation will distribute more than $850,000 in funds.

  • February 3, 2016 | People
    Calandriello joins Law Office of Martin L. Glink as associate

    Law Office of Martin L. Glink welcomes their newest associate, Erin Calandriello.

    Prior to joining her new team, Erin worked as an associate attorney at a downtown Chicago firm, concentrating in medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury and nursing home negligence. Erin highly values fighting for justice for victims that otherwise would not know their rights, and she is an advocate for women, youth, and aspiring attorneys. She was a journalist before working as a trial lawyer.

  • February 2, 2016 | People
    Apostol elected to Associated Colleges of Illinois Board of Directors

    Louis G. Apostol, Executive Director and General Counsel for the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and Chicago attorney, was elected to the Associated Colleges of Illinois Board of Directors on February 1, 2016.

    Mr. Apostol is the current Chair of the NIU College of Law Board of Visitors and on the Board of Directors for the NIU Alumni Association. He formerly served as Commissioner / Trial Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims and as Public Administrator of Cook County.

  • February 2, 2016 | People
    Rasmussen named partner at Foley & Lardner LLP

    Foley & Lardner LLP has announced the election and elevation of Christopher Rasmussen to partner status as of February 1, 2016. He was formerly senior counsel.  

    Christopher is a Business Law attorney and he represents clients in transactional matters throughout all stages of the corporate life cycle, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, securities, finance, corporate governance (including tax-exempt not-for-profit organizations), and general commercial transactions. Mr. Rasmussen represents clients across a range of industries, including financial services, insurance, sports and entertainment, construction, health care and manufacturing. He is a member of the firm’s Business Law Department, as well as the Sports, International and Food & Beverage Industry Teams.

  • January 28, 2016 | People
    Gabrielides joins Barnes & Thornburg IP Attorney Team in Chicago

    Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that a team of four leading intellectual property partners from Brinks, Gilson & Lione has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s Intellectual Property Department. This seasoned group of IP litigators brings depth and breadth of experience in all phases of trademark litigation, including preliminary injunctions, judge and jury trials, federal appeals and trademark trial and appeal board proceedings. They build on Barnes & Thornburg’s thriving IP practice.

    The team includes John T. Gabrielides, a prominent trademark and copyright litigator with more than 25 years of experience. Each team member served their former firm in administrative leadership roles, including on the board of directors and executive committee. Their arrival, which follows on the heels of two new IP partners in Minneapolis, underscores Barnes & Thornburg’s increasing IP bench strength across the country.