Urbana attorney Richard L. Thies was presented the prestigious “Lincoln the Lawyer” Award by The Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA) during the organization's annual Lincoln's Birthday Banquet February 12 in Springfield. Thies is just the eleventh person to receive the award, which recognizes individuals who reflect the character and ideals of Abraham Lincoln in their legal careers.
“For more than half a century, Richard Thies has served the interests of his clients with skill and integrity, has worked enthusiastically in support of countless civic and charitable organizations, and has provided leadership to the legal profession,” said ALA Board Member Thomas Johnson, who nominated Thies for the award. “Richard is an unfailing, unflinching exemplar of civic virtue and personal honor who is, in Vachel Lindsay's words, 'Lincoln hearted' – Lincoln hearted in every good way.”
People
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February 18, 2015 |
ISBA News | People
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February 17, 2015 |
People
The law firm of Bozeman, Neighbour, Patton & Noe, LLP is pleased to announce that Jeffrey D. Jacobs has been named a partner in the firm.
Jacobs joined the firm in 2010 as an associate. He graduated from Alleman High School in 2002 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drake University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Jacobs is a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law earning his degree in 2010.
Jacobs is licensed to practice in Illinois and Iowa. His practice areas include corporate law, tax law, business planning, commercial law, probate, estate planning, employment law, real estate and commercial litigation.
Recently Jacobs was named an Emerging Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers organization. This designation was based on a poll of his peers.
Bozeman, Neighbour, Patton & Noe, LLP was founded by Virgil Bozeman in 1954 and has been located in the Fifth Avenue Building in downtown Moline since that time. The firm also has offices in Davenport and Cambridge.
The firm’s 16 attorneys provide consistent, professional and quality representation for its many clients in Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa.
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February 11, 2015 |
People
Don Paul Koeneman, 80, passed away on Jan. 16, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville.
He was born to the late Bruno William and Marguerite (nee Finley) Koeneman on April 24, 1934, at his Grandmother Koeneman's home in Steeleville. He lived in Steeleville until 1947 when the family moved to Chester. Don attended Chester Grade School and graduated from Chester High School in 1952. While attending Chester High School he participated in basketball and tennis, and was the editor of The Summit yearbook.
In 1956 Don graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, and received a commission to the U.S. Air Force JAG Corp as a Second Lieutenant. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Washington University Law School in 1958. While attending Washington University, he participated in the Air Force ROTC, and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.
On June 30, 1956, Don married Mary Ann Uffelman in Chester. In October of that year, he entered active duty at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base followed by two and one half years at the Azores Air Transport Station in Azores, Portugal.
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February 9, 2015 |
People
ATG Makes Annual Scholarship Donation in His Name
Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. announces the retirement of former leader, board member, and board chairman Ward F. McDonald of Mahomet, Illinois.
McDonald helped shape ATG from a concept to a viable business, went on to conduct a successful law practice, and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law and College of Business. “ATG would not be the success it is today without Ward's efforts,” said Peter J. Birnbaum, president and CEO. “Ward worked tirelessly from the late 1960s—first as a law clerk, then in the company’s top position as Executive Vice President—through the early 1980s, then served on our board for decades, always offering thoughtful guidance and leadership.”
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February 4, 2015 |
People
Stewart Strawn Dixon, 84, of Lake Bluff died December 14, 2014. He was a founding member of one of Chicago's leading corporate law firms, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, today known as Edwards Wildman and Palmer.
Practicing law in Chicago for over half a century, Dixon started his legal profession as Partner at Kirkland and Ellis, before teaming up with Max Wildman, Bernard Harrold, and Thomas Allen in 1967 to form Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon out of a small cramped office located on the fourth floor at Six North Michigan Avenue. Dixon practiced in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Antitrust, Corporate, Securities and Tax, and Estate Planning, Probate and Family Law. His bar admissions included: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar member) Supreme Court of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuitas well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dixon served more than 25 years as lead Counsel to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, a nationally recognized non-profit association of advertisers, ad agencies and publishers. Dixon also served as a Director of New York based Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds from 1976 2002. Additionally, Dixon represented, American Stock Exchange, Edward Hines Lumber Company, Ducks Unlimited, North American Wildlife Foundation, and William Blair & Company.
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February 4, 2015 |
People
The law firm of Hasselberg, Grebe, Snodgrass, Urban & Wentworth is pleased to announce that Boyd O. Roberts III has become a partner in the firm. Boyd has been with Hasselberg, Grebe, Snodgrass, Urban & Wentworth for over nine years and focuses his practice in the areas of worker’s compensation, personal injury, criminal defense, traffic defense and family law. Boyd is a native of Wheaton and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois. Boyd then obtained his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
Boyd currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Hult Center for Health Living along with the Peoria Soccer Club. He was a previous recipient of the Peoria area “40 Leaders Under 40” Award in 2009. Boyd resides in Dunlap, Illinois with his wife Alison and their five children. -
February 4, 2015 |
People
Clyde Meachum, 94, of Danville passed away on Jan. 26, 2015 at Colonial Manor in Danville. Clyde was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Hallsville, the son of Fred and Ruth Meachum. He married Virginia Harvin on Dec. 30, 1942, in Chicago. She precedes him in death, having passed on Feb. 23, 2010.
Clyde is survived by a son, Bruce (Sharon) Meachum of Danville; two daughters, Carol (Kim Walter) Meachum of Seattle and Connie (Elizabeth Most) Meachum of Harbor Springs, Mich.; two grandchildren, Lynette Baisch of Seattle and Grant Meachum of New York City; and two great-grandchildren, Ruben Baisch and Marco Baisch.
Clyde graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Education degree. Following service as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1948.
Clyde was an attorney for nearly 60 years, retiring in 2008. He began his legal career in Danville in 1948, as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Walter Lindley. From 1949 to 1961, Clyde was the Referee in Bankruptcy for the U.S. District Court, covering 45 counties in eastern and southern Illinois. He entered the private practice of law in Danville in 1951, in partnership with Ray Foreman. At the time of his retirement in 2008, he had been a partner in the law firm of Meachum & Martin in Danville.
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February 3, 2015 |
People
Heyl Royster partner Andrew Roth and Associate Brett Mares recently relocated from Heyl Royster’s offices in Rockford and Edwardsville, respectively, to join the firm at its new Chicago offices located at 33 N. Dearborn St.
Andrew Roth’s practice is focused on defending toxic tort, asbestos, and medical malpractice cases. Licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin, Mr. Roth also has a wide range of experience defending civil cases involving premises, auto and product liability; trucking; construction; dramshop; and insurance coverage. He has tried a number of cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury and contractual disputes. Mr. Roth has also represented clients in alternative dispute resolution, including mediations, settlement conferences, and arbitrations. Mr. Roth graduated magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2003 and served as an associate editor on the school's Law Review.
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January 30, 2015 |
People
As a young lawyer in the 1960s, Michael R. Galasso represented individuals in difficult divorces and child custody battles and saw up close the need for the justice system to do more to help families and couples in crisis. During a 16-year judicial career he was able to do something about it, instituting reforms for the system’s handling of divorce cases and offering help to troubled youths. And in the final decade of his career in private practice at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck he shared his expertise and wisdom with young lawyers and with clients.
Judge Galasso died Friday, January 23 at the age of 78.
“Our firm lost an outstanding attorney, a respected, admired judge and a good friend with the passing of Mike Galasso,” said Donald C. Schiller, senior partner, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck. “He showed great foresight as a judge, bringing psychological services, mediation and evaluation to divorce cases in DuPage County. He was so respected he was appointed to the Appellate Court. Mike simply excelled at everything he did.”
Mr. Galasso spent the bulk of his career litigating family law cases in DuPage County after graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1961. He was appointed an Associate Judge in DuPage County in 1984 and went on to serve as Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations and Law Divisions and Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County.
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January 28, 2015 |
People
Walter J. Simhauser died on January 16, 2015, in Springfield at age 96. He was retired from a long career as a lawyer in Springfield and central Illinois.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, his brother, John Simshauser, son, Val Simhauser (Patty Hagner), stepchildren Kathy (Richard) Crider, Karen (Carl) Schmidt, Brian Berg, and Melanie Berg, nephews Andy and Peter Simshauser, niece Kitty Lavin, other nieces and nephews, grandchildren Matt (Amanda) Simhauser and Mark Simhauser (fiancée, Caitlin Dungan), Ali Berg, Anna and Nate Schmidt, Kyle and Adam Crider, and great-granddaughter, Ava Simhauser.
Mr. Simhauser was Springfield’s City Attorney from 1955 to 1959 and from 1963 to1969. He was also the city attorney for Leland Grove, aiding in its founding in 1950 and serving until 1990, and for Jerome, Southern View, Grandview, Auburn, and Chatham.
He was born in May 1918 in Bloomington, Illinois, the oldest son of Val M. Simhauser and Daisy (Burke) Simhauser.He was predeceased by both parents, and by a brother, Judge Louis E. Simhauser. His father was a railroad machinist who moved on to self-employment after the 1922 strike at the Chicago & Alton yards in Bloomington, and who also served several terms as a Bloomington alderman. His mother was a teacher and a graduate of the State Normal School. Education, books, and reading were integral parts of life in the family’s Bloomington household. He and his two brothers became lawyers.