The State of Illinois Supreme Court recently appointed personal injury attorney, Stephan D. Blandin, to a one year-commitment on the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) hearing board , effective March 1, 2015. Founding partner and principal at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Blandin has served on the ARDC’s hearing board for four years. He is one of more than 75 hearing board members who will make recommendations in disciplinary matters of lawyers in Illinois. The mission of the ARDC is to promote and protect the integrity of the legal profession, at the direction of the Illinois Supreme Court, through attorney registration, education, investigation, prosecution and remedial action.
“I look forward to hearing grievances of my fellow attorneys and assisting in disciplinary matters,” said Mr. Blandin. “It’s an honor to provide ethical guidance to lawyers, balancing their rights with those of the public to ultimately preserve the integrity of the profession and ensure that the Illinois public can trust in the legal system.”
Mr. Blandin’s hearing board activities guarantees confidentiality during all grievance investigations, while disciplinary actions are adjudicated publicly. All ARDC board members are comprised of volunteer lawyers and non-lawyers who work under the direct supervision of the Chair of the Commission, Joan M. Eagle. The ARDC operates under the authority of the Supreme Court, which regulates the admission and discipline of lawyers in Illinois.
People
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March 31, 2015 |
People
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March 27, 2015 |
People
The well-regarded Lake Forest law firms of Pasquesi Associates and Lesser, Lutrey, McGlynn & Howe LLP will be merging as of March 30, 2015. Offices will be at 191 East Deerpath Road, Lake Forest.
With this merger, the eleven-lawyer firm will become among the largest law firms in Lake County that focuses on all things trusts and estates, including trust, estate and guardianship litigation, with licenses to practice in Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts and by year-end, North Carolina.
LLMH was formed in 1996, and Pasquesi Associates’ roots date back to 1953.
“We are thrilled to join with Tom Pasquesi, Amy Goldsmith and Tom Concannon in the practice of trust, estate and guardianship issues and litigation,” said Managing Partner David M. Lutrey. “These well-respected attorneys share in our commitment to excellence and building long-term relationships without our client families and professional associates.”
“We will continue to provide our clients with high quality trust and estate planning and administration services,” said Pasquesi. “By joining with Lesser Lutrey McGlynn & Howe, we expect to expand our ability to provide related corporate and business transactional services, employment matters and real estate and corporate related litigation.”
The firm can be reached at 847.295.8800, and at www.llmhlegal.com. -
March 26, 2015 |
People
It was during a visit to a hometown library in the segregated South that a young Chester Blair had one of his earliest encounters with racism.
Pulled aside by a disapproving librarian after going through the checkout line, the Texas native was told not to return to that library — one serving mostly whites — and to bring his book back to the library closer to where he lived in a black section of town.
"He was just a boy, but he knew that wasn't right," said his wife of 46 years, Judith. "He knew you don't treat people like that."
Years later, after moving to Chicago and attending college, Mr. Blair taught in Chicago Public Schools before earning a law degree and building a law practice.
"He was the kind of person that kept pushing his life forward, and by doing so, he advanced the lives of so many others," his wife said.
Mr. Blair, 86, the first elected African-American president of the Chicago Bar Association, died Monday, March 16, at a special care facility in Cincinnati, of complications related to Alzheimer's disease. Formerly a longtime resident of Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, he and his wife had moved to Cincinnati two years ago to be closer to family members.
Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune.
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March 24, 2015 |
People
Faegre Baker Daniels is pleased to announce that nine partners from four firms have joined our Chicago office: Jeffrey Blumberg, Kurt Lebakken, James Martignon and David Porteous from Ulmer & Berne; Matthew Garrett, Douglas Prochnow and John Roberts from Locke Lord Edwards, LLP; George Stohner from Morgan Lewis & Bockius; and Daniel Schwartz from Seyfarth Shaw.
“We are committed to long-term, strategic growth in the Chicago market, and these additions significantly propel our momentum on that front. Since 2014, our Chicago attorney and consultant workforce has grown by more than 40 percent to more than 60 professionals,” said Rick Michaels, partner and Chicago office leader. “The skillsets of these nine partners in business litigation, intellectual property litigation, health care, product liability, labor and employment, transactional and regulatory legal practices are ideally suited for our clients’ needs.”
“These partners reinforce our strength in financial services and life sciences, two of the firm’s industry focus areas,” said Andrew Humphrey, managing partner. “We’re thrilled to expand and enhance our Chicago capabilities, and look forward to continued growth in the market and within our industry teams.”
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March 23, 2015 |
People
Michael A. Meschino died Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. He was born on February 15, 1955 in Chicago to Albert and Mary (nee Magnone) Meschino.
An attorney for more than 30 years, Michael practiced at the Law Offices of Michael A. Meschino in Palatine. He was formerly with the law firm of Judge and Knight, Ltd. as well as a senior partner at Capozzoli & Meschino. Michael was the President of NWSBA from 2013-2014 and held various other positions in the association for many years, including Editor-in-Chief of Newsbriefs and was the zealous author of the “Family Matters” column.
Mike, as he was affectionately known by his family and friends, was a life force in any room. His love for the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bears was evident in his attempts to give strongly worded advice to the teams through the TV. His colorful language and quick wit was unparalleled. He will be fondly remembered as a fiercely loyal friend and family member, a lover of history, and an avid reader. His clients will remember him as an animated and passionate lawyer. The community will remember him as a sports coach for his children’s teams, a lawn-obsessed neighbor and a frequent bike rider. Michael loved many things – his teams, his lawn, his car (better known as ‘The Fifth Child’), his law practice – but nothing in the world compared to his pride, love, and affection for his children.
Throughout his legal career, he was also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
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March 20, 2015 |
People
The national law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP has added lateral partner Sandra A. Franco in the Chicago office.
Franco joins the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in the Litigation and Banks and Financial Institutions Practice Groups. She concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, banking law, and real estate law. Ms. Franco represents financial institutions and has extensive experience in secured transactions, collections, bankruptcy, commercial foreclosures, negotiating and drafting contracts.
Additionally, she is a volunteer attorney with Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc. where she tutors and prepares prospective attorneys for the Illinois Bar Exam. She is fluent in Spanish. Ms. Franco earned her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 2005 and her B.A. in 2000 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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March 18, 2015 |
People | Practice News
ISBA Past President Timothy Bertschy has been appointed as a member of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Stuart R. Lefstein for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2015, and until a successor is appointed. Bertschy is the managing partner of Heyl Royster in Peoria.
1 comment (Most recent March 19, 2015) -
March 18, 2015 |
People
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP welcomes Mandi K. Ferguson to its Edwardsville office. Ferguson focuses her practice on the defense of product manufacturers and premises owners in Asbestos Litigation, Product Liability and Toxic Tort Litigation. She is admitted to practice in both Illinois and Missouri.
Ms. Ferguson serves as Vice Chair of the Tort Law Committee for the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Young Lawyers Liaison to the DRI Law Practice Management Committee. She received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2007 and her B.A. from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2001.
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March 17, 2015 |
People
Presiding Judge Henry A. Budzinski (Retired), age 91, passed away in his sleep on February 24, 2015. He is survived by his children; Henry, an Engineer with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon and Wife Lisa; Elizabeth, who is an Illinois Circuit Court Judge; beloved grandchildren Julia and Ladd. Fond brother of Jenny, Louis, Olga and Eddie; including nieces and nephews.
He served honorably in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Judge Budzinski was one of the longest serving judges in Illinois, retiring after 34 years on the bench, including 18 years as Presiding Judge of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He also served as Interim Acting Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Notable cases he presided over included the estates involving Helen Vorhees Brach, a candy heiress, George Halas Sr. and George Halas Jr. who both had ownership interests in the Chicago Bears and the distribution of the assets of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam. While he served as a high-ranking judge for years and handled significant cases, he preferred to remain in the background, explaining it was just his nature. Judge Budzinski was known for his intelligence, contributions to the law, leadership, wit, humility and compassion.
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March 13, 2015 |
People
Judge Richard C. Ripple, 80, of Carthage, passed away at Memorial Hospital in Carthage on Saturday, January 24, 2015, at 1:53 A.M.
Richard was born September 9, 1934, the son of Harold and Eathel (Romer) Ripple in Maquoketa, Iowa. After graduation from high school he went on to attend Cornell College and received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa in 1955 and his law degree in 1958 also from the University of Iowa. On May 14, 1960, he was united in marriage to Janet Manternach. She preceded him in death. He practiced law in Carthage at the Capps & Ripple Law Firm until 1976 when he became an associate judge. In 1984 he was united in marriage to Saundra Farmer. She preceded him in death. In 1988 he became circuit judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. In 1991, he became the Chief Judge of the circuit until his retirement in 1997. Richard was a member of the Hancock County and Illinois State Bar Association. He was a member of the Carthage Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, and served on the boards of the Hancock County Red Cross and Hancock County Cancer Society. He loved following Carthage and Illini West athletics and spending time with his grandchildren.
Richard is survived by two children, Brett (Roanna) Ripple of Jacksonville, IL and Jenny (Thor Bendickson) Ripple of Tempe, FL; one step-son, Scott (Debbie) Becker of Staunton, IL; and eight grandchildren, Hailey, Olivia, and Brock Ripple, Jett Midulla, Scout Bendickson, and Jennifer, Stephanie, and Steven Becker.