[caption id="attachment_15187" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Lawrence L. Pratt"][/caption]
Lawrence L. Pratt has joined the St. Louis office of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, LLC as a Member. Prior to joining BSCR, Pratt was the Civil Litigation Practice Group Leader for Evans and Dixon.
With more than 18 years of experience, Pratt defends construction defects, products liability, auto liability defense, premises liability, personal injury, errors and omissions, contract, and real estate claims in both Illinois and Missouri.
People
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October 13, 2010 |
People
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October 12, 2010 |
People
Major John Francis Lynn, USMC Retired, 58, passed away at 4:12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, in Herrin Hospital. He was born March 8, 1952, in Chicago, the son of William Francis and Ruth Mary (Meier) Lynn. John was united in marriage to Patty Durall on May 29, 1976, in Marion, and together they have shared the last 34 years of marriage. John answered the call of this nation by serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years as an enlisted member, and 20 years as an officer, retiring as a major. He served as a tank officer in California and North Carolina and was a foreign area officer in Central and South America. He was a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale and, at the present time, served as assistant dean for Administration of SIU School of Law. John was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. He was a member of Illinois State Bar Association and Pro Bono Counsel for Fisher House in Chicago. He was director of the Veterans' Legal Assistance Program at SIU School of Law and spent considerable time working on behalf of local veterans. He worked with Big Brothers of Georgia, and he was a supporter of the Special Olympics.
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October 4, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_14989" align="alignright" width="150" caption="T. Markus Funk"][/caption] Perkins Coie is proud to welcome T. Markus Funk to the firm. Markus joins the firm as a partner in the firm's Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Investigations & White Collar Defense Group (IWCD). Markus is a seasoned trial attorney and investigator specializing in business crimes, corporate investigations, complex commercial litigation, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters. As a federal prosecutor with 10 years’ experience, Markus tried over 24 federal cases, achieving convictions in all of them. "We are honored to have a lawyer of Markus' caliber choose Perkins over other top firms as we continue to build a second-to-none white collar practice," said Lee Stein, chair of the IWCD. Partner Patrick Collins, a member of the firm's Executive Committee and a colleague of Markus' at the U.S. Attorney's office, added: " Markus will hit the ground running and will add immediate value to our work on FCPA matters." Prior to joining the firm, Markus served in U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section. During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Markus was part of the trial team in the landmark organized crime murder racketeering conspiracy case dubbed “Operation Family Secrets,” the most extensive mob-murder racketeering case in U.S. history. The U.S.
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October 4, 2010 |
People
Dale Allan Schempp, 68, passed away in his home in Springfield, at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. He was born on August 23, 1942 in Cleveland, the third child of Elmer and Blanche Schempp. He grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohioo, where he met his wife Carol Ann Samstag - they were married on December 25, 1965. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in 1964, graduating with a degree in nuclear engineering. He then started his first career as a naval officer, serving for 6 years in the US Navy on one of the first nuclear submarines, the USS John Marshall, under Admiral Hyman Rickover. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant before being honorably discharged in 1970. He next embarked on his second career as a successful businessman. He worked as an engineer for the Quaker Oaks Company in Rockford, earning his MBA from the University of Chicago during that time. After several years, he started an independent business career as co-owner and CFO of what became TKI Foods, a manufacturer of health food products in Springfield. Following a successful business career, he began this third career as a lawyer. While still working as CFO of TKI, he completed law school at night at St. Louis University in 1996. After passing the bar exam, he then founded his own practice, Schempp Law in Springfield.
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September 30, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_14926" align="alignright" width="160" caption="Lisa Williams"][/caption] Hodgson Russ has announced that Lisa C. Williams has joined law firm’s Palm Beach office. Ms. Williams focuses her practice on advanced planning and family office matters, which entails serving as a general counsel to corporate executives, private business owners, professional athletes, and high-net-worth families and their family offices. Her areas of focus include the analysis, design, and drafting of advanced estate-planning trusts and structures, as well as corporate and closely held business structures, transactions, and agreements. Ms. Williams also works with nonprofit organizations on matters including formation, registrations, gift acceptance policies, financial investment guidelines and audits, and risk committee guidelines. She also is trained to mediate disputes between two or more parties in a number of areas, including disputes involving business partners, civic and religious organizations, landlords and tenants, and family members. Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Ms. Williams practiced with a Chicago-based law firm, owned a financial planning firm, and held financial planning and executive positions with financial services institutions. She started her career in accounting. Ms.
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September 21, 2010 |
People
Johnson Legal Group, LLC, a prominent Chicago commercial bankruptcy and commercial collections law firm, announces the addition of a new attorney member to their firm. Christopher B. Lega will be focusing on commercial litigation, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. Christopher Lega has appeared before various state courts in Illinois including the Circuit Courts in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Lake Counties. In addition, Mr. Lega has appeared before the District and Bankruptcy courts for the Northern District of Illinois, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Connecticut, and Maryland. Chris Lega attended the John Marshall Law School earning his J.D. in 2002. He is presently a member of the of Illinois bar, the Northern District of Illinois General and Trial Bars, the District of Columbia bar, the Maryland Federal Bar, and the Massachusetts bar. The firm is a team of business attorneys who have chosen to dedicate their practice to bankruptcy and creditors’ rights in the business to business setting. Focusing on collection, litigation, bankruptcy, and commercial evictions, Johnson Legal Group is pleased to discuss with a client any issue arising out of a business transaction. The firm is there to help the business community seek quick and effective methods to resolve issues in their areas of practice. To learn more about the firm and the team, visit www.jnlegal.net.
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September 21, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_14672" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Patrick Chavez"][/caption] Williams Venker & Sanders partner, Patrick Chavez (pchavez@wvslaw.com) was recently presented with the Commitment to Diversity Award at the 3rd Annual St. Louis Diversity Job Fair, held Aug. 23. Patrick gave the event’s keynote address, “Increasing Diversity in the Bar by Emphasizing Professionalism” to an audience comprised of law students and individuals from law firms, corporations and government agencies. As a Co-chair of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Minorities in the Legal Profession Committee, Patrick has demonstrated a commitment to educate St. Louis-area law firms on the importance of increasing diversity within their ranks. He regularly lectures to law students and lawyers and is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. Located in St. Louis, Williams Venker & Sanders LLC is one of the Midwest’s leading trial law firms. For more information, visit www.wvslaw.com.
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September 17, 2010 |
People
Daniel Chobot, 58, of Arlington Heights, passed away in his home on Saturday, Sept. 11. Mr. Chobot was an active member and past president of the Bohemian Lawyers Association of Chicago and practiced law in Cook County for 31 years. He was also a Harley rider, a founding member of the Chicago Horsemen, a contender in the World Series of Poker, a traveler, and a golfer. Dan was smart, funny, charming, and loved life. He was born in Chicago to Al and Elaine Chobot on January 2nd, 1952. He was the beloved husband of Brigitte, proud father of Vanessa, proud father to Heidi (Inman) and son-in-law Kevin (Inman), grandfather of Mason and Aidan (Inman), brother of Barb (Butzen), and brother to Guy (Herbert). Services have been held.
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September 16, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_14612" align="alignright" width="138" caption="Molly McBride"][/caption] Molly Ann (Bollman) McBride, 38, of St. Louis, formerly of Peoria, died suddenly on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, in St. Louis. Mrs. McBride earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from St. Louis University. She worked as an insurance defense attorney at Kortenhof McGlynn LLC for about nine years. She was born Aug. 2, 1972. She was the beloved wife of Matthew S. McBride; loving mother of Kelsea Elizabeth and Ansleigh Catherine McBride; dear daughter of Dale G. and Barbara E. Bollman; dear sister of Suzanne Ellen Brown and Matthew Arthur (Sarah) Bollman; dear aunt of Colby Brown; dear daughter-in-law of Cliff and Cheryl McBride; our dear niece, great-niece, cousin and friend. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at Kutis City Chapel, 2906 Gravois, St. Louis. Additional visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. service Saturday at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, 2300 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis. Interment will be in St. Paul Churchyard. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Kelsea and Ansleigh McBride Education Contribution Fund, c/o Regions Bank, or Lafayette Park United Methodist Church will be appreciated.
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September 15, 2010 |
People
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is pleased to announce that William P. Hunt III has joined the firm’s Chicago office as special counsel. As a member of the Telecommunications Practice Group, which is among the largest telecommunications practices in the United States, Mr. Hunt represents clients in regulatory and compliance proceedings, in private litigation, and in corporate transactions, including inter-carrier negotiations. Mr. Hunt was formerly vice president of Level 3 Communications, Inc., an Internet and telecommunications company, where he was responsible for public policy initiatives. He assessed the impact of telecommunications and Internet policies on the company, and designed corporate policies and strategies across business units. Mr. Hunt ensured compliance with state and federal regulations, managed litigation and advised on mergers and acquisitions. He also managed company relations with the U.S. Congress, the Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, state lawmakers, state public utility commissioners, foreign regulators and industry organizations. Highlights of Mr. Hunt’s recent legal accomplishments include leading industry efforts to revise FCC regulatory fees on private submarine cable operators from revenue to flat-fee assessment; and spearheading an industry group’s negotiated plan to reform intercarrier compensation and universal service. Prior to law school, Mr. Hunt held editorial positions at two large daily newspapers in New England.