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  • May 31, 2012 | People
    Richard W. Hall 1923-2012

    Richard W. Hall, attorney, a long-time resident of Park Forest, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2012. He was born on June 3, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Hubert and Almeada (Eardley) Hall.

    He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Arizona in 1945, and during the late 1940s, Mr. Hall worked as an analytical chemist for the USDA, a control chemist for Lever Brothers in Whiting, IN, and William E. Thompson Company, in Los Angeles, an instructor in Biochemistry Lab Technique at the University of Utah, and a research chemist in insulin production at Armour Pharmaceuticals in Chicago. He received several patents in chemistry and was involved in the development of the compound 2-4-D.

    Mr. Hall attended John Marshall Law School at night and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1951. As he began his law practice, he also taught Chemistry at the Chicago Technical College from 1951-55. Mr. Hall served as the village prosecutor in Park Forest from 1961 to 1987.

    1 comment (Most recent June 15, 2012)
  • May 29, 2012 | People
    Kim Edward Presbrey 1951-2012

    Former ISBA Board member Kim E. Presbrey died Saturday as a result of injuries suffered in a plane crash on April 2, 2012. He was born in Aurora July 1, 1951 to Betty and George Presbrey. 

    He graduated from West Aurora High School in 1969, Northwestern Illinois University in 1973 and Vanderbilt Law School in 1976. He was admitted to the state and federal bar in 1976. He began the practice of law with his father at Presbrey and Presbrey. After his father’s retirement he became the principal owner of Presbrey and Associates, P.C.

    He was past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and a member of Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers, Workplace Injury Litigation Group and Kane County Bar Association founder of the Workers’ Compensation Section. 

    Kim authored many articles and taught at many conferences on the subject of Workers’ Compensation. He was an advocate for injured workers and continuously lobbied the Illinois State Legislature on their behalf. His peers voted him a Super Lawyer, Leading Lawyer and Top “100” Trial Lawyer. Since 2008 he has co-authored the Lexis-Nexis Illinois Workers’ Compensation Book.

  • May 25, 2012 | People
    Hart & Hart celebrates 125 years in Benton

    A lot has changed on the Benton Public Square since William Henry Hart was admitted to the Illinois Bar Association on May 10, 1887.

    Successor and grandson Richard O. Hart said that date, May 10, marked 125 years in business for the family of attorneys.

    “My grandfather didn’t go to law school,” Richard Hart said. “Back then, you were not required to go to law school. I’m not even sure there was such a thing as law school. You studied and were certified by your teacher. He studied and was admitted to the bar association in 1887. There is a photo in the courthouse of Judge Duff’s law class that includes my grandfather.

    Read the full article in the Benton Evening News

  • May 24, 2012 | People
    Family Law Offices of Peter R. Olson, Steele Law Firm join forces to form Chicago Family Law Group, LLC

    Effective March 1, 2012, the Family Law Offices of Peter R. Olson and Steele Law Firm, LLC have joined forces to form the Chicago Family Law Group, LLC. Peter R. Olson is a Partner and Kelly D. Thames is an Associate with the Firm. The new firm will be a highly specialized Chicago boutique family law practice focused on top notch client service and providing the highest quality legal representation.

  • May 18, 2012 | People
    Warren Haskin 1933-2012

    Warren Haskin was a lawyer other lawyers turned to for advice on difficult issues.

    Mr. Haskin spent 40 years with the former Chicago law firm Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, since merged as the Chicago office of K&L Gates. He specialized in corporate, securities and commercial law and was managing partner of the firm before retiring in 1998.

    "Lots of us went to Warren for help," said John Blew, also a partner with Bell, Boyd and recently retired from K&L Gates. "He was a very bright man and a penetrating legal analyst."

    Mr. Haskin, 79, died of complications of lung cancer Sunday, April 29, in his Chicago home, according to his stepdaughter, Ruthie Beam.

    Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune

  • May 18, 2012 | People
    William R. Nash 1924-2012

    William Nash was a U.S. Army World War II veteran, a two-term Winnebago County state’s attorney, a circuit judge, an Illinois Appellate Court judge and an avid golfer who got his first hole-in-one at the age of 80.

    To Steve Nash, he was simply Dad.

    “We were very blessed that we had our dad for such an advanced age,” Steve Nash said Monday, speaking for his brother, Robert, and sister, Patricia Cortright. “We were a bit spoiled having him. He was truly devoted to us kids. We always could count on him.”

    William R. Nash of Rockford died Friday at home. He was 87.

    Nash was born and raised in Rockford and spent two years in Gen. George S. Patton’s tank forces in World War II. He was wounded in combat in northern France, for which he received the Purple Heart.

    Nash served two terms as Winnebago County state’s attorney before being elected circuit judge from 1968 to 1977. He served on the Illinois Appellate Court from 1977 to 1989.

    Read the full obituary in the Rockford Register Star

  • May 18, 2012 | People
    Thomas C. Maas 1950-2012

    Thomas Conway Maas, 61, of Fairview passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 14, 2012, after a two-year battle with a brain tumor.

    He was born Sept. 23, 1950, in Wausau, Wis., to Mary and Conway Maas. He married Deon (Lock) Maas on June 30, 1979, in rural Farmington. She survives.

    Thomas graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in 1973 and Chicago Kent College of Law in 1976.

    He worked as an assistant state's attorney in Fulton County from 1976 to 1980. For the remainder of his law career, he was in private practice as a partner with John Potter, then as sole owner of Baudino, Potter & Maas, finally serving as "of counsel" to Froehling, Weber & Schell, LLP. Because he so loved the practice of law, he worked part time through his illness, until six weeks before his death. His primary practice was family and criminal law.

    In service to his community, he taught several criminal and juvenile law classes at Spoon River College, was the former president of the Fulton County Bar Association, the Farmington Rotary, the Illinois Association of Boards of Health and the F.C.R.C Board of Directors. He was a charter member of the Fulton County CASA group, a past Cub Scoutmaster and a past board member of the Spoon River College Foundation. During his 33-year membership of the Lincoln Douglas Toastmasters, he held many offices, including division governor of District 54 Toastmasters and participated in many speech contests.

  • May 16, 2012 | People
    Swanson, Martin & Bell welcomes two associates to its Chicago office

    Associate Andrew J. Albright joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP from Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP, where he was also an associate. He focuses his practice on Medical Negligence and Healthcare, Product Liability, and Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes. Mr. Albright received his J.D. from Indiana University – Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2010 and his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 2006. He is admitted to practice law in both Illinois and Indiana.

    Associate Claire A. Floore comes to Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP from Larsen Law Firm, PC, where she was also an associate. She focuses her practice on Asbestos Litigation. Ms. Floore received her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 2011 and her B.A. from the College of Charleston in 2008. She is admitted to practice law in Illinois.

  • May 11, 2012 | ISBA News | People
    Russell Scott receives American Inns of Court 2012 Professionalism Award

    ISBA Secretary Russell K. Scott has been selected to receive the American Inns of Court 2012 Professionalism Award for the Seventh Circuit. The award was presented by Judge J. Phil Gilbert, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on May 7 in Chicago.

    Scott is an officer and practice group manager in the Belleville firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., and is also a certified mediator. Well-known for his skill, professionalism, and integrity as a trial attorney, Scott has several areas of specialty including the defense of legal and medical malpractice suits, product liability actions, industrial accident cases, insurance matters, and commercial litigation.

    Scott was a partner at Dunham, Boman, and Leskera in Belleville from 1976–1999 and served as senior law clerk for the Honorable John Marshall Karns, Jr. of the State of Illinois, Fifth District Appellate Court, from 1975–1976. Scott earned his undergraduate degree from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and his JD from Washington University in St. Louis in 1974.

  • May 10, 2012 | People
    Frederick C. Leydig 1925-2012

    Frederick C. Leydig, 87, passed away April 17, 2012, at his home in Barrington with his wife of 62 years, Patricia, by his side.

    Fred was born in Denver, Colo., and grew up in Detroit, Mich. He attended and was a proud alum of the Jesuit University of Detroit High School. In the midst of World War II, Fred earned his B.S. in chemical engineering (1945) from the Illinois Institute of Technology through the Navy's V-12 officer training program, was commissioned an ensign and served aboard the battleship USS New Jersey. While attending IIT, he earned varsity letters in tennis and basketball. As IIT's "giant" center, Fred played against such future basketball greats as George Mikan and Otto Graham.

    Attending night school, Fred received his J.D. from DePaul Law School in 1950. He was employed in the patent department of Standard Oil Company and, in 1954, joined the intellectual property firm of Carlson, Pitzner, Hubbard & Wolf, which later came to bear his name: Leydig, Voit & Mayer Ltd. He became one of the nation's preeminent intellectual property attorneys. Testament to his leadership in the firm and renown as a lawyer, the firm continues to bear his name more than 20 years after his retirement.

    Along the way, Fred was chairman of Young Republicans of Illinois (1953 - 55), president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (1980), president of the United Way of Arlington Heights (1965 - 66), and board member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Law Club of Chicago. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.