The Illinois Finance Authority has appointed Brendan Cournane, 56, as General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors. Cournane replaces Christopher Meister, 45 (who was recently promoted to IFA Executive Director). Cournane had served as Senior Assistant General Counsel of the Chicago Board of Education, a position held since 2003.
Cournane received his B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1975 and his J.D. from Loyola in 1978.
Transitions
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August 23, 2010 |
People
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August 20, 2010 |
People
As of August 23, 2010, Peter J. Lynch joined Borsberry Law Offices, P.C. in Peoria as an associate. Lynch earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2008 from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Lynch has experience with family law and civil defense litigation with an emphasis in the representation of doctors, hospitals and medical professionals. He previously worked for Oxford Capital LLC managing and auditing financial portfolios for clients. He resides in Peoria with his wife and three children. At Borsberry Law Offices, P.C. Lynch will concentrate in family law and criminal matters as well.
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August 2, 2010 |
People
Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Jeffrey A. Pine to its Intellectual Property Department as Of Counsel in the firm’s Chicago office. Prior to joining Dykema, Pine was a founding partner of IP boutique firm Valauskas & Pine. Pine focuses his practice on technology-related litigation and licensing matters, with a particular emphasis on patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright disputes. He has extensive experience in counseling and providing intellectual property protection for start-up and established Internet-based companies. He also has a wide technical background, having worked as an engineer at a major defense contractor designing and developing Automated Testing Equipment for complex electronic systems. Prior to founding Valauskas & Pine in 2007, Pine was a founding partner of Baniak, Pine & Gannon. Previously, Pine began his intellectual property career at Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione. Pine is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association. He received a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Dykema’s attorneys counsel clients on all aspects of the procurement, management, and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The firm’s intellectual property attorneys, including numerous attorneys who are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, prepare, prosecute and enforce patents in a diverse range of industries including automotive, communications, computer, electronics biotechnology, chemical and consumer products.
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July 29, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_13532" align="alignright" width="150" caption="William Sweeney"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_13531" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Mary Samsa"][/caption] Polsinelli Shughart PC welcomes attorneys Mary K. Samsa and William P. Sweeney to the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice as shareholders. Samsa and Sweeney join a deep bench of attorneys who advise clients in this increasing complex area of compliance responsibility. They assist clients on all aspects of plan creation and design, plan compliance and executive compensation agreements. Both attorneys previously practiced at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago before joining Polsinelli Shughart. Samsa has been in practice for more than 15 years and represents Fortune 500 public companies, privately held business entities and multinational organizations, as well as not-for-profit hospital systems and educational institutions.
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July 27, 2010 |
People
Retired Judge Kenneth A. Abraham has joined the Oak Brook and Chicago law firm of DiTommaso-Lubin as Of Counsel to head the firm's arbitration and mediation practice group and to act as a litigation consultant to the firm on complex business cases and consumer class action lawsuits. Ken brings to DiTommaso-Lubin nearly 40 years of legal experience, including a decade and half on the bench as a trial judge.
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July 22, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_13345" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Amy Gardner"][/caption] Ungaretti & Harris LLP announced today that Amy M. Gardner, a partner in the firm’s litigation practice, will become the new Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Law School. Ms. Gardner joined Ungaretti & Harris in 2008 as a lateral associate, and became a partner in 2009. While at Ungaretti, she focused on commercial and intellectual property litigation. “I will always be grateful to Ungaretti & Harris for providing me with the opportunity to gain hands-on litigation experience,” Ms. Gardner said. “I'm excited to take on this new challenge and return to the University of Chicago Law School as the Dean of Students. I look forward to drawing on my experiences at the firm as I counsel students and work to ensure they have the best possible law school experience.” Ms. Gardner is a 2010 recipient of a Marshall Memorial Fellowship. She was one of only 54 individuals selected nationwide for this prestigious fellowship. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School.
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July 20, 2010 |
People
Dale R. Kurth, Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the Illinois State Bar Association, has joined Partridge IP Law P.C. in downtown Chicago as Of Counsel. The firm, begun by Mark V.B. Partridge in April, practices in all aspects of trademarks, copyright, IP litigation, licensing, Internet law, and related matters. Dale obtained an LL.M. in IP with honors from John Marshall Law School in 2008, and earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois. He has also published several articles on IP law in professional publications, including the ISBA IP Section Newsletter, the John Marshall Center for IP Law News Source, and Landslide, published by the American Bar Association’s Section of IP Law. Before turning to the law, Dale was a systems analyst at Accenture. Partridge IP Law is an IP law firm with a global practice helping businesses, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals recognize, protect, and exploit their brands, content, and ideas in court, online, and in the boardroom. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.partridgeiplaw.com.
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July 14, 2010 |
People
[caption id="attachment_13094" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Walter Sandoval"][/caption] Walter Sandoval, a Schererville, Ind. resident, has become a partner of Hilbrich Cunningham Schwerd Dobosz & Vinovich, LLP. The law firm has been in existence for 60 years and has offices in Highland and Portage, Ind. Mr. Sandoval graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2002 and is licensed to practice law in Indiana and Illinois. His practice is focused on personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. He can be reached at (219) 924-2427 or on the web at www.hilbrich.com.
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July 14, 2010 |
People
Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. welcomes partner Todd J. Schneider and associate Scott A. Sissel to the firm. Schneider has been practicing law for 15 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and business succession planning. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., he was a partner at Holland & Knight. Schneider received his J.D. from Marquette University (1995) and his B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University (1992). Sissel has been practicing law for six years and focuses his practice on estate planning and administration and related tax matters. Before joining Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., Sissel practiced law at McGuireWoods. Sissel received his J.D. (2003) and his B.S. in Accounting (2001), both from the University of Iowa. He received his LL.M. in Taxation from Northwestern University School of Law (2004) and is also a Certified Public Accountant (2006). Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd. is a law firm focused on federal income tax, estate tax and gift tax planning and controversy resolution for individuals and closely-held businesses. The firm is one of the largest law firms devoted exclusively to income tax and estate planning and related litigation in the Chicago area. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.levinschreder.com.
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July 7, 2010 |
People
The law firm of Zumpano Patricios & Winker, P.A. (ZP&W) announced today that it is opening an office in Chicago. The new location will commence with three attorneys, including a strong managing partner, Arthur Bresnahan, who is joining the firm having come from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, where he spent 15 years developing a transactional and regulatory practice, particularly in technology and regulated industries. His past experience includes work as a government official with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State in Baghdad, Iraq, where he was responsible for legal and policy issues relating to the rebuilding of Iraq’s communications and information technology infrastructure. He earned his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. “We are thrilled to open in Chicago with this remarkable talent as an entry point into our nation’s Midwest,” said Joseph Zumpano, ZP&W’s chairman and managing partner. Zumpano’s association with Bresnahan spans 20 years, and is rooted in their law school days when the two were roommates at Georgetown Law. The Chicago office, located at Old Orchard Towers, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Suite 230, marks a unique development in national law firm expansion. While Miami has been an attractive addition to Chicago firms, a South Florida firm opening in Chicago is far less frequent. “It has been exciting to see Joe’s firm take pioneering strides in the business of law, and produce such outstanding results for clients,” said Bresnahan. “Chicago is ready for this vision and I am thrilled to be part of the firm and its growth.” Also joining the new office are Arthur S. Bresnahan, father of the managing partner as senior counsel, and Patrick Huver, an associate. Bresnahan Sr. earned his J.D. at Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. He has extensive experience in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and is authorized to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Patrick Huver earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and has experience in estate planning, business law, asset protection planning, nonprofit law and has worked with Bresnahan on regulatory matters.