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  • January 17, 2017 | People
    Super Lawyers recognize Max Elliott as 2017 Rising Star

    On June 1, 2011, the day the Illinois Civil Union Act was enacted, Attorney Maximillienne “Max” Elliott launched a solo wills and trusts practice to serve families and individuals who were generally overlooked by lawyers.

    “I always wanted to serve, in a significant way, people who were marginalized because they were erroneously perceived as not needing estate or business planning legal services,” Attorney Elliott explained.

    So, at age 50, Max Elliott started her legal career and 5 years later she has received numerous honors from diverse groups.

  • January 17, 2017 | People
    Teele joins Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP as partner

    S. Jason Teele is a trusted senior-level attorney with 15 years of experience representing clients in financial restructuring, distressed asset sales, creditors’ rights, litigation, and corporate and commercial matters. He represents corporations, boards and board committees, management teams, creditors’ committees, and high-net-worth individuals in a broad range of areas, including the telecommunications, entertainment, media, manufacturing, transportation, health care, the arts, chemical, and financial services industries.

  • January 17, 2017 | People
    Chmielewski and Loew elevated to partner

    Foley & Lardner LLP has announced the election and elevation of Monica R. Chmielewski and Lauren M. Loew to partner status as of February 1, 2017. They were formerly senior counsel.  

    Monica R. Chmielewski is a Business Law attorney representing health care providers and pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the area of health care, health care transactional work, clinical research and food and drug law.

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    Valjean Rhule Smith 1928-2016

    Valjean Rhule Smith, 88, of Springfield, passed away at 4:35 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center. 

    Valjean was born on February 16, 1928 in Springfield, the son of George and Tressa Rhule Smith. He married Connie Lee Riley on August 9, 1969 in Beardstown; she preceded him in death on August 13, 2012. 

    Valjean earned his juris doctorate from Springfield College. He served as a public defender and worked for several private practice firms before retiring from the State of IL, Division of Aeronautics. He was a member of the Jacksonville Country Club and enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading, traveling, cooking and spending time with his family. 

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    Gregory Freerksen 1951-2016

    Gregory Freerksen was a civil rights and labor union attorney for about 40 years. He was also a Blues radio DJ for 20 years, and he was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame during its first year. He loved music, dogs, being outdoors, science, and creating things, whether in the garden, the kitchen, or artistically. His family was very important to him.

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    Robert M. "Cub" Culbertson Jr 1932-2016

    Robert M. "Cub" Culbertson Jr., 84, of Delavan passed away Friday, December 30, 2016, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Illinois.

    Born August 14, 1932, in Bloomington, Illinois, to Robert M. and Jeanette Read Culbertson, he lived his entire life in Delavan. His mother passed away when he was 12 and he fondly remembered his Aunt Helen and Uncle John Culbertson who helped him grow up. He married Joyce E. Winkler on August 15, 1953, in Peoria, Illinois.
    He was preceded in death by one son, Scott L. Culbertson.

    Survivors include his wife, Joyce W. Culbertson; a daughter, Carol (and Ron) Ernst of Fishers, Indiana; a daughter, Jean (and Dana) Sutton of Ona, West Virginia; a son, Hal Robert (and Rhonda) of South Bend, Indiana; five grandsons; one granddaughter; and two great-grandsons. 

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    Marvin Green 1925-2016

    Marvin Green, 91, of Chicago, born 1925 in Lansford, PA, died peacefully on Dec. 28. Beloved husband of Anne Jentry, loving father of Bobbie (Hank) Scheff, Amy (Allen) Oseroff, David Lanier and Kate Samuels, and grandfather of Julian, Matt (deceased), Jack, and Andy Scheff, and Dan and Tom Oseroff. WWII Army veteran, University of Chicago College and Law School graduate, practicing attorney for 65 years, prolific writer (readmarvin.com), Renaissance Man.

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    John T. Bullington 1918-2016

    John T. Bullington, 98, of Hillsboro died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at 1:34 a.m. at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.

    He was born on July 3, 1918 in Hillsboro, the son of the late Josiah T. and Mary Theresa (Thompson) Bullington. A graduate of Hillsboro High School and University of Illinois Law School, he served with the Army during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge and then as a JAG during the Korean Conflict.

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    Peter J. Nordigian 1931-2016

    Attorney Peter J. Nordigian, 85, of Waukegan, passed away Dec. 20, 2016 at home with his family. He was born March 27, 1931 in Waukegan.

    Pete saw active duty during the Korean War, was appointed Brigadier General in the Illinois Guard list of retirees effective Aug. 12, 1980, and received Honors from the Army Reserves and the Illinois National Guard. He was a practicing attorney for 58 years, spending 35 years as the Village Attorney for Lake Bluff. Pete was generous to a fault, and basically took care of all his friends and family in legal and personal matters. He was an avid roller skater and numastesion; his passion was art, lladros, and Swarovski Crystal.

  • January 11, 2017 | People
    George Warren Kenney 1937-2016

    George Warren Kenney, 79, of Springfield, died at 11:03 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center.

    George was born June 4, 1937 in Springfield, the son of Charles Marshall and Alberta Mae Hillyard Kenney.
    George graduated from Springfield High School in 1955, where he played basketball, football and baseball. George fondly remembered playing in the State Basketball Tournament. He earned his bachelor's degree from Millikin University in Decatur, where he played basketball and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.