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  • January 14, 2010 | People
    Querrey & Harrow and Hunziker Law Group LLC announce strategic alliance
    Querrey & Harrow, a 70-year-old multi-service Chicago law firm, and Hunziker Law Group LLC, a 17-year-old downstate commercial law firm headquartered in Peoria, have formed a strategic alliance. The alliance's purpose is to enhance client satisfaction and facilitate client representations by offering services throughout an extended geographical area. The alliance will allow both firms to offer extended services in a cost-effective manner without sacrificing their traditional focus on providing each client with individualized attention.
  • January 13, 2010 | People
    Several members of ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council recognized
    Several current and past members of the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council were recently recognized by the Leading Lawyers Network Magazine and by Super Lawyers Magazine:
    • James Lestikow - is featured in Dec 2009 Leading Lawyers Network Magazine
    • Lyman Welch is recognized as #2 in the Top 10 Trusts, Estates and Wills Lawyers in Dec. 2009 Leading Lawyers Network Magazine
    • Bill Peithman - is #10 in Consumer Lawyers Downstate in Dec. 2009 Leading Lawyers Network Magazine.
    • Ray Koenig - is the only 2010 Rising Star in Trust & Estate Litigation in Super Lawyers Magazine
    • Katarinna McBride and Donna Moore are 2010 Rising Stars in Trusts, Estate and Probate in Super Lawyers Magazine
    Several current Trust & Estate Section Council members named  Super Lawyers in Estate Planning and Probate according to Super Lawyers Magazine include Gregg Garofalo, Bill Peithman, Tom Polachek and Lyman Welch.
  • January 12, 2010 | People
    "Rules of Evidence" to air on Judicial Perspective
    [caption id="attachment_7280" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Luis A. Berrones, Israel A. Desierto and Diana J. Larsen and Michael B. Hyman will appear on "Rules of Evidence.""][/caption] Rules of Evidence will be the topic of "Judicial Perspective," a half-hour cable program presented by the Illinois Judges Association (IJA), airing on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21 in Chicago, on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 10:30 p.m. The judges explain to non-lawyers the purpose and the use of evidence rules. Appearing on the show will be  Luis A. Berrones, a judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County; Israel A. Desierto and Diane J. Larsen, both judges on the Circuit Court of Cook County; and program moderator Michael B. Hyman, also a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Illinois Judges Association, formed in 1971, provides continuing legal support to members of the judiciary and education to the public on matters regarding the court system.
  • January 11, 2010 | People
    Downs receives Lifetime Achievement Award from NWSBA
    [caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignright" width="242" caption="Ed and Debra Downs"][/caption] Longtime criminal defense attorney Ed Downs has received the Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation was made in December. Dave Corbett of NWSBA cited Downs as being among "the top shelf of practitioners, a giant among us. Downs is a familiar sight at 26th and California," Corbett said, referring to the criminal courts building for the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Corbett called the courthouse "sacred ground," adding that it provides a challenging environment for defense attorneys. "His self-effacing manner belies his greatness," Corbett said. "He is a role model to many. Among brilliant trial lawyers, Ed Downs is top shelf. He's a giant among us." He has fought for the rights of all, Corbett said of Downs, adding, "I can't think of a more fitting recipient for this honor." In accepting the award, Downs exhibited the self-effacing manner to which Corbett had referred. Mentioning he had found law school hard, he told attendees, "I'm not that smart." It was a statement with which many would disagree. He earned degrees from Wright Junior College, Loyola University School of Business and Loyola University Graduate School of Industrial Relations, balancing classwork during many of those years with a job as a letter carrier.
  • January 7, 2010 | People
    State Rep. Lou Lang joins Querrey & Harrow as Of Counsel
    Rep. Louis I. Lang, Deputy Majority House Leader, has joined Querrey & Harrow and its municipal liability practice group as Of Counsel. Rep. Lang also handles commercial litigation and planning and development issues for public entities. Rep. Lang has served the 16th House District of Illinois (including Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, a part of the 49th and most of the 50th Wards in Chicago) and the Illinois Legislature for more than 20 years. Rep. Lang obtained his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Illinois and his law degree from DePaul University. "We are honored to have Rep. Lang aboard," says Michael Stillman, Managing Shareholder of the firm. "His perspective provides added value for municipal clients as well as our business clients with regard to regulatory issues in Illinois." Querrey & Harrow is a 70-attorney multi-service law firm with offices throughout greater metropolitan Chicago, and in Merrillville, Ind.
  • January 5, 2010 | People
    James C. Chiakulas 1940-2009
    James C. Chiakulas, 69, of Chicago, passed away last month on the North Side. Mt. Chiakulas was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from John Marshall Law School. A lawyer and union leader, Mr. Chiakulas fought to improve the working conditions of teachers across the Chicago area. He headed a group that advocated for Greeks living under Turkish rule on the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus. He was an accomplished jazz musician, said his son-in-law, Paul Chronis. Read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune
  • January 5, 2010 | People
    Beaudet sworn in as President of Illinois Native American Bar Association
    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald swore in Matthew Beaudet as President of the Illinois Native American Bar Association during the ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting last month in Chicago. INABA is a bar association for Native Americans and those interested in legal issues affecting Native Americans. Photo: Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald swears in Matthew Beaudet as President of the Illinois Native American Bar Association as other INABA officers and board members look on.
  • January 5, 2010 | People
    Elizabeth Kutyla-Miner passes away
    Elizabeth Kutyla-Miner passed away after a six and a half year battle with ovarian cancer on Dec. 21. Liz graduated from the University of Chicago in 1984 and from the University of Chicago School of Law in 1987. She held positions for two major law firms before finding her calling in 1994 as Associate General Counsel, then General Counsel of Barton Brands. During her 14-year tenure at Barton, Liz guided the company through many successful acquistions. Read the full obituary at Legacy.com.
  • December 30, 2009 | People
    Sidney Davidson 1915-2009
    Longtime Peoria lawyer Sidney D. Davidson passed away on Sunday, Dec. 28, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Mr. Davidson graduated from Manual High School and Bradley University. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1939. He served in the Pacific during World War II, including stints at General MacArthur's headquarters in Manila and Tokyo. He was an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, serving as a member of its Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section Council. Click here to read the full obituary in the Post-Bulletin.
  • December 29, 2009 | People
    Elmore Boeger 1914-2009
    Elmore Boeger, 95, has died of congestive heart failure at Bridgeway Christian Village in Bensenville. Mr. Boeger was born and raised in Hillside. Mr. Boeger graduated from Proviso High School in 1932 and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Valparaiso University. He joined his father's Chicago law firm in 1938. Mr. Boeger may be best known for coming up with the name Triton College as a way to acknowledge the three west Cook County high school districts that came together to create the near west suburban junior college. Mr. Boeger was on Triton's board for the River Grove school's first dozen years and liked the sound of Triton, said his son, Milton. Click here to read the full obituary in the Chicago Tribune