SPRING 2020

Chicago-Kent Magazine

The Law and Election Intersection Chicago-Kent Magazine Spring 2020 A Letter From Dean Anita K. Krug

Dear Alumni, It seems cliché to say that these have been challenging We began planning for this magazine back in December, times. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives over when many of us were busy preparing for the holidays and Feature Sections the past several weeks and will continue to impact us for planning gatherings with loved ones. Of the various magazine years to come. themes we considered, the 2020 elections were an easy Here at the law school it necessitated switching choice. Elections are central to a functioning democracy, and 2 Student News our classes to online only and closing the building. The the choices we make on Election Day are consequential to 6 The Law and university made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person our collective health and prosperity. We elect leaders to make 4 Law School News commencement ceremonies. I know how disappointing this decisions to serve the common good, and the pandemic was to our graduating students, as they were understandably is a strong reminder of how critical it is to have strong and Election Intersection 5 Faculty News looking forward to celebrating their hard work and perceptive leadership. accomplishments with family and friends. As a new dean, I In this issue, we spotlight three Chicago-Kent alumni 7 Burt Odelson ’72: Election Results 10 Class Notes have felt a special connection with the class of 2020—my involved in our election process. We spoke with Burt Odelson 8 John Fogarty Jr. ’99: Counsel and Navigator first Chicago-Kent graduating class!—and was excited about ’72, whose practice represents more than 60 municipal 16 In Memoriam celebrating this important moment with them, onstage at the and school clients as well as election clients. John Fogarty 9 Degee Wilhelm ’02: Political and Legal Operative Chicago Theatre. Nevertheless, I believe that the university’s Jr. ’99 focuses his practice on election law at Clark Hill 17 Opinion decision to cancel (rather than postpone) the event was and serves as general counsel to the Illinois Republican the correct one, given the information we had in March and Party. And Degee Wilhelm ’02 shared her perspective as guidance from relevant health authorities. a former chair of the Ohio Elections Commission who has In the face of this adversity, Chicago-Kent students, also served as an elections observer in eastern Europe, faculty, and staff, and our alumni community have been including in Ukraine, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE resilient. Our information technology staff quickly equipped Russia, and Northern Macedonia. We are also pleased to Dean and Professor of Law ANITA K. KRUG everyone with the tools they needed to make remote learning announce the Constitutional Democracy Project, which will Associate Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts SUSAN M. LEWERS happen. Faculty members shared ideas and resources and offer high-quality, hands-on civics programs and teaching Senior Director of Constituent Engagement JOSEPH VOLIN rallied together to create the best learning environment materials focused on the Constitution, law, and policy for Produced by the Illinois Institute of Technology Office of Marketing and Communications possible for students. In the first week of online classes, our middle school and high school students and their teachers. Content Director CHELSEA KALBERLOH JACKSON Senior Graphic Designer SCOTT BENBROOK faculty members reported nearly 100 percent attendance Thank you for your continuing commitment to and Communications Manager and Contributing Writer JAMIE LOO by students. One faculty member noted that some of his support of Chicago-Kent. Marketing Manager DEIRDRE CRIMMINS students were remotely joining classes in places as far away Freelance Writers STEVE HENDERSHOT, KRISTIN BAIRD RATTINI as Paris and Venezuela. The library staff worked tirelessly Chicago-Kent Magazine is published by Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, to ensure that faculty were supported and that students for its alumni and friends. had access to the casebooks and coursebooks they needed Address correspondence to Editor, Chicago-Kent Magazine, 565 West Adams Street, Chicago, to continue their studies. And our alumni stepped up to Anita K. Krug Illinois 60661. contribute to our emergency assistance fund for students. Dean and Professor Copyright 2020 Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology STUDENT NEWS STUDENT NEWS

Chicago-Kent Finishes Among Top Four Chicago-Kent Places in 2020 Constance Baker Motley Mock Second in the 2019 Trial Competition National Medical-Legal The Chicago-Kent College of Law trial advocacy team of Trial Competition Annisha Arnold ’20, Shawn-Anthony Meyer ’20, Michael McGee The Chicago-Kent College of Law trial ’20, and Cristina Alma McNeiley ’20 finished among the top four advocacy team of Breana Brill ’21, Myles teams in the country in the National Black Law Students Associ- Carroll ’20, and Emin Drnovsek ’21 placed ation’s 2020 Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition. second in the 2019 National Medical- The team won the Midwest regional championship, and Legal Trial Competition, held November at the nationals defeated Syracuse University College of 1–3, 2019, in Hempstead, New York. Law, Florida State University College of Law, and Seton Hall Brill, Carroll, and Drnovsek defeated University School of Law before falling to Stetson University teams from the University of South College of Law. Arnold also won Best Regional Advocate for Dakota School of Law, William & Mary the Midwest region and First Runner-Up Best Advocate at the Law School, and Brooklyn Law School in national competition. the preliminary rounds. They prevailed [Left to right] The trial advocacy team of Shawn Anthony Meyer ’20, Annisha The team was coached by Kendra Spearman ’15 and Adella Arnold ’20, Cristina Alma McNeiley ’20, and Michael McGee ’20 finished among against William & Mary Law School in Deacon ’11. the top four teams in the country. the semifinal round before falling in the final round to a team from Campbell [Left to right] The trial advocacy team of Emin Drnovsek ’21, Breana Brill ’21, and Myles Carroll ’20 University Norman Adrian Wiggins placed second in the 2019 National Medical-Legal Trial Competition. School of Law. Monica Pechous ’21 Wins Two “We are extremely proud of this young team. For all three of them it was their first competition, and they performed like Prestigious Writing Competitions veterans,” says Judge David A. Erickson, director of Chicago-Kent’s Trial Advocacy Program. Drnovsek earned an individual award for the Best Use of an Expert, and Carroll was named Best Overall Advocate Monica Pechous ’21 recently won two writing competi- in the Preliminary Round. Additionally, Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine student Divya Shah, who served tions—the American Kennel Club’s 2019 Companion Animal as Chicago-Kent’s expert, won the award for Best Expert Witness. Law Writing Contest and the Illinois Local Government The team was coached by alumni and former trial advocacy team members Natalie Adeeyo ’16, Amanda Bielinski ’13, Lawyers Association’s Franklin W. Klein Law Student Matthew McCarter ’15, and Daniel Orescanin ’19. Writing Competition Award. In the AKC competition, Pechous received a $2,500 cash prize for her paper titled “A Leash Too Tight: A Case for a ‘Pet-Integrative’ Society.” The Franklin W. Klein Law Student Writing Competition Award is given annually to a law student who has submitted U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner [top an article on a topic relevant to local government law. right, at left] presented Kristen Merritt ’21 with the 2019 Ilana Diamond Rovner Chicago-Kent Wins Best Brief at Pechous’s award-winning paper titled “Do Illinois Award for Outstanding Appellate Advocate. the 2020 William E. McGee National Municipalities Have Their Heads in the ‘Cloud?’: Home Civil Rights Moot Court Competition Rule as Applied to Online Platforms” focuses on how Kristen Merritt ’21 Wins the 2019 emerging technology creates a challenge for Illinois Ilana Diamond Rovner Appellate The Chicago-Kent College of Law appellate advocacy municipalities operating under home rule. team of Hayden Dinges ’21, Sakshi Jain ’21, and Daniel Advocacy Competition Kfoury ’21 won the Best Brief Award at the 2020 Kristen Merritt ’21 won the 28th annual Ilana Diamond Rovner William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Competition, sponsored by Chicago-Kent Competition. The team finished as quarterfinalists at College of Law’s Moot Court Honor Society. The competition the tournament, held February 21–22, 2020, at Mitchell is named for Chicago-Kent graduate Ilana Diamond Rovner, Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. the first woman to serve on the United States Court of Appeals A second Chicago-Kent team of Megan Escobosa for the Seventh Circuit. ’21, Greyson Fitzgerald ’21, and Bora Ndregjoni ’21 also In the final round of competition, Merritt argued against argued skillfully, with Ndregjoni and Escobosa earning Hayden Dinges ’21. As the first-place winner, Merritt a perfect score during one round and Ndregjoni received the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award for Outstanding earning the Best Preliminary-Round Oralist Award. Appellate Advocate. Third-year students Mitchell Bild and Zachary Dinges, who placed second, received the Ralph L. Brill Boyce coached Dinges, Jain, and Kfoury, and third-year Award for Best Brief. Sakshi Jain ’21 won the Fay Clayton students David Klein-Rodick and Alexandra Prejzner Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate. coached Escobosa, Fitzgerald, and Ndregjoni. As a The final round of the competition was judged by a distin- guest judge, Professor Katharine Baker helped the guished panel that included Rovner; the Honorable Cynthia teams prepare for the competition. Monica Pechous ’21 [top right, at left], winner of the Illinois Local Government Y. Cobbs ’88 of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District; and [Left to right] Daniel Kfoury ’21, Sakshi Jain ’21, and Hayden Dinges ’21 won Lawyers Association Franklin W. Klein Law Student Writing Competition Award, Kent Streseman, former director of the Ilana Diamond Rovner the Best Brief Award at the 2020 William E. McGee National Civil Rights meets with the ILGL’s Jim Rhodes. Program in Appellate Advocacy. Moot Court Competition.

2 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 3 LAW SCHOOL NEWS FACULTY NEWS

Henry Farrell and Abraham L. Newman Win 2019 Atuahene Named a 2019 Soros Equality Fellow Chicago-Kent College of Law/Roy C. Palmer Civil Professor Bernadette Atuahene was named a 2019 Soros Equality Fellow. The Soros Equality Fellowship program supports innovators and risk-takers striving to create and develop new ways of tackling the systemic causes and symptoms of racial dispar- Liberties Prize ity and discrimination. The fellowship includes a stipend of $100,000 over the course of 18 months, which fellows will apply to Henry Farrell and Abraham L. Newman were named the winners of the specific projects. Atuahene’s project will build on her academic research by creating a comprehensive guide and user-friendly, 2019 Chicago-Kent College of Law/Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize for interactive information hub that communities can use to fight back against racially discriminatory property tax administration. their book Of Privacy and Power—The Transatlantic Struggle Over Freedom Atuahene has done extensive research on inequalities in property tax assessments in Detroit. She has been a member of the and Security (Princeton University Press 2019). The annual prize honors Chicago-Kent College of Law faculty since 2005 and is also an American Bar Foundation Research Professor. Abraham L. Newman, professor of government at exemplary works of scholarship exploring the tension between civil Georgetown University [left], and Henry Farrell, associate liberties and national security in contemporary American society. professor of political science and international affairs at In Of Privacy and Power, Farrell and Newman examine the disputes George Washington University between the United States and European Union in regulating privacy and Batlan Named Co- Schmidt Selected as an security, and how the politics of freedom, security, and surveillance have reshaped the transatlantic relationship. Editor-in-Chief of the American Bar Foundation Farrell is an associate professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University. Newman is American Journal of a professor of government in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. They will present Of Research Professor Privacy and Power at Chicago-Kent at a date to be announced. Legal History Professor Christopher W. Schmidt was appointed as one of the American Professor Felice Batlan was Bar Foundation’s three new research appointed co-editor-in-chief of professors beginning in fall 2019. He holds the position the American Journal of Legal jointly with his professorship at the law school. Since 2013, History, a quarterly, peer-re- he has served as the editor of the American Bar Foundation’s viewed journal that publishes prestigious journal, Law & Social Inquiry, and he will continue Patrick Foote ’20 outstanding scholarship on all facets and periods of legal in this role in the coming years. His appointment as a research Named Sole Recipient history, with a focus on American legal history. Batlan is professor will help fund the research for his book project on the author of the award-winning book Women and Justice of 2020 AFL-CIO Legal the history of the modern United States Supreme Court and its for the Poor: A History of Legal Aid, 1863–1945. She teaches relationship with the American people. Fellowship Contracts, Women and the Law, Legal History, and Business Patrick Foote ’20 is the recipient of Associations at Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is also the the 2020 AFL-CIO legal fellowship. co-director of the Institute for Law and the Humanities. Only one recent graduate is chosen each year, and this is the second year In the Media… Reilly Honored with Rowe in a row that a Chicago-Kent College Excellence in Teaching Award ISCOTUS Launches Civics Education of Law student has received the prestigious fellowship. “There can be significant real-life consequences. Program, the Constitutional During the fellowship, Foote will track labor-related litiga- The health advantages just don’t outweigh the Assistant Professor Greg Reilly is the tion and legislation throughout the country. Born and raised in privacy risks.” recipient of Illinois Tech’s 2020 John W. Democracy Project New Port Richey, Florida, Foote studied political science at —University Distinguished Professor Lori Andrews (“Colleges Want Rowe University Excellence in Teaching Award. The award recognizes faculty Chicago-Kent College of Law’s Institute on the Supreme the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, where Freshmen to Use Mental Health Apps. But Are They Risking Students’ Privacy?” Washington Post, December 27, 2019) who have made notable contributions to their profession and Court of the United States (ISCOTUS) recently launched he was the membership coordinator for the Student Labor the university. A member of the faculty since 2016, Reilly is a civics education program, the Constitutional Democracy Action Project. co-director of the Program in Intellectual Property Law. He Project. The project will offer high-quality, hands-on civics After college, he worked as an organizer for Central Florida teaches Patent Law and Civil Procedure. Reilly’s research education programs and teaching materials focused on the Jobs with Justice and as a journalist for People’s World. As an focuses on how institutions and decision makers resolve patent Constitution, law, and policy for middle school and high organizer, he led a campaign to bring bus drivers and bus riders Wright Selected as disputes, often addressing the intersection of intellectual school students and their teachers. together to protect vital routes for working-class communities a Pound Institute property and procedure/federal courts. In Reilly’s nomination, The programs were formerly housed at the Constitutional from budget cuts and a campaign to build community support colleagues and students say that he has a dynamic teaching style Rights Foundation Chicago, which served Illinois schools for Walmart workers asserting their rights on the job. Walmart Academic Fellow that engages students with difficult material in a way that is for 45 years, and the Illinois Center for Civic Education. sued Jobs with Justice, and Foote was banned from entering any University Distinguished Professor intellectually rigorous and accessible. Student evaluations of his Dee Runaas, formerly of CRFC, has joined the Chicago- of its stores in Florida. The attorneys who handled the lawsuit Richard W. Wright has been selected courses are consistently some of the highest in the law school. Kent staff as the project director. To learn more about the inspired him to attend law school. as an academic fellow of the Pound Reilly will receive the award at a faculty recognition and awards Constitutional Democracy Project and its programs, go to Civil Justice Institute, a national reception in the fall. constitutionaldemocracyproject.org. In the Media… legal think tank dedicated to ensuring access to justice for At this time, the Constitutional Democracy Project’s ordinary citizens. Its invitation letter cited Wright’s overall programming is made possible through the support of the “As a practical matter, there’s the question of im- body of work relating to the civil justice system. He is a life In the Media… Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, mediate consequences rather than what happens a member of the American Law Institute and has been an and individual donors. To help sustain this valuable program year or more from now in litigation. And the threat- active participant in its revision of the Restatement Third “The integrity of the legal system is at stake…. at Chicago-Kent, the university’s Office of Advancement is ened strike may work. In addition to legal liability, of Torts. His teaching and research focus on domestic and [If Smollett] would have walked away, every- accepting donations. Gifts can be made online at kentlaw. Instacart has to worry about whether it can get comparative tort law, jurisprudence, law and economics, and body would have thought there is no justice in iit.edu/give; under Designation, choose Constitutional workers and the effects of the terrible publicity.” law and artificial intelligence. His published work appears Cook County.” Democracy Project from the dropdown menu. Contributions —Professor Martin Malin (“Virus-Stoked Instacart Strike Exposes Risks for Gig in several international collections of leading scholarship on —Judge David Erickson (“Jussie Smollett Case Revives Questions on are tax deductible. Workers,” Bloomberg Law, March 31, 2020) tort law and legal philosophy. Laquan McDonald, Justice,” Associated Press, February 13, 2020)

4 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 5 Election Results

Burt Odelson’s Esteemed The Law Election-Law Career Has Taken Him from As a special state’s attorney, he Harwood Heights to successfully represented the Cook County Officers Electoral Board the White House in its bid to keep candidates from the Harold Washington Party on hen you get a call the ballot for Cook County offices. and to lend your legal “Every lawyer who litigates, who W expertise in the most thinks they are good, has to argue in important election law case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to recent memory, you answer. know how good they are,” Odelson The case: Bush v. Gore, with the says. “It was the most intimidat- outcome of the 2000 presidential ing experience of my life. You’re election hanging in the balance. surrounded by the Supreme Court Election The lawyer: Burt Odelson ’72, justices and don’t know where a whose prominence and expertise question is going to come from. in Illinois election law had already We argued on the first Monday in brought him before the United States Supreme October, opening day of the session, and Justice Court and had positioned him perfectly to be of Clarence Thomas’s first day on the bench. It was service on this crucial case. a phenomenal experience.” Since taking on his first election law case six Odelson’s practice—Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, months after graduating from Chicago-Kent Frazier & McGrath, Ltd., in Evergreen Park, Intersection College of Law—representing write-in candi- Illinois—continues to represent more than 60 dates in Harwood Heights, Illinois—Odelson has “Voting is our municipal and school clients as well as election served as counsel to hundreds of public officials, greatest right clients. He represented not only former Chicago labor leaders, and candidates at all levels. Among as citizens. Mayor Richard M. Daley, but also a challenge to his multitude of clients was Rosemary Mulligan, We need more Rahm Emanuel’s bid to replace him. whose narrow victory in the 1990 race for Illinois Odelson won Chicago-Kent’s 2006 Distin- state representative from the 55th District led lawyers in this guished Service Award and taught courses on to a recount and was overturned by the Illinois profession.” election and municipal law at Chicago-Kent for a Supreme Court. The decision turned on chads, number of years. “Every law school should have a the tiny pieces of paper punched out on a ballot. course on election and municipal law to educate (The term was first coined as the Mulligan case lawyers on ballot access and voting,” he says. passed through the circuit court on its legal “Voting is our greatest right as citizens. We need journey.) The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that more lawyers in this profession.” a dimpled or dented chad is a legitimate expres- He has seen election law cases change signifi- Everything from concerns sion of a voter’s intention. cantly over his nearly 50 years in the field. “Now, Fast forward to the 2000 presidential election, there are virtually no recounts because of the about foreign interference in the when the recount totals in Florida’s Broward and development of electronic voting,” he says. “Ballot West Palm Beach counties hinged on how chads challenges for technical mistakes—such as not electoral process to litigation were evaluated. The Bush campaign retained inserting the correct date of the election or not Odelson as an attorney. “I argued before the stating the name of the exact office—are largely surrounding voter suppression canvassing boards that they were not allowing gone, too, in part because election lawyers like equal treatment and consideration of the ballots, myself and others have developed the law to add positions 2020 to be an especially even within precincts,” Odelson says. “There was protections for people who want to get on the no standard to the manual counting. The counts ballot. The development of cases by those who active year for election law. Three were stopped, and they revised the way they actually know the law, and get up to the appellate were counting ballots. Those cases were then and supreme courts, has revolutionized ballet Chicago-Kent alumni describe used before the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. access and provided certainty on election night.” their experiences working at the Supreme Court, which ruled that due process and —Kristin Baird Rattini equal protection were being violated.” Victory: crossroads of the legal, election, Bush. The rest was history. Odelson himself, and not just his case law, and political professions. made it before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992.

6 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 7 Counsel Political and and Legal ing its integrity, depends on the people who are circulating the Navigator petitions to actually get the signa- Operative tures,” Fogarty explains. “They must swear they gathered them ascended quickly through the John Fogarty Jr. Guides all themselves, that the signa- Throughout Her Lifetime, staff ranks to become a sched- tures are genuine, and that these Candidates, Office and at Home and Abroad, uler for then-Senator Biden’s were all qualified, registered Holders, Political Action Degee Wilhelm Has Been wife, Jill Biden. voters. However, when you’re “I can’t think of another Committees, and the trying to gather as many signa- a Party to the Intersection industry where you can take tures as you can in a short period Illinois Republican Party of Law and Politics on so much responsibility at of time, people will always try to such a young age. When you Through the Complexities cut corners. If that can be detected, prove yourself capable, you’re then there’s a legal process for egee Wilhelm ’02 is a polit- of Election Law rewarded very quickly—at least if keeping a candidate like that off of ical lifer: she’s the daughter you consider more responsibil- the ballot.” Fogarty recounted one of an Iowa state legislator, llinois election laws can D ity to be a reward,” says Wilhelm. case in which a signature collector a veteran of countless campaigns seem byzantine, to say the From there, she worked miraculously gathered thousands over the last three decades, an eight- least, requiring candidates on presidential campaigns for I of signatures from all corners of year member of the Ohio Elections to navigate extra turns than are Democratic candidates Bill the state at the same time; Fogarty Commission (including two terms as required in other states. Over the Clinton, John Kerry, and Barack and his team got more than 4,000 its chair), and is married to a former past two decades, election lawyer John Fogarty Obama, meeting her husband, David Wilhelm, of those signatures disqualified. Democratic National Committee chair. Jr. ’99 has guided candidates, office holders, along the way; he was Clinton’s national campaign Fogarty also frequently consults on campaign She’s seen it all—almost. donors, and political action committees, as well manager in 1992. Degee Wilhelm enrolled at finance issues for individual candidates, PACs, Yet last year she had a front-row seat for two as the Illinois Republican Party, through the Chicago-Kent College of Law in her early 30s, and nonprofits and as general counsel for the elections that changed her perspective on the electoral maze. when the couple’s two children reached school age, Illinois Republican Party, a post he has held since electoral process. The first, more hopeful experi- Fogarty didn’t set out to be an election lawyer; and quickly discovered that law school had much 2012. “The rules governing money in the political ence was in Ukraine, where Wilhelm was stationed the work found him. Before law school, he worked “At the end of “Not to say that in common with her favorite campaign experiences. process are complex, and often not intuitive. This in a small city for three months and watched as as a staffer in the General Assembly in Springfield, the day, whether corruption “I was around extremely smart, motivated is an ever-growing aspect of my practice, especially a maturing democracy rallied behind a young Illinois, and on campaigns. After law school, as people who cared about the bigger picture and you’re on the on the PAC and nonprofit side. And, with a state actor, Volodymyr Zelensky, propelling him to the doesn’t exist he handled insurance litigation for a Chicago law were really engaged, and I loved it,” she says. Republican or political party, you have an entity that raises and nation’s presidency. Government corruption was here and firm, his contacts from Springfield began sending It didn’t take long for Wilhelm to find a niche spends both federal and state campaign contri- an animating issue during the election, with Zelen- him cases that dealt with ballot access. His election Democratic side, there, but in election law. bution dollars simultaneously, and you have to sky viewed as a reformer. caseload increased to a point where he set up a “Someone providing political law advice has you just want ensure the purposes for which you’re spending “Ukrainians want so badly to demonstrate that hopefully when solo practice dedicated to election law in 2008. to understand the intersection of law and politics, things to run each are appropriate under the respective statutes they’re trying to follow established election laws it does, it’s “It grew organically,” he says. “Election law was and how campaigns work, because campaigns are and regulations,” he explains. on their path to becoming a better democracy,” something I’d always loved—and still love—to do.” smoothly rooted out and such weird entities,” says Aaron Pickrell, principal He also advises and represents the party’s says Wilhelm. What does he love about it? “I do a lot of ballot and fairly.” prosecuted.” of Columbus-based political strategy firm Reming- central committee on a wide variety of items from Wilhelm then proceeded to Belarus, where she access litigation, which is urgent,” he says. “There’s ton Road Group, one of Wilhelm’s clients. “To have election administration and free speech issues encountered a different sort of election—one that not a lot of time for discovery, which can take up someone like Degee with all those different skill- to party bylaws and convention planning. “The didn’t appear to live up to the same democratic an enormous amount of time and be very tedious. sets you can turn to, it’s an amazing value-add.” closer we get to an even-year election, the more ideal. For example, the country’s legal authorities Rather, you file a case and then you’re arguing This year, as the United States navigates an involved I get with election authorities on behalf kept some promising candidates off the ballot by the merits in a matter of weeks, if not days. From especially complex election cycle, Wilhelm says of my clients in trying to iron out issues of trans- ruling that their petition signatures were invalid. inception to the appellate or even supreme court, she feels a renewed sense of gratitude for the parency in how elections will be administered,” “I saw what it looks like when there’s an unspo- resolution in an election case is maybe two or three relative reliability and fairness of the American he says. ken mandate from the top determining who’s going months, which is unheard of otherwise. That’s electoral system—and for the strength of its legal “Whether it is voting in nursing homes, voting to win and who’s not,” says Wilhelm. “Candidates very exciting.” system—because of her experiences in Ukraine by mail, military voting, or just regular voting on don’t always have an unbiased legal system to Now senior counsel in the Chicago office of and Belarus. Election Day, transparency is key. By and large, elec- adjudicate complaints; the legal system will often Clark Hill PLC, Fogarty balances lobbying work “Ours is not a system where you have to tion authorities do a good job of this,” says Fogarty. rubber-stamp whatever the government authority with election law. About a third of his workload pay bribes to get things done in government, “We election geeks just want to make sure said in the first place.” involves ballot access, in which he helps keep his or to get the doctor to pay attention to you in it’s all done correctly,” he notes. “At the end of That intersection of law and politics now clients on the ballot and his clients’ opponents off the hospital. Not to say that corruption doesn’t the day, whether you’re on the Republican or inspires Wilhelm, whose Columbus, Ohio-based the ballot. Ballot access litigation can involve eligi- exist here and there, but hopefully when it does, Democratic side, you just want things to run firm, O’Connor, Haseley, & Wilhelm, counts bility issues (e.g., was Rahm Emanuel eligible to be it’s rooted out and prosecuted,” Wilhelm says. smoothly and fairly. Of course, you want your candi- the state Democratic Party among its clients. on the ballot for mayor?), but most often involves —Steve Hendershot dates to win, but most of all, you want a smooth, But Wilhelm was a star political operative long the propriety of petition signature collection and before she became an attorney, beginning with the veracity of petition signatures. competent, and lawfully administered election that produces a result everyone can believe in.” a stint working for Joe Biden’s 1988 presiden- “The cornerstone of the process, to maintain- tial campaign while she was in college; she —Kristin Baird Rattini

8 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 9 the assistant public health Tracey L. Truesdale, Oak litigation and counsels clients liquidation of such funds. 41st Annual administrator for the Whiteside Park, Ill., joined Franczek P.C. in patent, copyright, and trade- Ann M. Cresce, Long Class County Health Department. as a partner in its Labor and mark infringement matters. Grove, Ill., received a 2019 Chicago-Kent Alumni Awards Vincent M. Imhoff, Los Employment practice group. Randy Hultgren, Plano, Ill., Chicago-Kent College of Law Angeles, was selected for a Her employment law practice was named president and chief Distinguished Service Alumni On November 20, 2019, members of the Chicago-Kent Best of Los Angeles Award as includes strategic advice to executive officer of the Illinois Award. She is a financial College of Law community gathered for the 41st annual one of its Fascinating 100. clients in force reduction Bankers Association. He was services senior executive with Alumni Awards celebration to honor alumni and faculty Maria McCarthy, Mt. and other business scenarios; a former United States state significant management, legal, for their outstanding professional and community service Prospect, Ill., retired preventive counseling on representative from 2011 to regulatory, and compliance Notes achievements and to raise money for the Chicago-Kent from service as a Cook matters of employee discipline, 2019, representing the Illinois experience in the futures Alumni Board of Directors Scholarship Fund. The County prosecutor. discharge, and leave issues 14th Congressional District. and derivatives industry and scholarship is awarded annually to students who display Peter J. Roskam, including FMLA, ADA, and Bob Statchen, Stonington, was most recently general financial achievement and academic merit. Wheaton, Ill., joined the Chicago and Cook County paid Conn., is running for the counsel for Bcause LLC, a Distinguished Service Award law firm Sidley Austin as a sick leave as well as other state Connecticut 18th House of cryptocurrency ecosystem. Corboy & Demetrio, represent- Ann M. Cresce ’94 partner in its Government and local leave laws; and devel- Representatives District seat, Amy C. Kurson, Vernon 1973 ing plaintiffs in personal injury Financial Services Senior Executive Strategies practice group. opment of personnel policies after an unsuccessful bid in Hills, Ill., managing partner Thomas A. Demetrio, Chicago, and wrongful death cases, and employment handbooks. 2018. He is an associate clinical of minority-certified Reyes was named the top lawyer including aviation disasters, Michael K. Demetrio ’79 professor of law at Western Kurson, was named one of the in the state by Illinois Super railroad cases, product liability, Partner, Corboy & Demetrio 1990 New England University. Crain’s Chicago Business 2019 Lawyers. This is the fourth construction liability, and Professional Achievement Awards Eileen M. O’Neill Burke, Park 1992 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law. consecutive year that he motor vehicle liability. Hon. Eileen M. O’Neill Burke ’90 Ridge, Ill., an appellate judge Justin L. Weisberg, Chicago, Her practice includes land use, has earned the top spot. Jeffery M. Leving, 1st District Appellate Court Judge for the Illinois First District, joined Robbins, Salomon & 1994 municipal law, procurement, Michael J. Fusz, Antioch, Chicago, appeared on Court received a 2019 Chicago-Kent Patt, Ltd. as a shareholder. Todd W. Betke, University and legislative strategy. Mark T. Cumba ’98 Ill., has retired after more than TV in December 2019 to College of Law Professional He has more than 20 years Park, Md., was named a Susan Meyer, Chicago, was Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice 15 years as associate judge in discuss fathers’ rights Achievement Alumni Award. of experience representing shareholder for Polsinelli in appointed as Norway’s honor- Lake County Circuit Court. and his role in helping to Outstanding Young Alumnus/a Awards Mark C. Curran, Wauke- private, public, local, and the national Securities and ary consul for Illinois. In this reunite Elián González C. Matt Alva ’11 gan, Ill., is the Republican international clients in diverse Corporate Finance practice. role, she assists with consular with his father in Cuba. Associate, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP nominee for the United States construction-related transac- He has more than 20 years affairs and helps to facilitate 1977 Senate in Illinois. He is the tions and litigation matters. of experience representing Sulema Medrano Novak ’09 development of business, Michael Filipovic, Seattle, owner of Mark C. Curran Jr. domestic and international Partner, Drinker, Biddle & Reath cultural, and educational received a 2019 Washington 1982 Attorney at Law and served private equity and venture relations between Norway and Association of Crimi- Maria Pappas, Chicago, created Institutional Partner Award as the sheriff of Lake County, 1993 capital funds, hedge funds, the United States. In her legal nal Defense Lawyers the children’s music video “Me Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Illinois, from 2006 to 2018. Nicholas B. Clifford, St. Louis, real estate funds, funds-of- practice, Meyer frequently President’s Award. and My Iguana” as part of a William S. Schwartz, partner at Tucker Ellis LLP, funds, and small business advises companies on matters Jon D. Goldman, Evansville, new web series. She is Cook Northfield, Ill., was named one was named to the list of The investment companies in related to commerce between Ind., was selected by his County treasurer, a position of the Crain’s Chicago Business Best Lawyers in America for connection with the formation, the U.S. and Scandinavia. peers to The Best Lawyers she has held since 1998. 2019 Notable Gen X Leaders in 2020 for the 10th year in a row. operation, restructuring, and in America in 2020. He was Law. A partner in the Banking He prosecutes and defends recognized for his work in and Restructuring group at employment and labor law, 1983 Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, specifically in management, Beth Burk, Chicago, was he represents borrowers and and advises employers on named interim chief legal lenders in financial services, compliance with state and and compliance officer at litigation, and workouts. federal employment laws. Green Thumb Industries. Vanessa J. Weathersby, She has more than 25 years Chicago, has retired from of experience as a legal BMO Harris Bank. 1978 and compliance strategist Rick Reibman, Highland Park, including 15 years with Aon, Ill., was named managing a Fortune 200 professional 1991 partner of Thompson Coburn, services firm, where she most Patricia S. Kocour, Chicago, where he serves as legal adviser recently served as global was named one of the Crain’s to trading firms, brokerage chief compliance officer. Chicago Business 2019 Notable firms, trade execution firms, Anne Burke, Chicago, was Alumni Awards Celebration [Back row, left to right] Alumni Board President Gen X Leaders in Law. She is an and investment managers named chief justice of the Jason Sposeep, C. Matt Alva ’11, Michael K. Demetrio ’79, Ann M. Cresce ’94, executive committee member in the futures, commodities, Illinois Supreme Court. She and Mark T. Cumba ’98 [front row, left to right] Dean Anita K. Krug, Hon. Eileen of Swanson Martin & Bell, securities, and options markets. is the third woman to lead M. O’Neill Burke ’90, Sulema Medrano Novak ’09, and C. Matt Alva ’11 LLP and was longtime chair the state’s highest court. of the Medical Negligence and Eileen Flaherty, Chicago, Healthcare practice group. 1979 published the book The Brent S. Lipschultz, Susan L. Brody, Glenview, Perilous Step. She is managing Growth Target.” Koenig is Rye Brook, N.Y., re-joined Ill., taught her final class director of The Global Capital the chief executive officer 1989 EisnerAmper LLP as partner at UIC John Marshall Law Group Ltd., a legal and of Monroe Capital. Theresa M. Friel-Draper, Amboy, in its Personal Wealth Advisors School. She joined the John regulatory consulting firm. Nancy E. Paridy, Evanston, Ill., is a new associate judge group. He specializes in Marshall faculty in 1982. Ill., was named chair of the in the 15th Judicial Circuit. Ted Koenig, Highland domestic and international Last fall, Chicago law firms including Seyfarth Shaw LLP hosted welcome receptions Michael K. Demetrio, Loyola Academy Board of She has been chief operating Welcoming Dean Anita K. Krug Park, Ill., was featured in income tax planning, executive for Dean Anita K. Krug. Chicago, received a 2019 the Crain’s Chicago Business Trustees. She is the first officer of the Whiteside compensation, estate and Chicago-Kent College of Law story “The $1 Billion Firm woman to serve as Loyola’s County Community Health gift tax planning, charitable Distinguished Service Alumni You’ve Probably Never Heard board chair and will serve Clinic in Rock Falls, Illinois, planning, and wealth Award. He is a partner at of Sets an Ambitious New for a three-year term. since August 2003 as well as preservation strategies.

10 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 11 Fla., was featured in Law.com’s defense, investigations, 1995 1996 “Daily Business Review.” She information governance, and 2006 Andrea E. Bertone, Houston, Nancy F. Ardell, Chicago, is the founder and president employment law functions. Robyn H. Ast-Gmoser, St. was appointed to the DMC joined Northwest Community of The Law Offices of Robin David S. Slovick, Louis, was elected partner Global Board of Directors. Healthcare as vice president Bresky, a boutique firm in Boca Washington, D.C., joined at Thompson Coburn LLP. She has more than 20 years and general counsel. Raton that focuses on appellate Barnes & Thornburg LLP She is an experienced patent of senior management Scott J. Fisher, Chicago, law, and trusts and estates. as a partner in the litigation litigator who represents clients experience and has spent managing partner for Neal Stacey C. Bromberg, department. He is a former in patent and trademark the majority of her career Gerber Eisenberg, was named Chicago, joined BMO Harris senior enforcement attorney at matters in federal courts. in the energy industry. one of the Crain’s Chicago Bank as a senior trust both the Commodity Futures Ast-Gmoser’s litigation Heather Beverly, Atlanta, Business 2019 Notable administrator in the Estate Trading Commission and experience has included received the Legal Champion Gen X Leaders in Law. Settlement Services group. the United States Securities intellectual property relating to Award at the third annual Michael Kelber, Chicago, She spent her private practice and Exchange Commission. a wide range of products, from Rolling Out Innovation Digital a partner at Neal Gerber career assisting families and simple mechanical devices to Entertainment Conference Eisenberg, was selected as financial institutions in the highly valued pharmaceutical in September 2019. a World Trademark Review administration of estates for 1999 patents in Hatch-Waxman Karen Klein, Clarendon Global Leader for 2019. decedents, adult disabled Kathryn B. Ashton, Oak Park, (ANDA) litigation. Hills, Ill., executive vice Krista S. Schwartz, individuals, and minors. Ill., was named one of the Young Alumni Gathering Chicago-Kent College of Law hosted its annual Young Alumni Gathering on November 6, 2019, Evan Lison, Springfield, president and general counsel Lafayette, Calif., joined Hogan Mark T. Cumba, San Diego, Crain’s Chicago Business at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC. N.J., joined Spotify as senior for Ticketmaster, was named Lovells’s San Francisco a deputy attorney general for 2019 Notable Gen X Leaders employment counsel. chair of the Chicago-Kent office as a partner in the the California Department in Law. As a global chair of Board of Advisors. Intellectual Property, Media, Dentons’s Health Care group, of Justice, received a 2019 LLP. His practice is focused of Homeland Security Inves- States-based, multinational, Fairbanks, and Technology practice. she oversees 150 lawyers and 2007 Earl A. Peterson, Chicago-Kent College of on intellectual property tigations Division operating diversified CNC machinery Alaska, was appointed to professionals worldwide. Megan A. Chorey Hymore, Law Professional Achieve- litigation, representing patent in Europe, West Africa, and manufacturer that markets the Alaska Superior Court Ashton also is co-chair of Cincinnati, Ohio, was elected ment Alumni Award. holders and companies more recently, Chicago. its products and services (Fairbanks). He has been 1997 Dentons’s Cannabis group as a partner of Keating Andrew P. Fox, Chicago, accused of intellectual through offices in 11 countries. an Alaska resident for more Pablo J. Almaguer, McAllen, and provides transactional Muething & Klekamp PLL. was named the City of property infringement. than eight years and has Texas, is running for Chicago’s first-ever director and regulatory advice to 2003 She practices in the Business president-elect of the Thomas T. Field, Chicago, Representation and Trans- practiced law for 23 years. of labor standards. He will businesses in or affected Brandon R. Freud, North- 2005 State Bar of Texas. a divorce attorney for actions group, and advises Andrew S. Rosenman, implement Mayor Lori by the cannabis industry. brook, Ill., joined Chuhak & Edward L. Garris, Bryn Mawr, North Beerman LLP, was named small startup companies Chicago, was appointed as Stephen R. Auten, Lightfoot’s groundbreaking Robert Dore, Yorkville, Tecson, P.C. as a principal. He Penn., joined Bryn Mawr Barrington, Ill., was named to the 2020 Lawdragon 500 and large international co-leader of Mayer Brown’s worker-protection platform by Ill., retired after 20 years represents his clients with Trust as a vice president one of the Crain’s Chicago Leading Family Lawyers corporations on intellectual Employment Litigation managing the enforcement of as assistant state’s attorney determination in state and and wealth adviser. Business 2019 Notable Gen X list of best advisers across property and privacy matters. and Consulting practice. Chicago’s landmark labor laws, for Kendall County. federal courts at both the Scott A. Maybee, Atlanta, Leaders in Law. He is a partner the United States. Romulus, Kimberly B. Schutt, Windsor, including minimum wage, paid Michelle H. Swann, Phoenix, trial and appellate levels. was named president of Erin R. Conway, at Taft Stettinius & Hollister William J. McFadden, Mich., joined McDonald Colo., was appointed as district sick leave, and fair work week. joined Lang & Klain, P.C. as Matthew W. Miller, River- NextGear Capital. Previously, LLP, heads the Pharmaceutical Eden Prairie, Minn., joined Hopkins as counsel in court judge in the Colorado Carrie Leahy, Ann Arbor, an employment and litigation side, Ill., joined Reveal Data, he was general manager of and Life Sciences Litigation Briggs and Morgan, P.A. the intellectual property 19th Judicial District. She has Mich., was appointed chair- attorney. She practices in the which provides an SaaS-based Manheim Northstar Minnesota practice, and is on the firm’s (now part of Taft Stettinius department. She has 12 years been a senior attorney at Wick elect of Bodman’s Executive areas of commercial litigation e-discovery solution to law and was responsible for all executive committee. & Hollister LLP) as a share- of intellectual property & Trautwein, LLC since 1997. Management Committee. She and employer-focused employ- firms and in-house legal facets of the Minneapolis- Boca Raton, holder and member of the prosecution, litigation, and Robin Bresky, is the fourth chair and first ment law and has appeared departments in the United based operation. business litigation section. licensing experience. female chair to lead Bodman before federal, tribal, and state States and in Europe. Tonya G. Newman, Chicago, Barbara Sondag, San Mateo, Matthew M. Daniels, since the firm established trial and appellate courts and Burke Nihill, Nashville, was selected among the 100 Calif., was appointed assistant Chicago, joined the Office of the position in 1975. administrative tribunals. Tenn., is senior vice president/ Women Who Inspire Us at general counsel of privacy the State Appellate Defender business operations and chief the American Bar Association and data protection at Intuit. as an assistant appellate legal officer for the Tennessee 2019 Women in Litigation CLE 2000 She is also a member of The defender. Prior to this role, 1998 Titans of the National Football Conference. The list recognizes Paul J. Ferak, Naperville, Ill., Better Ethics and Consumer he was a staff attorney at the Howard L. Huntington, League. He originally joined women leaders for their was named one of the Crain’s Outcomes Network Board. C-K Law Group: The Law Naperville, Ill., co-authored the organization as general success in the courtroom, the Chicago Business 2019 Notable Offices of Chicago-Kent. the article “Sudden Medical counsel in 2016. Nihill judiciary, and the profession. Gen X Leaders in Law. As North- Emergency Defense” 2002 oversees the club’s legal and The conference is part of the Courtney D. Fong, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig, brook, Ill., was named a 2019 published in CLM Magazine, Jeffrey D. Gardner, Phoenix, human resources functions ABA Section of Litigation’s LLP’s Financial Services Notable General Counsel a nationwide periodical of was elected to the Manage- and regularly works on club year-long celebration of the Litigation practice, he manages by Crain’s Chicago Business. the Claims and Litigation ment Committee for Jennings, initiatives related to state and 100th anniversary of the a nationwide team that He is the chief legal officer Management Alliance. He Strouss & Salmon. He local government, company passage of the 19th Amend- defends financial institutions and chief privacy officer at is a partner of Harrison primarily focuses his practice culture, and general business ment, which guarantees and in consumer and business CompTIA, a trade association & Held, LLP, where he on securities litigation, class planning and strategy for both protects women’s right to vote. litigation and class actions. dedicated to advancing the focuses his practice on action defense, employment, the Titans and the team’s David N. Pruitt, Chicago, a Thomas A. Vaclavek, Cary, global technology industry. commercial litigation. intellectual property, and home base, Nissan Stadium. privacy and technology lawyer, Ill., founded the family and Adam S. Garber, Chicago, Courtney A. Rosen, real estate matters. Jennifer L. Watt, India- joined InfoLawGroup LLP as real estate law firm Vaclavek a partner in the Trusts and Chicago, joined Jackson Daniel T. Morro, Oakbrook napolis, was appointed and a partner in its Chicago office. Hartman Vaclavek, P.C., Estates group at Levenfeld National Life Insurance Terrace, Ill., was named princi- promoted to chief legal officer, Yesenia Villasenor, Fremont, located in Barrington, Illinois. Pearlstein, LLC, was named Company as the vice presi- pal security adviser for Ross & secretary, and vice president Calif., was promoted to Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP hosted an to the Chicago Daily Law Welcoming Dean Anita K. Krug dent and deputy general Baruzzini, a global technology of Thermwood Corporation, associate general counsel for alumni reception welcoming Dean Anita K. Krug. Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty. counsel of investigations, consulting and engineering with oversight of all legal the Environmental Health 2001 regulatory enforcement, and firm in St. Louis. He was aspects of the company and and Safety team at Tesla. Kurt S. Kwidzinski, John Abramic, Naperville, Mundelein, Ill., was named litigation. She leads litigation previously a senior member of its corporate governance. Ill., was appointed managing partner at Berger Schatz. in arbitration defense, the United States Department Thermwood is a United regulatory enforcement partner at Steptoe & Johnson Ryan Lee, Nashville, Tenn.,

12 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 13 employment litigation and to the list of Michigan Super insurance coverage matters, counseling capabilities. 2010 Lawyers 2019 Rising Stars. A 2012 including third-party and Nick Cummings, Chicago, Justin Haselden, Washington, partner at Plunkett Cooney Bruno R. Marasso, Chicago, first-party coverage matters. was named deputy city attorney D.C., joined PilieroMazza in Bloomfield Hills, Nichols was appointed senior associate for the City of Evanston, Illinois, PLLC as an associate in the serves as co-leader of the Labor at Romanucci & Blandin where he assists counsel in Government Contracts Law and Employment Law practice LLC. He has been with the 2013 providing legal representation. and Litigation and Dispute group and focuses her litigation firm since 2008 and has George C. Lepeniotis, South Stacey J. Dembo, Chicago, Resolution practice groups. practice on employment law. recovered millions of dollars Bend, Ind., joined Krieg received the Davis, Gidwitz Terrence M. Hart, Hyattsville, Rachel S. Ruttenberg, on behalf of his clients. DeVault as an of counsel in & Glasser Young Leadership Md., joined the United States Evanston, Ill., joined the Heart- Carly B. Robin, Chicago, the Business, Acquisitions, Award from the Jewish Copyright Office as an assistant land Alliance as director of joined Chuhak & Tecson, and Securities practice group. Federation of Chicago. The general counsel, where he policy and will lead a research P.C. as an associate attorney. He concentrates on corporate award recognizes leaders assists in the agency’s litigation, and policy team focused on She focuses her practice on and business law, mergers and under 40 who have demon- regulatory, and other legal ending poverty. She previously individualized estate planning acquisitions, real estate and strated extraordinary dedica- matters. Hart was previously served as the executive director documents, including wills, construction, and litigation. tion and commitment in the vice president of legal policy of The Family Defense Center. powers of attorney, and revoca- Philip P. Terrazzino, Chicago, Jewish community. Dembo’s and copyright counsel at the Rachel Schaller, Chicago, ble and irrevocable trusts. an associate at Tomasik Kotin efforts have helped hundreds Copyright Alliance, a nonprofit was named a partner of Taft Neha Tannan, Chicago, an Kasserman, LLC, was named of low-income individuals advocacy and education organi- Stettinius & Hollister LLP. associate attorney at Ford & to the Chicago Daily Law and families get critically zation in Washington, D.C. Mark A. Silverman, Chicago, Britton, was profiled in the Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty. needed Social Security and Jin-Won Jung, Chicago, was elected a member of September 2019 edition of He handles personal injury Honors Scholars Reception Former and current Chicago-Kent Honors Scholars attended the Honor Scholars Reception disability assistance. joined Allstate as a law Dykema Gossett PLLC. Chicago Lawyer magazine and wrongful death cases in on November 7, 2019. Michael J. Hallock, Oxford, and regulation innovation He practices in the areas for her volunteer work at the areas of transportation, Miss., presented at the Speak- patent attorney. He previ- of business and financial Chicago’s Indo-American product liability, medical joined Dickinson Wright named to the Chicago Daily Gen X Leaders in Law. She er’s Commission on Public ously practiced for six services litigation, is a member Center, where she works malpractice, and construction. PLLC, as counsel. He advises Law Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty. is the founder and managing Policy regarding the issue of years as a patent attorney of the Financial Services on immigration matters. owners, general contractors, He is a health care regulatory partner of The Prinz Law investigation and prosecution at K&L Gates LLP. Litigation team, and is a Jessica K. Velez, Chicago, 2015 subcontractors, design and policy attorney with exten- Firm, where she focuses in human trafficking. Moshe Z. Marvit, Pittsburgh, co-leader of the Commercial was appointed as a commis- Justin D. DeAngelis, Chicago, professionals, and suppliers in sive experience in working on providing cost-effective received the 2019 Labor Mortgage-Backed Securities sioner of the Hispanic National an associate at Quarles & various construction-related with state and federal agencies. legal and business advice to and Employment Relations Special Servicer group. Bar Association’s 2019–2020 Brady LLP, spoke at the United litigation matters, including Chicago, business owners, entrepre- 2009 Association Ken May Media Sodiqa R. Williams, Latina Commission. Gavin J. O’Keefe, States Patent & Trademark disputes related to design was elected partner at neurs, and professionals. Judd Z. Fineberg, Chicago, was Award for his reporting at Flossmoor, Ill., was profiled Jonathan R. Walton, Office 13th annual Design and construction defects, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert named to the Chicago Daily the The Century Foundation in the September 2019 Chicago, joined BatesCarey Joel E. Roberson, Day on case law updates mechanics’ and materialmen’s & Berghoff LLP. He serves Arlington, Va., was hired by Law Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty. on employment and labor edition of Chicago Lawyer LLP as an associate. He related to design patents. liens, contractor licensing, as chair of the Prosecution Smithfield, a meat-processing He is an associate at Dussias topics. His current research magazine for her work with serves as coverage and Kelly K. Koss, Chicago, and Prompt Payment Act Advisory Committee, which company, to lobby on trade Wittenberg Koenigsberger focuses on labor organiza- the Safer Foundation. litigation counsel to domestic joined Barnes & Thornburg and other payment issues. oversees and advises the policy and food safety. LLP, where he specializes in tions, excluded workers, and and international insurers LLP as an associate. She was Fiona M. McEntee, Chicago, firm on prosecution-related Joseph E. Silvia, Chicago, the litigation and settlement employment and civil rights. in a variety of complex published the children’s procedures and best practices. joined Howard & Howard, of complex financial matters Patrick Wartan, Chicago, book Our American Dream. Kristen E. Prinz, Chicago, where he advises financial and custody disputes. was named a partner of Taft Juan Morado, Chicago, was was named one of the Crain’s institutions and corporate Kara L. Goodwin, Frankfort, Stettinius & Hollister LLP, named partner at Benesch and Chicago Business 2019 Notable clients on general corporate Ill., joined RR Donnelley as where he concentrates his matters, mergers, acquisitions, vice president and associate practice in the areas of food and strategic transactions, private general counsel in labor, beverage, general corporate equity and venture capital, employment, and compliance. and securities matters, and and banking and financial Jason M. Kroot, Chicago, commercial real estate. services regulation. joined Cavanagh Law Group Daniel S. Stringfield, Oak as a partner and has more than 2011 Park, Ill., was selected as one two decades of experience Highland Park, of the Chicago Daily Law handling complex personal C. Matt Alva, Ill., a partner at Swanson, Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty. He is injury and medical malprac- Martin & Bell, LLP, received a partner at Steptoe & Johnson tice cases in county, state, a 2019 Chicago-Kent LLP, where he is an advocate and federal courtrooms. College of Law Outstanding and adviser for companies Sulema Medrano Novak, Young Alumni Award. facing intellectual property Chicago, a partner at Drinker, and technology issues. Biddle & Reath LLP, received Aura L. Lichtenberg, a 2019 Chicago-Kent Chicago, joined Berger Schatz College of Law Outstanding as an associate. She devotes 2008 Young Alumni Award. her practice to all aspects of Margaret P. Battersby Black, Hailee R. Zabrin, Chicago, family law, specializing in the Elmhurst, Ill., a partner at was named to the Chicago litigation, negotiation, and Levin & Perconti, was featured Daily Law Bulletin’s 40 Under alternative dispute resolution in Leading Lawyers Magazine. Forty. She is a partner at of divorce and post-divorce Daniel O. Canales, Chicago, Berger Schatz and represents matters, parentage and support matters, pre- and post-nuptial A team featuring Chicago-Kent College joined Duane Morris LLP individuals in all aspects of Student-Alumni Softball Tournament agreements, and incidents of Law students and alumni won the championship during the sixth annual as a partner leading the family and matrimonial law. involving domestic violence. Chicago-Kent Alumni Event in Miami [Left to right] Associate Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts Susan Student-Alumni Softball Tournament. labor and employment practice in Chicago. He Courtney L. Nichols, Lewers, Andy Moriber ’74, Carlosandres A. Somarriba Tablada ’04, Bonnie Weiner, Jeff Weiner ’74, Dean Anita K. Krug, further enhances the firm’s Clarkston, Mich., was named Ali Golden ’14, and John Golden ’14

14 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 15 OPINION

On the Ballot in November: How Much Do We Care About Democracy?

But in some states, officials appear uninterested in ensur- ing that all eligible voters can safely cast their ballots. To the contrary. On April 7, Wisconsin held an election, including for a Chicago-Kent Trial Advocacy reunion [Image on left, left to right] Guy E. Guenther ′18, Kristen Farr Capizzi ’18, John M. Montelongo ’92, and The Honorable David state Supreme Court seat. The GOP-controlled state legislature A. Erickson [image on right, left to right] The Honorable Warren D. Wolfson, Mariam Chamilova ’19, and The Honorable David A. Erickson refused to act to change the date or make vote-by-mail more acces- sible, and both the state and federal Supreme Courts blocked such efforts. Poll workers, who tend to be elderly, were so scarce that previously with Stein Ray LLP, Andrew G. Fullett, Chicago, Army and as a state trooper Academy officer for three years in Milwaukee there were only five polling places rather than the where she focused on complex joined Chuhak and Tecson, with the Indiana State Police. before completing her J.D. usual 180. In Kentucky, where voter registration closed on April commercial construction P.C.’s Banking group. He Taylor Brewer, Chicago, Joseph P. Trunk, Glen 20 for its June 23 primary, the Republican-controlled legislature litigation and arbitration. represents financial institutions won a jury verdict for Ellyn, Ill., graduated from passed a bill making it harder for individuals without state-issued Jared M. Reynolds, Chicago, on matters involving asset- $93,000 against the City of Chicago-Kent College of IDs to vote, even as the state DMV offices are closed due to the joined Daniel P. Costello & based lending and commercial Chicago before Judge Israel Law a century after his virus. Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, but Associates, PC as an associate, real estate loan transactions. A. Desierto ’90. great grandfather Francis the legislature overrode the veto. The American Civil Liberties defending his clients against Margaret A. Herrmann, Miranda L. Huber, Chicago, F. Trunk graduated. Union is considering a lawsuit over this bill. The ACLU is also premise liability and negligence Palatine, Ill., joined Irwin joined Raise the Floor Nicholas Ustaski, suing the state of Texas over whether voters can vote by mail if claims, as well as construction IP as an associate. She is a Alliance as a staff attorney. Chicago, joined Kirkland they are fearful of contracting the virus at the polls, even as the and personal injury. registered patent attorney Michael J. Schostok, & Ellis as an associate. Texas attorney general has threatened criminal sanctions for whose intellectual property Madison, Wis., joined Salvi Zachary T. Van Engen, law experience includes IP Schostok & Pritchard P.C. as Chicago, joined the intellec- third-party groups that advise voters to seek absentee ballots 2016 litigation, patent post-issuance an associate whose practice tual property law boutique due to their fears of the virus. Gabrielle Romano, Chicago, proceedings, patent prepa- areas include personal firm Fitch, Even, Tabin & These fights over voter ID laws, voting by mail, and reduced joined Chuhak & Tecson, ration and prosecution, and injury, medical malpractice, Flannery LLP as an associate. numbers of polling places are not new. But their prevalence P.C. as an associate, repre- clearance and legal opinions. and products liability. A registered patent attorney, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the reality senting clients in the probate Andrea M. Silva, Chicago, Van Engen assists clients that our proud national identity as a democracy is subject to administration process, joined Lavelle Law, Ltd. as an ranging from startups to challenge. Historically, there have long been significant defects in including decedent and 2018 associate whose practice areas global manufacturers working our democratic governance, most vividly in the almost complete guardianship estates for Chicago, Lauren E. Payne, are litigation and family law. in areas such as computer exclusion of African Americans from the franchise in the South disabled adults and minors. joined Berger Schatz as an Wisu Sul, Chicago, joined technology, electronics, well into the 1960s. But we profess to something more. Benjamin S. Van Airsdale, associate representing clients mechanical engineering, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP as If COVID-19 lays bare the gap between our stated aspira- Ada, Mich., joined DKM&O in all aspects of family law, a patent agent in the Intel- and medical devices. Carolyn Shapiro tions and our reality, it also creates an opportunity. As of this Attorneys as an attorney whose including complex financial lectual Property practice. Hannah D. Vanderlaan, practice areas include corpo- matters and high-conflict Felicia S. Thomas, Kew Chicago, joined Freeborn & writing, Democrats in Congress are pushing to require (and rate transactions, business child-related matters. Gardens, N.Y., joined the Peters LLP as an associate ven before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was clear that help fund) vote-by-mail opportunities for November in every law, secured lending and Queens County District in the Litigation practice the 2020 elections were going to be hard-fought—and state if emergencies like the pandemic justify it. Making such capital funding, and estate and Attorney’s Office in New group and as a member of that those fights were not just going to be between plans sooner than later will allow states to develop vote-by- business succession planning. 2019 York as a criminal law the Environment and Energy candidates. Instead, we were always going to see fights mail systems that are secure and that operate smoothly. One of Sara A. Agate, Sycamore, Ill., associate. She served as a Law practice group. over fundamental questions about who gets to vote, the most common stated objections is that elections have tradi- joined Benesch as an associate United States Coast Guard and when, where, and how they can do so. COVID-19’s tionally been run by the states. That’s true, but the Constitution 2017 in the Healthcare+ practice arrival in the midst of the primary election season has intensi- explicitly gives Congress the power to regulate the “Times, Places Sarah D. Casey, Chicago, group. She supports clients in E joined Grund & Leavitt, digital health and emerging fied those battles, even as it has highlighted the decentralized and Manner” of congressional elections. And as I’ve argued in a P.C. as an associate who technologies, along with and idiosyncratic nature of our election system. recent article in the Arizona Law Review, the Guarantee Clause of practices primarily in family academic health care centers, Each state schedules its own primaries, and they have not the Constitution empowers congressional control over elections and matrimonial law. She in matters related to data all responded to COVID-19 in the same way. Illinois and Ohio, when necessary to protect democratic governance. represents clients in a variety privacy and security, health In Memoriam for example, both had primaries scheduled for March 17, 2020, Americans overwhelmingly believe that no eligible voter of complex domestic-relations care regulatory compliance, just as each state was entering its lockdown. The Democratic should be denied the right to vote. We have, through times issues, including prenuptial and policy and advocacy. governor of Illinois, J. B. Pritzker, took enormous criticism for of war and peace alike, cast ourselves as a beacon to the and postnuptial agreements, Zachary Beaver, Crown Stephen D. Hurst ’81 William C. Null ’65 allowing the election to go forward as scheduled, although he world because of our commitment to democracy. Whether divorce, paternity, custody, Point, Ind., joined Chuhak & pointed out that he did not have the authority to change it we live up to those principles will be shown by how we John B. Kincaid ’63 Alan G. Schuster ’80 visitation, and spousal Tecson, P.C. as an associate himself. (Arizona and Florida also held primaries that day.) Ohio’s decide to manage our elections in the time of COVID-19. and child support. concentrating his practice in John D. Marshall ’65 Barbara W. Smith ’79 Republican governor, Mike DeWine, on the other hand, cancelled —Carolyn Shapiro, Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director of C. Kelley Flanagan, Chicago, banking law. He has more than in-person voting and rescheduled the election. Overall, at least the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States an attorney with Flanagan 10 years of experience in public Joseph Mirabella ’64 I Bilton LLC, appeared on service as an active duty infan- 16 states have now postponed primaries due to the virus. And Season 24 of The Bachelor. tryman in the United States numerous states, including Illinois, are considering expanding mail-in or absentee voting for the November general election.

16 CHICAGO-KENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 17 PRESORTED FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHICAGO, IL 565 West Adams Street PERMIT NO. 2237 Chicago, Illinois 60661-3691

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