Nicole Mariani Noel is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Nicole Mariani Noel from Kass Shuler!

Nicole will be speaking at our upcoming Business Bankruptcy 101 Chapter 11 Nuts and Bolts Webinar on September 19 & 21, 2023. Most recently, Nicole spoke at our Bankruptcy 101: Chapter 7 and 13 Nuts and Bolts program.

We are excited to have her back with us!

Nicole is a Shareholder at Kass Shuler, where she heads the Bankruptcy practice group for the firm and handles cases throughout the State of Florida, including the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts.

Since 2009, Nicole has honed her practice in various legal fields, including: bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and insolvency, real estate, consumer and business litigation. 

Outside of the firm, Nicole is an adjunct professor at Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg College and Hillsborough Community College teaching bankruptcy, real property finance, business law and civil litigation. She participated in the 2016 NextGeneration program held by the Bankruptcy Judges during the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ). Nicolel was honored to become a Fellow for the Florida Bar Leadership Academy. She has also been named one of ALFN’s Junior Professionals and Executives Group (JPEG)’s stand-out young professionals to watch in 2016. Nicole also frequently volunteers her time to speak at local Universities on topics which include ethical concerns facing young attorneys, time management, and first year law practice pointers.

Thank you for joining the program, Nicole!

Reno Fernandez is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Reno Fernandez from Complex Appellate Litigation Group (CALG)!

Reno will be speaking at our upcoming Business Bankruptcy 101 Chapter 11 Nuts and Bolts Webinar on September 19 & 21, 2023. This will be his first time speaking with us and we have had many attorneys from CALG speak over the years and everyone has been terrific.

Welcome, Reno!

Reno is a counsel at Complex Appellate Litigation Group where he focuses his practice on protecting the interests of creditors, debtors, trustees, and other parties in bankruptcy-related appellate matters. He is also a certified specialist in bankruptcy law by the California Board of Legal Specialization. 

Throughout his career, Reno has appeared in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and other courts sitting in an appellate capacity under the Bankruptcy Code. He also consults on general bankruptcy litigation in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts.

Reno’s experience includes representing technology companies, equipment manufacturers, equipment lessors, banks, hedge funds, medical clinics, residential care facilities, shopping centers, apartment and office buildings, hotels, food and beverage, retail chains, farms, wineries, churches, and nonprofits. Reno has also overseen creditor recovery, receiverships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors.

Additionally, Reno was chair of the Insolvency Law Committee of the State Bar of California, a member of the organizing committee of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ Next Generation Program, a member of the board of directors of the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, and chair of the Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco.

We are excited to have him join us!

Scott Howie is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Scott Howie from Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth!

Scott will be speaking at our upcoming Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Illinois Civil Cases Webinar on July 18 & 20, 2023. This will be his first time speaking with us. Welcome, Scott!

Scott is a partner at Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth. His expertise is concentrated in posttrial motions and appeals. Scott regularly practices in appellate courts throughout Illinois—and has even been called on to participate in appeals in other jurisdictions, either appearing pro hac vice or working behind the scenes to prepare written briefs.

In hundreds of civil appeals, Scott has written more than 500 appellate briefs and delivered well over a hundred oral arguments, including several each in the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Scott is a past president (2021–22) of the Appellate Lawyers Association, which coordinates speakers and seminars on appellate topics and promotes interactions with appellate judges and court officials. Since 2013 Scott has been a regular contributor to the IDC Quarterly, the scholarly publication of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, for which he writes a column on appellate practice. He also serves by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court on the E-Business Policy Advisory Board, which formulates standards for the implementation of electronic and online procedures. He is also a member of the amicus committee of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the interests of the business community in cases before the state supreme court.

Thank you for joining the program, Scott!

Hugh Griffin is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Hugh Griffin from Hall Prangle and Schoonveld!

Hugh will be speaking at our upcoming Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Illinois Civil Cases Two-Part Webinar on July 18 & 20, 2023. This will be his first time speaking with us. We are looking forward to it, Hugh!

Hugh is co-chair of HPS’ Appellate Practice Group at Hall Prangle and Schoonveld. He is among the country’s most experienced and distinguished appellate attorneys. He has also served nine years on the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee and was appointed by the Supreme Court as the Committee’s Vice Chairman from 2003-2006. 

Over the course of his career, Hugh has handled more than 500 appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing nearly 50 times before the Illinois Supreme Court. He also has handled appeals in more than two dozen other state courts, as well as in federal Courts of Appeals across the country. Based on his decades of experience in handling all kinds of civil appeals, Hugh is able to bring fresh analysis, seasoned insight and often an innovative approach to appeal issues. 

Hugh has been selected as an “Illinois Leading Lawyer,” an Illinois “Super Lawyer,” a “Best Lawyer” in appellate practice and was named as the “2011 Chicago Best Lawyers Appellate Lawyer of the Year.” He also has been honored repeatedly as one of the top “100 Super Lawyers in Illinois.”

Thank you for joining the program, Hugh!

Catherine Basque Weiler is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Catherine Basque Weiler from Swanson, Martin & Bell!

Catherine will be speaking at our upcoming Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Illinois Civil Cases Two-Part Webinar on July 18 & 20, 2023. This will be her first time speaking with us. We are looking forward to it, Catherine!

Catherine is a Partner and the chair of Swanson, Martin & Bell’s Appellate Practice Group. Her practice area focuses on trial practice and appeals. She has briefed more than 200 cases involving a wide range of litigation topics in various state and federal courts of appeal, including the Seventh Circuit, all Illinois Appellate Districts, the Colorado Appellate Court and the North Carolina Appellate Court.

In addition to her appellate practice, Catherine actively represents clients in the state and federal trial courts through all phases of litigation, from case inception through trial, primarily defending legal malpractice, commercial, product and premises liability claims. Catherine’s wide-ranging appellate practice and knowledge of procedure gives her a unique perspective on case strategy.

Prior to joining the Swanson, Martin & Bell, Catherine acted as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General in the Civil Appeals Division, representing state agencies and representatives, and the People of Illinois, before all Illinois Appellate Courts and the Seventh Circuit.

Thank you for joining the program, Catherine!

Gretchen Harris Sperry is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Gretchen Harris Sperry from Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani!

Gretchen will be speaking at our upcoming Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Illinois Civil Cases Two-Part Webinar on July 18th & 20th (2023). This will be her first time speaking with us and was recommended as a speaker by multiple appellate attorneys.

Welcome, Gretchen!

Gretchen is a partner and Co-Chair of the Appellate Group in Gordon & Rees’ Chicago office. She frequently represents government agencies and elected officials in constitutional litigation as a court-appointed Special Assistant State’s Attorney. 

Additionally, Gretchen represents private sector clients before various governmental, legislative, and regulatory agencies, counseling them on pending legislation and regulatory compliance matters. Gretchen is experienced in white collar criminal matters, having represented entities in federal criminal prosecutions and investigations, as well as conducting internal investigations in anticipation of government involvement. 

Gretchen is an active member of the legal community. She was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at two Chicago law schools teaching Appellate Advocacy. She also serves as the Secretary of the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers and is a Past President of the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association.

Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, Gretchen was a partner at a national law firm where she served as chair of the firm’s nationally recognized Appellate Practice Group.  She was also a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Mary Jane Theis and the Honorable Maureen E. Connors in the Illinois Appellate Court.

Thank you for joining the program, Gretchen! We look forward to it.

Advisors Needed for Summer Interns and Fellows

Advisors

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) is actively seeking Advisors for their 2018 Advising Program, which matches current Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows with members of PILI’s Alumni Network or Board of Directors.

PILI’s Advising Program is flexible, and allows Advisors to fit the program into their schedule. Advisors are required to communicate with their Advisee, and meet at least twice during the summer. Advisors often serve as an introduction to the Illinois legal community by providing career guidance, networking inroads and valuable insights.

PILI will provide additional support and tips to assist with making the relationship beneficial for both Advisor and Advisee. Those interested in serving as an Advisor should complete the registration form before Friday, April 27th, which allows PILI to make matches based on areas of practice and alma maters.

Free Seminar on Hate Crime in Illinois coming to Chicago on October 18th

Don’t miss the free seminar presented by the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Kirkland & Ellis, LLP – Fighting Hate Crime in Illinois: An Overview of Criminal and Civil Remedies and Protections.

We wanted to let anyone in the Chicago area know about this free, two-hour seminar on October 18th.  The focus will be on an overview of hate crime, how it is defined, why it happens and statistics as well as federal and state laws surrounding it.  There will be a special presentation on the Illinois Hate Crime Act and civil remedies for victims.

This course also gives attorneys 2 hours of general CLE in Illinois.  Attendance is free but you must pre-register.  You can do so here.  For more information you can contact Julie Justicz, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights at jjusticz@clccrul.org or (312) 202-3663.