News from the Firm
Upcoming MS-LABS: Compliance and Corporate Investigations —
Strategies for Protecting the Company
Joseph A. Spiegler, a Principal in the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group, and John C. Kocoras, Managing Director and Regional Counsel for Kroll, will conduct a 90-minute seminar titled “Compliance and Corporate Investigations — Strategies for Protecting the Company.” Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on November 6 at the W Chicago City Center Hotel, this seminar will explore:
- How to manage a corporate investigation
- Steps to take before allegations arise
- Fraud prevention and how to protect good will
Who should attend? Companies that:
- Operate in regulated industries
- Operate in international markets
- Operate in industries that have been subject to recent scrutiny
- Are pursing growth strategies
Offered as a value-added service to clients and friends of the firm, MS-LABS (Much Shelist Legal and Business Seminars) is a complimentary seminar series that provides useful information on legal and business matters related to owning and operating a business. Please contact Stephanie L. Hall at shall@muchshelist.com if you have questions or if you would like to be added to the MS-LABS invitation list.
Click here to register.
Much Shelist Trumpets Viability of the Middle-Market Law Firm
Amid ongoing media coverage of law firm consolidation in Chicago and across the United States, there has been limited focus on the viability of the middle-market firm. In fact, most coverage in the legal and business media has at least implied that the future of firms like Much Shelist is in question. Our clients and the marketplace clearly tell a different story, and the firm has taken significant steps to make sure that the legal and business communities hear the point of view of a thriving middle-market firm.
For starters, the July 2 issue of the National Law Journal included an opinion piece by David T. Brown, Chair of the firm’s Management Committee. Titled “Middle-Market Firms Thriving in the Land of Giants,” the article touts the importance of smaller, independent firms to both clients and attorneys. Click here to view the article.
Further supporting this position, the firm recently launched a new advertising campaign called “Cut Loose.” The first in a series of four ads poses the question, “Is your business getting lost in the crowd at a huge law firm?” The reader is then urged to “Cut loose.” Click here to view the ad.
The campaign, which emphasizes that Much Shelist is committed to remaining independent and “providing Chicago’s middle-market businesses with responsive, results-oriented legal services,” was featured in the business section of the October 30 issue of the Chicago Tribune. Titled "Much Shelist Makes a Case for Small, Independent Firms," the article points out that the firm's ad campaign "strikes at conventional wisdom in the legal industry that bigger is better for firms and their clients." Click here to view the article.
Gregory B. Mann Honored as One of Law Bulletin Publishing Company's
"40 Under Forty"
The Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer, has named Much Shelist Principal Gregory B. Mann to its 2007 list of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch." The selection committee based its decisions on the attorneys' career achievements (successful settlements, verdicts, acquisitions or transactions), how quickly the nominees have risen in their areas of practice, and their contributions to the community and the profession.
According to the publisher, these young attorneys are "outstanding individuals who are much more than their favorable settlements, verdicts and appeals. They are individuals who are passionate about their work, their clients and their community."
Greg, who serves as Vice Chair of the firm’s Wealth Transfer & Succession Planning practice group, designs and implements estate and gift tax plans for individuals and family groups. His work also includes implementing succession planning techniques for closely held corporations, administering probate estates, income tax planning, and preparing gift and estate tax returns.
Past Much Shelist recipients of the "40 Under Forty" honor include Leslee M. Cohen (2006), Steven P. Blonder (2005), Mitchell S. Roth (2002) and Anne E. Larson (2001).
Center for Conflict Resolution Elects
Edward D. Shapiro to Leadership Position
Edward D. Shapiro, Chair of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group at Much Shelist, was recently elected Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) Board of Directors. Involved with CCR for approximately seven years, Ed joined the Board in 2006. He also serves as a volunteer mediator and trainer for the organization, and is currently a member of its Peer Review Committee. The 24-member Board of Directors consists of lawyers, non-lawyers, judges, and former presidents of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and the CBA's Young Lawyers Section.
Based in Chicago, CCR is one of the nation's premier not-for-profit providers of mediation services and conflict management training. Every year, the organization provides free mediation services in more than 2,000 cases, trains hundreds of new mediators, facilitates meetings, and works with dozens of businesses, government agencies and organizations to create custom-designed dispute resolution systems and training programs. For more information, visit http://www.ccrchicago.org/.
Welcome to the Firm
Much Shelist is pleased to welcome the following attorneys, who have joined the firm since our last issue:
Louis D. Bernstein (Principal, Litigation & Dispute Resolution) represents prominent entrepreneurs and corporations throughout the United States. Lou represents clients in dozens of states before judges, juries, arbitration panels, administrative agencies and mediators. He also appears frequently before the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Illinois and New York appellate courts. To more effectively counsel his clients and represent their interests, Lou has complemented his litigation skills with a growing expertise in the business, financial and real estate areas.
Matthew S. Miller (Principal, Litigation & Dispute Resolution) has a unique practice that combines significant litigation experience with a substantial general counsel practice. Matt has successfully tried cases before judges and juries in federal and state courts. He has also helped clients achieve favorable decisions through mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and often assists clients in resolving disputes out of court or avoiding disputes altogether. In addition to his significant courtroom experience, Matt serves as general counsel to high-net-worth individuals and closely held companies, providing them with legal and business guidance on all matters.
Cassandra M. Crane (Associate, Litigation & Dispute Resolution) represents clients in a broad range of commercial litigation matters. Casey has represented individuals and corporations in state and federal courts in cases involving fiduciary duty, breach of contract and employment disputes.
Joseph M. Martin (Associate, Business & Finance) advises clients in a range of commercial finance matters, including a wide variety of loan facilities such as cash-flow loans, asset-based loans and cross-border facilities. Joe represents financial institutions that provide financing for leveraged buy-outs; and assists agents and individual lenders with the syndication of loan facilities, including drafting and negotiating agreements among lenders. He also represents lenders with respect to troubled loans, including forbearance agreements and the restructuring of credit facilities.
Jeanna M. Palmer (Associate, Business & Finance) counsels clients on a range of business and commercial issues, with an emphasis on transactional and regulatory matters for health care providers and general corporate services. Jeanna provides guidance regarding anti-kickback and self-referral laws and regulations, as well as general health care compliance and administrative issues. In addition, she has experience in the areas of physician privileging, gainsharing programs and the review of medical staff bylaws.
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