News from the Firm
Norman B. Newman Named Chapter President for
Turnaround Management Association
Norman B. Newman, Chair of the firm's Bankruptcy, Reorganization & Creditors' Rights practice group, has been named President of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). His term runs through December 31, 2008.
For the majority of his 32 years in legal practice, Norm has focused on bankruptcy and related matters, representing debtors, creditors, creditors' committees and bankruptcy trustees in all phases of proceedings under the Bankruptcy Code. He has extensive experience in handling reorganizations, in-court and out-of-court loan workouts, creditor compositions, and liquidations and assignments for the benefit of creditors. Norm has also served as bankruptcy trustee in a number of significant cases and is a member of the Private Panel of Trustees for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
"The energy and enthusiasm of all the TMA chapters have fueled the forward momentum and growth of TMA International,” said TMA’s 2008 Chairman William E. J. Skelly. “The Chicago/Midwest Chapter is known for its innovations in education that have become models for other chapters and for its outstanding networking events. Mr. Newman will become part of the legacy of strong leaders since the chapter's formation in 1990. We look forward to his sharing his expertise as he serves on the TMA International Board of Directors during 2008.”
With approximately 1,100 members, TMA's Chicago/Midwest Chapter is the largest and one of the most active in the country. TMA is the only international nonprofit association dedicated to corporate renewal and turnaround management. With international headquarters in Chicago, the organization’s 8,000 members in 43 regional chapters (including nearly 15 outside the United States) comprise a professional community of turnaround practitioners, attorneys, accountants, investors, lenders, venture capitalists, appraisers, liquidators, executive recruiters and consultants. For more information, visit www.turnaround.org.
Firm Receives Pro Bono Service Award
Much Shelist received the 2007 Outstanding Service Award from the Grandfamilies Program of Chicago in recognition of pro bono work the firm did for this nonprofit organization. Referred through the Community Economic Development Law Project (CEDLP), David A. Alman, Vice Chair of the Business & Finance practice group, provided the Grandfamilies Program with general business advice and reviewed and drafted various contracts the organization uses in its operations, including consulting agreements with service providers and an engagement letter for use when connecting grandfamilies seeking affordable housing with property owners who are willing and able to provide it.
The Grandfamilies Program was founded in 2003 to provide resources and services for grandparents raising grandchildren in the Chicagoland area. For more information, visit www.grandfamilieschicago.org.
Firm Names Winner of Much Shelist Founders' Award
On Thursday, January 31, the Sun-Times Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program held its annual grants reception at the Chicago Bar Association headquarters. Representatives from the firm were on hand to present the $7,000 Much Shelist Founders' Award to Hermosa Community Organization. Created in 2005 to recognize an up-and-coming tutor/mentor program that has been in existence for five years or less, the annual grant was named in honor of the firm's five founders. During Thursday’s event, Lend-a-Hand distributed more than 30 grants to Chicago-area tutor/mentor agencies totaling $240,000.
Hermosa Community Organization, located in the Pilsen neighborhood, is a five-year-old agency that serves the Hispanic and African American communities with one-on-one mentoring activities, including self-development workshops, recreational activities, tutoring and cultural events. Other finalists for the Much Shelist Founders’ Award included the Southeast Chicago Development Commission and the Latino Education Alliance.
For more information on Lend-a-Hand and the firm's involvement with this worthwhile organization, visit www.lend-a-hand.net or view the 2005 press release.
Attorneys on the Speaking Circuit
Joseph D. Ament (Principal, Business & Finance) will present “Hedge Funds: Taxation and Other Related Current Financial Issues” during the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences 15th Annual Meeting, February 21-24 in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.asbbs.org.
James D. O’Connell (Special Counsel, Business & Finance) will speak on “HIPAA Portability, Privacy and Security” on April 25 at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center. The four-day seminar—which also includes sessions on 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, ERISA compliance and other topics—is offered by the Employee Benefits Institute of America. For more information, visit www.ebia.com.
Neil B. Posner (Principal, Litigation & Dispute Resolution) will speak at the annual seminar of the ABA's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee in Tucson, Arizona, on February 29. His topic is “When Is the Enemy of My Enemy My Friend? Ethical and Practical Considerations in the Tripartite Relationship.” He will also deliver an “Update on Insurance Issues in Illinois” at a Lorman Education Services seminar on March 5 in Countrywide, Illinois. On May 13, Neil will speak on “Notice and Prejudice in Occurrence and Claims Made Insurance Policies” during a nationwide teleconference sponsored by the Young Lawyers Subcommittee of the ABA’s Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee.
Attorneys Take the Lead in Charitable Organizations
David T. Brown (Chair, Management Committee) has been named Chair of the Government Affairs Committee of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. As the largest not-for-profit social welfare institution in Illinois, the JUF/Foundation provides critical resources that bring food, refuge, health care, education and emergency assistance to 300,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and 2 million Jews around the world.
Jonna Daleiden Eimer (Special Counsel, Business & Finance) serves on the North Shore Medical Research Junior Board (NSMRJB), founded in 1996 to raise funds for pediatric research to help ensure a healthy and productive future for the next generation. Jonna has also been elected as the NSMRJB’s Legal Liaison and Secretary.
Michael R. Wolfe (Principal, Real Estate) has been named to the Executive Committee of Four Stars of Chicago, which produces an annual fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the largest center in the United States for the treatment and research of catastrophic childhood diseases.
Much Shelist Distributes First Electronic Holiday Greeting,
Makes Donations to Three Environmental Organizations
In December 2007, Much Shelist broke from tradition and distributed its first-ever electronic holiday greeting to clients and friends of the firm. In keeping with an ongoing commitment to "reduce, reuse, recycle," the firm chose to create an electronic greeting that communicates the joy of the season through words, images and music—all without the environmental impact caused by producing a large number of printed cards and envelopes. Additionally, the firm made donations to three environmental organizations dedicated to preserving air, water and trees: Arbor Day Foundation, Clean Air Counts and Orange County Coastkeeper.
To view the 2007 Much Shelist holiday message, please click here.
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