Illinois

As Howrey Hemorrhages, Observers Speculate re Possible Debt Issues, Winston Exposure

After news yesterday and today that Winston & Strawn reportedly has made offers to most of Howrey’s remaining partners and another five are headed to Morgan Lewis & Bockius, observers say both those remaining at the firm and those who have already left face potential liability for the firm’s likely…

Feb 2, 2011 10:24 PM CST

11 Howrey Lawyers Jump to Morgan Lewis in Latest Round of Defections

Morgan Lewis & Bockius has acquired 11 lawyers from Howrey, including the managing partner of Howrey’s Chicago office, IP lawyer David Clough. In Chicago, Morgan Lewis also picked up the chairman of Howrey’s consumer class-action defense group, Kenneth Kliebard, along with litigator Scott Schutte and two associates, according to The…

Feb 2, 2011 1:56 PM CST

Law Prof Nominates Imprisoned Gov. for Nobel Peace Prize, Sees Message in No. 167

Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. George Ryan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for halting executions in the state, according to a University of Illinois law professor who nominated him for the honor. Francis Boyle is allowed to make nominations for the prize because he is an international law professor, according to…

Feb 2, 2011 1:17 PM CST

Staffers Working 24/7 at Mayer Brown During the Blizzard

At least one Chicago law firm was ready for the blizzard. At Mayer Brown, “We’re a 24-hour operation,” says Bob Harris, director of public relations. “Closing down has an impact on the firm’s offices around the world, because several of our administrative departments are centralized here, such as conflicts and…

Feb 2, 2011 11:30 AM CST

Chief Judge Now Says Cook County Courts Will Be Closed Wednesday Due to Blizzard

Updated: A blizzard that could dump as much as 2 feet of snow on the Chicago area initially wasn’t going to close the county’s courts. A press release issued by Chief Judge Timothy Evans said he expected all Cook County courts to be open on Wednesday. However, as the storm…

Feb 1, 2011 7:26 PM CST

Hours After Appeal Filing, Top Ill. Court Rules Emanuel Stays on Ballot, Rebukes Appellate Panel

Capping an action-packed appellate week for the Illinois courts, Chicago election officials and a well-known city mayoral candidate, the state’s top court has just ruled—little more than 48 hours after an appeal was filed Tuesday—that former White House aide Rahm Emanuel will stay on the ballot. In a sharp rebuke…

Jan 28, 2011 12:19 AM CST

Ex-Top Chicago Cop Accused in Widespread Alleged Torture of Suspects Keeps $3K Per Month Pension

A former Chicago police commander who is accused of having played a leading role in widespread torture of minority suspects decades ago will be able to keep his $3,000-a-month pension. Five of the eight police pension board members would have had to side against Jon Burge to deny him his…

Jan 27, 2011 7:00 PM CST

Rejecting Possible Merger, Winston & Strawn Now Seeks to Recruit Howrey Lawyers, Crain’s Says

After exploring a possible merger with Howrey that was doomed by potential practice conflicts and an ongoing attorney exodus, Winston & Strawn is seeking to recruit some Howrey lawyers individually, reports Crain’s Chicago Business. The article, which relies on unidentified “industry sources” and “a person familiar with the situation” says…

Jan 26, 2011 2:47 AM CST

Chicago Fan Wears Packers Tie to Work on Monday and Is Fired

John Stone says it didn’t occur to him that wearing a Green Bay Packers tie to work on Monday could get him fired. The 34-year-old Chicago car salesman wore it in honor of his grandmother, who reportedly died this month and was also a fan of the Wisconsin football team.…

Jan 26, 2011 1:39 AM CST

Rahm Emanuel Back on Ballot for Chicago Mayor’s Race; Ill. Supreme Court Stays Appellate Ruling

Developing: After a brief setback yesterday, when an Illinois appellate court ruled that he could not run for Chicago mayor this year because he doesn’t meet residency requirements, Rahm Emanuel is back on the ballot. The Illinois Supreme Court today stayed the appellate court’s order yesterday that Emanuel cannot be…

Jan 25, 2011 7:09 PM CST

Unemployed Editor-in-Chief of Chicago-Kent Law Review Blames Book Author, Gets Job-Hunt Help

Updated: In the latest sign of the dismal legal market for new law graduates, the editor-in-chief of the Chicago-Kent Law Review for 2009-2010 is still looking for work. Interviewing, volunteering, applying for clerkships and surfing the Internet for job listings has so far failed to put him in an entry-level…

Jan 24, 2011 11:11 PM CST

Divided Appeals Court Nixes Ex-Obama Aide’s Bid to Run for Chicago Mayor; He’s Not a City Resident

Updated: After two lower-level wins, a former top aide to President Barack Obama was booted from the ballot for the upcoming Chicago mayor’s race, as a divided Illinois appellate court panel today held that Rahm Emanuel did not meet a required one-year residency requirement. This is not expected to be…

Jan 24, 2011 6:41 PM CST

Ex-Chicago Police Commander Accused of Torturing Suspects Gets 4.5 Years for Perjury

“[A]s unrepentant during his sentencing hearing as he was during his trial,” a former Chicago police commander notorious for his claimed role in widespread torture of minority suspects that led to multiple wrongful convictions decades ago was sentenced today for perjury, writes columnist Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Sun-Times. Jon…

Jan 22, 2011 1:10 AM CST

Doc Who Served as Court Liaison Is Criminally Charged for Alleged Sex with Patient

A longtime psychologist at a government-run mental health facility in suburban Chicago has been criminally charged after allegedly persuading a 45-year-old female patient to have sex by telling her he could continue to keep her confined, there or elsewhere, if she did not comply. Dr. Robert Eizinga, 66, is charged…

Jan 21, 2011 6:01 PM CST

Jenner Leader Jerold Solovy, ‘Fierce Litigator with the Heart of a Public Servant,’ Dies at Age 80

Jerold Solovy, a renowned Jenner & Block leader celebrated for his litigation and boardroom skills, his pro bono representation of prison inmates and the unfailing charm and courtesy with which he treated everyone from the titans of industry to elevator and newsstand operators, died suddenly yesterday morning at his home…

Jan 20, 2011 6:14 PM CST