Illinois

Winston Opens in Asia, Expands in D.C. With Heller Lawyers

Chicago-based Winston & Strawn is planning to expand its practice significantly, with the help of attorneys from the dissolving Heller Ehrman law firm. “Pending local regulatory approval in mainland China and Hong Kong, Winton & Strawn plans to open offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, with several partners, associates…

Nov 7, 2008 4:51 PM CST

Seyfarth Shaw Chairman Tight-Lipped About Merger Talks

The chairman of Chicago-based Seyfarth Shaw says he wants to keep growing the law firm, but he won’t comment on reports that one of the options is to merge with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. Seyfarth Shaw has been through three mergers since 2000, the National Law Journal reports, and is…

Nov 6, 2008 5:42 PM CST

Man Guilty of Fatal 1980 Hit-and-Run Now Faces Murder Case in Same Death

In 1980, Ronald Rice stood before a judge in suburban Chicago and apologized for hiding the body of an 11-year-old boy that he accidentally hit with his car. He was sentenced to 6 months in the hit-and-run case. But today Cook County officials said that was far from the full…

Oct 29, 2008 6:20 PM CDT

Landlords Fear Law Firm Layoffs

Associates aren’t the only professionals fearing law firm layoffs. The idea also troubles landlords, who rely on law firms to pay top dollar for office space that offers technology upgrades and flexible floor design. In Chicago, firms are willing to pay more than $50 a square foot, compared to average…

Oct 28, 2008 1:23 PM CDT

Judge Orders Ungaretti & Harris to Give Up Bankruptcy Fee

A federal judge in Chicago has ordered Ungaretti & Harris to disgorge more than $376,000 in bankruptcy fees because it failed to get periodic approval for the interim payments. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said Ungaretti should have filed interim fee applications with the bankruptcy court every 120 days, but…

Oct 24, 2008 2:31 PM CDT

Neo-Nazi Charged with Threatening Federal Juror

Federal grand jurors have indicted a white supremacist in Virginia on charges that he posted the identity of a juror and urged others to cause him harm. William White, 31, is expected to be tried in Chicago. The underlying trial, of which the targeted juror was foreman, involved World Church…

Oct 22, 2008 8:56 PM CDT

Ex-Police Cmdr. Arrested in ‘80s Torture Cases

Long the center of allegations that he was involved in the torture and mistreatment of criminal suspects, former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge is facing charges. Burge, 60, was arrested this morning at his retirement home near Tampa, Fla., on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, the Chicago Sun-Times…

Oct 21, 2008 6:52 PM CDT

Lawyer Called ‘Poster Boy for Capital Litigation Abuse’ Appointed to New Case

An Illinois lawyer described as “the poster boy for capital litigation abuse” has been appointed to a new death penalty case. Defense lawyer John Paul Carroll billed the state of Illinois more than $2 million for the defense of an accused child killer, including the time it took him to…

Oct 20, 2008 1:12 PM CDT

Reversing Course, Illinois Sheriff Will Evict Residents of Foreclosures

After making media waves throughout the country with an unusual refusal to enforce court eviction orders in mortgage foreclosure cases last week, the sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, has backed down. Assured that new procedures would be implemented to protect innocent tenants from being evicted because their landlord hadn’t paid…

Oct 16, 2008 10:57 PM CDT

Katten Lays Off 21 Attorneys, Sonnenschein Lays Off 24

As economic turmoil continues, two well-known Chicago-based international law firms have confirmed that they are laying off attorneys. After reports earlier this week that Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal has laid off some lawyers, both it and Katten Muchin Rosenman have confirmed attorney departures. Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal has laid off…

Oct 16, 2008 7:33 PM CDT

Judge Orders Shutdown of Huge Spam Ring Accused of Selling Viagra

A federal judge in Chicago has issued a temporary injunction barring operations of a huge spam network that is accused of selling the active ingredient in Viagra in a pill touted for male enhancement. The operation may have been responsible for sending billions of illegal spam messages, the Federal Trade…

Oct 15, 2008 2:00 PM CDT

Courts in Chicago Struggle to Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Victims of domestic violence in Chicago have a special court at which they can seek help. But, suffering from staff shortages and a deluge of cases, it doesn’t work as well as those who created it nearly 25 years ago hoped it would. Fewer than 1 in 5 of the…

Oct 10, 2008 11:03 PM CDT

We Won’t Evict Unless You Do Your Job, Illinois Sheriff Tells Lenders

In an unusual act of rebellion against an apparent defect in a number of foreclosure cases, the sheriff of Cook County has made national headlines this week by saying his officers wouldn’t enforce court orders and evict occupants of foreclosed homes in and around Chicago until lenders could prove that…

Oct 10, 2008 4:42 PM CDT

Bank of America to Modify Countrywide Mortgages in $8.6B Deal

Bank of America will agree to modify loan terms, where possible, for up to 390,000 borrowers who took out subprime loans serviced by Countrywide in a deal that could be worth more than $8.6 billion, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. The deal, expected to be announced today, would…

Oct 6, 2008 1:24 PM CDT

Jenner & Block: Profits Will Rise in 2008

Managing partner Susan Levy of Chicago-based Jenner & Block has predicted her firm will see both revenues and profits rise this year, despite the Wall Street crisis. Revenues and profits are up so far this year, compared to the same period in 2007, she told partners and associates in separate…

Oct 3, 2008 5:33 PM CDT