Paralegals

Sarah Allam

312 855 6103
sallam@chuhak.com

Sarah supports the Banking and Real Estate groups. Her areas of experience include closing complex commercial financing and lending transactions. She drafts documents for commercial real estate transactions, prepares for status calls and reviews diligence items for closings including, but not limited to, title work, surveys, zoning and environmental reports, organizational documents and certificates and leases. Sarah assists the Estate Planning group with their real estate transfer matters. She also assists the Corporate & Transactions group with drafting entity certificates and organizational documents as well as filing annual reports and forming new entities.

Sarah enjoys the fast-paced transaction and closing environment and the rewarding feeling of completing complex transactions and deals. She acknowledges that there is always an opportunity for her to learn and grow that will benefit the firm and its clients, which is very gratifying and motivating.

Her early experience working as a real estate title agent and closing manager exposed her to a variety of deals and high work volume, providing her with a deeper view and a solid foundation in real estate transactions. She has lived in three countries and has two undergraduate degrees in different fields and received her B.A. degree in Communication and Psychology from George Mason University in Virginia.

When away from the office, Sarah is quite busy swimming, playing squash, working out, reading, hiking, coding, playing the guitar, travelling, crocheting and baking.
 

Laura Barefield

312 855 4366
lbarefield@chuhak.com

As the paralegal in charge of conflict analysis and risk assessment, Laura assists all practice groups and is responsible for upholding the firm’s exceptional standards of ethics, quality, consistency and professionalism in every matter. She diligently pursues and verifies all relevant information required to analyze a potential conflict or assess a level of risk in order to recommend the best course of action for the firm. According to Laura, the law is ever changing; this allows endless opportunities to feed one’s curiosity, improve one’s practice and learn new skills.

Laura has provided legal support to criminal prosecutors, public defenders, judges, corporate litigators and solo practitioners in a range of practice areas in both state and federal courts. Before joining the firm, she was a freelance paralegal providing support in all areas of employment litigation. Laura received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, magna cum laude, her M.A. degree in secondary education from National Louis University, Chicago, IL; and her J.D. from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA.

When she is away from the office, she spends most of her free time with her father, who Laura admits, is her favorite person. Now back in Chicago, after 12 years away, she enjoys catching up with old friends and making new ones any chance she gets.
 

Amy Bhatti

312 855 6127
abhatti@chuhak.com

Amy supports the firm’s Litigation group where she works alongside attorneys during all phases of the litigation process, from the initiation of a case to the discovery period through trial and post-trial findings and appeals. She also aids the group by organizing documents and coordinating document production, obtaining background information and documents regarding disputes, drafting court papers and preparing for and assisting at depositions.

Amy brings to Chuhak & Tecson three years of experience as a litigation paralegal at a Chicago-based law firm, along with skill in project management and 10 years of marketing and advertising management.

Amy earned her paralegal certificate at DePaul University and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and French at Miami University. She is fluent in both the English and French languages. 

Laura Cahill

312 855 4051
lcahill@chuhak.com

Laura supports the firm’s Aviation Litigation & Transactions group where she focuses on aviation data management and trial preparation.

With over 25 years of experience, Laura works closely with aviation attorneys to assist in managing all aspects of litigation support, including preparation of reports, draft motions and pleadings, exhibit and witness preparation, database document management, deposition indexing, legal research and client reports.

Before joining Chuhak & Tecson in 2004, Laura gained valuable experience working as a paralegal at both law and financial services firms. An Illinois Accredited Paralegal, Laura is a member of the Illinois Paralegal Association. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Winona State University.

Catherine “Cat” Hunter

312 855 4335
chunter@chuhak.com

Catherine “Cat” Hunter supports the Trust and Estates Planning and Elder Law practice groups and also assists with Medicaid and VA law. She works with complex matters relating to Medicaid, VA and Elder law, which is often most trying for family members who are seeking to find the help that they need. Cat assists with gathering specific requirements for filing applications and maintaining the assets in order to qualify for coverage -- all while comforting the client through the process. She prides herself on going above and beyond to make the client feel that they have a trusting relationship with her as a paralegal, with their attorney and with our firm. “I want each client to feel like they have a friend at the firm and to know that they can reach out to the firm with the confidence that they will get the assistance they need.”

Cat obtained her B.A. degree from the University of Phoenix and did understudy work at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In her free time, she enjoys summers at the beach with family and friends, hiking at various local parks and traveling with her motorcycle around the country. Cat also spends her time away from the office as the owner of a vintage clothing business where she thrives off the unique connections, old and new, customers and vendors, which creates life-long friends.

Maria Kenigsberg

312 855 5442 
mkenigsberg@chuhak.com

Maria primarily works with the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Business Law group where she handles the formation, maintenance and dissolution of corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies, including the preparation of routine and transaction-specific resolutions, the establishment and maintenance of the corporate database and corporate minute books. 

She has experience preparing and filing annual and franchise tax reports, various IRS forms and handling tax clearance matters. She also worked extensively on the preparation, searching and filing of financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code.

Prior to joining Chuhak & Tecson she worked as a corporate paralegal in large law firms assisting with mergers and acquisition transactions, together with the due diligence necessary for the closing of the transactions. Her prior in-house experiences afforded her the opportunity to become highly skilled in coordinating and preparing documentation for state-specific and global transactions along with legalizing documents for international use.

Maria has been a certified paralegal for over 17 years. She received her Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies and a paralegal certificate from MacCormac College.  

Steven Knor

312 855 4625
sknor@chuhak.com

Steve works primarily with the firm’s Real Estate group where he focuses on all aspects of real estate transactions.

In addition to preparing draft documents and attending real estate closings under the supervision of attorneys, Steve works closely with title and survey companies. He also supports the firm’s Banking group, assisting with foreclosures and deeds in lieu of foreclosures, as well as assisting the Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation groups with real estate transfers.

Steve has 14 years of experience in the sale or purchase of real estate. He received his paralegal certificate from American Institute for Paralegal Studies.

Viridiana Najera

312 855 4058
vnajera@chuhak.com

Vidi works closely with two groups—Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation. She supports attorneys in the initiation, administration and closing of probate estates and guardianships for disabled adults and minors as well as assisting in the implementation of long-term care plans and public benefits applications and appeals.

Administrating a loved one’s estate or going through a guardianship process can be difficult. Vidi’s communication style is evidence of the compassion she feels as she works with clients and their families. Her penchant for details and gaining a full understanding of a client’s goals allows her to garner the confidence of those with whom she works.

The initial driver of Vidi’s career direction was through the knowledge she gained about the estate planning process while working as a legal assistant and paralegal at a midsized law firm that focused on elder law. She became passionate about educating others on the importance of having an estate plan in place. At Chuhak & Tecson, and with the firm’s diverse clientele, being a first-generation immigrant fluent in Spanish is a benefit and comfort to those individuals for whom English may not be a first language.

Vidi obtained her associate’s degree in general studies from Malcolm X College. Her free time is spent with her husband and two sons, enjoying bike rides along the lakefront, or indulging her creative side with at-home arts and crafts projects.
 

Elizabeth O’Loughlin

312 201 3407
eoloughlin@chuhak.com

Liz works with the firm’s Banking and Real Estate groups assisting attorneys in preparing draft documents for residential and commercial closings. She also supports the group by ordering and reviewing minutes of foreclosure, preparing draft settlement agreements and all documents needed for deed in lieu of foreclosure transactions, and coordinating closings for banking and other clients.

Liz has been a certified paralegal since 1987. Prior to joining Chuhak & Tecson, she worked as an in-house paralegal for a mortgage company and property developer. She is a graduate of Roosevelt University’s paralegal studies program and is a member of the Illinois Paralegal Association.
 

Jessica Van Heel

312 855 5445 
jvanheel@chuhak.com

Jessica supports the firm’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation groups. Prior to her current role, she has 14 years experience as a legal assistant at both small and large firms, including several years supporting many of Chuhak & Tecson’s practice groups through legal research, managing client communication, and drafting bankruptcy, foreclosure and building court documents among other responsibilities. Her winning combination of strong communication skills, keen attention to detail, adept problem solving, sense of teamwork and familiarity with the legal process is a huge asset to our attorneys who advise clients on everything from planning estates, to protecting assets, to minimizing taxation, to probate, trust and guardianship matters.

Jessica received her bachelor of arts in English from Northern Illinois University with a minor in Spanish and her paralegal certificate from National Federation of Paralegals Association. When she is not in the office, Jessica enjoys baking, taking dance classes, working on DIY projects and engaging in any activity in which she can express her creativity.

Anne Wiemeyer

312 855 6117
awiemeyer@chuhak.com

As a team member of both the firm’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation practice groups, Anne primarily supports the attorneys in the initiation, administration and closing of probate estates and guardianships. She also assists in a variety of other matters, including contested guardianships, financial exploitation and trust administration.

Prior to joining Chuhak & Tecson, Anne had considerable experience as a paralegal for both small and midsized law firms as well as a legal administrative assistant for the Social Security Administration. She has a strong drive to help those in need and prides herself on having excellent attention to detail, which she has used to benefit clients in matters such as uncovering and marshalling previously unknown assets into estates and tracking the movement of funds in financial exploitation cases. With every matter in which she is assigned, Anne anticipates clients’ long term needs in order to provide them with the best service possible.

Anne obtained her associate’s degree from the City Colleges of Chicago. In her spare time, she enjoys procuring pop culture art with her husband to add to their collection.