Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is excited to announce that experienced law firm leader Kimberly Nega has joined the firm as its first chief administrative officer (CAO). In this new role, Nega will leverage both her extensive knowledge of law firm operations and her innate ability to bring out the best in the people and processes to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the firm’s day-to-day functions and align individual and team efforts with strategic organizational goals.
Michelle Schadler, Chuhak & Tecson’s chief operating officer, says that Nega brings with her the kind of leadership approach that fits perfectly into the firm’s #OneFirm philosophy.
“Kim is a natural consensus builder who knows how to break down silos, raise people up and drive positive change in a way that gets enthusiastic buy-in from all constituencies,” Schadler says. “She has been immersed in law firm culture her entire career, so she understands what makes a firm tick and knows what it takes to get a large, diverse group of legal professionals all pulling in the same direction. I think Kim’s efforts here will help drive our business strategy efforts to transform our support structure.”
Those efforts will involve an expansive portfolio of responsibilities that extend across a broad spectrum of Chuhak & Tecson’s personnel and processes. Nega’s multifaceted role includes managing many high-level human resources functions such as employee benefits and relations, systems, compliance and non-attorney performance, as well as overseeing other support services including recruiting, facilities, office services and secretarial services.
Nega says that her enthusiasm about the opportunity to join Chuhak & Tecson reflects her appreciation of how the firm values and treats its people and its commitment to helping them grow and thrive.
“Effective law firm leadership isn’t a top-down proposition. It comes from recognizing the value of what each person brings to the table and how important it is that they feel heard, supported and respected,” she says. “When that is the case, as it is here, it gives people a sense of personal investment in the firm’s success and makes process improvement that much more impactful.”
Prior to joining Chuhak & Tecson, Kim served as chief human resources officer and legal support & professional personnel manager at two other major Chicago law firms. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from DePaul University and holds a Professional Certification and Strategic Professional Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.
This July, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. proudly celebrates the 15th anniversary of its industry-leading Condominium & Common Interest Community Association practice group. Though this is a significant and noteworthy milestone, the firm’s condo and Homeowners Association (HOA) attorneys have been providing steady guidance, clear direction and innovative resources for boards throughout Chicagoland for over five decades. During that time, the firm has established itself as counsel of choice for associations of all sizes on day-to-day issues and long-term strategic challenges alike.
Practice leader and Chuhak & Tecson principal David Bloomberg says that the firm’s establishment of a standalone group in 2010 was a reflection not only of the consistent expansion of its condo and HOA representation but also of the sophistication of its work and the intuitive understanding its attorneys have regarding the unique needs and perspectives of board members.
“I think what makes this group special is the way we meet clients where they are, recognizing that board members are volunteering to serve their communities with the best intentions but may lack the knowledge or background to address the legal, financial and interpersonal complexities involved in their roles,” Bloomberg says. “As such, we focus on ensuring that our counsel is practical, actionable and straightforward. Board members get the benefits of our experience and insights but without the jargon or legalese.”
Chuhak & Tecson’s Condominium & Common Interest Community Association practice group provides full-spectrum representation to condo and HOA boards throughout Chicagoland, whether those boards serve a handful of owners or are responsible for governing a high-rise with scores of units. Working seamlessly and collaboratively with boards, the firm’s attorneys answer legal questions as to operations and governance, prepare and review declarations and bylaw amendments, negotiate contracts, develop effective approaches to enforcing an association’s rules and regulations in a timely and efficient manner and analyze insurance policies and coverage. The group also helps new associations transition from developer-controlled boards to those controlled by owners, and consults with boards on how best to meet projected expenditures by borrowing, using reserve funds or levying special assessments. If borrowing is in order, the group has extensive experience navigating the lending process as well as relationships with Chicago-area lenders that focus on loans to associations.
Those relationships reflect both the long-standing presence and well-earned reputation of the firm’s condo and HOA attorneys, Bloomberg says, and is a big part of what makes the group so effective.
“Whether with our clients or our partners in the industry, we put a premium on forging enduring and close working partnerships,” he says. “This allows us to meet our clients’ needs quickly and efficiently while also providing them with resources and trusted guidance they can access with one phone call.”
Bloomberg notes that the group excels at guiding boards through some of the thornier issues that arise in association governance, including disputes with or between unit owners, discrimination claims and delinquent assessments.
“These issues can be both costly and disruptive for the whole community and put board members in really uncomfortable positions with the neighbors they serve, he says. “We strive to relieve them of those burdens with effective dispute resolution approaches as well as our unique, low-cost and turnkey assessment collection procedure. At its core, our job is to make their jobs easier.”
Chuhak & Tecson congratulates all of the talented attorneys in the Condominium & Common Interest Community Association practice group on this noteworthy anniversary.
Over the past 60 years, thousands of attorneys throughout Chicagoland have dedicated their time and efforts on a pro bono basis to Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) and its mission to help people working or living in poverty get access to quality legal representation and services that are all too often beyond their reach. Two of those dedicated lawyers – Chuhak & Tecson’s Missy Turk Firmage and Nicholas Zausch – were recently recognized by CVLS for their years of commitment, compassion and hard work serving as guardians ad litem and protecting the rights, health and well-being of minors and disabled adults.
At an event on June 18, 2025, both Firmage and Zausch will be inducted into CVLS’ 2025 Honor Roll. This distinction recognizes volunteers who have dedicated themselves to providing pro bono services to low-income clients.
Lindsey Paige Markus, leader of Chuhak & Tecson’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice group, says that the award is more than well-deserved and reflects both lawyers’ steadfast determination to ensure that those most vulnerable to abuse, exploitation or harm can avail themselves of the protections provided by the legal system.
“Missy and Nick are extraordinary attorneys not just because of the quality of their work, but also because they are so passionate about that work,” Markus says. “In their practice and in their pro bono efforts, they both demonstrate extraordinary empathy and genuine, deeply felt concern for those they represent. We are so proud of them and all they do and contribute to make lives better for others in their community.”
Firmage, whose private trust and estate practice involves a significant amount of guardianship work, serves CVLS clients as a guardian ad litem for minors, often in situations involving serious abuse and neglect allegations. She also serves as Third Chair on CVLS’ Associate Board and has served on the board for the past several years.
Zausch, an experienced probate practitioner, acts in a guardian ad litem capacity for adult CVLS clients while also providing counsel on matters involving estate planning, complex estate litigation and estate tax.
CVLS is the first and pre-eminent pro bono civil legal aid provider in Chicago, leveraging the time and talents of more than 2,300 volunteer attorneys to deliver the most comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective civil legal aid in Chicago.
Chuhak & Tecson congratulates Firmage and Zausch on their induction into the CVLS Honor Roll and for all of the work they do, year in and year out, to ensure that underserved individuals and families in Chicago receive the counsel and support they need and deserve.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. proudly announces that Christina M. Mermigas has been elevated to equity principal of the firm. Her elevation reflects her professional accomplishments and leadership within the firm as well as the deep sense of commitment, empathy and humanity she brings to her work. Mermigas serves as an exemplar of Chuhak & Tecson’s “Right there with you” maxim, standing side-by-side with her clients wherever their personal and business journeys take them.
Lindsey Paige Markus, equity principal and leader of the firm’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice, says that in addition to her sound judgment, sophistication and actionable counsel on estate planning and administration, asset protection and corporate matters, Mermigas’ success can be attributed to something far more intangible but of equal, if not more, importance to the clients she serves.
“The relationships and bonds Christina forges with her clients really transcend attorney-client,” Markus says. “She just has this way about her that instills not only trust and confidence in her guidance, but also a deep sense of comfort and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that there is someone so genuinely invested in your well-being and your dreams for the future.”
Licensed in both Florida and Illinois, Christina represents individual and business clients in estate planning, business succession planning and the administration of estates and trusts, including Florida probate matters. She prepares individually crafted estate planning documents, including revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney and other estate planning vehicles for clients with modest estates as well as high-net-worth clients with large, complex portfolios. Christina also develops and implements comprehensive and thoughtful estate and asset protection plans, including trust funding approaches, that achieve a client’s business and personal goals, such as probate avoidance and estate tax minimization.
A seasoned corporate lawyer as well, Christina works with business owners on both day-to-day matters and long-term strategic goals. She has extensive experience representing clients in all phases of a business’ life cycle, including entity formation, restructuring and reorganization, the sale of stock or assets and the transition of ownership and management. Christina also provides counsel on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder and buy-sell agreements and the development and maintenance of corporate governance.
Not only is Mermigas’ elevation more than well-deserved, Markus says, but it is also a source of pride that another woman attorney is joining the firm’s ranks of equity principals.
“Having Christina at the table along with myself and our other women equity principals reflects our ever-increasing contributions to the firm’s success as well as the firm’s commitment to ensuring that a diversity of voices and perspectives are included in its strategic decision-making,” she says.
Mermigas has been frequently recognized by her peers for her professional excellence and is actively involved in the firm’s operations and management, having served as a member of the firm’s Strategy Development Committee and as chair of the Associate/Law Clerk Oversight Committee. She currently serves as an ambassador of Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women program.
Lindsey Paige Markus, shareholder and leader of Chuhak & Tecson’s 25-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice, presented an important and informative program titled “Not all Trusts are Created Equal – Proactive Estate Planning Strategies to Minimize Estate and Income Tax” on May 1, 2025, to members and guests of the Lake County Planning Council at the Lake Forest Club, 554 N. Westmoreland Road, Lake Forest, IL.
Navigating the estate tax landscape requires meticulous and proactive planning at both the state and federal levels. Those in attendance learned how not all plans are created equal… and not all trusts are created equal. Subtle modifications in funding and drafting trusts can have a material impact on estate tax savings. In addition, attendees learned how annual lifetime gifts can be used to leverage wealth transfer and translate into millions of dollars of estate tax savings at the federal and state levels.
Markus has been widely recognized in countless publications, has appeared on local television shows and has a national practice. She is the author of A Gift for the Future – Conversations About Estate Planning, which has been a #1 Best Seller on Amazon in Legal Self-Help and a #1 New Release in several categories.
The Lake County Planning Council is part of a national network of 275 estate planning councils across the country as a member of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, an organization dedicated to providing resources and education to the estate planning profession.
May is National Elder Law Month — an excellent opportunity for elder law attorneys to educate and advocate for older persons, persons with disabilities and their families. Elder Law attorneys handle a wide range of legal matters affecting older persons and persons with disabilities, including issues related to healthcare, long-term care planning, guardianship, retirement, Social Security, Medicaid, veterans needs and so many other important matters that must be considered today to ensure better and enjoyable future years.
Elder law attorneys address critical issues facing our aging population and individuals with disabilities, many of whom are unable to speak for themselves. Elder law attorneys are trained and have the sensitivities needed to help their clients find a sense of peace during life-altering moments of crisis, such as losing a loved one, being faced with unforeseen health problems, experiencing family strife or planning for expensive long-term care.
Chuhak & Tecson is proud to acknowledge its experienced team of elder law attorneys, including two Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA), Christine Barone and Mallory Moreno. According to the National Elder Law Foundation, there are only 13 CELAs in Illinois currently. Our elder law attorneys focus their practices in adult guardianships, both contested and non-contested, estate and trust administration and litigation, including financial exploitation, will and trust matters, fiduciary disputes, issues of capacity, powers of attorney, undue influence, financial exploitation and fraud. A large portion of their practices is also dedicated to long-term care planning, Medicaid, Medicaid appeals, estate planning, special needs planning and disability law.
“We are living in an unprecedented time,” said Mallory Moreno, principal and leader of the Elder Law practice group at Chuhak & Tecson. “For the first time in U.S. history, it is projected that by the year 2034 the number of individuals aged 65 and older will outnumber individuals ages 18 and younger. This means that it is more important than ever to consider all that elder law provides to an ever-aging population, from estate planning, disability planning, long-term care needs, Medicare, retirement and Social Security to crisis and postmortem planning. Especially now, as families face uncertainties with their futures, their benefits, their housing, and their care, Elder Law is only becoming more vital in households across the country.”
An elder law attorney will provide you with guidance and support on any of the above concerns. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of Chuhak & Tecson’s skilled and knowledgeable elder law attorneys.
Elder law attorneys at Chuhak & Tecson, Christine A. Barone (312 855 4348)l; Bryan M. Montana (312 855 6105)l; Mallory A. Moreno, (312 855 4317; Olive Wassen, (312 855 6419).
This Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. communication is intended only to provide information regarding developments in the law and information of general interest. It is not intended to constitute advice regarding legal problems and should not be relied upon as such.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is pleased to announce that Stephanie M. Berardi has joined the firm as an associate in the Trust Administration & Litigation practice.
Stephanie focuses her practice on trust and estate controversies, business succession disputes and guardianship administration and has substantial experience rigorously representing clients at all stages of complex litigation including, but not limited to, matters involving will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, breach of contract claims, financial exploitation claims, and other related disputes.
Lindsey Paige Markus, leader of the firm’s 25-attorney Trusts & Estates practice group added, “We are thrilled to have Stephanie, a dynamic and energetic attorney, join our great Trust & Estate’s team. I am confident that she will grow and thrive and that our group and firm will benefit from extraordinary skills in complex litigation.”
She appreciates how her counsel and advocacy can make a significant difference in the lives of her clients as they face challenging decisions. She approaches her practice with empathy and creativity, consistently exploring multiple avenues and strategies to provide the best possible solutions for her clients. Stephanie recognizes the emotional weight of matters involving family, aging, illness and death and takes pride in offering compassionate and thoughtful guidance to clients during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
Stephanie received her B.A. degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in political science and communications and leadership studies and her J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. proudly announces that Robert (Bobby) Strauss has joined the firm as a principal. A talented dealmaker and trusted business counselor, Strauss brings equal measures of dollars-and-cents analytics, meticulous attention to detail and creative and entrepreneurial big-picture thinking to his work on a wide range of corporate, real estate finance, healthcare and banking matters.
Strauss represents national, regional and community banks and private lenders in lending transactions and also regularly serves as outside general counsel to family-held businesses and entrepreneurs. While Strauss’s 25 years of vast experience extends across multiple industries, he is particularly well-versed in the representation of healthcare providers and practices, including physicians, dentists and related oral health specialists and veterinarians.
Firm president Mitch Weinstein says that he is excited to introduce Strauss to the firm’s clients because of the unique combination of talents and perspectives he brings to the table.
“It is a well-worn cliché that lawyers and numbers supposedly don’t mix. You can’t say that about Bobby,” Weinstein says. “What makes him special is that he complements his mathematical and scientific background with an innate understanding of how and why deals get done or fall apart. Bobby can quickly identify the bottom-line upsides and downsides of a transaction while also leveraging his impressive dealmaking instincts to get all stakeholders pulling in the same direction.”
For his part, Strauss expresses equivalent enthusiasm about joining Chuhak & Tecson, seeing not only an alignment between the substance of his practice and the firm’s service offerings but also a shared perspective on how to counsel and serve clients.
“Between its extensive capabilities in financial services, corporate, real estate matters and healthcare law, the firm is just a natural fit for me and what I do,” Strauss says. “But what sealed the deal for me was the way the attorneys here approach their work. It is a palpable sense of commitment to do right by their clients and a determination to get them to where they want to be, whatever that takes. They also happen to have that rare combination of professional and personable that makes it a joy to work here.”
You can learn more about Strauss and his background and experience https://www.chuhak.com/our-people/robert-bobby-s-strauss/.
Setting an example, leading the way and guiding those who follow in her footsteps are all second nature for Loretto Kennedy. As the oldest of 10 kids, she has served as a de facto mentor, teacher and cheerleader for others her entire life. While Loretto’s nine siblings may think of her as just their loving big sister rather than a “hero,” countless others won’t hesitate to apply that label to the accomplished attorney, principal and general counsel at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. That’s because Loretto has spent decades putting her heart and soul, time and effort into helping young people learn, grow and thrive.
In recognition of just one of her many such endeavors, Loretto has recently been honored by Lawyers Lend-a-Hand to Youth as the recipient of their annual “My Hero Award,” bestowed upon attorneys for their contribution to tutoring and mentoring programs. The award will be presented during the organization’s 2025 Spring Awards Celebration on Thursday, April 3, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago.
Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth channels the legal community’s resources to promote one-on-one mentoring and tutoring programs to support Chicago youth. It is honoring Loretto this year for her more than 10 years of service as a “Mentor Angel” at Imerman Angels, which provides free one-to-one support to cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.
Through its unique matching process, Imerman Angels connects individuals seeking cancer support with a “Mentor Angel” — a cancer survivor or caregiver who is as similar as possible in age, gender and, most importantly, cancer experience. The service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.
In addition to the mentoring and support she provides to Chicago youth and those impacted by cancer, Loretto also manifests her prodigious sense of service through her work raising up women in the legal profession. Loretto was a founding member of and continues to be a driving force behind Chuhak & Tecson’s award-winning Women Helping Women program. For more than 15 years, this groundbreaking initiative, designed exclusively by women, for women, has fostered professional empowerment and strengthened bonds among women professionals while partnering with nonprofit organizations to provide resources and expand opportunities for women throughout Chicagoland.
Chuhak & Tecson congratulates Loretto for her well-deserved honor as a recipient of the “My Hero Award” and are proud of all that she has done to help others overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. She is our hero as well.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is proud to congratulate Janet Wagner, principal and member of the firm’s Financial Services practice, who has been named co-chair of the newly formed Chicago Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Committee. The first meeting of the committee will be March 27 at 12:15 p.m. via webcast.
The mission of the committee is to educate and to raise awareness of issues relating to domestic violence and abuse, which may include initiating legislation and other laws intended to strengthen the legal consequences, both criminal and civil, of domestic violence acts as well as educating practitioners, judges and other legal professionals involved in domestic relations and criminal law. The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) held a Domestic Violence conference in 2024 and on-demand session recordings on a range of important and informative topics from the conference can be accessed at Learn.ChicagoBar.org. CLE credit is available. There is a fee for members and non-members.
Wagner focuses her practice on transactions in the banking, corporate and real estate areas. With her comprehensive knowledge of all phases of a loan or credit transaction, she offers solutions to problems but also provides analysis of the issue. Wagner is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA). Formed in 1974, ACMA is comprised of lawyers in North America who are authorities in mortgage law.
In addition to her financial services practice, Wagner is committed to advocating on behalf of domestic violence and abuse victims, their suffering and the devastating consequences of domestic violence and abuse through education and the application and utilization of the law.