Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principals Kimberly T. Boike and Andrew P. Tecson will discuss the “Top Ten Things to Consider in an Affiliation or Merger” at the 2019 LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Attendees will examine strategies for pursuing the right partner, explore how the structure of an affiliation can maximize return for all stakeholders and gain deeper insight on integrating affiliation opportunities with an organization’s strategic plan.
Michael Renetzky, a partner at Locke Lord, and Stephen Johnson, managing director at Ziegler, will also partake in this one hour, CLE-accredited educational session. For additional information or to register, click here.
Boike is a business attorney who concentrates her practice in the healthcare and not for profit fields. She advises healthcare entities of all sizes including, healthcare systems, hospitals, senior living providers, such as continuing care retirement communities and skilled nursing facilities, physicians and healthcare startups on a multitude of issues with a focus on regulatory concerns.
Tecson focuses his practice on corporate law, including legal considerations unique to not for profit and tax-exempt entities, corporate financing and bond issues, administrative law, and healthcare law relating to hospitals, physicians and continuing-care retirement communities. Leader of the firm’s Healthcare and Not for Profit & Mission-Based Organizations practice groups, he serves as counselor for senior management and boards of directors in additional industries such as churches, continuing medical education, manufacturing, domestic and international distribution, higher education and environmental services.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Kevin M. Coyne offers career strategies and insights to students of The John Marshall Law School’s Center for Real Estate Law from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in room 420, 315 S. Plymouth Court. Organized by the Center for Real Estate Law at The John Marshall Law School, the program titled “Let’s Taco ‘Bout Real Estate Law,” provides students the opportunity to network and discuss the latest topics in commercial real estate law and business with leading real estate lawyers and professionals. For additional information, click here.
Leader of the firm’s Real Estate practice group, Coyne represents national franchises, restaurants, bars and professional practices and has substantial experience negotiating office, retail and industrial leases on the national and local levels for landlords and tenants. Priding himself on the personal attention he brings to every transaction, Coyne crafts meticulous documentation tailored to align with his client’s present and future business needs and goals. Serving on the City of Naperville’s City Council has given him a unique perspective and constructive insight for clients facing municipal issues in Chicagoland.
The Center for Real Estate Law at The John Marshall Law School is dedicated to educating and training the next generation of real estate attorneys and real estate professionals in the substance and practice of commercial real estate law. In addition to providing degree candidates with a superior education in a transactional context, the Center is committed to promoting research and scholarships in the field of commercial real estate and practice.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is pleased to announce that Mark Altschul has joined the firm as a principal in the firm’s Litigation practice group. Altschul brings to Chuhak & Tecson an impressive record of achievement in high-stakes, complex civil litigation. Since 2016, Altschul had been a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Before that he was an associate and later a partner in the litigation practice at McDermott Will & Emery.
“I was thrilled at the opportunity to join Chuhak & Tecson because it offers a great platform to provide excellent service to, and obtain excellent results for, sophisticated clients,” said Altschul. “Because the firm is essentially full-service, it affords opportunities not only to work with existing litigation clients but to attract new business as well. This is a terrific proposition.”
Steve Wood, the principal who leads the firm’s Litigation practice group said Altschul is a valued addition to a growing and formidable team.
“Mark is an accomplished courtroom advocate,” Wood said. “His addition gives our firm greater depth in complex litigation, offering our business clients more resources for their dispute resolution needs while advancing our reputation as a top tier litigation practice.”
Altschul’s commercial litigation practice involves breach of contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, state and local tax controversy issues and trade secret disputes. He has litigated matters in federal and state courts throughout the United States in addition to handling matters before the American Arbitration Association. Clients frequently rely on his strategic judgment and role as a trusted advisor on business matters to resolve disputes outside of a courtroom.
“Each client is unique and collaborating with clients requires an emphasis on understanding the client’s business,” said Altschul. “This ensures that when a client has an active or anticipated dispute, I am able to team with the client to lead the litigation and implement a strategy to achieve an outcome that meets the client’s legal and business objectives.”
Altschul recently served on the Planning Committee for the Seventh Circuit Bar Association’s 2018 annual meeting and is a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, Illinois. Prior to becoming a courtroom advocate, he served as a term law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Norman C. Roettger and United States Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Altschul has represented clients pro bono on a variety of matters, including a case involving a contested guardianship proceeding of a minor and another concerning inadequate medical care of an incarcerated individual.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Lindsey Paige Markus will speak on the relationship between women and financial planning strategy at the National Diversity Council’s Illinois Women’s Conference from 10:40 to 11:40 a.m. Thursday, March 28. The event is set to take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. Markus will inform women on the importance of estate planning, protecting their assets and the steps to get started on their planning journey.
The cost to attend, which includes access to the Top 15 Awards Breakfast, luncheon and all sessions, is $249. For more information, click here.
Markus, leader of Chuhak & Tecson’s 21-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection group is an educator at heart, making her a sought-after speaker. In addition to her regular column in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin where she clarifies the complexities of estate planning, she is a dynamic contributor to local news outlets such as NBC 5 Chicago, Fox News Chicago, WGN Radio and WCIU. In serving her clients, she draws on her early career in business, finance and neuroscience to develop innovative solutions to fit their estate planning, wealth protection and corporate needs. Her breadth of experience and commitment to training audiences about estate planning has afforded her recognition as a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women Lawyer, a Law Bulletin 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty, a Woman Making an Impact in the Law, an Illinois Super Lawyer and a Leading Lawyer. Markus has a national practice and is licensed in Illinois, Florida and New York.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Loretto M. Kennedy will moderate a panel discussion at the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association’s (NRRDA) 2019 Annual Conference. The interactive discussion, titled “He Said, She Said…How About We Said? Exploring Options for Collaborative Defense Among Defendants,” will cover collaborative defense of claims and lawsuits and how this can be used as a tool to reduce costs, legal expenses, settlements and verdicts.
The discussion will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida. The panel will include Hon. F. Keith Brown (Ret.), senior mediator at ADR Systems; LaToya Lee, senior claims manager of Raising Cane’s; and Caryn Seibert, vice president at Gallagher Bassett.
Kennedy focuses her practice on litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. She counsels and assists clients on a wide scope of matters including business planning, risk management, claims handling and litigation defense. She gets to know each client and their business so she can understand all issues from the client’s perspective and best create strategies to meet their larger goals. She is a founding member of Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women initiative which integrates business development, networking and philanthropy into events that benefit not only the attendees, but the Chicagoland community. She is also an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, having served on its board of managers and several terms on the Judicial Evaluation Committee.
To learn more about the 2019 NRRDA Annual Conference or to register, click here.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Kevin M. Coyne will introduce community leaders and provide opening remarks for a Naperville Area Leaders Network (NALN) event at 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, at Aurelio’s Pizza in Naperville. Mike Briggs, CEO of Little Friends, will talk to attendees about societally empowering those with autism and developmental disabilities. Other featured speakers include Steve Grosskopf, president of the Naperville Area Homeowner’s Confederation, and Ray McGrury, executive director of the Naperville District, who will highlight the work their organizations are involved in. Candidates for the Naperville area local offices are encouraged to attend, distribute campaign literature and will be allowed a one- to two-minute presentation to the group.
The cost for the event is $15 and includes pizza and soda. All Naperville Jaycees and members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network will have their entry fees waived, and are advised to bring business cards in order to establish contacts. A cash bar will be available as well. For more information about NALN and the event, click here.
Coyne leads the 18-attorney Real Estate Practice Group at Chuhak & Tecson. He represents national franchises, restaurants, bars and professional practices and has substantial experience negotiating office, retail and industrial leases on the national and local levels for landlords and tenants. Priding himself on the personal attention he brings to every transaction, Coyne crafts meticulous documentation tailored to align with his client’s present and future business needs and goals. Serving on the City of Naperville’s City Council has given him a unique perspective and constructive insight for clients facing municipal issues in Chicagoland.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal David J. Bloomberg will give a presentation at the Community Association Institute’s IL Condo-HOA Conference & Expo at 3 p.m. Friday, February 22, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Bloomberg will focus on risk management and how it affects community association managers, property management companies, association board members and association unit owners. Click here to register for this two-day event.
David J. Bloomberg’s caseload ranges from commercial disputes to product liability claims, including aviation-related matters, to issues involving condominium and common interest community associations. His extensive experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including case strategy and management, pre-trial motion practice, depositions, hearings, trial preparation and trial. David has presented CLE-accredited lectures on matters related to multi-party settlements, spoliation and effective deposition. He also speaks about litigation and other topics of interest to condominium, townhome and homeowner associations.
The Illinois Chapter of the Community Associations Institute’s HOA Conference & Expo will offer education sessions on legal updates, innovative trends, hot topics and industry best practices, as well as opportunities to share, learn, network and discuss challenges and solutions. Come and learn to “Gear Up Your Community.” Join more than 1,500 industry professionals and homeowner volunteer leaders – along with over 200 exhibitors – for the most comprehensive two-day event for community associations in the state of Illinois. Attendees will earn up to 9.5 hours of Continuing Education Credits.
The County Historian for Cook County, in conjunction with the Cook County Board of Commissioners, proudly recognizes Joseph A. Tecson on the 43rd anniversary of his swearing in, February 11, 1976, as the first Asian American commissioner on the Cook County Board. The County Archives’ Twitter and Instagram accounts mark this occasion, beginning today.
Tecson, a founding principal of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., was passionate about public and community service. He served as a delegate with the Constitutional Convention which drafted a new constitution for Illinois in 1970 that is still in effect. In his five years of service to the Cook County Board, he was on the committee that oversaw Cook County Hospital. Tecson’s zest for public service further extended to serving on the boards of MacNeal Hospital and Brookfield Zoo, and he was one of the greatest proponents of the zoo’s continual upgrades and addition of new exhibits. Tecson was dedicated to expanding public transportation and was the initial chair of the board of the Regional Transportation Authority, then subsequently served on the Metra Board. Further, he was frequently called upon to serve as special counsel to government agencies, including the Department of Public Aid, the Illinois Department of Insurance and the Medical Disciplinary Board. Tecson was also the municipal attorney for the Village of North Riverside.
On his way to becoming a ground-breaking attorney in Chicago’s legal community, Tecson attended college on the G.I. bill and worked his way through law school. His commitment to both service and diversity and inclusion has created a culture at Chuhak & Tecson where each person is included, listened to and supported as they strive to achieve their personal best. With the founding of Chuhak & Tecson in 1987, he led the firm’s governmental and healthcare practices. Today, the 11-attorney firm he co-founded over 30 years ago now boasts over 65 attorneys and as many staff members and paraprofessionals.
Each day the firm continues to adhere to the decorum Tecson instilled in the firm three decades ago—integrity, hard work, quality, community service, civility toward one another and, equally important, a sense of humor. His dedication to community service alone lives on today through the initiatives founded by the firm’s principals, such as Women Helping Women, Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Service and the Joseph A. Tecson Scholarship Fund, along with myriad programs the firm participates in that include Lawyers in the Classroom, Lakeview East Festival of the Arts and Volunteers of America of Illinois’ Operation Backpack.
The firm recognizes and congratulates the family of Mr. Joseph A. Tecson on his being the first Asian American commissioner elected to the Cook County Board.
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Kevin M. Coyne will introduce Senator John Curran and provide opening remarks to the Naperville Area Leaders Network (NALN) at 7 p.m. Monday, February 11, at Aurelio’s Pizza in Naperville. Senator Curran will reveal the latest news from Springfield, followed with an economic development update from Naperville’s planning and zoning commissioner Bruce Hanson. The third speaker is CEO and president of the Alive Teen Center Kandice Henning who will give insights regarding the center and the Naperville community. Candidates for the Naperville area local offices are encouraged to attend, distribute campaign literature and will be allowed a one- to two-minute presentation to the group. The cost for the event is $15 and includes pizza and soda. The entry fee will be waived for all Naperville Jaycees and members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network. For more information about NALN and the event, click here.
Coyne leads the 18-attorney Real Estate Practice Group at Chuhak & Tecson. He represents national franchises, restaurants, bars and professional practices and has substantial experience negotiating office, retail and industrial leases on the national and local levels for landlords and tenants. Priding himself on the personal attention he brings to every transaction, Coyne crafts meticulous documentation tailored to align with the client’s present and future business needs and goals. Serving on the City of Naperville’s City Council has given him a unique perspective and constructive insight for clients facing municipal issues in Chicagoland.
Every January, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, more than 50 Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. employees — attorneys, paralegals and staff —engage in various service opportunities to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Such opportunities, ranging from packaging personal care items for women escaping abuse to knitting blankets for hospital patients, offer individuals the chance to develop meaningful connections with diverse communities while raising awareness and serving a local nonprofit.
Cognizant of the positive effects community service has on its employees and the communities it serves, Chuhak & Tecson will extend its annual Martin Luther King Jr. day of service in 2019. With the support of its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council and Women Helping Women (WHW) program, the firm will hold three days of community service—in January, May and June— to meet the vital needs of Pacific Garden Mission, Wills for Heroes Foundation and Chicago Lights Urban Farm. .
Chuhak & Tecson’s three days of community service will kick off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Pacific Garden Mission. The country’s oldest operating Gospel rescue mission, Pacific Garden Mission provides food, shelter, clothing and medical care to the Chicago community. Throughout the day Chuhak & Tecson employees will prepare bedrolls, serve a meal in the kitchen and perform other light housekeeping assignments.
“Year after year, Chuhak & Tecson employees enthusiastically arrive at the mission with smiles on their faces and ready to get to work,” said Gerald Casey, director of outreach ministries. “It is great to see organizations like Chuhak & Tecson committed to giving back to the community and finding new ways of doing so.”
In May, Chuhak & Tecson volunteers will assist Wills for Heroes Foundation. Headed by the firm’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice group leader Lindsey Paige Markus, attorneys, paralegals and staff will protect those who protect us by providing essential estate planning documents free of charge to veterans and first responders.
The three days of community service will culminate in June with the final group of volunteers paying tribute to another civil rights activist, Cesar Chavez. Volunteers will spend their Saturday afternoon at Chicago Lights Urban Farm planting and harvesting produce, weeding beds and turning compost at the nonprofit’s community garden. Chicago Lights Urban Farm, whose mission is to provide hope and opportunity to children, youth and adults facing the challenges of poverty, cultivates the garden for the community so youth and adults have access to fresh, local and sustainably grown produce.
Chuhak & Tecson looks forward to launching the three days of community service and providing a lending hand to its communities.
“Helping those in need is a value woven into the culture of the D&I Council, Women Helping Women and the firm as whole,” said Terry Isselhard, D&I Council chair. “Our employees have always placed personal importance on giving back within their communities, and Chuhak & Tecson strives to support their passion by developing opportunities for them to reach not only their own individual goals—but also our firm’s goals.”
To learn more about Chuhak & Tecson’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.