Canning hunger in Chicago continues to be a priority for attorneys and staff at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., as they recently came together to volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

On February 26 about 30 Chuhak & Tecson employees donated their time for the third year in a row to help fight hunger in Chicago. Together, their efforts and thousands of others are what help the Food Depository distribute over 66 million pounds of food each year to 678,000 Cook County residents.

This year, volunteers worked together to repackage 3996 pounds of bulk pinto beans into 1332 smaller bags, as well as 1443 pounds of pasta into 624 bags. This totaled 5439 pounds of food packed for distribution to local food pantries and shelters.

Chuhak & Tecson donated its 81 accumulated volunteer hours to Lakeview Pantry, one of the longest running food pantries in Chicago. Each hour the firm contributed will serve as $5 off the pantry’s next monthly food bill from the Depository. Focused on eliminating hunger and poverty in the city’s North Side community, Lakeview Pantry provides on-site food distribution, food delivery services and case management programs that help clients address issues that frequently cause food insecurity, such as unemployment and housing instability. The firm previously partnered with Lakeview Pantry to collect non-perishable food items for its “25 Ways to Give Back” service initiative in 2012.

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., is proud to announce that principal Lindsey Paige Markus is one of 17 women attorneys from across the city named as “Women Making an Impact” by Chicago Lawyer magazine and Law Bulletin Publishing.

Nominated for recognition by local attorneys and law firms, the honorees were profiled in the 2013 edition of the magazine’s special publication titled Women in Law. This is the third year for “Women Making an Impact,” applauding attorneys who stand out for their contributions to the legal profession in Chicago.

“It is an honor to be recognized among such an extraordinary group of women,” Markus said. “Women represent about 50 percent of law school graduates but less than 20 percent of partners at law firms. Thus, while we have seen substantial progress towards equal opportunity, women are underrepresented in some of the most influential positions.

“This demands women in the law to continue to grow and set examples for other women to help shatter barriers. It is wonderful to see these attorneys acknowledged for their impact, and a privilege to be included among them.”

This is not the first time that Markus, an estate planning and asset protection attorney, is in the spotlight for her professional achievements. Super Lawyers Magazine has named her an Illinois Rising Star annually from 2010 to 2014. In 2012, she was selected by Chicago Lawyer as one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch,” and Oy!Chicago recognized her for its first annual “Double Chai in the Chi” award, honoring 36 outstanding young adults in the Jewish community.

Markus has been with Chuhak & Tecson since 2005. She works with individuals, families and small business owners to design estate plans that effectively protect assets, transfer wealth and minimize taxes.  Emphasizing a comprehensive approach to ensure her clients’ interests are well-protected, she also represents business owners to strategize business formation, succession planning and related issues.

In 2013, Markus became one of the first estate planning attorneys certified in Illinois as a collaborative law fellow. Her training in this area uniquely qualifies her to consult on estate planning and tax implications with individuals going through a divorce.

Principal Ed Josephson has witnessed Markus’ professional growth since she joined Chuhak & Tecson as a law clerk, built an impressive client list as an associate and in 2011 was elevated to principal.

“Lindsey has always shown a remarkable passion for and understanding of the law,” Josephson said. “She is constantly trying to better her knowledge for the benefit of her clients, which shows in her work ethic and dedication, and which sets her apart from other attorneys.”

Markus believes her workplace has helped shape her career and promote her growth as a community leader. She writes a regular column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and enjoys giving presentations on topics involving estate planning, wealth protection, charitable giving and more.

“Working at Chuhak & Tecson has given me tremendous space and autonomy to grow–socially, personally and professionally,” Markus said.­­­­­­­­­­­ “It gives me an exceptional platform to hone my skills in educating clients and the legal community about innovative estate planning techniques that achieve their personal and financial goals.”

Markus also leverages her knowledge of tax and estate planning to guide clients in making planned gifts to philanthropic organizations. Passionate about giving back to the community herself, she serves on several boards and committees for the Jewish United Fund, Advocate Charitable Foundation and The Standard Club.

For the third year in a row, attorneys and staff at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., are coming together to help make a difference in the Chicago community by volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

On February 26 the firm will have normal business hours all day but will do a soft close in the afternoon so employees can pack boxes of food at the Depository. Feeding 678,000 Cook County residents annually, the agency relies on volunteers to repackage bulk products for shipment to a network of local food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

“Volunteering is a great opportunity to get to know people outside of the typical work environment, while at the same time engaging in community service for an important cause,” said Mitch Weinstein, a principal at Chuhak & Tecson who participated in the last two firm events at the Food Depository. “I find it serves as an excellent team building experience for both our attorneys and staff.”

Volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository aligns with the firm’s ongoing commitment to bettering the Chicagoland area through community service. The firm sponsored 25 service projects to celebrate its 25^th anniversary in 2012, and employees regularly participate in service-driven events and activities through the firm.

According to a recent report by Feeding America, the umbrella organization for the nation’s food banks, one in six residents of Cook County are “food insecure,” meaning they do not know when their next meal will be. The Greater Chicago Food Depository and its many volunteers are on a mission to combat those high numbers and offer healthy meal options for those in need.

In 2013, the Depository distributed 66 million pounds of fresh produce, dairy products, meats and nonperishable foods. That amount is equivalent to 138,365 meals per day.

Seeing their efforts go to such a worthy cause, Chuhak & Tecson volunteers are looking forward to this month’s trip to the Depository.

“Volunteering is important because government only provides a certain level of services to the community at large, and charities fill the gaps where government does not provide assistance,” Weinstein said. “Whether you donate time or money, contributions are essential to keep organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository working to fulfill their missions.”

In this week’s settlement of the estate of Urooj Khan, the $1 million lottery winner who died from cyanide poisoning, principal David Feinberg of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., is pleased with the outcome for his client, the decedent’s 18-year-old daughter.

Jasmeen Khan receives $140,000—one third of the roughly $425,000 lump sum payout her father had claimed from the Illinois State Lottery—plus five condominiums he owned in Chicago. The other heir, Shabana Ansari, widow of the decedent and stepmother to Jasmeen, settled for approximately $35,000 and her husband’s half-share in the dry cleaning business he owned with a partner. She also gets the family home, which is hers through joint tenancy and is not part of the probate estate.

“This is a very good settlement for Jasmeen,” Feinberg said. “She’ll be a college student next year, and this not only gives her some financial security but also leaves open the possibility for her to pursue other legal action, if warranted and under certain circumstances, relating to her father’s passing.”

The case has drawn international attention since Khan died July 20, 2012, weeks after his lottery scratch-off ticket produced a million-dollar win and days before he would have received the check. At first, the death was attributed to natural causes and an autopsy was not required because the Cook County Medical Examiner found nothing suspicious. But further testing at the request of Khan’s brother uncovered cyanide poisoning as the cause of death, and the case became a murder investigation. Khan’s death has been ruled a homicide by police and remains under investigation.

Khan had no will and in Illinois, when a person dies intestate, 50 percent of the estate goes to the surviving spouse, and the remainder is divided equally between the children. Without the negotiated settlement, Jasmeen would have received a weaker package since some properties were outside the estate and, as a 50 percent heir, she would have also been responsible for certain administrative costs.

As it now stands, those costs will be borne by Khan’s widow, and Jasmeen gets a fifth condominium that was outside the estate.

“My client is walking away with 80 to 90 percent of the remaining liquid assets, plus all of the real estate properties within the estate,” Feinberg said.

Jasmeen had no interest in operating the commercial dry cleaning business, he said. Besides the amounts going to the heirs, another $250,000 from the jackpot prize has already been distributed somewhat evenly between the parties and was used for other expenses, fees and taxes.

Under the circumstances, it was an emotionally challenging case for all involved, but Feinberg focused on protecting his client’s interests both legally and financially.

“Here you have a child who lost a parent under mysterious circumstances, killed by cyanide poisoning, and as her attorney I am responsible for looking after her well-being,” he said. “My client is very happy with the settlement, and the only thing she still hopes for is a just resolution to the criminal investigation that will allow her to get some closure.

“She’s a smart girl with a bright, successful future ahead of her.”

If the parties had not settled, the case had the potential to become quite drawn out, Feinberg said, and he was concerned there would be no assets left for Jasmeen to inherit.

“This definitely was a win,” he said. “We were able to secure a financial benefit and also left open the opportunity to pursue other legal action if the facts support it. That was something that was important to my client. I feel like we got the best of both worlds here.”

On November 14, the women attorneys of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. hosted the firm’s ninth biannual Women Helping Women event–at Lloyd’s Chicago. Drawing over 165 women, the evening of networking and philanthropy was the firm’s most well-attended event to date.

Women Helping Women is a networking group for women business leaders and entrepreneurs to mingle, build business and support a not for profit organization benefiting women, or women and their children, all at the same event.

For this event, WHW partnered with Grace House, a near west side residential program that provides interim housing, professional counseling and emotional support to women exiting the Illinois prison system.

Upon entering the event, guests were greeted with refreshments and added their holiday donations to tables overflowing with gifts. Scattered throughout the room, life-size mannequins dressed in festive sleepwear caught guests’ attention and became a topic of conversation as women mixed and mingled throughout the night.

Event attendees generously donated over 150 items of new sleepwear including robes, pajamas and slippers for Grace House residents for the coming winter months. Grace House also received over $2,000 in gift cards and monetary donations, including contributions from Chuhak & Tecson employees for Jeans Day, a firm-sponsored event where employees contribute to a select not for profit in exchange for wearing jeans to the office that day.

“The overall event and the donations received were very heartwarming,” said Sister Theresa Mayrand, Grace House administrator. “I am extremely grateful for the efforts made by our hosts and the many attendees of the evening. Grace House could not have felt more supported.”

Helena Constanzo, a resident of Grace House, shared how the residential program embraced her and gave her a second chance. Mayrand echoed this sentiment.

“Grace House is all about lovingly welcoming and embracing the women that come to our organization,” Mayrand said. “We very much appreciate that Women Helping Women embraced us in the same way. Because of the ladies’ generous donations, our residents will have a wonderful holiday.”

Beyond networking, the charitable component of these events is a highlight for Chuhak & Tecson’s women attorneys and their guests. “What makes our Women Helping Women initiative unique is its reflection of the firm’s commitment to charitable causes in the Chicago community,” said Chuhak & Tecson attorney Mimi Stein. “The blend of business development and philanthropy inspires and motivates women to not only come to the event, but stay, enjoy themselves and contribute to deserving organizations such as Grace House.”

After welcome remarks from principal Eileen Sethna, who has previously volunteered at Grace House, guests were invited to take part in the “biz dev” challenge. The challenge provides an opportunity for attendees to drop a business card into a fish bowl and retrieve someone else’s card. Guests then connect for a one-hour coffee or lunch meeting to network and discuss business development. This interactive but informal activity has been praised as a highlight at past WHW events, and Chuhak & Tecson looks forward to using it again during the 10^th WHW event in spring 2014.

Chuhak & Tecson recently held a Jeans Day to raise money for Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network’s Wear that You Care Day, a city-wide law firm event that asked participants to donate at least $5 to wear denim to the office.

Chuhak & Tecson attorneys and staff raised over $1,500, 50 percent more than the firm’s original goal.

CMBWN is a not for profit organization that focuses on education and outreach programs to help fight domestic violence in the Chicago community. All money raised went to CMBWN’s Annual Court Watch Project, a yearly report written by community volunteers who observe and compile data from the Cook County Domestic Court. The goal of the Court Watch Report is to improve the overall effectiveness of the judicial system in Chicago.

Chuhak & Tecson partnered with CMBWN in spring 2010 for the firm’s biannual Women Helping Women event. Guests formed an assembly line and packed over 200 bags of personal care items for CMBWN’s network of women’s shelters.

As part of its continuing initiative to give back to the community, attorneys and staff from Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. will participate in the 20th Annual Race Judicata on Thursday, September 12. The 5k walk/run held along Lake Michigan benefits Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation.

CVLS is an organization of over 3,000 volunteer attorneys who provide free legal services to low-income Chicago residents. These volunteers make a positive impact on the lives of their clients by donating their time and efforts to those who otherwise would not have access to legal representation.

Since its founding in 1964, CVLS has served more than 18,000 low-income Chicagoans, handling more litigation and family law cases than any other legal aid program in Illinois. All proceeds from Race Judicata go toward general operating costs of CVLS and the organization’s goal of providing equal access to justice for all.

Last year’s race drew almost 4,000 participants from the Chicagoland area. This year, CVLS hopes to have over 5,000 people participate, which would make it the biggest event to date.