It’s rough being a teenaged girl these days. Young women are faced with unprecedented challenges, including stress, violence, loneliness and increasing mental health pressures, not to mention the everyday trials of school and social demands.

Box United’s Fight Like a Girl program focuses on physical and mental well-being, designed specifically to nurture greater discipline, strength, self-acceptance and confidence. The program empowers girls to combat the negative influences affecting body image, self-reliance, social media pulls and daily worries. The program provides tools and strategies through boxing so girls can make changes in their own lives and ideally become leaders in their communities. According to its website, “Box United empowers girls to do the unimaginable… after training like fighters, girls are better able to envision themselves achieving other unimaginable things.”

For 13 years, Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women program (WHW) has partnered with organizations that assist women or women and their children. This year, its Mix-and-Mingle will be held on Tuesday, October 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Rivers/Rittergut, 10 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago. As always, the event combines philanthropy and networking as women entrepreneurs, business leaders and strategic partners support the worthwhile and beneficial efforts of a cause like Box United’s Fight Like a Girl program. Hosted by the women attorneys of the firm, WHW is an after-hours get together that offers professional women the opportunity to build connections while supporting a charitable organization. While enjoying hors d’oeuvres, wine and the evening’s specially curated C-Tini, each Mix-and-Mingle uplifts an organization that sustains women.

“Box United’s Fight Like a Girl program does a terrific job combining both the physical and emotional resources and training young women need to succeed,” said Loretto Kennedy, a litigator, leader of Chuhak & Tecson’s Aviation Litigation & Transactions group and the firm’s co-general counsel, who recommended Box United as this year’s recipient of donations and awareness among our WHW audience. “Their unique boxing program helps girls recognize that when a woman works to be healthy in her mind and her body, that’s a powerful combination and is a one-two punch to success. Fight Like a Girl introduces young women to a traditionally male sport and teaches them to master it. Whether these young ladies grow up to be attorneys, welders, accountants, firefighters or entrepreneurs, they will know it’s okay to fight like a girl.” 

The fall Mix-and-Mingle takes place on October 25, 2022, at Rivers/Rittergut, 10 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago. If you would like to receive an invitation, please contact Sue Robinson, director of marketing and business development, at srobinson@chuhak.com.

Chuhak & Tecson congratulates Mallory A. Moreno, principal in the Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation practice groups, who has been honored as one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by Law Bulletin Media. The award recognizes talented young attorneys from across the state.

“While only with our firm for about a year, Mallory has been an exceptional addition to the team,” said Mitchell Weinstein, principal and president of the firm. “She has incredible positive energy, which shows in her work with clients and internally within the firm as well. Her knowledge and achievements in the elder law arena are remarkable, especially given that she is just shy of a decades’ worth of experience. We are looking for more and more great things from Mallory for many years to come.”

Mallory focuses her practice in adult guardianships, estate and trust administration and litigation, including financial exploitation, will and trust contests, fiduciary disputes, issues of capacity, powers of attorneys, undue influence, financial exploitation, citations and fraud. Nominations cite Mallory’s compassionate, pragmatic and collaborative approach to resolving issues while always remaining conscientious of her clients’ unique needs. A large portion of her practice is also dedicated to long-term care planning, Medicaid, Medicaid appeals, estate planning, special needs planning and disability law.

“Mallory’s intellect, creative problem solving and authentic passion for her practice are unparalleled,” said Lindsey Paige Markus, principal and practice group leader of the firm’s 24-attorney trusts and estates practice group. “We are thrilled that Law Bulletin Media has recognized her as the extraordinary practitioner we have come to know and are incredibly fortunate to have here at our firm.”

Mallory is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), which is an exclusive honor bestowed to a select group of attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. As of 2022, there are only 17 CELAs in Illinois providing creative solutions for clients who are faced with elder law issues.

Mallory serves as president-elect for the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (IL NAELA), an organization that is closely involved in advancing legislation on behalf of elder law attorneys and their clients. She is also a reoccurring faculty speaker for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and other organizations.

Mallory has been named an Emerging Lawyer from Leading Lawyers, an honor awarded to less than 2% of all lawyers in Illinois. Super Lawyers has named her a Rising Star and she was given the Distinguished Lawyer Designation from the Expert Network, a leading invitation-only network for professionals who have contributed meaningfully to their field.

Law Bulletin Media conducts an annual survey to determine who Illinois attorneys believe are the “up and comers” of law in Illinois. This is the 23rd year for the 40 Under 40 awards and more than 1,000 nominations were received. The strength of the nomination is subjectively based upon the reputation of the nominator, the professional relationship between the nominator and the nominee and the nominator’s first-hand knowledge of the nominee’s experience, skill and character. The nominee cannot have reached 40 years of age on or before May 7, 2022. Only an attorney may submit a nomination; an attorney cannot nominate him/herself; and an attorney cannot nominate attorneys from his/her own firm.

CHICAGO — Chuhak and Tecson, P.C. congratulates Lindsey Paige Markus, shareholder and practice group leader of the firm’s 24-attorney trusts and estate practice group, on being named a Notable Woman in Law for 2022 by Crain’s Chicago Business.

The list of notable women in law recognizes women who have a track record of setting legal precedents, winning significant cases for their clients and mentoring the next wave of women in law – all while finding ways to give back to their communities.

In the submitted nomination, Lindsey was cited as the first woman shareholder in firm’s 30-year history. Licensed in Illinois, Florida and New York, Lindsey has a national practice working with business owners and families, advising on estate planning, business succession planning, minimizing gift and estate taxation, and creating lasting legacies for families and charitable organizations.

The nomination further describes Lindsey as a natural educator, mentoring women and men attorneys and creating collaborative teams in a positive environment. A compassionate, responsive and accessible educator, she tackles diverse subjects such as complex 1202 planning for founders, assisted reproductive technology and cryptocurrency through publications, speaking engagements and television appearances. Lindsey’s book, A Gift for the Future, released in spring 2022 on Amazon, quickly became a #1 Best Seller in legal self-help and a #1 new release in several categories. Her well-received book has garnered significant recognition for Lindsey and the firm. Her straightforward, understandable and enjoyable book has solidified Lindsey’s distinguished career in the estate planning area.

Lindsey leads by example, providing coaching, emotional support, building strategic partnerships and providing a sounding board to women she mentors. She guides, teaches and advises young women entering the law as well as established women in law and strategic partners.

Lindsey has served on numerous Chuhak & Tecson committees over the years, including the Executive Committee, Management Committee and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council. She was instrumental in creating Women Helping Women, the firm’s women’s initiative program, a networking group integrating business development with philanthropy and a nationally recognized IDEA award winner by the Association of Legal Administrators. Women Helping Women collaborates with nonprofit organizations helping women or women and their children. Now in its 13th year, Women Helping Women’s annual event brings together women business leaders, entrepreneurs and strategic partners for an evening of networking, business development and community service.

Passionate about philanthropy and giving back, Lindsey sits on the Jewish United Fund’s Executive Board, Advocate Charitable Foundation’s Gift Planning Advisory Committee and co-chair’s American Technion Society’s Midwest Planned Giving Committee. Lindsey presents at nonprofit organizations, addressing boards and donors to provide excellent counsel on how to use the tax code efficiently and to leverage charitable bequests made during life and upon death. She regularly speaks on radio and television programs offering professional advice on estate planning, succession planning and charitable giving.

Crain’s details its methodology stating that the honorees do not pay to be included. Their profiles are drawn from submitted nomination materials. It includes only executives for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after an editorial review. To qualify for this list, honorees had to be employed within Chicago or the surrounding counties, serving in a senior-level role at a law firm with a staff size of at least 10 (partner, shareholder, practice group chair). Honorees must have been practicing law for a minimum of 10 years and served as a role model or mentor to other women attorneys and/or promoted inclusive practices in the workplace.

Chuhak & Tecson is pleased to announce that Martin J. Crowley, Melissa Turk Firmage and Cecilio I. Porras have join the firm as associates.

Martin Crowley is an associate in the Banking group. He concentrates his practice on assisting financial institutions with their transactional and litigation-based legal needs. He helps secured and unsecured lenders protect their interests in a variety of banking matters, including vehicle forfeitures, residential and commercial foreclosure and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) disputes.

Cecilio “Cy” Porras, an associate in the Banking group, enjoys assisting his clients through the maze of litigation, UCC and bankruptcy matters. His experience includes pursuing claims and collection actions against difficult borrowers and guarantors. Cy represents banks, equipment lessors, finance companies, lease brokers and equipment vendors on a nationwide basis in commercial litigation, bankruptcies, transactional and appellate matters.

“We are very excited to add Cy and Martin to our banking team,” said Edmond M. Burke, principal and practice group leader of the Banking group. “We know how competitive the legal market is for talented young lawyers and look forward to watching these two attorneys further develop their skills as they help our team continue to provide the highest level of service to our clients.”

Melissa “Missy” Turk Firmage is an associate in the Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation and Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice groups. She focuses her practice on contested and routine guardianship matters, estate and trust litigation and administration, breach of fiduciary duty claims and fiduciary defense, elder law and trust and estate-related appellate work.

Lindsey Paige Markus, head of the firm’s 24-attorney Trusts & Estates practice group shared, “We are thrilled to have Missy  — a smart, dynamic and energetic attorney — join our extraordinary Trust & Estate’s team. I look forward to watching her grow and I am confident that all of us will learn from this gifted attorney.”

Chuhak & Tecson is pleased to welcome two experienced attorneys in the Estate Planning & Trust Administration group who focus on elder law.

Mallory A. Moreno, a principal, devotes her practice to her passion of advocating on behalf of the aging population and individuals with disabilities, many of whom are unable to speak for themselves. Her extensive experience helps clients find a sense of peace during their 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.

“We are living in an unprecedented time,” said Mallory. “For the first time in U.S. history, it is projected that by 2034 the number of individuals age 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. Elder law helps to protect and meet the needs of countless individuals as they navigate through their golden years.”

Both Mallory and principal Christine A. Barone’s practices encompasses contested and uncontested adult guardianships, decedents’ estates, estate planning and asset protection. They handle planning for those with disabilities or special needs and long-term care planning for eligibility and appeals for Medicaid benefits. They prepare and review contracts, wills, trusts and special needs trusts. Christine also represents nursing homes in securing and appealing Medicaid benefits for their residents and claims for payment from the state in the Illinois Court of Claims.

“Many people do not realize that there are options available to protect assets and ease the worry of how to pay for long-term care without completely draining resources,” explained Christine.

Mallory and Christine are Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA). According to the National Elder Law Foundation, there are only 17 CELAs in Illinois currently. Their practice includes a focus on estate and trust administration and litigation, including financial exploitation, will and trust matters, fiduciary disputes, issues of capacity, powers of attorneys, undue influence, financial exploitation and fraud. A portion of their practice is also dedicated to disability law.

Chuhak & Tecson elder law attorneys handle a wide range of legal matters affecting elderly or people with disabilities, including issues related to healthcare, long-term care planning, guardianship, retirement, Social Security and so many other important matters. Elder law attorneys are trained and have the sensitivities needed to help their clients deal with often devastating life-altering events.

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is thrilled to congratulate Lindsey Paige Markus, shareholder and practice group leader of the firm’s 24-attorney Trusts & Estates Group, who has been recognized by Law Bulletin Media and Chicago Lawyer Magazine in its 3^rd Annual Salute! Top Women in Law awards. Lindsey was chosen as a TOP WOMAN IN LAW for her work mentoring and promoting women in the profession, her success in the legal community and for being a shining example of leadership. The award celebrates these influential women in law and honorees appear in the July issue of Chicago Lawyer.

Lindsey truly exemplifies a woman leader in law. In only 10 years, Lindsey rose from law clerk to the firm’s first woman practice group leader and first woman shareholder in Chuhak & Tecson’s then 30-year history.

Licensed in Illinois, New York and Florida, Lindsey has a national practice where she works closely with business owners and families in advising on estate planning, business formation, planning their estates, minimizing gift and estate taxation and formulating succession plans to create a lasting legacy for their families and charitable organizations. The success of her practice is a credit to Lindsey’s early career in business, finance and clinically applied neuroscience and years of honing her legal skills to help clients find a sense of peace and security, while providing them with complex, innovative solutions.

Lindsey is as natural mentor and educator, mentoring women and men attorneys throughout Chuhak & Tecson and creating collaborative teams in a positive environment. As a compassionate, empathetic, caring, responsive and accessible educator, she tackles diverse subjects such as complex 1202 planning for founders, assisted reproductive technology and cryptocurrency, through a multitude of publications, speaking engagements, television appearances. Lindsey’s book, A Gift for the Future was released on Amazon in spring 2022 and quickly became a #1 Best Seller in legal self-help and #1 new release in several categories. While the most challenging project Lindsey has undertaken, the process of writing the book was a true labor of love. A Gift for the Future is her way to give back—to those who have mentored her, to clients she has worked with and to those who want to educate themselves prior to making the all-important commitment to work with an estate planning professional.

Russ Sullivan, who served on the Senate Finance Committee for 14 years as chief tax counsel and staff director, wrote a noteworthy forward for the book: “A Gift for the Future is an excellent, in-depth guide for estate planning with the current tax code…Lindsey shows the reader how to get started and explains how to compassionately engage in some of these difficult conversations, all in a readable style. Death and taxes are inevitable for all of us, making this book a wonderful tool for everyone.”

Passionate about philanthropy and giving back, Lindsey is a founding member of Chuhak & Tecson’s Women Helping Women initiative, sits on the Jewish United Fund’s Executive Board, Advocate Charitable Foundation’s Gift Planning Advisory Committee and co-chairs American Technion Society’s Midwest Planned Giving Committee.

Lindsey has been recognized in countless publications, including Leading Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch by Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Crain’s Chicago Business as a 2021 Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law and Crain’s Notable Women in Law.

This year, on June 1, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. celebrates 35 years of solid, results-driven legal work, dedicated service to its clients and imprinting its mark on the Chicago legal market.

There is a saying that people are in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. The same can be said about the lifespan of a law firm. Our firm has attorneys that have stayed briefly and those clients who needed our attention only for a short while, but who all have added variety and flavor to who we are as a firm. We have had others who have spent years with us, helping us expand and grow our business. And, there are those attorneys and steadfast clients who have been with us since the beginning and have seen a small, familial firm develop into a well-known brand in the Midwest.

“When we first formed the firm in 1987, we had 11 attorneys and a small support staff to match,” recalls Andy Tecson, principal and former leader of the Healthcare and Not for Profit and Mission-based Organizations groups at the firm. “Every morning, Tom Chuhak, along with my dad, Joe Tecson, would come to work and personally greet every person – every attorney, every clerk and every secretary – with a smile and a boisterous ‘good morning.’”

When he looks back at the firm’s accomplishments over the past 35 years, Tecson acknowledges that sense of family and caring about the well-being and growth of both its clients and the people who work there remains a foundational principle of the firm. That sense of interconnectedness and community is reflective of what distinguishes and defines Chuhak & Tecson.

“I was 25 years old when I joined the firm, not realizing that the firm itself had only been around for seven years,” said Mitch Weinstein, president and a seasoned business, tax and estate planning attorney. “An uncle recommended that I meet with some of the attorneys from the firm – and that was it. I liked the people and it just felt like a great fit. I’ve stayed ever since.”

Mitch remarked that he has been through two office moves and three or four build-outs, but relishes the most recent move to the firm’s sophisticated, high-tech and elegant new space. With its huge expanse of windows surrounding the perimeter, clients and employees alike enjoy the openness, light and uplifting environment, making it seemingly easier to transact even the most intense business.

“While we may have had real estate changes, the strong core values of doing excellent legal work, serving clients and empowering our younger attorneys have never changed,” continued Mitch. “I have been so privileged to work with some incredible people and also to advance my career.”

Reflecting on the firm’s growth, accomplishments and ever-emerging new talent who have joined the firm, Mitch added that this anniversary is more about the firm’s future than it is about the past. “The firm takes great pride in developing generations of outstanding attorneys who can build on what our founders and more senior attorneys have achieved,” Mitch observed. “This continuity has endured for more than three decades of change and disruption in both the practice of law and in our clients’ businesses. The firm has been fervently committed to staying in front of these changes by closely navigating the seas of constant change, maintaining balance and adhering to those core values that continue to define this firm.”

Mitch added that technology and the business environment may always be constantly changing, but the keys to building and maintaining relationships do not. Clients will always want accessibility and responsive service; they will always want value; they will always want the best possible outcomes. But, these things require adaptability, experience, wisdom and taking advantage of the technologies that continue to allow the firm to stay ahead of the curve.

For 35 years, Chuhak & Tecson’s unwavering commitment to client service – being right there with you – remains a bedrock principle. For 35 years, Chuhak & Tecson has left an indelible mark on Chicago’s legal market. This stands as a testament to its founders and those who have carried on those core values. Enduring client relationships emanate from that commitment and trust that comes from sound counsel of those who have laid the groundwork for the firm’s next decades. Whatever changes the world may see, Chuhak & Tecson will retain that sense of family that was present every morning Tom Chuhak and Joe Tecson greeted their employees.

Chuhak & Tecson is pleased to announce that Janet Wagner has joined the firm as a principal. Wagner focuses her practice on banking and commercial financing transactions. She provides trusted counsel, exacting documentation and clear communication to commercial banks, credit unions, institutional lenders, insurance companies and other lenders in a wide range of commercial and real estate financing matters.

A highly skilled attorney with extensive experience in analyzing transactions in the banking, corporate and real estate areas, Wagner enjoys creating documents that reflect the exact intentions of the transaction, especially when the transaction is challenging and more unusual. With her comprehensive knowledge of all phases of a loan or credit transaction, she is able to chart the progress of a matter while explaining the technicalities and route to a successful closing.

“We are so excited to have Janet join our team,” said Ed Burke, principal and practice group leader, Banking group. “She brings not only a wealth of experience on the documentation side, but practical experience to help our clients from A to B in the most efficient manner possible.”

In addition to real estate and commercial lending, Wagner has advised lenders on documenting loans secured by unique collateral, including boats, aircraft, rail cars and film rights. Working with her colleagues at the firm, she also handles commercial transactions and corporate matters, counsels clients on the day-to-day operations of businesses, reviews and negotiates contracts and other business documents, and advises clients on corporate governance matters and choice of entity.

Wagner received her LL.M. degree in Child & Family Law and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, in Philosophy, from Mundelein College (now Loyola University Chicago). 

Chuhak & Tecson is pleased to announce that Christine A. Barone has joined the firm as a principal in the Estate Planning & Asset Protection and Estate & Trust Administration & Litigation practice groups.

Barone focuses her practice on elder law. This encompasses contested and uncontested adult guardianships, decedents’ estates, trust administration and litigation, estate planning and asset protection. Notably, she handles planning for those with disabilities or special needs and long-term care planning for eligibility and appeals for Medicaid benefits. She has also represented nursing homes in securing and appealing Medicaid benefits for their residents and claims for payment from the State of Illinois in the Illinois Court of Claims. She prepares and reviews contracts, wills, trusts, special needs trusts and powers of attorney.

Barone is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), which is an exclusive honor bestowed on a select group of attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. Currently, there are only 17 CELAs in Illinois providing resourceful and inspired solutions for clients faced with elder law issues. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also a former president and current board member of the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society.

“With the addition of Christine, we are thrilled that our firm now has two Certified Elder Law Attorneys,” said Lindsey Paige Markus, principal and practice group leader of the firm’s 23-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice group. “Mallory Moreno, who recently joined Chuhak & Tecson, is also a CELA, and with Christine, they will bring their experience and passion to advocate on behalf of our elderly population and individuals with disabilities.”

Barone finds the most rewarding aspect of assisting and representing her clients is alleviating some of the burden that they feel in extremely stressful and overwhelming situations. She has the knowledge and skills to assist clients step-by-step to try to confront concerns and worries that are often life altering. She understands that communication is critical to an attorney-client relationship and will sit down and discuss the various outcomes and scenarios so that her clients can not only make informed decisions, but also feel a sense of relief.

Barone received her B.S. degree in political science, English minor, from the University of Iowa and earned her J.D. degree, with a certificate in tax law, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.