Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. is proud to announce that Michael Debre and Julie Gardner have received the Crain’s Chicago Business honor of being named Notable Rising Stars in Law.
 
Crain’s is recognizing Chicago’s practicing attorneys at law firms who have been a partner for five years or less, who have impacted the types of cases handled at their respective firms and who have demonstrated leadership by serving on firm committees, mentoring associates and/or promoting diversity and inclusion. The honorees are also active in professional organizations in addition to their individual civic/community service initiatives.
 
“Mike and Julie have been stars at Chuhak & Tecson for a long time so we are extremely proud that their successful practices, commitment to community service and the quality of their characters are now being highlighted throughout Chicago,” said Terrell Isselhard, principal and co-chair of Chuhak & Tecson’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. “Each one of these attorneys has worked very hard to get to this point and their trajectories continue to move full steam ahead.”
 
Michael Debre’s former career as a senior vice president of a Chicago commercial bank provides him with an understanding of the pressures lenders face. He represents financial institutions on a national basis in matters of loan enforcement, insolvency, fraud, breach of contract, replevin, conversion, mortgage foreclosures and appeals. Clients value Mike’s experienced counsel regarding reporting requirements and regulations. He also helps businesses with construction liability and other disputes, assessing risks and costs while providing sound analysis and counsel.
 
Julie Gardner unravels the intricacies of complex contested and non-contested estate matters, providing clients with practical and innovative legal solutions. Her effective arguments concerning wills, trusts,  powers of attorney, issues of capacity, undue influence, fraud and forgery led her to the appointments of Guardian Ad Litem and court-appointed counsel by Cook County Probate Division judges. In her Estate Planning & Asset Protection practice, Julie designs unique plans that provide long-term security for individuals and families.
 
 
Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal David Shiner will present a two-part webinar, titled Estate and Charitable Planning, to the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) on Wednesday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 29 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. These virtual programs will explore the estate planning process and the required documentation to execute a successful estate plan. He will also focus on key estate and gifting strategies such as annual exclusion, portability and funding clauses among other advanced approaches. For more information or to register for the programs, click here.
 
As leader of the firm’s Tax and Employee Benefits practice group, Shiner works closely with his clients resolving tax controversies and structuring transactions that minimize exposure to state and federal estate taxes. Shiner is also a certified public accountant with a master of laws in taxation. He is highly experienced with handling cases in the U.S. Tax Court involving gift, estate and income tax matters.
 
Founded in 1903, ICPAS is one of the largest state CPA societies in the nation with more than 23,200 members. ICPAS is an essential partner for success, providing convenient and customized education, timely and relevant information, influential advocacy, and countless opportunities to make powerful professional connections.
 
 
 
 
In May the women attorneys of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. hosted their first-ever Women Helping Women virtual networking event in support of Sista Afya Community Care (Sista Afya), a not for profit organization that provides low-cost mental wellness services centering on the experiences of Black women. The event raised nearly $1,500 in donations, which will help fund Sista Afya’s programs such as community care workshops and therapy sessions.
 
“Our mental wellness programs transform the lives of Black women through collective healing processes in safe places,” said Camesha Jones, the founder and executive director of Sista Afya. “The power of women collectives is also evident in the efforts of the Women Helping Women group, and it was wonderful to meet so many amazing women and to have their support for the work we do.”
 
Due to ongoing restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm’s annual WHW in-person Mix-and-Mingle that aims to connect women through networking, business development and community service was reconfigured to a virtual networking experience for all attendees. WHW partnered with SpeedNetworking.com to provide each participant with the opportunity to connect with up to six women business leaders, entrepreneurs, strategic partners or new friends, while promoting community service through highlighting Sista Afya.
 
“It was so great to reconnect with our Women Helping Women group after the hiatus due to COVID-19,” said Chuhak & Tecson attorney and presenter Julie Gardner. “It was a wonderful evening with great connections made. The partnership with Sista Afya during May, which is Mental Health Awareness month, made it that much more special, especially with the focus that Sista Afya brings to mental health wellness.” 
 
Women Helping Women looks forward to its next Mix-n-Mingle—whether in-person or virtually—in order to continue providing a platform for attendees to build business while supporting a meaningful charitable organization. 
 
To access the Sista Afya donation page, click here. To learn more about Chuhak & Tecson’s WHW events or to request an invitation to the next event, contact Jane LaGrassa, manager of marketing & communications, at jlagrassa@chuhak.com.
 
Kevin Coyne, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal and leader of the firm’s Real Estate group, will be one of the panelists presenting to students from UIC John Marshall Law School’s Center for Real Estate Law at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 17. Panelists joining Coyne are fellow UIC John Marshall alumni Elisa Pennetti, vice president and Illinois State Counsel, Near North Title Group, and Jordan Peters, partner, Freeborn and Peters LLP.
 
This event is a learning and networking opportunity for UIC John Marshall students interested in careers in commercial real estate law. Each semester, alumni from the Center for Real Estate join current students to talk about breaking into the real estate industry, landing that important first job and identifying the best coursework to be practice-ready upon graduation. To register, contact Jacob McMillian at the UIC John Marshal Law School’s Center for Real Estate Law and he will provide the complimentary Zoom link.
 
Coyne leads the 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. He relishes his roles as both legal counsel and business advisor for commercial property transactions and is rapidly expanding his knowledge relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and commercial lease obligations. As a former Naperville city councilman, Coyne has unique perspective and constructive insight that benefits clients facing municipal issues in Chicagoland. 
 
The Center for Real Estate Law at UIC 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 Nicholas Schuler, Jr. has joined as senior counsel in the firm’s Banking group. In addition, Connor Valentyn and Aaron Weinger Ward have been elevated from law clerks to associates in the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Business Law and Estate Planning & Asset Protection practices respectively.

Schuler’s practice includes a wide variety of matters that affect the banking and commercial sectors including litigation, internal investigations, and compliance and ethics issues. In his most recent role as inspector general for the Chicago Board of Education, Schuler fought hard to ensure that a modern, professional watchdog agency was taking citizen complaints seriously, keeping an eye on the public fisc, and clearing access to government records necessary to complete investigations. Schuler received both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the Catholic University of America, and he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin, Valentyn focuses his practice on assisting businesses of all sizes with a wide variety of matters, including entity formation, contract drafting and negotiations, and the sale and acquisition of businesses. He also has experience in the real estate sector, drafting and advising clients on leases and sale and purchase agreements for both residential and commercial properties. Valentyn received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Weinger Ward focuses his practice on developing comprehensive estate plans and counseling clients with active probate matters. With a full understanding that clients want their assets passed to their loved ones rather than the government, he frequently implements new approaches to structure single or multiple trusts within an estate plan to substantially minimize the estate’s tax obligations. Weinger Ward received his undergraduate degree from Knox College and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Stephen A. Wood, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal and leader of the firm’s Litigation practice group, will be one of the speakers featured in an upcoming webinar sponsored by the Washington Legal Foundation. The presentation, titled FCA State of Play: False Claims Regulation and Litigation in a New Era of Enforcement, will take place on Feb. 17 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. EST. Presenting along with Steve are Kristin Graham Koehler from Sidley Austin LLP and Jay B. Stephens, former General Counsel of Raytheon Company and of counsel at Kirkland & Ellis. Together they will discuss how massive government-spending programs and increased federal and state involvement in healthcare delivery and other industries have led to a growth in government contracting, which means more businesses than ever are subject to the False Claims Act (FCA), state false-claims laws, and private whistleblower litigation. In addition, the speakers will offer insights on the enforcement priorities, strategies of new leadership at relevant agencies and 2020’s key FCA-related court decisions.
 
To reserve your spot for this webinar, click here.
 
Stephen A. Wood is a principal with Chuhak & Tecson in the firm’s Chicago office, where he leads the Litigation Practice Group. Steve focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, including a wide range of commercial disputes, government enforcement, mass tort and other matters. He is an active participant with a number of attorney organizations, including the Defense Research Institute and Lawyers for Civil Justice, and is a featured contributor on the False Claims Act for Washington Legal Foundation’s WLF Legal Pulse blog. Steve is a thought leader on the False Claims Act and has represented various clients in False Claims Act litigation and investigations. Steve is a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. 
 
Washington Legal Foundation is a national public-interest law firm and legal policy center. Its mission is to defend American free enterprise by litigating, educating, and advocating for a free market, a limited and accountable government, business civil liberties and the rule of law. 
 

Chuhak and Tecson, P.C. is pleased to announce that Rebecca M. Cerny has joined as an associate in the firm’s 19-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection group. Licensed in both Illinois and New York, she focuses her practice primarily on estate planning, with a particular emphasis on tax planning, asset protection planning, advising clients regarding retirement assets, charitable giving and business succession strategies.

Cerny consistently works with clients to design, draft and implement tailored estate plans, ensuring their wishes and goals are achieved. She also has considerable experience working with high-net-worth individuals to create complex estate planning structures, providing security for their families for generations to come.

“With recent changes in legislation at the state and federal levels amidst the backdrop of the pandemic, demand for estate planning continues to increase,” said Lindsey Paige Markus, principal and leader of the firm’s Estate Planning & Asset Protection group. “We are thrilled to have someone with Rebecca’s experience, creativity and problem-solving skills join our team.”

Cerny received her undergraduate degree in business administration from The College of Saint Rose and her Juris Doctor from the Albany Law School of Union University.

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal and leader of the firm’s Litigation group Stephen Wood will be a speaker at a two-day virtual conference hosted by the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). Steve’s presentation, titled Wearables: Issues for Life Insurers, takes place on Dec. 9 from 1:30 ─ 2:15 p.m. EST. He will discuss how wearables are being considered by insurers as an opportunity to gain more information about the health of insured people and the legal and compliance issues surrounding them. Attendees will also learn what approaches insurers have implemented regarding this technology, specifically as it relates to underwriting and policy administration. Lastly, attendees will receive information on the future prospects for this technology and its use by insurers.  

This virtual conference’s registration fees vary for ACLI members and nonmembers, which can be reviewed by clicking here.

Stephen A. Wood focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, including a wide range of commercial disputes, while also specializing in government enforcement proceedings. He has represented clients in courts across the country and has tried cases in state and federal courts from New Jersey to California. He also has participated in a variety of evidentiary hearings in state and federal courts, and before administrative bodies. Steve has argued several appeals and has been involved on the brief in numerous other appellate proceedings. Steve’s experience in complex commercial litigation spans a wide range of substantive areas including breach of contract, Lanham Act, employment torts, restrictive covenants, unfair competition, and antitrust, among others. In respect to government enforcement, Steve is a thought leader on the False Claims Act and has represented various clients in qui tam matters. He has also represented clients involved in FCPA and other types of government investigations. 

The ACLI advocates on behalf of 280 member companies dedicated to providing products and services that promote consumers’ financial and retirement security. Ninety million American families depend on our members for life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, dental and vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI represents member companies in state, federal and international forums for public policy that supports the industry marketplace and the families that rely on life insurers’ products for peace of mind. ACLI members represent 94% of industry assets in the United States.

 

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. principal Lindsey Paige Markus will speak at the ninth annual Professional Advisor Forum hosted by Advocate Aurora Health and Northern Trust. This two-part virtual program takes place on Friday, Nov. 13 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 20 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Attendees will receive key insights from thought leaders regarding topics impacting clients post-election 2020. Clients are fearful of their health and wealth, and the best estate planners can be a beacon of light during these dark times, providing wise counsel and devising plans that clients can act upon today, with assurance that they will survive these turbulent times. Markus will present at the second session on Nov. 20 and that discussion will address income and estate tax strategies post-election while in the midst of the pandemic.

To register for one or both of these sessions that qualify for Continuing Education Credits, click here.

Lindsey Paige Markus draws on her early career in business, finance and neuroscience to craft and implement creative solutions for the estate planning, wealth protection, and the corporate needs of individuals and businesses. As leader of the firm’s 19-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection Group, Lindsey is an indispensable resource for clients who entrust her with their finances and futures. Licensed in Illinois, Florida and New York, Lindsey is a published author and a natural educator who has appeared as a thought leader on television segments for WCIU, Fox News and NBC. She is passionate about giving back and has earned countless honors and gratitude for her tireless philanthropic efforts. As a founding member of the firm’s Women Helping Women program, Lindsey serves as a role model and mentor to many women attorneys, and regularly works with them one-on-one to steer them in the right direction with client issues and business development efforts. Actively promoting an inclusive firm culture that allows attorneys to be their best selves at work is one of the Lindsey’s qualities that her colleagues admire most about her.