David B. Pogrund is an experienced litigator, specializing in representing corporations and other business entities in employment, construction, and commercial litigation. His work on behalf of companies in defending employment discrimination cases has included successful litigation and arbitration outcomes before the EEOC, IDHR, and in the Federal District Court.
David is an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Chicago - Booth School of Business, where he teaches Employment Law for Entrepreneurs and Managers.
David is also a skilled business advisor who advises clients on entity formation; leases; contracts; how to hire, fire and discipline employees in compliance with State and Federal Discrimination Laws; shareholder disputes; real estate closings; business transactions; and construction law, including a substantial mechanic’s lien practice.
David’s clients have included general contractors, construction suppliers, construction sub-contractors and tradesmen, healthcare and nursing homes, distributors, property developers, banks, finance companies, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, restaurants, remodelers, physicians, attorneys, architects, engineers, accountants and other service providers in every field of expertise.
David received his J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 1983 and completed his B.A. in history cum laude at Tulane University in 1981, where he was a member of the Tulane Scholar Program. He is a member of the Illinois and Federal Bar Association, a member of the Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois, and has been admitted to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
David was recognized and awarded the designation as an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2007 in the field of Employment Litigation: Defense.
David regularly represents on a pro bono basis: The Ark, Rochelle Zell High School, Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago, Camp Ramah of Wisconsin, Maot Chitim, and various other charitable organizations. He also serves as a trustee and board member on numerous trusts and business entities in the Chicagoland area.
David is a frequent lecturer on construction law and employment law.
Contact David at (312) 782-3636 or (312) 528-5305
Sherwin I. Pogrund has been practicing law in the Chicago since 1957. During that time he has represented many companies in the area of construction, real estate, finance, contracts, and commercial litigation. He has represented numerous associations and was general counsel for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, both in the Chicago area and on the national level, for over forty years.
He attended the University of Illinois in Chicago, received a Bachelor of Arts from Roosevelt University in 1955 and a doctorate of juris prudence from Northwestern University Law School in 1957. He also attended Oxford University, where he did graduate work in 1955. Mr. Pogrund served the construction industry by authoring the column “Legal Aspects” in the Qualified Remodeler’s magazine for over twenty years.
He received the Man of the Year Award from Professional Remodeler’s Association in 1971, the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in 1988, the Government Affairs Award from the National Association of Remodeling Industry in 1990, and the Presidents Award from the National Association of Remodeling Industry in 2001.
He also acted as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, specializing in construction disputes. He has been an active member of the Commercial Law League of America and the American Trial Lawyers Association and has been a member of the Legislative Committee of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Pogrund has been a frequent contributor to publications and lecturer regarding construction law, estate planning and contracts. Over the years, he has represented many substantial real estate developers such as ARLEN Realty, and the Hollub Family, and many wholesale and manufacturers of electrical products, plumbing products and construction materials.
He has also represented many contractors and finance companies throughout the Chicago area involving all phases of their work from employee relations to mechanic’s liens to AIA contracts, truth-in-lending issues and resolution of litigation disputes. He has overseen condominium conversions, having managed the Shoreline Towers Apartments conversion and converted 378 units with a ninety-five percent sellout within sixty days of commencement of sale. He also advised in the conversion of 3200 Lake Shore Drive, 1000 Lake Shore Drive, Lake View Apartments and various projects in Mundelein, Illinois, and Fox Lake, Illinois. Over the years, Mr. Pogrund has represented clients in many sales and purchases of businesses and in asset-based lending matters.
Mr. Pogrund’s charitable endeavors have involved being the President and Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Loop Synagogue, Executive Vice President of Skokie Valley Traditional Synagogue and the Associated Talmud Torahs as well as being a member of the board of the Association for Family Living.
Mr. Pogrund is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a former member of the Unauthorized Practice Committee of the Chicago Bar Association.
Contact Sherwin at (312) 782-3636
Martin S. Korey specializes in representing real estate developers, primarily in the Greater Chicagoland area.
In the past, Mr. Korey has represented developers of shopping centers at Roosevelt Road and Clinton and Jefferson Streets in the City of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois as well as Elgin, Illinois, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Channahon, Grundy County, Illinois, Glendale Heights, Illinois, and Evanston, Illinois. A number of these projects involved planned unit developments and tax incentive financing.
Mr. Korey also has had vast condominium conversion legal representation experience, including, but not limited to, a 378-unit property at 6301 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and 711 River Road in the City of Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois. Mr. Korey has also been involved in the conversion of large, multi-tenant commercial properties to commercial condominiums.
During the past years, Mr. Korey provided legal services for the development and entitlements to single family developments in the Village of Lindenhurst, Lake County, Illinois the Village of Hampshire, McHenry County, Illinois, the City of Rolling Meadows, Cook County, Illinois, the Village of Vernon Hills, Lake County, Illinois, the City of Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie County, State of Wisconsin and represented the developer of an eighteen (18) unit single family resort development in Park City, Summit County, Utah and an airplane Hangar/Condominium in Wyoming. In addition, Mr. Korey has been involved with representing clients that receive General Service Administration ("GSA ") Awards to construct Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinics and other governmental buildings for the GSA in diverse locations throughout the United States and all construction loans related thereto.
Mr. Korey has also provided legal services for the conversion from mutuals to public stock companies of a number of savings and loan in the Chicagoland area, including, but not limited to, Northwestern Savings Bank, Cragin Federal Savings and Bell Savings, and currently represents a number of banks in the Chicagoland area. Mr. Korey was also actively involved in the legal representation of the formation of a de novo bank, Alliance, FSB formally known as PNA Bank, in the Village of Niles and the purchase and sale of a number of banks, privately and publicly held, in the Chicagoland area.
Mr. Korey is currently providing legal services to one of the largest red light traffic enforcement providers in the State of Illinois. Mr. Korey has negotiated in excess of fifty-six (56) red light traffic law enforcement agreements with municipalities in Cook and the collar counties of Lake, DuPage and McHenry Counties.
Martin S. Korey is also a skilled business advisor who advises clientele on entity formation, commercial and shopping center leases, business acquisition and sale transactions, purchase and sale of commercial real property, conduit loan and other sophisticated loan transactions, including but not limited to industrial revenue bonds, TIF’s and collateralized mortgage financing transactions.
Mr. Korey received his J.D. from DePaul University of Law in 1970 and completed his B.S. in Accounting at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois in 1967. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and has been admitted to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Mr. Korey previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Bar Association Condominium Association and served as a member of the Board of Directors of all of the Second Tier Real Estate Service Corporations of Northwestern Savings Bank.
Contact Martin at (312) 782-3636 or (312) 641-1233
James P. Ziegler has been practicing law in Chicago since 1976. He specializes in construction and commercial litigation and in representing small businesses and financial institutions. Mr. Ziegler is general counsel for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Greater Chicagoland. He represents contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers in their day-to-day activities and in litigation as their needs arise. He co-authored “Construction Law in Illinois” in 1991 and “Advanced Construction Law in Illinois” in 1998 for the National Business Institute. He has lectured frequently in various states on construction law and on consumer protection laws and regulations. Mr. Ziegler has helped savings and loans document consumer loan products, including one of the first equity line of credit mortgage loan products in Illinois.
He has managed the documentation of many commercial loans for various savings and loans, banks, fraternal benefit societies and insurance companies. He represented a title company, advising officers on its day-to-day operating issues, and has helped form and obtain licenses for mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers and installment loan licensees in Illinois.
Mr. Ziegler successfully argued a case before the Illinois Supreme Court. King v. First Capital Financial Services Corp., 215 Ill.2d 1, 828 N.E.2d 1155, (Ill. Apr 21, 2005). He defended two residential mortgage lenders who outsourced document preparation to a private company and passed this fee along to their borrowers. Class action litigation was filed alleging that charging this fee constituted the unauthorized practice of law because the individuals performing the services were not attorneys. He was successful in having these suits dismissed on the trial level, appellate level, and was ultimately successful in the Illinois Supreme Court.
Recently Mr. Ziegler successfully defended a mechanics lien claim on behalf of the owners of a residence arguing the failure to provide a contractor’s affidavit after a demand for one forfeited the contractor’s right to a mechanics lien. See Cityline Const. Fire & Water Restoration Inc. v Roberts, 2014 IL.App (1st) 130730.
Mr. Ziegler received his J.D. summa cum laude from De Paul University in 1976 and his B.A. with honors from the University of St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto in 1973. He is a member of the Illinois and Chicago Bar Associations. He is a member of the trial bar for the Northern District of Illinois and is admitted to practice before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact Jim at (312) 782-3636 x112
Lawrence Stark has been practicing law in Illinois since 1985 and has been licensed to practice law in Florida since 2008. He specializes in the representation of long term care facilities, after having been a staff attorney with the Illinois Department of Public Health (1986-1988). In addition to representing a number of long term care facilities and home health agencies, Mr. Stark represents landlords in the Chicago area, and is knowledgeable in the area of the City of Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance and the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act of Illinois.
Mr. Stark is a graduate of Brandeis University (B.A. 1982) and the Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D. 1985). He has been awarded the AV Rating under the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review system.
Together with Martin Korey, Mr. Stark was successful before the Illinois Appellate Court in the matter published as Hugh v. Amalgamated Trust and Saving Bank, 602 N.E.2d 33 (1992), which concerned gift law, and the difference between letters of direction and assignments of the beneficial interest under Illinois Land Trust law.
Mr. Stark prevailed in both the unpublished decision of Carlton at the Lake, Inc. v Barber, 1-13-1334, (1st Dist. 2014), wherein the appellate court held that a nursing home can maintain a cause of action based on breach of contract, notwithstanding the lack of a signed residency contract, and the published appellate decision Carlton at the Lake, Inc. v Barber, 401 Ill.App.3d 528, 928 N.E.2d 1266 (1st Dist. 2010), where the appellate court decided that quantum meruit is available to nursing homes notwithstanding an unsigned written contract with a resident .
Mr. Stark has written with John Ziegler on The Illinois Administrative Code Title 89, Section 14.22 (b) which States: “If an appellant dies before the date of [Medicaid] hearing, the appeal process may be pursued by someone acting responsibly in the appellant’s behalf.” as interpreted In the administrative review matter of Windmill Nursing Pavilion v. The Illinois Department of Human Services 16 CH 15490 . In addition Mr. Stark wrote about some general guidelines regarding Medicare benefits in the area of skilled nursing care.
In the transactional arena, Mr. Stark specializes in the representation of dentists in all aspects of the acquisition and sale of dental practices, including limited liability company and professional corporation formation. In 2009, Mr. Stark was invited to join the Illinois State Bar Association Health Care Law Section Council and to serve on its legislative subcommittee. Mr. Stark Chaired the Illinois State Bar Association Health Care Law Section Council during its 2015-2016 term.
During his practice, Mr. Stark has probated numerous decedent’s estates and established minor’s and guardianship estates, including the prosecution of a will contest matter. For his long-term care clients, Mr. Stark has filed numerous claims in estates and worked with the Public Guardian’s Office and Public Administrator’s Office to open estates on behalf of the residents. Mr. Stark also assists his clients with Medicaid applications and appeals.
Mr. Stark is active with the Anti-Defamation League, serving for several years on its Executive Committee, and as co-chair of the Speaker’s Bureau.
Contact Larry at (312) 782-3636
Dean J. Lurie specializes in the areas of real estate development, commercial litigation, construction law, and corporate law. Mr. Lurie has represented real estate developers and prominent condominium developers in the City of Chicago in their conversion and new construction projects. Mr. Lurie has also represented Homevestors™ franchises, one of the nation’s largest buyers, rehabilitators, and sellers of single family homes. He has also worked on large scale commercial real estate projects such as shopping centers, commercial office buildings, and the acquisition and development of a sports recreational facility in Chicago.
Mr. Lurie has litigated cases involving complex construction disputes, mechanics lien litigation, the automotive industry, defense of nursing homes, wholesale produce suppliers, labor and employment issues, software copyright issues, banking software contract issues, and complex shareholder disputes. Mr. Lurie has successfully prevailed in the following published cases: PNA Bank v. Open Solutions, Inc., 2009 WL 186183 (Commercial Banking Law); Pelfresne v. Village of Lindenhurst, 2004 WL 1660812 (Land Use); White v. Chicago Cooling Tower, 2003 WL 22494880 (Employment); and Pope v. Smith Rothchild Financial Company, 2003 WL 228899377 (Commercial Law). Mr. Lurie has also prevailed in bench trials involving sales commissions, landlord-tenant issues, and specifically, the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance.
Mr. Lurie attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a B.A. in psychology with Honors in 2000. In 1999, he attended the Spanish-American Institute of Spain where he studied international business. Mr. Lurie attended IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate with Honors in 2003. During law school, Mr. Lurie was the recipient of the Raymond J. Ott Scholarship, the Chicago-Kent Merit Scholarship, and the CALI Award for top student in Construction Law.
In his corporate practice, Mr. Lurie has represented real estate offices, construction companies, financial institutions, real estate investment groups, and retail stores forming limited liability companies and corporations and handling the necessary transactional work for these entities.
Mr. Lurie is a member of the Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. He is also a member of the Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations.
Contact Dean at (312) 782-3636
Ronald H. Balson has extensive national experience in commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation including securities and commodities litigation, appeals, tort litigation, and employment law litigation. Mr. Balson has extensive experience in handling international discovery.
Mr. Balson was a Professor of Business Law, University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business from 1975 through 2004. Mr. Balson has been an Instructor at Federal Trial Bar since 2000.
Mr. Balson has served as lead trial counsel in numerous matters.
Mr. Balson was lead counsel in 2007 in obtaining a multimillion-dollar settlement for a publishing/printing company in litigation with a Japanese manufacturer. The case was brought simultaneously in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and in AAA arbitration in Ft. Worth, Texas. Discovery included thousands of Japanese documents and foreign language depositions.
Representation of medical instrument supplier against the State of Indiana resulting in favorable settlement in 2015.
Representation of plaintiff in litigation for breach of contract to install telephone services in southern Poland, involving Polish documents, experts in international telecommunications, foreign language depositions, and resulting in a multimillion-dollar settlement in 2004.
Representation of plaintiff in a U.S. District Court case for the Southern District of New York against a Japanese Bank regarding a breach of contract to operate a hedge fund, involving Japanese discovery, experts in finance, foreign language depositions and resulting in a multimillion-dollar settlement in 2003.
Representation of a hotel investment corporation in defense of a rescission and fraud suit resulting in dismissal of the suit and an award of attorney's fees in 2011.
Representation of plaintiff in a suit against an asset management corporation and the account executive for misapplication and misappropriation of the invested funds resulting in a substantial settlement in 2011.
Representation of former inmate against government of officials for civil rights violation in U.S. District Court and Seventh Circuit of Appeals resulting in multimillion-dollar settlement in 2013.
Representation of plaintiff in a suit against a former national sales executive and his new employer for breach of a restrictive covenant resulting in substantial settlement in 2011.
Representation of defendant law firm in malpractice suit resulting in a minimal nuisance settlement after the jury had been empaneled in 2010.
Successfully represented Kanye West in defenses of violation of copyright (2011).
Representation of defendant in a multimillion-dollar software copyright infringement and breach of contract arbitration in Washington, D.C. successfully defending 10 of 11 counts resulting in a fractionally small award in 2005.
Representation of defendant in a commodities case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois resulting in favorable jury verdict. Mr. Balson thereafter successfully represented the client on appeal before the Seventh Circuit in 2002.
Successful defended physician group in claim of government for Medicare Fraud (2017).
Representation of an electric power company in a suit against a Japanese turbine manufacturer resulting in multimillion-dollar settlement for client.
Obtaining a summary judgment in favor of a mid-size law firm, in a suit brought by a former member of the firm.
Representation of a client on a commercial breach of contract claim against a New Jersey cartage company through trial, appeal and the New Jersey Supreme Court, resulting in favorable judgment and award of attorney fees.
Mr. Balson also obtained a substantial jury verdict for plaintiff in medical malpractice claim in Kane County, Illinois.
Mr. Balson has successfully litigated the following reported cases:
Commerce & Industry v. Montclair Hotels 2013WL 1283834
Rand B. Kapital Development LLC v. North Shore Community Bank and Trust Co. 832 N.E.2d 246 (1st Dist. 2005)
Artistic Framing v. Hospitality Resources 2013 WL 317019 (2013)
R.J. O'Brien & Associates, Inc. v. Ronald Forman, 298 F.3d 653 (7th Cir. 2002)
Kemper Sports Management, Inc. v. United Golf Group, 2000 WL290512 (N.D. Ill. March 17, 2000)
Steidle v. City of Paris 2019 WL 5125807 (2019)
Championsworld LLC v. U.S. Soccer Federation 2008 WL 4861522 (2008)
North Bergen Rex v. Trailer Leasing Co., 158 N.J. 561 (N.J. Supreme Court 1999)
Natale v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 292 Ill.App.3d 512 (1st Dist. 1997)
Ogden-Martin Systems of Indianapolis, Inc. v. Whiting, Corp., 179 F.3d 523 (7th Cir. 1999)
Artistic Framing, Inc. v. Claire's Boutiques, Inc., 95-1225 (slip Opinion, 1st Dist. 1996)
Stevens v. Tilman, 568 F.Supp.289 (N.D. Ill.1989)
Kemmerer Bottling Group, Inc. v. Central Truck Parts Co., 717 F.Supp.552 (N.D. Ill. 1989)
Mors v. Williams, 791 F.Supp. 739 (N.D. Ill. 1992)
Pepper v. Marks, 168 Ill.App.3d 253 (1st Dist. 1988)
U.S. v. Suburban Home Physicians 2017 WL 2080350 (2017)
Whitlock v. Bruggeman 682 F.Supp 567 (2012)
Stoller v. Village of Northbrook, 162 Ill.App.3d 1001 (1st Dist. 1987)
In re Estate of Divine, 263 Ill.App.3d 799 (1st Dist. 1994)
Kennedy v. Bobbie & Clydes, Inc., 227 Ill.App.3d 856 (1st Dist. 1992)
U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co., 107 Ill.App.3d 190 (1st Dist. 1982)
State v. Williams, 478 So. 2d 983 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1985)
Best Coin-op, Inc. v. Old Willow Falls Condominium Assn’s, 120 Ill.App.3d 830 (1st Dist. 1983)
Johnson Products Co., Inc. v. Khalil, 1987 WL 12180 (N.D. Ill. June 9, 1987)
Woolfolk v. Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of Village of Robbins, 79 Ill.App.3d 27 (1st Dist. 1979)
Anderson v. Pineda, 819 N.E.2d 1157 (1st Dist. 2004)
In addition to litigation, Mr. Balson handles business transactions including representing an interstate trailer leasing company in the $300 million dollar sale of its assets. Closing documents required transfer of all equipment, leases, contracts, real property, and goodwill.
Mr. Balson is a Member of the Chicago Bar Association, American Arbitration Association Panel of Arbitrators, American Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee.
Mr. Balson was named Citizen of the Year in Lincolnshire, Illinois, in 2005. He was the Past President of the Lincolnshire Community Association.
Mr. Balson is the author of the multiple published novels, including, Once We Were Brothers, The Trust, Karolina's Twins, Saving Sophie, The Girl from Berlin and Eli's Promise.
Mr. Balson received his J.D., cum laude from DePaul University in 1972 and his B.A. from Tulane University in 1966. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including Trial Bar); U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York and Pro Hac admission in Texas, Louisiana, Hawaii, Michigan, Indiana, California, Arizona, New Hampshire and New York..
Contact Ron at (312) 782-3636
Stuart M. Sheldon has practiced law since 2005, and concentrates his practice in the areas of adult guardianship, creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, and real estate litigation and transactions. Mr. Sheldon represents both individuals and companies from varied industries including long-term care and assisted living, construction, manufacturing, and real estate development.
Mr. Sheldon represents numerous long-term care and assisted living facilities throughout Chicagoland and Illinois. He assists those health care facilities in adult guardianship, collection, commercial litigation, and involuntary transfer matters.
Moreover, Mr. Sheldon represents both buyers and sellers in residential real estate closings and commercial closings, has assisted with condominium conversions, and has represented corporate clients in a wide array of matters ranging from corporate formation and acquisitions to shareholder disputes.
Mr. Sheldon attended IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence with honors in 2005. While at Chicago-Kent College of Law, he was a recipient of Chicago-Kent academic scholarships for all three years, was on the Dean’s List, and received CALI Awards as most outstanding student in both Administrative Law and Legal Writing and Research III. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance, with a focus in Real Estate Finance, from the College of Commerce and Business Administration. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a financial analyst at The Ayco Company, L.P., a financial planning firm in Lake Forest, Illinois, which has since been acquired by Goldman Sachs
Mr. Sheldon was named an “Illinois Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine/Chicago Magazine for 2013, 2014 and 2015, and was named an “Emerging Lawyer” by Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers publication for multiple years.
Mr. Sheldon is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and before the United States District Court as well as the United States Appeals Court for the Seventh Circuit, and is a member of the Trial Bar for the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. He is also a member of the Illinois Bar Association.
Contact Stuart at (312) 782-3636
John Ziegler is an experienced litigator, focusing on the health care, construction, and real estate industries. John has experience handling a wide variety of matters, including contract disputes, contested disabled person's estates, contested estate claims, debt collection lawsuits, administrative review complaints (including public aid appeals), mortgage foreclosures, mechanics lien foreclosures, landlord-tenant lawsuits, Condominium Property Act disputes, and fraudulent transfer lawsuits. John’s clients include various health care facilities, nursing homes, commercial lenders, construction contractors, property owners, condominium associations, individuals, and small businesses.
Prior to joining Stone Pogrund & Korey LLC, Mr. Ziegler practiced government contracts law in Washington, DC, representing both civilian and defense contractors in their business relationships with Federal, state and local governments. His work there involved, among other things, prosecution of contract claims against U.S. Government agencies, defense of Federal Civil False Claims Act suits, present responsibility demonstrations, subcontractor disputes, utilities privatization, and bid protests.
Mr. Ziegler graduated with high honors from The George Washington University Law School in 2011 as a member of the Order of the Coif. During law school, he served as a judicial extern to Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox of the Northern District of Illinois. At George Washington, he served as Articles Editor on the Public Contract Law Journal and was also awarded “Best Government Brief” in the 2010-2011 McKenna Long & Aldridge “Gilbert A. Cuneo” Government Contracts Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Ziegler was raised in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from Kenyon College with high honors as a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, earning a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Classics. Mr. Ziegler has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 2011. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Contact John at (312) 782-3636
Peter W. Buchcar focuses his practice in the areas of regulatory compliance, estate planning, probate practice, construction and commercial litigation, administrative disputes, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and debt collection.
Peter has experience in resolving contract disputes, opening and closing estates, contested estates and/or claims, adult guardianships, residential and commercial real estate closings, corporate formation, and insurance regulatory compliance.
Peter is fluent in Polish and represents individuals and companies from various industries, including fraternal benefits societies, member-based associations, private schools, small businesses, commercial lenders, long-term care and assisted living facilities, construction companies and property owners.
Peter serves as Legal Counsel to the Polish National Alliance of the U.S. of N.A., where he has experience handling regulatory matters before various State Departments of Insurance. Mr. Buchcar also serves as Legal Counsel for the Chicago Midwest Chapter of the National Association of Surface Finishing, where he has experience in shareholder and/or member disputes and manufacturer defense in administrative regulatory actions.
Peter earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he earned Dean’s List honors each semester and received a CALI award as the most outstanding student in Criminal Procedure.
Peter is a member of the Chicago, Illinois and American Bar Associations, as well as the Association of Fraternal Benefit Counsel. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Contact Peter at (312) 782-3636
Nicole M. Harrison is one of the newest attorneys to the firm and was recently admitted to the Illinois Bar in January 2021. Ms. Harrison will focus her practice in business litigation, estate & guardianships, and collection work.
Ms. Harrison attended DePaul University College of Law, where she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence in May 2020. Ms. Harrison served as a member of the DePaul Law Review initially as a staffer, subsequently as Assistant Executive Editor. She received Dean’s List her first year and was the recipient of the CALI Award as the top student in Conflict of Laws.
Ms. Harrison graduated from Florida State University in 2017 earning a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Sciences with a Minor in Business.
Ms. Harrison is a member of the Illinois and Women’s Bar Association. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.
Contact Nicole at (312) 782-3636
Christopher T. Nowotarski concentrates his practice in the area of insurance and financial services industries regulatory matters. Since 1990, Mr. Nowotarski has represented many fraternal benefit societies with regard to regulatory matters before various state departments of insurance. He assists insurance companies in expanding their financial services and acquisition of non-insurance business entities, including the purchase of a federal savings bank by the Polish National Alliance of the United States of N.A. Mr. Nowotarski acted as legal counsel and chief negotiator for several mergers between fraternal benefit societies and as special counsel and advisor for the President of the Polish National Alliance of the United States of N.A. He serves on the National Fraternal Congress of America Law Committee and on the Solvency Committee. He has achieved Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), with distinction; Fellow, Financial Services Institute (FSLI), with distinction, Associate, Annuity Products and Administration (AAPA), with honors; Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance (AIRC); with honors,; Professional Customer Service (PCS) with honors; Associate, Insurance Agency Administration (AIAA) and the Associate Reinsurance Administration with honors, designations from LOMA. He has also drafted bylaws for fraternal benefit societies and other non-profit organizations.
Since 1994, Mr. Nowotarski has been the General Counsel for the Chicago Metal Finishers Institute, the metal finishing industry association, where he has represented the members of the association in many different regulatory and litigation matters. Most recently he has successfully represented metal finishers and circuit board manufactures in administrative regulatory matters initiated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency concerning alleged RCRA violations. In his representation of members of the metal finishing industry, he has defended his clients against administrative and legal actions brought by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr. Nowotarski also has extensive experience in estate planning and probate practice. He has drafted estate plans for estates ranging in size from under $1 million dollars to in excess of $20 million dollars. In the area of probate, he has advised in routine as well as contested matters.
Mr. Nowotarski is fluent in Polish and currently serves as a Director-at-Large for the Polish American Congress. He was a co-founder and past Director of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Amicus Polonia Legal Clinic, former Board Member of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, and a Vice President of the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation. He also serves as a Director and Secretary of PNA Bank and as Secretary of Notre Dame College Prep.
Mr. Nowotarski received his J.D. from DePaul University of Law in 1983 and his B.S.C. with honor from DePaul University in 1980. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, and U.S. Tax Court.
Contact Christopher at (312) 782-3636
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1 East Wacker Drive, Suite #2610
Chicago, IL 60601
ph: (312) 782-3636
fax: (312) 782-1482
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