News

Schopf & Weiss Attorneys named 2011 Best Lawyers - Four partners have been named among the The Best Lawyers in America® 2011 (Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Peter Baugher was again recognized in the category of Alternative Dispute Resolution, and  Todd Flaming was named again as a Best Lawyer in the Technology category.  Steven Weiss and Arthur Howe both joined the Best Lawyer’s list this year in the Commercial Litigation specialty.

Best Lawyers is based on an annual peer-review survey.  More than 3.1 million votes were cast on the legal abilities of other lawyers in the same and related substantive areas.

Schopf & Weiss LLP and partners Steven Weiss and Paula Litt ranked in Chambers USA - Chambers USA has ranked Schopf & Weiss among the firms recommended for commercial litigation in Illinois for 2010.  Partners Steven Weiss and Paula Litt have been singled out for special mention.  Chambers USA rankings are based on interviews with firm clients, other attorneys and third-party experts. 

Steven A. Weiss argues before the Illinois Supreme Court - On May 18, 2010, Schopf & Weiss chairman, Steven Weiss argued before the Illinois Supreme Court on behalf of their client, State Building Venture.  SBV has been in litigation with the Director of Central Management Services for the State of Illinois over SBV's lease of the commercial space at the Thompson Center in Chicago.  SBV prevailed in both the trial court and the appellate court.  The appeal raises interesting arguments about issue preclusion, sovereign immunity, and statutory construction.  To watch the video of Mr. Weiss' argument, please click here.

Kristen E. Hudson elected to the Board of Directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services - Schopf & Weiss associate Kristen E. Hudson was elected to the Board of Directors of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.  CVLS is a legal aid organization that provides pro bono representation of individual clients from the ranks of Chicago area's poor and working poor.  CVLS resolves family, consumer, probate, tort, government benefits and immigration disputes, among others.

Schopf & Weiss hosts second annual Movies on Trial - On May 21, Schopf & Weiss LLP hosted its second annual presentation of Movies on Trial, a complimentary continuing legal education program offered in conjunction with the Music Box Theatre.  This year’s program featured a screening of “A Few Good Men” followed by a panel discussion. 

Schopf & Weiss partner, Paula E. Litt, moderated the discussion by panelists Hon. Joan B. Gottschall of the Northern District of Illinois, Michael D. Monico of Monico, Pavich & Spevak, and Jeffrey E. Stone of McDermott Will & Emery.  The panel used the fictional trial portrayed in the film as a springboard for discussing real world trial preparation, techniques and strategy.  The audience of approximately 150 gave the program rave reviews, with participants describing the panel discussion as “lively” and “very smart”. Click here to see pictures

Paula Litt named one of the Top 10 lawyers in Illinois - Schopf & Weiss partner Paula E. Litt was recognized by her peers as one the Top 10 lawyers in the state according to publisher "Super Lawyers," a publication of Key Professional Media, Inc.  Ms. Litt represents major corporations and business people in complex litigation and insurance coverage disputes on behalf of corporate policyholders.

17 Schopf & Weiss attorneys named on Illinois Super Lawyers list – Schopf & Weiss LLP is pleased to announce that nine attorneys have been named Illinois Super Lawyers by Law & Politics; an honor awarded to the top five percent of statewide lawyers.

• William G. Schopf, Steven A. Weiss, Paula E. Litt, Peter V. Baugher and Ian H. Fisher were named among the top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers.
• Patrick J. Heneghan, Arthur J. Howe, Kenneth E. Kraus and Bradley P. Nelson were all named Illinois Super Lawyers in Business Litigation. 
• Eight Schopf & Weiss attorneys have been named as Rising Stars in 2010: Jason M. Rosenthal, William B. Berndt, Jennifer A. Waters, Joseph J. Siprut, Lesley G. Smith, Kristen E. Hudson, Marcus D. Fruchter and Nicholas A. Gowen. Rising Stars is a recognition of the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state, those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less.

Schopf & Weiss prevails in defense of legal malpractice action - Schopf & Weiss recently secured a victory on behalf of its client, an attorney accused of legal malpractice.  Stuart Davis, a performing artist and musician, entered into a branding deal with an investor.  Schopf & Weiss' client was the investor's attorney for the deal.  Davis brought claims against both parties, and the investor settled out of the litigation.  Schopf & Weiss defended the case on behalf of the attorney through discovery.  Less than two weeks after Davis' deposition, he voluntarily dismissed his case.  Schopf & Weiss attorneys Joe Siprut and Ken Kraus defended the attorney accused of malpractice.

Schopf & Weiss wins preliminary injunction on behalf of ice cream distributor - Schopf & Weiss recently won a preliminary injunction in favor of its client, Pars Ice Cream, one of the largest ice cream distributors in Chicago.  Pars has an exclusive distribution agreement with Unilever, a major ice cream manufacturer and owner of such brands as Good Humor and Ben & Jerry's, for certain channels and products.  Pars' distribution agreement with Unilever grants Pars exclusive rights to distribute Unilever ice cream products through the mobile vending channel in the Chicagoland area.  Pars filed suit against Unilever and several of Pars' competitor distributors in order to enforce those exclusivity rights and prevent the defendants from usurping Pars' competitive position in the marketplace.  Chancery Judge Peter Flynn granted Pars' request for a preliminary injunction to enforce Pars' exclusivity rights.  The preliminary injunction order prevents Unilever from selling mobile vending products in the Chicagoland area to any distributor other than Pars, and also grants Pars the exclusive right to distribute 45 Unilever ice cream products, regardless of the channel of distribution.  Schopf & Weiss attorneys Steve Weiss, Art Howe and Joe Siprut represented Pars.  Click here for the order.

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