Chicago-Kent College of Law: Alumni E-Brief
Alumni E-Brief
Dean Harold J. Krent

From the Dean

New Faculty

I am excited to relay that we have attracted a wonderfully talented group of new faculty to join us this year. They will bring energy and creativity to the classroom and scholarship.

  • Christopher J. Buccafusco, Assistant Professor of Law, will teach torts and copyright law. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in legal history at the University of Chicago.

  • Robert H. Knowles, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, joins our legal research and writing faculty after teaching at New York University School of Law. His research applies international relations theory to administrative law, national security law, and constitutional law.

  • Edward Lee, Visiting Professor of Law, will teach international intellectual property law and copyright law. His research focuses on the ways in which the Internet, technological development, and globalization challenge existing legal paradigms.

  • Natalie Brouwer Potts, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, is a practitioner in the Chicago-Kent Law Offices and teaches immigration and nationality law. Her practice focuses on business immigration, employer audits and protecting companies from employer sanctions.

  • Christopher W. Schmidt, Assistant Professor of Law, will teach constitutional law, legal history, local government law, and sports law. A visiting faculty member at Chicago-Kent in 2008-09, he is also a visiting scholar at the American Bar Foundation.

  • David L. Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Law, is a member of our IP faculty teaching patent law and litigation. He was previously a faculty member at the John Marshall Law School.

  • Christopher B. Seaman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, will teach legal writing and intellectual property litigation. Most recently, he was an associate in the IP litigation practice group at Sidley Austin LLP.

  • Stephanie M. Stern, Associate Professor of Law and Norman and Edna Freehling Scholar, will teach courses in the environmental law program. Her research focuses on applications of social and cognitive psychology to legal regimes of property ownership, land use, and environmental law.

Please join me in welcoming these faculty members to the Chicago-Kent Community.

Sincerely,

Harold J. Krent
Dean and Professor of Law

2008 Alumni Awards Recipients
The 2008 Alumni Award Recipients. Know a deserving alumnus/a? Nominate him or her for a 2009 Alumni Award now through Sept 11.

In This Issue

News and Announcements

Nominate Alumni for the 2009 Alumni Awards

Each year Chicago-Kent honors distinguished alumni and individuals who serve Chicago-Kent and the legal community at our annual Alumni Awards & Recognition Luncheon. This year’s event will be held December 10, 2009 at the Standard Club in Chicago.

The Alumni Board of Directors Awards Committee is currently seeking nominations of alumni who have distinguished themselves in their profession or who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the law school.

We encourage you to nominate deserving alumni colleagues and friends. It’s a wonderful way to recognize accomplishments of your peers.   

Nominations should be submitted by Friday, September 11.

Nomination Button

For information on this year's Alumni Award Luncheon, visit: www.kentlaw.edu/allalumlunch.


Be a Founding Member of the C-K Young Alumni Council

The Alumni Association is excited to announce the formation of a Young Alumni Council. The Council will provide an opportunity for alumni graduating in 1999 and later to get involved with the law school in a leadership role, interact with the current Alumni Board of Directors and help strengthen the bond of younger alumni with the law school.

Young Alumni SocialWe are planning an official launch of the Council at the Young Alumni Social on August 13 at English Bar and Grill.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Council—or just want to socialize and network with other young alumni—please join us join us for this cocktail event.  

RSVP for the Young Alumni Social


New Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct

Alumni who are registered to practice in Illinois should note that on July 1, 2009, the Illinois Supreme Court adopted new Rules of Professional Conduct that will take effect January 1, 2010.

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) of the Supreme Court of Illinois advises all lawyers to be aware of the changes and modify their practices and procedures to ensure compliance with the new Rules.

Please click here to view highlights of changes, or view the full Rules on the ARDC website.


Chicago-Area Hilton Hotels Offer Discounts for Alumni

Chicago-Area Hilton Hotels, including the Drake Hotel and the Palmer House are offering 20% discounts on rooms for all Chicago-Kent Alumni from now through the end of 2009.

Whether you're coming into town for a Chicago-Kent event or business meeting, or just want to spend a romantic evening downtown, we hope you find a way to enjoy this benefit. For more information, visit www.hiltonfamilychicago.com/school/.

Save the Date

Social Events - Chicago

Young Alumni Social
Young Alumni Social
Thursday, August 13, 2009
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
English Bar and Restaurant, 444 N. La Salle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60654

Young Alumni (and alumni who are young-at-heart!) are invited to socialize and network at this cocktail event and to learn ways to get involved with the newly formed Young Alumni Council. Hosted by Matt Jenkins ’07, associate with Corboy and Demetrio.

Price: $25, includes appetizers, domestic beer, wine, and cocktails (to be paid at entry).

RSVP by Monday, August 10 to alums@kentlaw.edu or 312.906.5240.


Alumni Night @ Wrigley Field
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Pre-Game Gathering: 5:00 p.m. ~ Game: 7:05 p.m.
Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago, IL 60613

Enjoy a pre-game gathering at the Cubby Bear, which includes dinner and drinks beginning at 5:00 pm. Then, watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field at 7:05 pm.

This event has sold out. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please visit www.kentlaw.edu/cubs.


Social Events - Regional

San Diego Alumni “Day at the Races”
San Diego Alumni “Day at the Races”
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Gates open: 11:30 a.m. ~ Lunch: 12:30 p.m. ~ First post: 2:00 p.m.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Betty Grable Celebrity Suite, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014

Join the IIT San Diego Alumni Chapter at the Del Mar Racetrack to celebrate its 70 seasons of glamour, growth, and racing glory! The $55/person ticket includes superb trackside viewing in a private air-conditioned celebrity suite, program, lunch, and beverages.

RSVP by Monday, August 3 online at http://alumni.iit.edu/delmar or contact Marian Quirk at 1.800.IIT.ALUM or quirk@iit.edu. Please be advised that space is limited.

Can’t make it to the event? Visit your virtual gathering place for the San Diego Metro Area at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/sandiego.

Denver Alumni Gathering
Join us at the Denver Alumni Gathering on September 3.


Denver Alumni Gathering
Thursday, September 3, 2009
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Greenberg Traurig, 1200 17th Street, Suite 2400, Denver, CO 80202

Please join us for a Denver, CO alumni gathering, hosted by David Goldberg ‘83 and Sarah Hensley Ware ‘08.

RSVP by Monday, August 31 to alums@kentlaw.edu or 312.906.5240. 

Can’t make it to the event? Visit your virtual gathering place for the Denver Metro Area at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/denver.


Lectures & Conferences

Upload a Profile Photo

Don't be anonymous! Let your classmates recognize you quickly on your group page and your profile by uploading a profile photo.

  • Log in to the Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu and click " My Photos" from the Member Bar at the top of the page.
  • Enter a name for the photo album and click “Add.”
  • Click “Manage Album” and then “Manage Photos.”
  • Click “Browse” to search for the image you would like to upload.
  • Select the image and click “Upload.”
  • Enter a caption if you wish and click finish.

The first photo you upload will be displayed in your member profile by default. All images will need to be approved by an administrator before they appear in your profile, usually within one business day.

Not yet a part of the community?
Request your login information.

Tax Law: Careers beyond the Numbers
Monday, October 12, 2009
Noon
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Need to start (or kick-start) your career in tax law? Please join us as three tax specialists discuss the wide possibility of career choices in tax law and their individual career paths.

Panelists include Cynthia B. Lafuente ‘88, an expert in international tax law with the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation, David J. Kupiec ’94, a lobbyist and Partner with Kupiec & Martin, LLC, and Alexander Harris ’95, a shareholder with American Tax Solutions, Inc who advocates on behalf of tax payers.

RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.edu or (312) 906-5200 by Thursday, October 8.

CLE Opportunities

27th annual Federal Sector Labor Relations and Labor Law Conference
Thursday, September 17, 2009
8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Chicago-Kent presents the longest running conference on federal sector and postal labor relations and labor law held outside of Washington, D.C. The keynote panel topic will be “The Evolution of Collaboration – Where Do We Go From Here?”. Other topics will include: MSPB, EEO, FLRA, USERRA, the effective use of mediation, and diversity and intercultural Issues.

Attendees are eligible for 5.75 hours of MCLE credit including 1.25 hours of IL Professionalism credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.


Current Issues in Financial Services Law
Friday, October 2, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

The challenging complexities of revolutionary market forces, technology, and globalization have created an environment in which attorneys must broaden their knowledge and sharpen their skills to handle the widening range of legal and related issues in the evolving financial services industry. Join us for a day of provocative discussion with some of the area’s foremost practitioners and regulators on a number of current developments in this rapidly changing environment.

Attendees are eligible for 6.0 hours of MCLE credit including 1.0 hour of IL Ethics credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.


Click to view more photos >>
The 2008 and 2009 National Champion Moot Court Teams: (l-r) Lalania Gilkey-Johnson '08, Rachel Moran '08, Joanna Brinkman '09, Betsy Gates '09, Brody Dawson '09, and Andrew Booth '09.

Past Event Highlights

Moot Court Celebration

Alumni and friends of the Moot Court team gathered on June 30 to celebrate Chicago-Kent's second consecutive win in the National Moot Court Competition. John J. Dalton, President of the American College of Trial Lawyers, presented awards to the members of the 2008-09 National Championship team, Brody Dawson '09, Andrew Booth '09, and Betsy Gates '09. Photos from the event are available at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/mootcourt09.

Moot Court Alumni: Join the new Moot Court Group Page on the Alumni Online Community to keep in touch with your former teammates!


Alumni Association Events in California

The Alumni Association hosted gatherings throughout California during the month of July.

A group of IIT and Chicago-Kent alumni and guests gathered at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on July 9 for a reception at Caffe Museo and a tour of the exhibition, Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities.

Later that week, Chris Amantea ’89 hosted an alumni gathering at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach on July 12. The next day, Margaret Rosenthal '79 and Myles L. Berman '79 hosted a group of alumni for a luncheon at Margaret’s firm, Baker Hostetler LLP, in Los Angeles.

The Alumni Association will be back in California early this month for a “Day at the Races” at Del Mar Racetrack outside of San Diego.

Couldn’t make it to the events? Connect online at your new virtual gathering place: the California Group Pages. Find your group and click "join" in order to post comments, photos, links, videos, articles and more.

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Alumni from the Class of 2009 celebrated at the Post-Bar Party.


2009 Graduates Celebrate at the Post-Bar Party

Our newest Chicago-Kent alumni celebrated the completion of the Illinois State Bar Exam at a cocktail party on July 29. Nearly 200 members of the Class of 2009 and friends attended the event on the rooftop of Rock Bottom Brewery in Chicago’s River North Neighborhood.

Class of 2009: We welcome you into the Alumni Association and congratulate you on making it through the Bar exam! Photos from the event at available at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/postbar09.


Chicago-Kent Hosts Sustainability Conference

Over 100 members of the Chicago legal and environmental communities gathered at Chicago-Kent on July 22 for a sustainability conference entitled “Moving the Midwest Forward: The Benefits of Building a Low-Carbon Economy.”

The afternoon program brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, environmentalists and scholars to examine such topics as “The Impact of the Economy on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans,” “New Energy Paradigms for the Midwestern Economy” and “New Technology Infrastructure and the Investment Landscape.” Peter Fox-Penner, principal and chairman emeritus of The Brattle Group, delivered the keynote address.

A networking reception followed the program, which was co-sponsored by the Chicago law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, IIT’s Jules F. Knapp Entrepreneurship Center and WISER (IIT’s Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research).

Video of the Conference is available at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/carbon.

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Senior Partner Council members Theresia Wolf-McKenzie, Bob McKenzie '79, Barry Maram '71, Jane Sarnoff, and Bob Sarnoff '68.


Senior Partner Council Appreciation Dinner

Over 100 members of the Chicago-Kent Senior Partner Council and guests enjoyed a reception and dinner in the Winter Garden, located on the top floor of the Harold Washington Library, on July 23. Guests also enjoyed touring the exhibit, Tall Man of Destiny: Images of Abraham Lincoln, as well as a surprise visit from the President and Mrs. Lincoln (in fact, renowned Lincoln impersonators!).

The Senior Partner Council is comprised of the law school’s donors and friends who give annually at the $1,000 level. Alumni who graduated from the law school in the last five years or who work in public interest are extended membership when annual giving reaches the $500 level. For more information on the Senior Partner Council, contact Lisa Turley at eturley@kentlaw.edu.

Photos from the event are available at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/spc09.


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