Much of our law school’s continued success is rooted in the work and commitment of the faculty. Many of you have commented to me how much you owe to the dedication of our professors. Our professors are not only great teachers: their reputation has fueled our continued rise in the US News and World Report rankings, and our IP program this year was ranked tops in the Midwest.

I am pleased to introduce to you three professors new to Chicago-Kent who should carry on the tradition of faculty greatness. William Birdthistle received his JD from Harvard, clerked for the Honorable Diarmuid O’Scannlain of the Ninth Circuit, and practiced law at a corporate firm in Boston for several years. William’s scholarship and teaching interests focus on regulation of the financial services industry. Felice Batlan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and served as the Associate General Counsel and Head of Global Compliance for a major investment firm before earning a PhD in History from New York University. Felice’s research and teaching interests focus on securities, legal history, and feminism – a unique combination, to say the least! Jeff Thomas practices and teaches at the Chicago-Kent Law Offices, where he focuses on legal matters common to start-up companies. Professor Thomas gained experience representing entrepreneurs and start-ups while working as an attorney at law firms in Chicago and Silicon Valley. Professor Thomas received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School.

This past month, many alumni and friends helped kickoff the law school’s campaign to raise $1.5 million to fund our first endowed chair. This chair will reflect the increasing national prominence of our faculty, and will be named in honor of Professor Ralph Brill in recognition of his invaluable contributions to Chicago-Kent over the past forty-five years. To view photos from the event at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens, visit The Ralph Brill Chair online photo gallery.

Finally, as the end of the fiscal year approaches, please consider making your gift to the Annual Fund. Gifts made before May 31 will count for this year, and members of the Senior Partner Council -- those who have given $1,000 or more in the last year to Chicago-Kent (or those who have graduated since 1996 and have given $500 or more) -- will celebrate at a dinner and private viewing of King Tut at The Field Museum on August 3, 2006.

Thank you for your continued involvement and connection to this outstanding community.

Sincerely,

Harold J. Krent
Dean and Professor of Law

**Special Event this June**

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Brunch
Sunday, June 4
Brunch at McCormick and Schmick's at 12:00 PM
Performance at 2:00 PM
Drury Lane Water Tower Place
$79.50 pp, inclusive of Brunch and Main Floor Seating (face value $69.50)

Join us for the Tony Award-winning new musical comedy THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, where six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

Alumni and guests will meet at McCormick and Schmick's on Wabash St., and then we will head over to Water Tower Place for the 2:00 PM Performance.

For more information, or to make your reservation, contact Barbara Matthopoulos at bmatthopoulos@kentlaw.edu or at (312) 906-5245.

Save the Date to enjoy the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum. Members of the Senior Partner Council -- those who have given $1,000 or more in the last year to Chicago-Kent (or those who have graduated since 1996 who have given $500 or more) -- will celebrate at a dinner and private showing at the Field Museum on August 3, 2006. To join the Senior Partner Council, click here.

Won’t you support Chicago-Kent this year? Time is running out. Annual giving is very important to the people and programs of Chicago-Kent. Alumni participation really makes a difference. Please send your check today to Institutional Advancement,
565 W. Adams, Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60610 or make a gift on line at /depts/dev/give.php . All gifts received on or before May 31 will count for fiscal year 2006. Thank you in advance! Questions? Contact Tanya Pietrkowski at tpietrkowski@kentlaw.edu.

The Ralph Brill Chair

More than 150 alumni, friends and colleagues celebrated with Professor Ralph Brill and his family at Navy Pier on April 6. The event kicked off the law school’s effort to fund its very first endowed chair which will honor Ralph and his 45 years of teaching. Please consider joining the Ralph Brill Gift Committee and help us reach out to classmates and friends. Our goal is $1.5 million. If each of Ralph’s 8,000 students could make a gift, we could reach our goal in no time. To join the Committee, contact Elizabeth Turley, eturley@kentlaw.edu or 312-906-5241. Make your online gift, today!

Thursday, June 22 – Trial Advocacy Alumni Dinner

Thursday, August 3 – Senior Partner Council event at The Field Museum with a private viewing of King Tut

Wednesday, August 16 – Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals– Annual Chicago-Kent Alumni Baseball Outing at The Stadium Club, US Cellular Field

Thursday, November 16 – Annual Alumni Luncheon at University Club of Chicago

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