Chicago-Kent
Alumni Awards: 2009 Award Recipients
Every year Chicago-Kent alumni come together to
honor distinguished alumni and individuals who serve Chicago-Kent
and the legal community. This year, awards will be given to the
following individuals:
Distinguished Service
Award
Given to an individual
who has made a significant financial or volunteer contribution
to the law school.
Robert J. Washlow '70
Bay West Management LLC
 A 1970 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Robert J. Washlow began his legal career concentrating in the fields of corporate and real estate law, the same practice areas that have stayed with him throughout his career. After working in a small 10-lawyer firm for several years, he merged his practice into Vedder Price in the late 1980’s, where he served on the firm’s management committee and chaired its real estate practice until 1998.
From 1999 – 2007, Washlow served as CEO and Chairman of Lawson Products, Inc., a publicly traded corporation engaged in the distribution of industrial products throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K. In 2007, he established Bay West Management LLC through which to conduct business activities focused on the development and operation of hospitality facilities and apartment communities.
In addition to numerous civic and volunteer positions in his community, Washlow’s commitment to Chicago-Kent and his desire to give back is reflected in his service as a member of the Chicago-Kent Board of Overseers since 2004, and on the law school’s strategic planning committee over the last year. In 2001, he established a Fellowship endowment to provide scholarships to students based on merit and financial need, and has been a contributor to Chicago-Kent’s Annual and other designated funds since 1986.
Professional Achievement
Award
Given to an individual
who has made an outstanding contribution to one or more of the
following fields: 1) the practice of law, 2) the judiciary, 3)
public service/government, 4) business/commerce, or 5) the media.
The Honorable Dorothy A. Brown ‘96
Clerk, Circuit Court of Cook County
 A 1996 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Dorothy A. Brown is currently serving her third term as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she was first elected in 2000. As the official keeper of records for all judicial matters in one of the largest unified court systems in the world, Brown is responsible for managing an annual operating budget of more than $100 million and has a workforce of over 2,100 employees.
Originally from Louisiana, Brown became a Certified Public Accountant in 1977 and then worked for one of the “Big Eight” accounting firms, a major utility company and a major Chicago bank. She also helped start a minority CPA firm, and in 1981, received her MBA from DePaul University. From 1991 – 2000, Brown was the General Auditor for the Chicago Transit Authority. Under her leadership, the CTA designed a mechanism to monitor fare collections at train stations and prevent the misappropriation of funds. In addition, Brown enhanced the overall professionalism in the CTA’s office of Audit by ensuring that new employees had the requisite educational levels and appropriate professional experience.
Brown’s strong commitment to professionalism and public service is evident in her many positions in the finance, legal, political and religious sectors, such as past President of the National Woman’s Political Caucus of Greater Chicago andpast President of the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Brown is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Dorothy Brown Scholarship and Community Development Fund, an organization developed to secure funding for college bound students.
Professional Achievement
Award
Given to an individual
who has made an outstanding contribution to one or more of the
following fields: 1) the practice of law, 2) the judiciary, 3)
public service/government, 4) business/commerce, or 5) the media.
Kevin M. O’Keefe ‘73
Partner, O’Keefe Lyons & Hynes, LLC
 A 1973 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Kevin M. O’Keefe began his legal career at the firm O’Keefe, Ashenden, O’Brien, Hanson and Lyons where he devoted twenty years to the practice of state and local taxation. He rejoined the firm in 1997, now known as O’Keefe Lyons & Hynes, LLC, following four years of service in the Clinton Administration, and under his leadership, the firm’s state and local tax group has tripled in size and extended its scope of practice from Cook County to across the nation.
In addition to his legal practice, O’Keefe has been involved in numerous political campaigns; most significantly, as a member of the national campaign steering committee and as the Illinois chairman of the 1992 Presidential Campaign of William J. Clinton. In January 1993, O’Keefe took a four-year hiatus from the firm to serve in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel. There he oversaw the nomination and confirmation of all U.S. Attorneys and Marshals and all Presidential regional appointments. He was also appointed as a Deputy Assistant to the President for Inter-Governmental Affairs, acting as liaison between the White house and the nation’s governors, attorneys-general and mayors.
As a partner at O’Keefe Lyons & Hynes, O’Keefe has tried property tax cases in numerous states while representing major taxpayers in property tax appeals at the administrative and judicial levels. Currently, O’Keefe serves on the Board of Directors for After Schools Matters, and has served on the boards of B.R. Ryall YMCA, Central DuPage Hospital and Fannie Mae Corporation.
Young
Alumni Award
Given to an alumnus or
alumna who has graduated within the past ten years and has made
an outstanding contribution to one or more of the following
fields: 1) the practice of law, 2) the judiciary, 3) public
service/government, 4) business/commerce, or 5) the media or who has made a significant financial or volunteer contribution to the law school.
Ryan B. Jacobson ‘99
Partner, SmithAmundsen LLC
 A 1999 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Ryan B. Jacobson began his career at SmithAmundsen in 2000 as an associate handling a variety of complex person injury matters. Named partner at 31 years old, Jacobson is currently the co-chair of SmithAmundsen’s Entertainment, Media and Privacy Group. Prior to joining SmithAmundsen, Jacobson spent time with the National Institute of Justice and the FBI, as a legislative aide to Senator Ted Kennedy and as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable George Lindberg of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
In his role at SmithAmundsen, Jacobson dedicates a large part of his practice to matters governed by the First Amendment where he regularly counsels and defends clients in the areas of defamation, media liability, advertising injury, privacy law, misappropriation, and political campaign liability. He also counsels seasoned actors, musicians, professional athletes and emerging talent on a wide variety of contractual issues, and has advised political candidates at the city and state levels. A dedicated volunteer, Jacobson spends time coaching law students at Chicago-Kent and Northwestern in the appellate advocacy programs. He also performs pro bono work for Lawyers for Creative Arts and has served as a guest lecturer at Northwestern’s School of Law.
Jacobson was named as one of Illinois’ Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and the Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Young
Alumni Award
Given to an alumnus or
alumna who has graduated within the past ten years and has made
an outstanding contribution to one or more of the following
fields: 1) the practice of law, 2) the judiciary, 3) public
service/government, 4) business/commerce, or 5) the media or who has made a significant financial or volunteer contribution to the law school.
Sean G. Wieber ‘07
Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP
 A 2007 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Sean G. Wieber began his career at Winston & Strawn as a litigation associate in its Chicago office.
While a student at Chicago-Kent, Wieber drafted Illinois House Bill 1279, also known as the “R.A.W. Initiative” during a Legislative Advocacy class where the task was to propose mock legislation. The bill was created to honor Wieber’s fallen Northwestern University teammate, Rashidi Ayodele Wheeler, who collapsed during a football practice. Finalized in the spring of 2008, Public Law #95-0712 mandates that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be placed at all outdoor physical fitness facilities in Illinois and have trained users present.
Since joining Winston & Strawn in 2007, Wieber has been appointed as a special assistant attorney general by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan where he, along with Governor James R. Thompson, successfully obtained the dismissal of former Governor Blagojevich from a Sec. 1983 civil rights action on the ground of legislative immunity. He currently serves on a multi-lawyer team defending Ernst & Young, and also as the youngest member of a multi-lawyer team defending William Cellini in United States v Blagojevich.
Most recently, Wieber was named “Young Lawyer of the Year 2008-2009” by the Illinois State Bar Association. He is the first associate with less than two years of experience to receive the award, which is intended to encourage young lawyers to participate in their profession and community affairs.
Institutional Partner Award
Given to a law firm or corporation that has had a significant impact on the law school and/or on the lives of alumni and students by assisting in the advancement, growth and/or development of Chicago-Kent, especially as their involvement directly impacts students and alumni.
These firms or corporations have demonstrated a commitment to Chicago-Kent by: 1) funding internships/part-time jobs for students; 2) recruiting graduates for career opportunities; 3) funding scholarships or fellowships; 4) supporting annual student and alumni activities; 5) arranging for in-kind donations, and/or; 6) fostering mentoring programs between employees and students.
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
 In 1988, six attorneys founded McAndrews Held & Malloy, sharing a common vision to become the best legal resource in America on intellectual property and technology matters. What began as a few rooms in the firm’s headquarters at 500 West Madison Street in Chicago is, today, two full floors of nearly 90 attorneys, with each sharing a constant commitment to set new standards in our areas of specialty.
The firm’s founders built its core capabilities around successful trial work with initial assignments involving the complex technology behind a diverse mix of products: intermittent windshield wipers, building siding, diapers, landfills, fireplaces, fax machines, defibrillators, baking pans and golf balls. Many of the clients who turned to McAndrews Held & Malloy early on remain clients today, as they helped turn the firm into one of the most successful intellectual property boutiques of its kind—a firm offering full-service intellectual property and technology services. The firm's steady expansion has been fueled in large part by an annual influx of top law school talent.
McAndrews’ demonstrated commitment to Chicago-Kent is evident in providing numerous full-time and part-time employment opportunities to Chicago-Kent students and graduates. 18 of McAndrews’ 89 attorneys—20%—are alumni of Chicago-Kent, and many of those attorneys worked part-time at McAndrews enrolled at Chicago-Kent. Its alumni are also actively involved as members of the Alumni Board of Directors, through the Intellectual Property law program and as adjunct professors.
|
