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Angela M. Allen is a Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses on restructuring and bankruptcy litigation. She has represented a broad range of clients, including Chapter 7 and 11 trustees, Chapter 11 debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, and equity holders in bankruptcies and bankruptcy-related litigation. In addition, Ms. Allen has experience prosecuting and defending numerous fraudulent transfer and preference actions. Ms. Allen was awarded Law360’s “Rising Star” Bankruptcy (2017), M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leaders Award (2017), and Turnaround Management Association’s Emerging Leader Award (2015). She received her B.A. with distinction from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was a research assistant for Professor James J. White.
Sumner A. Bourne is a Partner with Rafool, Bourne & Shelby, P.C., in Peoria, where he represents debtors, creditors, and trustees on all sides of bankruptcy matters. Mr. Bourne is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy issues and has made presentations for the Illinois State Bar Association, the National Business Institute, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, the Illinois Family Support Enforcement Association, and IICLE®. He is a Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Section Council and is a speaker and author for the American Bankruptcy Institute. He was Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year, 10th Circuit (2017). He earned his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law.
Rebecca S. Brown is a career law clerk with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois, in East St. Louis. She is a member of the Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois. Ms. Brown earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and her J.D. magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law, where she was the Editor of the SIU Law Journal, Student Articles.
A. Stewart Chapman is a Staff Attorney with the Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee, Marilyn O. Marshall. She concentrates her practice in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Ms. Chapman has contributed chapters to IICLE®’s RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE handbook and has also participated in bankruptcy seminars for the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Chicago Bar Association. Ms. Chapman earned her B.A. from Beloit College and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Hon. Laura Koeneman Grandy was appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois in March 2010. She is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (former Public Outreach Committee Chair), the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (Marketing Committee Chair), and the Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois. Judge Grandy is a frequent lecturer on various bankruptcy topics. She earned her B.A. with highest honors from Eastern Illinois University and her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, where she received the St. Louis University Moot Court Best Brief Award.
David P. Leibowitz is a Managing Member of the Law Offices of David P Leibowitz, in Chicago, and is of counsel to Lakelaw, which he founded in 1999. Lakelaw represents people and business in bankruptcy, mortgage-related, and other financial matters in Illinois and Wisconsin with offices in Chicago, Skokie, Waukegan, Kenosha, and Milwaukee. He serves as Chapter 7 Panel Trustee in Cook County and is certified by the American Board of Bankruptcy Certification in both business and consumer bankruptcy law. Mr. Leibowitz has been an adjunct professor in The John Marshall Law School’s LL.M. Real Estate Program, teaching “Bankruptcy Aspects of Real Estate.” Mr. Leibowitz has been Cochair of the American Bankruptcy Institute Consumer Bankruptcy Committee and served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. He is a frequent contributor to IICLE® publications and also is a speaker on issues relating to bankruptcy and divorce. He is also a Past Chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Commercial Fraud Committee and the Editor-in-Chief and a principal author of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Fraud Manual. Mr. Leibowitz earned his B.A. from Northwestern University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Ronald R. Peterson is a Partner with Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial, insolvency, and bankruptcy law. A Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, he focuses primarily on representing debtors, trustees, creditors, committees, landlords, and secured lenders in Chapter 11 cases. In addition to his insolvency litigation practice, Mr. Peterson counsels clients on a variety of transactional issues, including corporate restructurings. Mr. Peterson has received numerous awards and recognitions, among these are: the Best Lawyers in America (1995 – 2018); Chambers USA (Illinois, 2003 – 2018); Commercial Law League of America’s Lawrence P. King Award for Excellence in the Field of Bankruptcy (2014); Illinois Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2005 –2016), Bankruptcy: Business (2017, 2018), Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018); Lawdragon Magazine’s 3000 Leading Lawyers in America, (2010), 500 “Leading Dealmakers” (2007); and Leading Lawyers Network’s Top 100 Leading Business Lawyers in Illinois (2006) and Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial (2004 – 2018). He is a highly regarded speaker and author. Mr. Peterson is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Commercial Law League of America, and the American Bar Association. He earned his A.B. cum laude from Ripon College and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Landon S. Raiford is a Partner with Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where he is a member of the firm’s Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice. He represents debtors, trustees, creditors, and committees in Chapter 7 and 11 cases in a variety of contexts, including litigation and mediation, out of court restructurings, and the purchase and sale of assets in bankruptcy. Mr. Raiford also has extensive appellate experience, including the successful defense of a bankruptcy court’s order dismissing claims seeking over $150 million. He was awarded an M&A Advisor’s Annual Emerging Leaders Award (2017). Mr. Raiford is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the American Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
Melissa M. Root is a Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses on restructuring and bankruptcy litigation. She serves as Cochair of the Women Advocate Committee, American Bar Association Section of Litigation. Ms. Root has been recognized by the American Bankruptcy Institute as a “40 under 40” Emerging Leader in Insolvency Practice (2017) and ranks in Chambers USA’s directory under Bankruptcy and Restructuring — Illinois (2018). She received her B.A.magna cum laude from Bowling Green State University and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was a member of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform and a recipient of the Robert S. Feldman Labor Law Award.
Catherine L. Steege is a Partner with Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where she is Cochair of the Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice and Cochair of the Bankruptcy Litigation Practice. Debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, 1114 committees, trustees, and other parties seek her representation before the bankruptcy courts. She also handles complex litigation arising out of bankruptcy cases and insolvencies. Ms. Steege is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy; Chambers USA has recognized her as a leading lawyer in bankruptcy and restructuring law (2008 – present); she was selected by Law360 as one of 10 “Bankruptcy MVPs” (2014); Best Lawyers in America has recognized her in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law and litigation bankruptcy; and she is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. She has spoken on bankruptcy law and other topics at seminars hosted by the American Bankruptcy Institute, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the National Association of Credit Management, the American Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. She is also a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations. Ms. Steege received her B.S. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she graduated first in her class and was Managing Lead Articles Editor of the DePaul Law Review.
Justin R. Storer is an associate at Bauch & Michaels, LLC, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice on consumer bankruptcy. Mr. Storer is Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee (2018 – 2019) and was the 2019 recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Leal Services Distinguished Service Award. He earned his B.S. from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
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