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Sumner A. Bourne is a Partner at Rafool & Bourne, P.C., in Peoria, where he concentrates his practice in bankruptcy. He is a Subchapter V bankruptcy trustee, a Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s section council on bankruptcy, and a member of and frequent lecturer for the American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. Bourne received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. magna cum laude from the 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 received her B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from the Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Darron M. Burke is a Partner at Barrick, Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera, LLP, in Rockford, where he concentrates his practice in bankruptcy, municipal law, and civil litigation. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the Winnebago County Bar Association. He has been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers from 2019 to 2021. Mr. Burke received his B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from New England Law | Boston.
Laura K. Grandy is Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois. She is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and the Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Group to the Administrative Offices of the U.S. Courts and a Bankruptcy Judge Representative to the Judicial Conference of the Seventh Circuit. Judge Grandy received her B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and her J.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Law.
Cindy M. Johnson is a Managing Member of Johnson Legal Group, LLC, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice in bankruptcy, commercial litigation and post-judgment enforcement. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, and the Illinois Creditors Bar Association. Ms. Johnson received her B.A. from the University of Chicago and her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Raffy A. “Rae” Kaplan is the Owner of Kaplan Law Firm in Chicago, where she focuses on bankruptcy and student loan law. She is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute and a frequent guest on WGN Radio and WLS Radio. Ms. Kaplan received her B.A. from Boston University and her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
David P. Leibowitz is a Managing Member of the Law Offices of David P. Leibowitz in Chicago, where he represents clients in financial matters. He received his B.A. from Northwestern University and his J.D. cum laude from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Ronald R. Peterson is Of Counsel to 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 – 2022); Chambers USA (Illinois, 2003 – 2020); the Commercial Law League of America’s Lawrence P. King Award for Excellence in the Field of Bankruptcy (2014); Illinois Super Lawyers for Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2005 –2016), Bankruptcy: Business (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), and Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020); Lawdragon Magazine’s 3000 Leading Lawyers in America (2010) and 500 “Leading Dealmakers” (2007); and Leading Lawyers Network’s Top 100 Leading Business Lawyers in Illinois (2006) and Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial (2004 – 2019). 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. Mr. Peterson 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 at Jenner & Block LLP, in Chicago, where he focuses on bankruptcy and restructuring. He received J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
Melissa M. Root is a Managing Partner at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago, where she focuses on restructuring and bankruptcy litigation. She is a board member of the Chicago Chapter of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law and a Past Cochair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s Woman Advocate Committee and the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s Bankruptcy & Insolvency Committee. Ms. Root 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.
Catherine L. Steege is a Partner at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in bankruptcy and restructuring and bankruptcy litigation. She is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, a Conferee of the National Bankruptcy Conference, and a member of the Colliers Board of Editors. Ms. Steege received her B.S. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and her J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
Justin R. Storer is a Partner at the Law Office of William J. Factor, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on consumer bankruptcy. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and has been recognized with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and as a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2022. Mr. Storer earned his B.S. from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
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