Member News

Harold D. Israel and Chris Mehring of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP were selected by their peers for inclusion in the prestigious Best Lawyers in America for the third consecutive year in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Real Estate, respectively.

Jonathan Friedland authored three articles entitled “Private Equity, Venture Capital and Angel Investing – How Are They Different?”; “Has the Startup Scene Jumped the Shark?”; “When Should You Invest in a Company?” on FinancialPoise.com. These articles discuss multiple investment options and which one might be best for you, how slowly fading businesses introduce new strategies to stay afloat, and when in the lifecycle of a company should you invest in that company, if at all.

In late July, Craig Dean, Managing Principal of AEG Partners, participated in the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) summer conference panel entitled “How to Screw Up Your Future Deal”. As a member of this panel, Craig provided insight on strategic and tactical mistakes that business owners often make in preparing for an exit, and addressed how advisors can work with their clients to drive better outcomes. Craig’s participation came at the invitation of Michael Rosenbaum, President of Quadrant Five.

David Johnson of Abraxas Group served as opening keynote speaker at the AM&AA Summer Conference, held in Chicago.

Jim Shein, a professor at the Kellogg School of Management, has joined the board of directors of Triangle Petroleum Corp. Based in Denver, TPC is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a leading independent energy company with a strategic focus on the Bakken Shale and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin. He is also on the Audit Committee and a director of Caliber Midstream Partners, a joint venture with First Reserves Energy Fund.

Congratulations to Rob Meyers. Rob was honored by the Chicago Finance Association (CFA) on September 22, 2016 at the CFA’s annual “40 Under 40 Awards” program in New York City. Rob was a recipient of the “40 Under 40” award in the Business Development category.

FirstMerit Bank is now part of The Huntington National Bank. Doug Winget is the Executive Vice President of Huntington Business Credit (Asset Based Credit) with John Hopkins leading a Midwest Business Development team including Penny Fine focused on Illinois and Vic Ronk focused on Wisconsin.

Thomas Fawkes and Brian Jackiw of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP gave the following presentations: (i) “Creating the Perfect Credit Policy,” to the National Association of Credit Management Credit Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada; (ii) “How to Defend a Preference Action,” to the National Association of Credit Management Consumer Products Industry Credit Group Meeting in Chicago, Illinois; (iii) “PCI Compliance,” to the NACM Home Centers Industry Credit Group Meeting in Chicago, Illinois; and (iv) “Unauthorized Deductions: What You Can Do to Protect Your Credit and Sales Teams,” to the NACM Suppliers to Window Manufacturers Industry Credit Group Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as a NACM Connect webinar on “Consignments – Recent Developments and Common Pitfalls.”

Vincent Orlando joined American Management Services, Inc., a management consultant firm, as a Senior Management Consultant in July 2016.

Rob Baynes announced that Strong Oak has officially relocated their headquarters address to 415 N. LaSalle in the River North area. The move has proven to be great location, and they have found themselves in the company of exceptional professionals.

On June 1, 2016 Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP (SFGH) announced the opening of its New York office. Serving clients across the nation from a single office in Chicago for nearly 35 years, SFGH's New York office provides an additional resource for its clients' business needs. Partner Vanessa Schoenthaler will anchor SFGH's New York office and its growing securities practice. The new office also provides SFGH with closer connections to the bankruptcy and restructuring communities in New York and Delaware. The New York office of SFGH is located at 230 Park Ave., New York City, NY 10169.

SFGH partner Elizabeth (“Lisa”) Vandesteeg joins an esteemed group of judges, attorneys and trustee representatives for a two–year term on the Bankruptcy Court Liaison Committee for the Northern District of Illinois. The Committee promotes Court procedures, etiquette, filings and other issues in an effort to create a more efficient environment. Lisa will be involved in the development and participation of educational programs concerning matters affecting the bench, attorneys, financial institutions, and consumers. She will also play a strong role in organizing and sponsoring social events to allow greater interaction between the Court and all attorneys and other professionals who appear before it.

Michael H Traison of Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP has been appointed to the steering committee of the Middle East law committee of the International law section of the American Bar Association. Michael will introduce Israel Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran at the Merit Award Dinner of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. Michael will be the emcee of the Annual Chairman's Brunch of the Polish American Association to be held at the Chicago Institute of Arts when famed architect Daniel Liebskind will be honored.

Elizabeth Vandesteeg and Tricia Schwallier authored two articles—“Optimizing Corporate Workouts with Independent Directors and Special Committees” published on the Commercial Bankruptcy Alternatives website and “Private Equity Investment Funds, Beware!” published in the August 2016 edition of The Corporate Counselor. Tricia Schwallier also authored an article on the Commercial Bankruptcy Litigation website, entitled, “Transparency Is Key – Firms targeting fellow restructuring professionals' disinterestedness to gain leverage.”

Thomas Fawkes and Chris S. Mehring of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP presented on “Social Media for the Credit Professional” to the National Association of Credit Management Foodservice Distributors and Nursing Home Suppliers Industry Credit Group Meetings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Paul Krantz has joined Presidential Financial Corporation (PFC) as Senior Vice President in Chicago. Paul will expand PFC presence in the Midwest market where he will be responsible for originating, structuring, and funding asset-based financing solutions with commitment amounts from $2 million to $30 million. Paul will have a calling effort focused in IL, WI, MO, MN and IN, but will follow his referral source to transactions anywhere in the US.

AEG Partners announced the expansion of its restructuring practice and CFO advisory services with the recent addition of David Riesmeyer as Managing Director. Dave brings over 30 years of experience working with a wide range of companies as both a corporate executive and strategic advisor. His expertise ranges across the corporate spectrum, where he has successfully managed acquisitions and related integration, divestitures, plant consolidations, cost reduction programs, accounting controls, information systems and legal dispute resolution.

Having previously won awards from 2016’s ACQ Law Awards, Harley J. Goldstein of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP was named both “Lawyer of the Year (Corporate Restructuring – U.S.)” and “Lawyer of the Year (Bankruptcy – U.S.)” by 2016’s more expansive ACQ Global Awards.

Thomas Fawkes of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP presented on “Fraud Protections” to the NACM Golf and Tennis Manufacturers Industry Credit Group in Nashville, Tennessee.

Brian Jackiw and Daniel Curth of Goldstein & McClintock LLLP presented on “What’s Hot With Personal Guarantees” and “What’s Hot With Customer Payment Term Pushback Programs” to the NACM National Tool & Accessories Industry Group in Rosemont, Illinois.