CHICAGO, February 20, 2024 – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC (LP) is pleased to announce that Suzanne Karbarz Rovner and Eileen Sethna – partners in the firm’s Real Estate and Financial Services & Restructuring Groups, respectively – have been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business among its 2024 “Notable Women Lawyers.”
Suzanne Karbarz Rovner is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of construction law, including advising clients on effective strategies for project execution, drafting and negotiating contracts, and enforcing contractual rights and obligations. Rovner advises owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers in construction projects throughout the country. When disputes arise, Rovner advocates on behalf of her clients to resolve the dispute through settlement negotiation, litigation, or alternative dispute resolution. She also has experience handling government contract and federal procurement matters, including bid protests, claims, administrative appeals, and suspension and debarment.
Eileen Sethna is a partner in and leader of the firm’s Financial Services & Restructuring Group. With over two decades of experience, she is a trusted adviser to banks, financial institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds, real estate investors, and business owners. Given her experience representing both lenders and borrowers, clients lean on her vast wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry. In the past year, Sethna led a team that successfully resolved a high-profile bankruptcy matter in which hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake for her client, obtaining the largest “cure” award ever granted to a landlord in connection with the assumption and assignment of a lease.
“Each of these women are brilliant attorneys who are committed to exceptional client service,” said Managing Partner Jeffery Hoffenberg. “As colleagues, we see and appreciate their immense contributions to our clients, the firm, and the legal industry on a daily basis – and we are thrilled that they have received this wider recognition as well.”
Past firm recipients of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women Lawyers honor include Lauren Friedel, Elizabeth O’Brien, Elizabeth (Lisa) Vandesteeg, Sheri Warsh and Lauren Wolven. Eileen Sethna has previously been named among Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women Lawyers in 2018 and 2020.
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About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, estate planning, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way” – the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience. Visit our website at www.lplegal.com, and follow us on LinkedIn at @levenfeld-pearlstein.
This article was originally published on November 9, 2022
As a guest on the “How Not to Suck at Divorce” podcast, Partner Lauren Wolven dared to delve into two topics that make people uncomfortable – death and divorce. She explained the several steps you can take to ensure that you’ve covered all of your bases, just in case you die during or soon after your divorce, including:
- How do I change my power of medical attorney during a divorce?
- How do I change my life insurance policy when going through a divorce?
- How do I change my Will when I’m going through a divorce?
Levenfeld Pearlstein (LP) is thrilled to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Formed in 1999, LP was born of the desire to create a different kind of law firm – one that prioritizes collaborative relationships built on trust.
“Since our inception, we have prioritized the client experience and we are grateful to our many loyal clients,” said Managing Partner Jeffery Hoffenberg. “As we celebrate this milestone, we do so with vast appreciation for our strong and lasting client relationships.”
With the primary goal of providing an unparalleled client experience, our attorneys understand their clients’ business and industry inside and out, seeking legal solutions that support the client’s long-term business strategy as well as short-term needs. Together and individually, we care about and value people – our employees, our clients, our business partners, and our communities.
“Seven attorneys and professionals have been with the firm since its inception – and many more have been with the firm for more than 20 years – which is a testament not only to the exceptional client experience we provide but the positive culture of the firm as well,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Gresham.
Thank you to our clients for your support over the past 25 years.
CHICAGO, January 31, 2024 – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC (LP) is pleased to announce that Elizabeth O’Brien has been named leader of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group – the group’s first female practice group leader – effective February 1, 2024.
Elizabeth O’Brien represents developers and investors in connection with acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, development, construction financing, construction contracts, and commercial leasing. Elizabeth is a former member of the Board of Directors of Friends for the Chicago River and the Board of Directors for the Howard E. Eisenberg Foundation. She is a member of Commercial Real Estate Executive Women (CREW) Chicago, a member of the Steering Committee for the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner and a previous member of the Associate Board of Greater Chicago Food Depository. In 2022, she was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business among its “Notable Women in Law”.
In addition to serving in her new role as Real Estate Practice Group Leader, she is a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee.
“Elizabeth brings keen legal insights and an innovative spirit to the commercial real estate industry and the firm,” said Managing Partner Jeffery Hoffenberg. “She is an attentive mentor to several attorneys, an asset to the Compensation Committee, and a committed partner to her clients.”
Practice group leadership transitions are a part of LP’s deliberate succession planning protocol, designed to provide opportunities for different individuals at the firm to serve in leadership roles. Since its early days, LP has cultivated leaders through a formal training program. Its successful implementation continues to create future leaders with skills that build upon those of their predecessors.
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About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, estate planning, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way” – the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience.
Visit our website at www.lplegal.com,and follow us on LinkedIn at @levenfeld-pearlstein.
CHICAGO, January 17, 2024 – Levenfeld Pearlstein (LP) is pleased to announce that Kathryn (Katie) Nadro has joined the firm as a Partner in its Corporate Group.
A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), Nadro’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate various data security and privacy issues. She assists clients with policy drafting, program management, data collection, and incident response. She also advises clients on best practices for compliance with evolving state, federal, and international data protection laws.
“We are thrilled to welcome Katie to the firm,” said Robert Connolly, leader of LP’s Corporate Group. “Katie’s vast experience as a cybersecurity and data privacy attorney will enable LP to provide an additional layer of advice and service to our clients, helping them navigate the evolving and increasingly complex cybersecurity and data privacy landscape.”
In addition to her active legal practice, Nadro is on the Ethics & Professionalism Committee of the ABA’s Litigation Section. She is also a frequent writer and speaker on data security and privacy issues for organizations such as the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section’s Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. Before joining LP, Nadro was a partner with Raines Feldman Littrell LLP.
Nadro earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, with honors, and her B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Berkeley.
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About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters most efficiently and cost-effectively possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way”. Unique among corporate law firms, the LP Way is the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience at an exceptional value. Visit our website at www.lplegal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @lplegal.
Congratulations to Blake Schulman, Mark Vaughan, Courtney Nussbaum, Kim Krofta and Cristy Gibson who helped navigate the deals during a particular challenging period for the commercial real estate market. In August 2023, the LP team represented the sellers in the sale of a 492-unit, 45-story luxury apartment building and in late-December 2023, the LP team represented the sellers in its sale of the 357-unit Union West luxury property.
LP is pleased to announce that it is part of the GGI Global Alliance, effective January 1, 2024. GGI is a global alliance of independent law, accounting, and consulting firms with 640 members in more than 126 countries.
“At LP, we strive to provide an unparalleled client experience. Access to GGI’s network of lawyers around the world is one more way we can enhance our client service,” said LP Managing Partner Jeffery Hoffenberg. “We look forward to building strong relationships within GGI to benefit our clients.”
CHICAGO, IL, January 3, 2024 – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC (LP) is pleased to announce that the following three attorneys have been promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2024: Benjamin Altshul, Robert Garner, and Sean Williams.
Benjamin Altshul has been promoted to partner in the Real Estate Group. He represents commercial real estate clients in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing transactions. Altshul has extensive experience representing clients in the purchase and sale of multi-family and shopping center asset classes. He has represented both tenants and commercial landlords, including large private equity companies and commercial brokerage companies, in commercial lease issues, such as disputes regarding lease compliance, collections, and other disputes. Altshul is also a board member of the Jewish Council for Youth Services.
Robert Garner has been promoted to partner in LP’s Corporate and Tax Planning Groups. Garner works closely with private equity firms, real estate investors, strategists, and entrepreneurs on tax structuring related to acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, restructurings, recapitalizations, and other tax matters. Additionally, Garner handles a broad range of general corporate matters for clients, including business formation, mergers and acquisitions agreements, and contract negotiation. He has extensive experience conducting all aspects of federal/state tax due diligence on potential acquisition targets and in transactional tax modeling.
Sean Williams has been promoted to partner in the Financial Services & Restructuring Group. He assists debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, and purchasers of assets in bankruptcy courts nationwide and purchasers and sellers in out-of-court restructurings and distressed asset sales. He also has experience in general commercial litigation matters, with substantial experience prosecuting and defending significant preference and fraudulent transfer actions in bankruptcy cases.
“LP is committed to developing, empowering, and promoting the next generation of leaders,” said Jeffery Hoffenberg, Managing Partner of LP. “These attorneys have substantial experience in their respective practice areas and have also demonstrated a commitment to providing an unsurpassed client experience and advancing the firm’s goals. We are pleased to promote them to the role of partner.”
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About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, estate planning, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way” – the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience at an exceptional value.
Visit our website at www.lplegal.com and follow us on LinkedIn at @levenfeld-pearlstein.
CHICAGO, November 29, 2023 – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC (LP) is pleased to announce that Steven Kriz, a partner in LP’s Trusts & Estates Group, has been accepted as a Fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
Kriz focuses his practice on advising high-net-worth individuals and families on ways to structure and implement their unique estate planning goals. Although he is experienced in all aspects of trust and estate administration, he concentrates on estate and gift taxation, wealth preservation and asset protection, and succession planning for closely held businesses.
Lawyers and law professors are elected to be Fellows with ACTEC based on their “outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and substantial contributions to the field” by lecturing, writing, teaching, and participating in bar leadership or legislative activities.
To qualify for membership with ACTEC, a lawyer must have at least ten years’ experience in the active practice of trust and estate law, as fiduciary counsel with a fiduciary services company, or a combination thereof, or be a full-time teacher of law at a duly accredited law school, specialize in teaching trust and estate law, and have at least ten years’ cumulative experience as a lawyer in active private trust and estate practice or as a teacher of trust and estate law, or a combination thereof.
Kriz joins eight other LP attorneys as ACTEC Fellows, including Jared Cloud, Adam Garber, Carrie Harrington, Stuart Kohn, Robert LoPrete, Rob Romanoff, Suzanne Shier, and Lauren Wolven. Three attorneys – Kriz, Harrington, and Garber – have been elected in the past two years.
“We congratulate Steve for earning this highly respected recognition,” said Carrie Harrington, Trusts & Estates Practice Group Leader. “His skill and knowledge in the field of trusts and estates, as well as his commitment to client service, are an asset to the firm and its clients.”
To see the complete list, visit: https://www.actec.org/actec-elects-35-new-fellows-to-the-college/
About The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Established in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national, nonprofit association of approximately 2,400 lawyers and law professors from throughout the United States and abroad. ACTEC members (Fellows) are peer-elected on the basis of professional reputation and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration and related practice areas. The College’s mission includes the improvement and reform of probate, trust and tax laws and procedures and professional practice standards. ACTEC frequently offers technical comments with regard to legislation and regulations but does not take positions on matters of policy or political objectives.
About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, estate planning, financing, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to The LP Way – the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience at an exceptional value.
Visit our website at www.lplegal.com and follow us on LinkedIn at @levenfeld-pearlstein.
CHICAGO, November 29, 2023 – Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC (LP) is thrilled to announce that Simone Randolph, a partner in LP’s Financial Services & Restructuring Group, is an honoree of Law Bulletin Media’s 4th annual Top Women in the Law Awards.
With over 300 nominations, Simone was among 50 women selected for the prestigious award because of her work to advance other women in the profession, her shining example of leadership, and her professional success. Simone and other honorees were recognized at a reception on November 28, 2023.
Simone’s practice focuses on representing clients in a wide range of complex financing transactions, including syndicated, mezzanine, and construction financing. She also advises lenders on loan purchases, sales, restructurings, and modifications. She has represented lending institutions and borrowers in thousands of financing transactions throughout the country. Additionally, Simone has significant experience advising clients in sophisticated real estate matters, including, but not limited to, acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, ground leasing, and property and facilities management issues and disputes. Simone navigates complex projects and financing arrangements with an informed and nuanced approach.
As an attorney who helps clients with finance and real estate financing issues, Simone enjoys seeing the tangible manifestation of her legal work. In particular, she thrives on seeing active, flourishing neighborhoods and communities emerge from underutilized spaces.
“We congratulate Simone for receiving this well-earned honor,” said Eileen Sethna, Financial Services & Restructuring Practice Group Leader and a past-honoree of Law Bulletin Media’s Top Women in Law award. “Her legal acumen, dedication to client service, and commitment to empowering and advancing others, including women in the legal profession, are a superb example of legal excellence.”
Active in the Chicago community, Simone serves on the board of the Women’s Bar Foundation, which provides scholarships to young women pursuing law degrees. She is also an executive board member and board vice chair of the Chicago Loop Alliance, which works to promote and support businesses and revitalize the city’s central business district.
About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate, estate planning, financing, and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way” – the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience at an exceptional value.
Visit our website at www.lplegal.com and follow us on LinkedIn at @levenfeld-pearlstein.