VAB Law was honored to sponsor the 2026 Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP’s Unity Gala and Award Ceremony. The DSF's mission is to promote the goal of advancing diversity within the legal community. To fulfill its mission, DSF seeks to financially assist underprivileged and under-represented minorities in attending law school by offering them scholarships. DSF’s reach goes outside of the Chicago area helping aspiring students in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa. We are especially proud of VAB Partner, Erica Byrd's work as Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee! VAB Shareholder, Aurora Austriaco also helps to support the cause by serving on the Board of DFS. We were excited to bring as our guests Sarah Vehlow of Wintrust Bank Chicago and Suhana Patel, an aspiring law student. In addition to Erica and Aurora and our wonderful guests, VAB team members Susan Valentine, Reena Sikdar, Jennifer Novoselsky, Lance Willoughby-Hudson, Jack Casey and LaWanda May, MSHR were there to support this worthy cause and celebrate the recipients. Congratulations to all of the 2026 recipients of the DFS scholarships!
Aurora Austriaco Presented at the 2025 Women in Litigation CLE Conference
Aurora Austriaco presented at the ABA Litigation Section 2026 Women in Litigation CLE Conference, February 11–13, in Jersey City, NJ. Aurora spoke on "Presidential Perspectives on Leading with Purpose & Influence" with three amazing women who are also past bar presidents.
VAB Celebrates Our 2026 Super Lawyers
A VABulous round of applause to Susan Valentine, Aurora Austriaco, Lydia Bueschel, Sandy Morris, Erica Byrd and Jennifer Novoselsky for being included on the "Illinois Super Lawyers" list and to Reena Sikdar, Deborah Imafidon and Preslav Mantchev for their inclusion on the "Illinois Rising Stars" list!
Aurora Austriaco Receives the 2025 National Filipino American Lawyer Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
#VABLaw congratulates Shareholder @Aurora Austriaco on receiving the 2025 National Filipino American Lawyer Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award is given to distinguished Filipino American attorneys whose lifelong contributions have significantly shaped the legal profession and the Filipino American community.
Aurora exemplifies this distinction perfectly. We couldn't be prouder.
Aurora Austriaco Appointed by Governor JB Pritzker to the Newly Established Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC)
Please join #VABLaw in congratulating @Aurora Austriaco on her appointment to the newly established Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC)!
Appointed by Governor JB Pritzker, the IAC is an independent board tasked with documenting the conduct of federal law enforcement agents and recommending actions to hold the federal government accountable as they conduct military-style operations in Chicago, collar counties, and throughout the state.
Thank you for your commitment to the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, Aurora! Your VAB team is so proud of you!
Aurora Austriaco Panelist Following the The Chicago Bar Association MCLE "50 Marketing Tips in 60 Minutes"
#VABLaw Shareholder Aurora Austriaco was excited to serve as a panelist following The Chicago Bar Association MCLE "50 Marketing Tips in 60 Minutes" presented by Ross Fishman, JD, CEO of Fishman Marketing. Joining Aurora on the panel discussion will be Ray Koenig, Member at Clark Hill Law and Moderator John C. Sciaccotta, Member of Aronberg Goldgehn. The four will discuss personal branding, LinkedIn, AI for lawyers, and more.
Aurora Austriaco Co-Hosts 2nd Annual Asian Women's Summit
We would like to congratulate Aurora Austriaco, Susan Patel & Michelle Lura White on hosting the 2nd Annual Asian Women's Summit last month!
The attendance was remarkable, with participants from both within Illinois and out of state! The speakers were amazing and spoke on topics ranging from Doing Business with the Government, Challenges and Opportunities in the Food and Restaurant industry, Understanding the Next Gen, Business and Serial Entrepreneurs, Navigating Corporate America, Quantum Computing and a keynote discussion on Board Readiness.
Aurora Austriaco Speaker at the 2025 CBA Alliance for Women
We are honored to have our very own Aurora Austriaco in a line up that includes these exceptional women who served as past CBA Presidents as they share their thoughts on how to be the best leader and best attorney you can be.
7 VAB Attorneys Included on the 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers/Rising Stars Lists
A #VABulous round of applause to Susan Valentine, Aurora Austriaco, Lydia Bueschel, Sandy Morris and Erica Byrd for being included on the "Illinois Super Lawyers" list and to Reena Sikdar and Deborah Imafidon for their inclusion on the 2025 "Illinois Rising Stars" list!
Aurora Austriaco Panelist for the 75th Anniversary of the National Conference of Bar Presidents Event
Honored and happy that our own Aurora Austriaco will be joining her fellow National Conference of Bar Presidents past presidents on this exciting panel presentation as they celebrate NCBP’s 75th Anniversary!
5 VAB Lawyers Selected as 2025 Leading Lawyers by leadinglawyers.com
Way to go team! hashtag#VABLaw's Susan Valentine, Lydia Bueschel, Erica Byrd and Sandy Morris were all selected as 2025 Leading Lawyers by leadinglawyers.com, with Aurora Austriaco receiving the added honor of being asked to serve as an Advisory Board Member. Leading Lawyers are recommended by their peers to be among the TOP LAWYERS in a given practice area. Less than 5% of all lawyers licensed in each state have received this distinction. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eKnfWErM
Aurora Austriaco Panelists at the Onyx Strategic Partners’ Women’s Power Luncheon
Aurora Austriaco was invited to be one of four panelists at the Onyx Strategic Partners’ Women’s Power Luncheon. The powerful panel also included Marie Lynn Miranda Arielle Johnson, MPA and was moderated by Heather Ireland Robinson. There were a wealth of knowledge shared regarding career growth, effective leadership and believing in yourself. Audrey Boyle shared insights on the importance of self-branding in today’s marketplace. The day featured committed leaders like Sharif Walker, MAOL Chartay Robinson Darlene Oliver Hightower Pier Rogers, PhD Tamara Reed Tran Dee Atkins Hiba Anjum Angila M. Faison Susan Doig Mary Beth Johnson Barbara Deer Marty Gutierrez Vincent Price Kimberly Casey Blue Pacheco-Cornejo Cynthia Withers Turnquest Katrina Waddy Bianca Cotton Mironda Ross Maya Green MD, MPH, HIVMA, AAHIVS, FACHE Karen Calloway Melanie L. Brown Eddie Francisco Kristina Hamilton Elizabeth Fulmer Stephanie Glover-Douglas.
Aurora Austriaco Podcast Guest on @theBar
Go listen! On the October 24th episode of The Chicago Bar Association's podcast @theBar, our very own Aurora Austriaco got to speak with Hosts Maggie Mendenhall Casey, Deputy Corporation Counsel of the Torts Division for the City of Chicago and Tracy Brammeier, Partner at Clifford Law Offices about her experience serving as an elected delegate at the 2024 DNC. Aurora outlines the process and responsibilities involved in becoming a delegate and shares highlights and impactful moments from the convention.
@theBar is a Chicago Bar Association Podcast that can be found on the Legal Talk Network. You can listen to this episode titled, "Who Picks Your Presidential Candidate, Anyway? — A Conversation with DNC Delegate Aurora Austriaco" here: https://lnkd.in/epCzRm_x
2024 VAB Super Lawyers
2024 is already looking #VABulous! Congratulations to Susan Valentine, Aurora Austriaco, Lydia Bueschel, and Sandy Morris who have been included on the 2024 "Illinois Super Lawyers" list. We are also very excited to report that Reena Sikdar and Deborah Seriki have been included on the 2024 "Illinois Rising Stars" list.
Aurora attends the White House Holiday Ball
What an amazing and incredible experience to go to the White House Holiday Ball!!! Thank you to my dear friend Congresswoman Robin Kelly for the great honor and opportunity!!
Aurora Austriaco Moderated 2 Panels at Business Smart Week
Aurora Austriaco, Partner at VAB Law moderated two panels on the topic of “Facing Frontal Divides: Challenges and Opportunities for Minority Businesses” and “Managing Frontal Divides: Solutions to Minority Business Challenges” at the 2023 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Business Smart Week. The theme this year was “Business Equity: Inclusion-The Pathway Forward.”
VAB’s 2023 Super Lawyers
VAB Featured in Chicago United's 2022 Year in Review
Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. was excited to be featured in Chicago United's 2022 Year in Review for both, Aurora Austriaco's new Board position and for the firm's new status as a Member Company.
Aurora Austriaco Attends the White House's 4th of July Celebration
Aurora Austriaco was honored to be invited to the Presidential 4th of July celebration as we celebrated 246 years of independence! She even made it into the White House’s official Instagram feed alongside colleagues including Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Patricia Brown Holmes and Donovan Pepper, She was even able to get a couple of selfies with President Biden and Vice President Harris.
Aurora Austriaco Panelist at ABA Tort TIPS Annual Section Conference
VAB Law Shareholder and American Bar Association, IL, State Delegate Aurora Austriaco was honored to participate as a panelist during the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Annual Section Conference last week. Aurora's session was entitled, "Moving the Needle – What Corporations Are Doing in Real Time to Affect Diversity in Their Legal Spending and Why It Matters to Your Firm." Among the topics discussed were how companies reprioritize relationship when law firms fail to use diverse talent and how organizations like National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) make hiring diverse firms a breeze.
