Tevin Bowens Joins the VAB Team!

VAB welcomes Tevin Bowens as Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C.’s newest associate! Tevin brings broad knowledge of the bankruptcy process, honed during his time serving as a law clerk in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Tevin is poised to provide VAB’s clients with practical advice to protect creditors’ rights in a wide range of bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters.

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.

Aurora Austriaco Recipient of this Year's Chicago United “Toni Cornelius Special Recognition” Award

Congratulations to VAB Shareholder, Aurora Austriaco on her election to the Board of Chicago United and on being the recipient of this year's Chicago United “Toni Cornelius Special Recognition” Award!

VAB thanks Chicago United for the honor to serve on the Board and for this incredible recognition. Congratulations, as well, to the other award recipients.

Aurora Austriaco Panelist at Pennsylvania Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, International Women's Day Program

VAB Law Shareholder, Past President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and Past President of The Chicago Bar Association, Aurora Austriaco spoke on a panel at the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, International Women's Day Program via Zoom.

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VAB Supports Just The Beginning - A Pipeline Organization

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In celebration of Black History Month, we are honored to support Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization whose mission is to is to encourage students of color and other underrepresented groups to pursue a career – and leadership opportunities -- in the practice of law. This pipeline organization illuminates that path to becoming a lawyer and a leader, making real change to the legal community.

If you'd like to join us in supporting JTB, please visit https://jtb.org/

Erica Byrd Receives the Diversity Scholarship Foundation's Advocates for Diversity Award

We are so excited to announce that VAB Senior Attorney Erica Byrd received The Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP's Advocates for Diversity Award. This award celebrates the tireless efforts of individuals who have made significant contributions to the legal community and the community at large, including embracing diversity and the ideals diversity represents.

We are so proud of you!

Aurora Austriaco Selected as the 2021 ABA Difference Maker Award Recipient

We are so excited that our very own Aurora Austriaco was selected by the ABA GPSolo Committee as their 2021 Difference Maker Award recipient!  

We can't think of a more aptly named award for Aurora. Her professional and personal career have focused on public service by serving on not for profit, corporate and school boards and  heading organizations that focus on  improving access to justice, equity and inclusion and serving the community at large. 

Len Rubin Joins the VAB Team!

We are thrilled to announce that E. Leonard Rubin has joined the #VAB team as Of Counsel!

Len concentrates his practice in copyright, trademark, defamation, trade secret, privacy, and entertainment law. After serving as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for Playboy Enterprises (PLBY Group, Inc.) for more than 13 years, Len returned to private practice and has led the entertainment law groups of nationwide law firms, and later his own firm. For decades, Len has taught Entertainment Law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly The John Marshall School of Law) and at other law schools. He also had a 35-year run of directing and co-authoring “Christmas Spirits,” the annual social and political musical satire show produced by The Chicago Bar Association.

Len has had many industry leadership roles such as past Trustee and immediate past President of the Midwest Chapter of The Copyright Society of the United States and has volunteered his time to Lawyers for the Creative Arts for over three decades.

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Andrea Mireles Asked to Join Board of Directors for Corazon Community Services

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Congratulations to VAB associate Andrea Mireles who has been asked to serve on the Board of Directors for Corazon Community Services, an organization that she has been involved with since high school. The mission of Corazón Community Services is to improve the quality of life for children, youth and families through holistic social services offered in a culturally sensitive environment. They have been providing life-changing and life-saving services since 2003. We couldn't be more proud of Andrea who shares our passion for giving back.

Aurora Austriaco is Named Board Member of the Month by Illinois Institute for Continuing Education

VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco is honored to be recognized as the Board Member of the Month by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Education (IICLE). She proudly serves on the board of this outstanding organization as they are the premier provider of continuing legal education throughout the State of Illinois.

Aurora Austriaco is White House Virtual Eviction Prevention Summit Facilitator

VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco, through her role as the President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP), recently served as a facilitator in the first-of-its-kind White House Virtual Eviction Prevention Summit. This summit was held to develop community-specific solutions to provide vulnerable families access to counsel, divert evictions, and connect renters and landlords to available resources.

For more information on this summit visit: https://lnkd.in/dGVKSKn

Erica Byrd and Andrea Mireles Join the VAB team!

We are so excited to welcome Erica Byrd and Andrea Mireles to the #VAB team!

Erica joins us as a Sr. Attorney who focuses her practice on real estate and commercial litigation. As a former law clerk in the mortgage foreclosure division of the Circuit Court of Cook County for the Hon. Judge Pamela H. Gillespie and the Hon. Judge Laura C. Liu, Erica is uniquely qualified to navigate all aspects of state court practice, and has significant federal court experience as well. Erica is a longtime supporter of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana and an active member of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

Andrea joins us as an Associate who focuses on investigating and litigating management-side employment matters arising under both state and federal laws. As a bilingual attorney, Andrea is well-suited to work on a wide range of matters. She is an active member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and The Chicago Bar Association. Andrea graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology in 2020 with a Certificate in Labor and Employment. She enjoys volunteering her time to law-related nonprofits and projects, most recently to the Minority Legal Educational Resources (MLER), serving as a Tutor.

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Sandy Morris Participated in a Roundtable at the May DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar Where They Discussed, "When do we get back to the New Normal? And What is the New Normal anyway?T

VAB Of Counsel Sandy Morris participated in a roundtable at the May DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar. Sandy co-led the discussion, "When do we get back to the New Normal? And What is the New Normal anyway?" during which she and colleagues Harvey Cooper and David Renner discussed the latest news for employers as we recover from COVID.

As the DRI Cares chair, Sandy was delighted to be the inspiration to support the Pipeline to Practice Foundation, Inc. for this year's fundraiser. This organization seeks to diversify the legal profession by cultivating exceptional legal talent. Collectively, the attendees contributed $2,500 exceeding their original goal of $2,000. If you would like to donate to the vital mission of P2P you can do so via their GoFundMe or PayPal. Literally, every dollar you contribute is invested into their students.

P2P GoFundMe: https://lnkd.in/dW2Ai9G
P2P Paypal: https://lnkd.in/dv25WSb

A special thank you to Seminar Chair Stacy Moon and Vice-Chair Eric Kinder, who led the seminar planning!

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Aurora Austriaco Mentioned in Law.com Article

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VAB shareholder Aurora Austriaco was honored to be credited as a key mentor to Ray J. Koenig III of Clark Hill Law in the Special Report "How I Made It" published by Law.com. Ray was highlighted in their May issue: "How I Made Office Managing Partner and Group Co-Chairman". According to Ray, "Aurora has been a big supporter, advocate, friend, mentor, and an inspirational example of how hard work and the right attitude will get you anywhere. She is the first Asian American president of the Chicago Bar Association and is a true embodiment of the American success story"

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Sandy Morris Mock Trial Mentor for Girl Scouts' Project Law Track for 11th Straight Year

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Over the last 10+ years #VAB Counsel & former Girl Scout Sandy Morris has had the opportunity to support the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana. Through various roles & activities such as mentoring at Camp CEO (a program in which girls meet business leaders & learn about career opportunities), attending benefits, or mentoring, speaking and judging her favorite #GirlScoutsGCNWI effort, Project Law Track (see below), Sandy has stayed connected to this organization she holds so dear.

This year Sandy served as a mentor, answering questions and helping the girls prep for witness examination and other aspects of the trial. She also got to play a witness during the proceedings. Here you can see Sandy and fellow mentors Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Amanda Pillsbury preparing participant Jasmine for the role of prosecutor.

She joined the scouts at age 7 and to prove she's legit she has agreed to share these adorable photos. One at age 13 with her troop dressed up as California Raisins for her town’s bed races (to raise money to fight hunger) & one of her at 14 when she earned her Silver Award. Check out those sweet feathered bangs! Oh, and her membership card from 1987-88 as a little bonus.
#ProjectLawTrack is a 3-week program that is in its 11th year & is going on right now. This event inspires the next generation of female law professionals through mentorship and mock trial experiences that demystify the portrayal of lawyers as seen in the media. We encourage anyone who can to donate and support this effort by visiting: https://lnkd.in/dFYPP5X

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VAB Supports the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana's Project Law Track

VAB is super excited to support Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana's #ProjectLawTrack! Now in its 11th year, this event inspires the next generation of female law professionals through mentorship and mock trial experiences that demystify the portrayal of lawyers as seen in the media. This virtual series connects today's girls with female law professionals as they explore the path to law school and the many opportunities a legal career can offer. #VAB Counsel and former Girl Scout Sandy Morris has volunteered and supported this program since its beginning. We'd like to thank the #GirlScoutsGCNWI and the planning committee for organizing this year's event, with a special shout out to friends of the firm Monica Weed, Jennifer Kobayashi, and Erica Byrd. We encourage anyone who can to donate and support this project by visiting: https://lnkd.in/dFYPP5X

#GirlScoutLaw

#OnceaScoutAlwaysaScout

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