On June 4, 2003, the national law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP elected a total of eight attorneys to capital and non-capital partnership.
NON-CAPITAL TO CAPITAL PARTNERS
Lisle, Illinois Office
Anthony Ficarelli – Mr. Ficarelli focuses his practice in the area of school law. He has represented numerous school districts and municipalities, with particular emphasis in the area of labor relations and collective bargaining. He has also handled employee and teacher dismissals and discharge cases, student rights and school-related litigation matters. In addition, he has worked on issues involving public finance, construction law, environmental law and real estate.
Between 1985 and 1990, Mr. Ficarelli was a member of the DuPage County State Attorney’s Office, where he rose to the position of Deputy Chief, Civil Division. Mr. Ficarelli is a 1974 graduate of Regis University and received his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1978.
ASSOCIATES TO NON-CAPITAL PARTNERS
Chicago, Illinois Office
Donald A. O’Brien - Mr. O'Brien focuses his practice in the areas of medical litigation, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation. He has represented business around the country in a wide range of matters including products liability, contract disputes, construction litigation, securities fraud, trade secrets and RICO. He received his B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago (1969) and his J.D., with distinction, from the John Marshall Law School (1977). He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1973.
David A. Sorensen – Mr. Sorensen practices in the areas of medical malpractice and professional liability litigation. His experience includes civil litigation in the fields of product liability, personal injury, insurance coverage, premises liability, and construction. Mr. Sorensen earned his B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law.
Kathryn S. Vander Broek – Ms. Vander Broek concentrates her practice in school and municipal law, with a focus on matters related to special education. In addition to being an attorney, Ms. Vander Broek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In the education area, Ms. Vander Broek addresses all matters related to the provision of educational services to students within the area of special education law. In the broader school law environment, Ms. Vander Broek assists schools with property acquisition and tax exemption matters, employment discrimination, student and staff discipline issues, negotiating intergovernmental agreements and policy review. Ms. Vander Broek co-authored self-evaluation instruments for use by School Districts in determining whether they meet non-discrimination mandates under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. She is also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, teaching a social work and law course to masters level students. Ms. Vander Broek received a dual B.A. degree from Michigan State University in Social Work (Honors Degree) and Psychology. She received her M.A. in clinical social work at the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration and her J.D. from Loyola University, Chicago School of Law.
Joliet, Illinois Office
Daniel J. Softcheck - Mr. Softcheck practices general civil litigation with an emphasis on tort litigation, including premises liability, dram shop, and automobile negligence. As a former Illinois assistant attorney general, Mr. Softcheck tried numerous section 1983 cases in United States District Court. Mr. Softcheck graduated with honors from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law.
Tampa, Florida Office
Philip J. Crowley – Mr. Crowley practices in the area of general insurance defense with emphasis on medical malpractice and professional malpractice. Prior to entering private practice, he was a prosecuting attorney in the state of Michigan While practicing in Michigan, he was the area Chairperson for the Michigan Trial Defense Counsel. Mr. Crowley earned his B.S. at Michigan State University and his J.D. at the Detroit College of Law.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Office
David J. Hanus – Mr. Hanus concentrates his practice in the area of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on all aspects of construction litigation, products liability, professional liability and employment litigation. In the area of professional liability, his experience includes architectural and engineering malpractice, legal and accounting malpractice, and medical and dental malpractice. He received his B.A. from Marquette University in 1993 and his J.D., with honors, from Drake University Law School in 1996.
Belleville, Illinois Office
John E. Sabo - Mr. Sabo concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial contract litigation and defense of all types of products liability, property damage, and personal injury claims. His experience prior to joining Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP included defending most of the major railroads in FELA actions in Illinois and Missouri. He has since expanded his railroad experience to include litigation matters specific to other areas of the transportation industry, such as freight forwarders, trucking companies and household good carriers. This work has included defending carriers on claims brought under the Carmack Amendment. Mr. Sabo also serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Public Health. Mr. Sabo received a B.S. in Business Administration from McKendree College and his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with approximately 500 lawyers in 24 offices coast-to-coast. The firm offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in commercial and defense litigation, corporate, environmental, employment and construction law, as well as the representation of professionals in their liability matters. The firm provides services to a range of clients in financial services, construction, health care, not-for-profit, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, transportation and other industries. Firm clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools.
Hinshaw was founded in 1934. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, and maintains offices in 12 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.