CHICAGO ― Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announces the addition of new associates to the firm's Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and New York offices. The new associates include the following:
Miami, Florida Office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Pedro E. Hernandez, 27. Pedro Hernandez focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage and construction litigation. His clients include insurance companies, architects, general contractors and subcontractors, and property owners. Mr. Hernandez’s coverage work includes handling breach of contract claims and coverage pertaining to construction policies; analyzing insurance contracts; and providing coverage opinions. The construction cases that he handles involve the full range of legal issues. Mr. Hernandez earned his J.D. in 2006 from Penn State, The Dickinson School of Law. He speaks Spanish fluently.
Chicago, Illinois Office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
John C. De Koker, III, 36. John De Koker focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, construction litigation and premises liability matters. Formerly a paralegal, he has experience working on high-profile cases such as the fire at the Cook County (Illinois) Administration Building and the scaffolding accident at the John Hancock Center building. Mr. De Koker received his J.D. in 2007 from DePaul University College of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
Robert J. Gibbons, 27. Robert Gibbons defends clients in business and tort cases involving consumer, environmental, personal injury and products liability litigation. Mr. Gibbons received his J.D. in 2007 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he was a member of the law journal, Annals of Health Law and of the Dean’s List. While still in law school, Mr. Gibbons was a legal extern to the Honorable Wayne R. Andersen, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Kristin M. Kurczewski, 29. Kristin Kurczewski focuses her practice on professional liability defense. Among other matters, she handles medical malpractice cases involving hospitals and medical professionals. Ms. Kurczewski also represents clients in construction, employment, general liability and municipal litigation. Ms. Kurczewski earned her J.D. in 2007 from The John Marshall Law School, where she was Vice-President of the Children’s & Family Law Society and a member of the Dean’s List.
Jason Novak, 29. Jason Novak focuses his practice in litigation, with emphasis on construction, personal injury, products liability, and other general liability cases. Aside from his professional responsibilities, he assisted in the research and editing of the 2006 Supplement to Illinois Municipal Tort Liability, authored by Hinshaw partner Steven M. Puiszis and published by Lexis Publishing. Mr. Novak earned his J.D. in 2007 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
Nathan D. Hansen, 25. Nathan Hansen focuses his practice primarily on professional liability matters, with particular emphasis on the defense of medical professionals in malpractice claims. He also litigates products liability, transportation and other general liability cases. Mr. Hansen earned his J.D. in 2007 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he received the CALI Award for Legal Writing
Peter L. Crema, Jr., 46. Peter Crema is an experienced litigator who devotes his practice to representing small to midsize businesses and their owners in commercial and business litigation. He has handled numerous real estate matters, including breach of conveyance contracts, breach of lease contracts, homeowners’ arbitrations and mechanic’s liens. Mr. Crema has also tried cases involving commercial contract disputes, family law issues and personal injuries. His presentations include continuing legal education seminars on family, general commercial and real estate law issues. Mr. Crema earned his J.D. in 1991 from the William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Heather L. Marx, 29. Heather Marx represents banks, corporations and individuals in complex business and commercial lawsuits. She has handled cases involving: business liquidation distribution; commercial and private loans; contractual enforcements; insurance claims; lease obligations; real estate transactions; and receivership appointments. Ms. Marx received her J.D. in 2002 from the Georgetown University Law Center, where she was Senior Notes and Current Developments Editor of the Georgetown Journal on Legal Ethics.
Joel D. Nesset, 39. Joel Nesset represents financially troubled businesses and creditors, both in and out of bankruptcy. He also represents creditors’ committees in Chapter 11 cases. Additionally, Mr. Nesset represents clients in various transactional matters, including asset sales, financing and leasing. He earned his J.D. in 2000 from the William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Jamie R. Pierce, 39. Jamie Pierce helps troubled businesses find solutions to their financial challenges. He is particularly involved with bankruptcy matters, in addition to civil litigation, real estate matters and various other subjects. Mr. Pierce has filed numerous Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies, and has been directly involved with Chapter 11 bankruptcies, several of which he confirmed. He also assists individuals with financial problems, having many times helped secure protection in bankruptcy. Mr. Pierce received his J.D. in 2000 from the William Mitchell College of Law.
Aric Stienessen, 34. Aric Stienessen represents borrowers, lenders and investment banks in commercial finance transactions. He also represents businesses and developers in sales and purchase transactions involving commercial real property. In addition, Mr. Stienessen is particularly well-versed in tax matters, having worked as a tax consultant and financial analyst for nearly a decade. He handles transactions involving corporate organization and governance, divestitures, and mergers and acquisitions. When necessary, Mr. Stienessen litigates on behalf of his clients in business, environmental, probate and real estate cases. He earned his J.D. in 2001 from William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated cum laude.
Kristi Adair Zentner, 34. Kristi Zentner represents clients in commercial lending, general business and real estate transactions, as well as e-commerce, employment and intellectual property law matters. She is experienced handling a wide variety of activities, such as business entity formations, copyright and trademark prosecutions, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and succession planning. She also helps her clients with the preparation of business agreements, commercial lease negotiation and preparation, commercial purchase and sale transactions, common interest community documents, homeowners association governing documents, license agreements and software agreements. Ms. Zentner received her J.D. in 1999 from the Hamline University School of Law.
New York, New York Office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Harvey Prager, 60. Harvey Prager focuses his practice in matters concerning legal professional responsibility and ethics. He has also handled commercial litigation matters and arbitrations. Mr. Prager is widely experienced in handling arbitration; multidistrict litigation; and professional liability defense and securities matters. In 2000, he was awarded a U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Information Program to undertake a project in Pakistan and Sri Lanka on commercial dispute resolution. Mr. Prager earned his J.D. in 1994 from the University of Maine School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Maine Law Review.
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with approximately 500 lawyers in 24 offices. The firm offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, corporate and business law, environmental, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, and wealth preservation and taxation matters. The firm provides services to a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include construction, financial services, health care, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. 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.