Chapman in the News Archive

Chapman’s Pro Bono Counsel Sara Ghadiri is a passionate advocate for people who cannot use their voice in the American legal system.

Chapman is proud to join the Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule initiative to increase the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership and governance roles.

We are proud to announce that Chapman has joined the new Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) formed to work on pro bono projects and regulatory advocacy initiatives that seek to correct injustices in our legal system and to promote racial equality in the law and government institutions.

On June 11, the Online Lending Policy Institute hosted a conversation covering the expansive advance notice of proposed rulemaking in the fintech space.

Chapman was named to the 2020 Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Pro Bono Recognition Roster, recognizing law firms and corporate legal departments for inspiring and life-changing pro bono work performed by attorneys and legal professionals in Illinois.

Chapman has joined the Chicago Bar Association’s Wills for Heroes: COVID-19 Essential Healthcare Workers program to provide estate planning services to individuals serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rebecca Wallenfelsz, a partner in Chapman's Trusts and Estates Department, participated in an interview on the Divorce and Beyond Podcast. 

Representing a detained client during a pandemic is extraordinarily challenging, but Chapman attorneys Sara Ghadiri, Melanie Haywood, and Eric Silvestri with assistance from Finance Law Development Analyst Rachel Waddey and support from the detained team at National Immigrant Justice Center helped a survivor of severe domestic violence from Egypt obtain asylum.

Thomson Reuters recently published a case study examining Chapman's utilization of Contract Express to automate document drafting and streamline transactions. 

Today, Chapman Partner Hillary Phelps was named a member of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's Market Transparency Advisory Group. 

Chapman Associate and Pro Bono Counsel Sara Ghadiri discussed her work with the Illinois Free Legal Answers program and assisting pro se litigants during the COVID-19 pandemic in an interview with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. 

For the second consecutive year, Chapman is proud to be recognized as an American Bar Association Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Leader for the work of our attorneys in 2019 on behalf of the ABA Free Legal Answers program. Associate and Pro Bono Counsel Sara Ghadiri was individually recognized for her work on behalf of the program. 

Chapman and Cutler LLP mourns the loss of retired partner, colleague and friend James E. Spiotto, who passed away in Chicago on February 27, 2020. He was 73.

Chapman attorneys Sara Ghadiri and Eric Straughn assisted at the Public Interest Law Initiative's Legal Prep Community Law Clinic in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood, interviewing four individuals to answer their immediate legal questions and putting them on the path toward getting free representation.

Chapman served as pro bono counsel to Children’s Rights to advocate for and protect vulnerable children in its recent amicus brief in support of plaintiff-appellees.

Chapman and Cutler LLP was again named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, receiving a 100% score on the annual Corporate Equality Index. 

Chapman has signed a 100,000 square feet lease to become the second tenant at the highly-anticipated, trophy-class office building project at 320 South Canal Street.

Chapman pro bono efforts have resulted in Immigration and Customs Enforcement granting parole to two women, both victims of torture for their involvement in the Anglophone separatist movement in Cameroon.

Chapman is proud to have served as counsel to the banks and swap providers on a $6.5 billion financing that was named The Bond Buyer's 2019 Deal of the Year at an awards ceremony held December 4 in New York.

Attorneys and legal professionals from BMO Financial Group and Chapman are partnering with the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice and the Chicago Council of Lawyers to study the extent to which tenant eviction proceedings are being conducted across the US without a record and comparing the differences between those unrecorded proceedings and recorded proceedings.

Chapman and Cutler LLP announced today that Toi Hutchinson, Chapman’s Director of Community Relations and Social Responsibility, resigned her position with the firm, having assumed a new appointment by Governor J.B. Pritzker to oversee implementation of the new marijuana legalization law in Illinois last month.

Chapman's Chief Executive Partner Tim Mohan authored an article for Legal Evolution discussing Chapman's talent development initiative, the Finance Law Development Program. 

For the fourth year in a row, Chapman received the Law Chalice from the American Heart Association (AHA) in recognition of contributions to the not-for-profit organization's annual Heart Walk.

Chapman is serving as pro bono counsel to Children’s Rights to advocate for and protect vulnerable children in a recent amicus brief. On September 27, a district court issued a favorable ruling, and Judge Dolly Gee tracked arguments made in Children’s Rights’ brief.

Hillary Phelps, a partner in Chapman's National Public and Health & Education Finance Department, was named a 2019 "Rising Star" at The Bond Buyer's California Public Finance Conference. 

Chapman mourns the loss of our partner, colleague and friend, William F. Tueting, who passed away on September 15, 2019 in Salt Lake City. He was 77.

Chapman is serving as pro bono counsel to Children’s Rights to advocate for and protect vulnerable children in its most recent amicus brief.

Chapman served as special counsel to an Illinois county in the state’s first transaction under a commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing program, which allows property owners to obtain upfront financing from private capital providers for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in new and existing buildings.

Chapman attorney Kathleen Moriarty participated in The ETF Experience podcast in an episode entitled "The ETF Approval Process."

Chris Massie, an associate in Chapman’s Public and Institutional Banking & Finance Group, is the recipient of the firm’s 2018 Pro Bono and Volunteer Achievement Award for his leadership and contributions to pro bono projects.

Chapman is proud to support the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms and its LegalTrek program, which is working to diversify the legal profession by encouraging and supporting college students from historically underrepresented groups to attend law school.

Receiving a “Hall of Fame” distinction, the Best Law Firms for Women 2019 list marks the tenth time Chapman has been recognized by Working Mother for programs, policies, and best practices.

Chapman attorneys and professionals gathered in our offices to show support for the LGBTQ community, culminating in our Chapman Pride video.

For the sixth time, Chapman was named to the 2019 PILI Pro Bono Roster, recognizing law firms and corporate legal departments for inspiring and life-changing pro bono work performed by attorneys and legal professionals in Illinois.

Chapman’s Chicago office hosted a reception recognizing Ezra Lintner as the first recipient of the Chapman and Cutler LLP Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Diversity Scholarship. Ezra is an openly transgender Dean's List Scholar at DePaul University College of Law.

Chapman was named among Law360's 70 best law firms for women attorneys that are “demonstrating that the industry's gender diversity goals can turn into a measurable result, and boost the number of women at all levels of a law firm." This is the third consecutive year that Chapman was recognized.

Chapman attorneys David Batty, Kimberly Bischoff, Will Petraglia, Sara Ghadiri, and Eric Manor volunteered at the Charlotte Fire Department Headquarters for a Wills for Heroes clinic.

Chapman was honored by the Chicago Legal Clinic with the 2019 Pro Bono Service Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the clinic’s mission to provide community-based quality legal services and education to the underserved and disadvantaged.

Attorneys from Chapman's San Francisco office participated in the Legal First Responders kick off event. Legal First Responders is a program of Legal Access Alameda.

Chapman Associate and Pro Bono Counsel Sara Ghadiri was named to the 2019 class of The Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois by the Illinois Jaycees — Sara was the only honoree this year in the category of political, legal, and/or government affairs.

NetDocuments, the leading, secure cloud-based content services platform, today introduced SetBuilder, the fully-integrated NetDocuments application based on the acquisition of Chapman’s Closing Room solution. 

Chapman attorneys recently partnered with attorneys and legal professionals from BMO Financial Group (through their Pro Bono program) to draft renewal paperwork for individuals whose Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is up for renewal.

MetLife has once again recognized Chapman for inclusivity efforts spanning affinity group activities, mentoring and sponsorship opportunities, training and pipeline programs, and supplier diversity initiatives.

Chapman was again named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, receiving a 100% score on the annual Corporate Equality Index. 

Chapman is proud to be recognized as an American Bar Association (ABA) Free Legal Answers 2018 Pro Bono Leader for our attorneys work on behalf of the ABA Free Legal Answers program in Illinois.

Chapman's Chief Executive Partner Tim Mohan to lead cancer support organization Gilda's Club Chicago.

Chapman attorney plays key role in supporting Illinois name change legislation to protect domestic abuse survivors.

For the past two years, Chapman attorneys have collaborated with Illinois Legal Aid Online’s (ILAO) Free Legal Answers Program. This month we reached a milestone, answering more than 500 legal questions and helping Illinois residents faced with major life challenges.

Chapman and Cutler LLP mourns the loss of partner, colleague, and friend, Michael J. Mitchell, who passed away on November 25, 2018 in Chicago. He was 63.

On November 16, attorneys at Chapman partnered with attorneys and legal professionals from BMO Financial Group (through their Pro Bono program) to draft renewal paperwork for individuals whose Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was up for renewal.

NetDocuments, the leading secure cloud-based content services platform for law firms, corporate legal teams and compliance departments, announced today at ndElevate, its annual customer and partner summit, that it acquired Closing Room, a deal management application developed by Chapman and Cutler LLP to streamline transactional closing processes.

Laura Appleby, a partner in Chapman’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group, was recognized by the American Bankruptcy Institute as one of its 2018 “40 under 40” emerging leaders in insolvency practice.

Chapman and Cutler LLP attorney Sara Ghadiri has played a key role in supporting legislation to expand protections for survivors of domestic abuse and stalking.

Chapman and Cutler LLP is pleased to announce that it has been named to the Best Law Firms for Women 2018 list, published by Working Mother.

Chapman was named among the 62 best law firms for women attorneys that are “outpacing their peers, breaking down barriers, and forging a path to a more diverse working environment” by Law360.

Chapman is proud to be a founding Charter Sponsor of the Institute for the Future of Law Practice’s first two intensive boot camp training programs that will launch at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law and the University of Colorado Law School

Chapman attorney Marc Franson participated in the inaugural episode of Talking Fintech with hosts Jeremy Potter and Colin Darke. 

Chapman announced that David Sykes rejoined the firm earlier this month as a partner in the San Francisco office, adding to the firm’s renewable energy and securitization practices.

Chapman attorney Sara Ghadiri has played a key role in supporting legislation to expand protections to survivors of domestic abuse and stalking.

Chapman attorney Kathleen Moriarty was featured on an episode of Bloomberg's ETF IQ to discuss bitcoin and the fund life cycle. 

Chapman attorney Michael Friedman recently joined DebtWire’s Richard Goldman for a podcast interview.

Chapman and Cutler LLP was named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, receiving a 100% score on the annual Corporate Equality Index. 

For the second consecutive year, Chapman is proud to accept the American Heart Association's Law Chalice, recognizing Chicago's top law firm Heart Walk fundraiser.

In a video by The Law Lab, Chapman attorney Eric Wood presents at the 2017 Chicago-Kent Fin(Legal)Tech Conference.

Chapman expands its investment management practice with the addition of Barry Pershkow, formerly SEC point person on ETFs.

Chapman expands its investment management and fintech practice in New York by adding Kathleen Moriarty from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer.

Chapman Partner David Cholst chaired and Partner Sarah Breitmeyer served on a National Association of Bond Lawyers task force that produced proposals to improve US infrastructure through tax reform.

Chapman represented the solicitation agent and lead underwriter in a public-private partnership to finance the extension of the I-95 Express Lanes project.

New attorneys further expand Chapman’s structured and municipal finance practices with respect to transactional, regulatory, and tax counsel.

Chapman has been recognized again for contributions furthering LGBTQ equality within the workplace.

Chapman’s career and business development initiatives to advance women attorneys were recognized in reports released by Working Mother and Law360, which name the firm among the best for women attorneys.

Chapman represented US Solar in a project financing to support the development of a 100+ MW portfolio of solar assets. 

Chapman Partner Nick Whitney joined Xtract Research’s senior covenant analyst Vince Pisano for the inaugural recording of the new Xtract Research podcast series.

Chapman and Cutler LLP announces the opening of an office in Charlotte at 201 South College Street, the firm’s sixth location. Four attorneys, formerly with Winston & Strawn LLP, joined Chapman to open the office.

Chapman attorney David Cholst served as drafting counsel on a comment letter submitted to the Internal Revenue Service by the American Bar Association's Section of Taxation.

Chapman was recognized by Chicago Anchors for a Strong Economy, part of World Business Chicago, as "Partner of the Year."

Chapman Partner Michael Friedman recently discussed the U.S. corporate loan market at the Tel Aviv Institutional Investment Conference.

Chapman Partner Marc Franson participated in a panel discussion, entitled "True Lender and Madden Case: Impact on the Industry Two Years In," at the 2017 LendIt USA Conference.

Chapman was named the “Top Law Firm” at the inaugural LendIt Industry Awards, recognizing the firm's outstanding achievement in marketplace lending and fintech.

Toi Hutchinson has joined Chapman and Cutler LLP to advance the Firm’s community involvement, social investment and diversity outreach. 

Salt Lake County, Utah recently launched two pay for success programs that seek to reduce chronic homelessness and recidivism among at-risk populations.

For the eighth year in a row, Chapman and Cutler LLP received a perfect, 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, earning the firm a place among the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

Chapman served as Special Counsel to the underwriters of the San Diego Unified School District bond financing that was named The Bond Buyer's 2016 Deal of the Year. 

Chapman is representing a consortium of social service agencies in the State of Illinois' first pay for success initiative, which seeks to improve the lives of youth who are dually-involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Chapman received the American Heart Association's 2016 Law Chalice, which recognizes the top fundraiser for the Chicago Heart Walk among the city's law firms.

Chapman attorneys Laura Appleby and Michael Friedman participated in a podcast interview with Debtwire Radio's Richard Goldman.

For the sixth year in a row, Chapman received special recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a Green Power Partner. Chapman is considered a 100% Green Power Purchaser.

Equality Illinois named Chapman as one of the state's top law firms supporting inclusiveness and equality for LGBT attorneys.

Q&A with Chapman attorney Charles Calloway on his motivation to work with Spark, a national mentorship program for 7th- and 8th-grade students in underprivileged communities.

Chapman attorney Tim Mohan served as drafting counsel on a comment letter submitted to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by the Structured Finance Industry Group.

Chapman attorneys Rick Cosgrove and Nate Odem served as drafting counsel on a comment letter submitted to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board on behalf of the American Bankers Association.

The Illinois Association of School Business Officials produced a video in recognition of Chapman attorney Lynda Given's work on behalf of Illinois school districts.

Buzz Larsen, a partner in Chapman’s National Public and Health & Education Finance Department, was honored by the Association for Governmental Leasing and Finance.

Lynda Given, a partner in Chapman’s Illinois Public Finance Department, was recognized by the Illinois Association of School Business Officials for her work on behalf of Illinois school districts.  

Solar Access to Public Capital recently issued a final report on its Mock Securitization Project. Chapman partner Melanie Gnazzo served as co-chair of the legal committee for SAPC.

Chapman attorney Marc Franson was recognized as one of the top alumni of Drake University Law School.

Chapman attorney Steve Wilamowsky was interviewed by FrazerRice.com on corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, and industry trends and forecasts.

For the seventh year in a row, Chapman and Cutler received a perfect, 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, earning the firm a place among the HRC’s Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.

Chapman's institutional private placement group assisted investors in purchasing $140 million in senior secured notes issued by Cube Hydro.

Chapman and Cutler LLP partner Kelley Bender has been named to the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” 2015 roster. More than 1,000 nominations were received for consideration for the 2015 list.

Chapman attorneys served as drafting counsel on a comment letter submitted to the Department of the Treasury by the Structured Finance Industry Group.

Chapman’s Finance Law Development Program is designed for college graduates interested in finance and the law and seek to gain comprehensive work experience before pursuing law school or another advanced degree.

Chapman and Cutler is pleased to announce that it has been named to the 50 Best Law Firms for Women 2015 list, published by Working Mother and Flex Time Lawyers LLC.

Chapman and Cutler has been recognized again for contributions furthering LGBT equality within the workplace. 

Chapman and Cutler LLP is pleased to announce that Steven Wilamowsky and Ryan Jackson have joined the firm as partners in the firm’s New York City office. The addition of these accomplished attorneys marks continued growth for Chapman’s New York practice. 

Chapman attorneys Rick Cosgrove and Nate Odem served as drafting counsel on a comment letter submitted to the National Federation of Municipal Analysts on behalf of the American Bankers Association

Following the completion of a 108-mile, high-capacity electrical transmission line throughout south-central Kansas, Chapman and Cutler represented institutional investors in the private placement of notes issued by the joint venture owner of the project, Prairie Wind Transmission, LLC.

For the sixth year in a row, Chapman and Cutler received a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, earning the firm a place among the HRC’s Best Places to Work.

Joel Laub joins Chapman’s New York office, adding derivatives markets focus.

For the fifth time, Chapman and Cutler LLP has been acknowledged as one of Illinois’ top 41 law firms for inclusiveness and equality.

For the sixth time, Chapman and Cutler LLP has been selected as one of the nation’s top 50 law firms for women.

Our new tool - Structured Finance Insights - offers quick and easy access to information about the laws and regulations that impact the structured finance market.

Chapman and Cutler LLP announced on February 12 that nine new attorneys joined the firm’s public finance department.

For the fifth year in a row, Chapman and Cutler received a perfect, 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, earning the Firm a place among the HRC’s Best Places to Work.

Chapman Partners Nancy Burke and David Cholst were inducted into the American College of Bond Counsel.

Chapman and Cutler is pleased to announce that Michael Friedman, Larry G. Halperin, Joon P. Hong, and Nicholas A. Whitney, formerly of Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, joined the firm as partners, located in the New York office.

Marilynn Tham has joined Chapman and Cutler as a partner resident in the San Francisco office, where she focuses her practice on commercial finance and secured transactions.

Chapman and Cutler has been named one of the 2013 Working Mother  “Best Law Firms for Women” for their family-friendly policies and business development initiatives that continue to retain women and advance them into the leadership pipeline. 

Bruce A. Bedwell has joined Chapman as a partner in the Corporate Finance Department in Chicago, where he will focus his practice on advising clients on issues related to the financing and acquisition of energy related projects.

Chapman and Cutler was recognized as leading the way to LGBT workplace equality and
community engagement.

Chapman and Cutler was named by Cabrini Green Legal Aid as the 2012 Volunteer Law Firm of the Year.

Kristin Parker joined Chapman and Cutler as a partner in the Banking and Financial Services Department, where she focuses her practice on environmental, health, and safety matters. 

Chapman and Cutler’s Director of Professional Development, Attorney Recruitment, and Diversity becomes NALP’s president.

Todd R. Plotner, a partner in Chapman’s securitization and structured finance practice group, has been named a BTI Client Service All-Star for 2013.

Chapman and Cutler received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and was also named one of the 2012 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers' “50 Best Law Firms for Women.” 

Chapman and Cutler presented a CLE program on recent developments impacting bank capital and liquidity rules on securitization. 

Andrea Bacon, a partner in the Municipal Department of Chapman and Cutler, was elected by the Board of Directors of the American College of Bond Counsel (ACBC) to become a Regular Fellow of the College. 

Chapman and Cutler was recognized in the 2012 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Banking and Finance law in California. 

William Corbin returned to Chapman and Cutler on June 11, 2012 as a partner in the Illinois Public Finance Group.

Chapman and Cutler received Tier 1 recognition, the highest level of "green" achievement, in the City of Chicago's Green Office Challenge. 

An article written by Chapman and Cutler partner Matt Boba appeared in Practical Compliance and Risk Management for the Securities Industry. 

Rebecca Wallenfelsz, a partner in our Trusts and Estates Group, was elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). 

Chapman and Cutler welcomed partners Felicia B. Graham, Douglas L. Madsen, Michael H. Mitchell, Mark R. Riccardi, Craig Fishman, and Rachel G. George, formerly of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, who have joined Chapman and Cutler in our newly established office in Washington, DC.

Chapman and Cutler ranked second in the country as municipal disclosure counsel for 2011 according to Thomson Reuters statistics released on January 10, 2011. 

In 2011, the Human Rights Campaign again named Chapman and Cutler one of the Best Places to Work in its annual Corporate Equality Index. 

In 2011, The Bond Buyer named a $1.75 billion credit facility restructuring and related $665 million bond restructuring for the Adventist Health System/Sunbelt (AHS), headquartered in Florida, as the Health Care Sector "Deal of the Year." 

Jim Croke was a featured speaker at an American Securitization Forum (ASF) Sunset Seminar at the offices of BNY Mellon in New York on November 16, 2011.

Chapman and Cutler was recognized as a 100% Green Power Purchaser with the US Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership. 

Scott Fryzel's article entitled “The FFIEC’s Supplement to Authentication in an Internet Banking Environment: The New Minimum Legal Standard?” appeared in the October 2011 issue of The Banking Law Journal. 

Chapman and Cutler partner Rebecca Wallenfelsz was named to the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" list of outstanding lawyers.

Chapman and Cutler was again selected as one of the top law firms for women. 

Chapman and Cutler has expanded capabilities across several practice groups — banking, corporate finance and securities, general litigation, public finance, and special litigation — with the addition of four lateral associates and eleven first-year associates.

Matthew C. Boba has returned to Chapman and Cutler LLP as a partner in the Corporate and Securities practice group. 

Chapman attorneys Tim Mohan, Ken Marin, Jim Croke, and Bob Lockner assisted the American Securitization Forum (ASF) with the asset-backed commercial paper analysis in its comment letter to the six joint regulators, which was submitted on June 10, 2011.

On May 12, Chapman and Cutler received Gads Hill Center's 2011 Corporate Partner Award. 

Partner Jim Spiotto was featured in the Spring 2011 edition of the UBS publication Exchange, which focused on the municipal bond market. 

Jim Croke and Peter Manbeck, formerly of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, joined the firm January 24, 2011, as partners in the asset securitization group in the New York office. 

Chapman and Cutler continued its involvement with Ladder Up's Tax Assistance Program (TAP) for the third consecutive year.