Sandy Morris Presents at the DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar in New Orleans

VAB employment pro Sandy Morris presented at the DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar in New Orleans on May 4th. Her session "Don’t Save Damages for Last" discussed the ins and outs of employment case damage calculations and was co-presented with Dr. Abby Turner of Charles River Associates. Sandy was joined at the #DRI seminar by fellow Chicago lawyer Stacey Austin of Wang Austin, who did some tax issue spotting for employment lawyers in her session "Tax Primer for Employment Attorneys."

VAB Chosen NAMWOLF 2022 Law Firm MVP

VAB was thrilled to receive the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) most valuable player award for its service and was honored to have presented the Diversity Initiative Achievement Award to Kim Metrick, Vice President, Employment Law, Legal Operations and Investigations for Walgreens Boots Alliance who accepted the award on behalf of Walgreens.

Additionally, we’d love to send a big congratulations to both Emery Harlan Founder of #NAMWOLF and Equity Partner at MWH Law Group LLP on receiving the inaugural NAMWOLF Trail Blazers Award and Theos McKinney Assistant General Counsel at Constellation Energy Generation on winning the 2022 Outstanding Service by an Advisory Council Member Award!

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.

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.

Lydia Bueschel honored by Women Employed

Congratulations to VAB Shareholder Lydia Bueschel, who was honored today for her years of Board service and advocacy on behalf of working women at Women Employed ‘s annual gala the Working Lunch!

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.

VAB Supports Just The Beginning - A Pipeline Organization

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. 

Susan Valentine Shares Her Best Professional Advice with NAMWOLF

As sponsors of the 2021 NAMWOLF Virtual Annual Meeting, VAB's Susan Valentine was asked to participate in a video social media campaign where she was asked what the best piece of professional advice she's ever received.

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.