News

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome two new Associate Attorneys to the firm: Dorian Meighan and Maxwell Savin! 

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce that Senior Associate Alexzandria N. Rice, Esq. will be an honored recipient of the Cook County Bar Association's Presidential Award. This prestigious award is presented annually at the CCBA’s Installation and Awards Banquet to recognize outstanding service and dedication to the organization. Alexzandria is a longtime, active member of the CCBA and has previously been recognized with several honors, including the Junior Counselor Award, Meritorious Service Award, Next Generation Award, and multiple Presidential Awards. We are incredibly proud of Alexzandria and commend her continued excellence, leadership, and commitment to the legal community.

Shareholde , and Associate Attorneys, were all featured panelists at the University of Illinois Chicago Black Law Students Association’s panel on “Navigating the Transition from Law Student to Associate.” The firm’s attorneys provided valuable insight to attendees on various topics from discussing the shift in mindset from student to attorney, to practical advice on managing workload, mentorship, and professional development.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome three new Associate Attorneys to the firm: Kathryn Brooks, Teryn E. Williams, and Christophilos Theodosis! 
 

On April 3, 2025, Alejandra Barcenas, Partner at Lipe Lyons, was honored to be a panelist at Loyola University Chicago School of Law's Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA) annual career event, "Rumbo a la Justicia."

During this insightful session, panelists shared valuable perspectives on a range of topics, including:
🔹 Navigating different legal practice areas
 🔹 Overcoming challenges in the legal profession
 🔹 Professional growth and personal development
 🔹 The evolving impact of technology and AI on legal practice

It was a privilege for Alejandra to engage with the next generation of legal professionals and share her experiences, advice, and strategies for success in the legal field.

 

Lipe Lyons was a proud sponsor of the Cook County Bar Association's 2024 Barrister's Holiday Soirée. Thank you to the Cook County Bar Association for hosting such a great event. Lipe Lyons was honored to be a sponsor and to support our colleagues for this festive event! Pictured below are Lipe Lyons Senior Associate, Alexzandria Johnson-Rice, Esq., and Lipe Lyons Associates, Natiera Robinson, Esq., and Shivani Bahl.
 

Lipe Lyons is pleased to announce that twelve of our Attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for the 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine. 
 
Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe, Thomas Pontikis, James Whalen, and Partner Amanda Zink, were selected for inclusion in the 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers List. And Shareholder Jordan Tank, Partner Alejandra Barcenas, Senior Associates Elise Ruff-Winter, Alexzandria Rice, Anthony Dejulius, and Associates Madeleine King, and David Birmingham were all recognized as Rising Stars.
 

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce it has been named a Tier 1 firm in Chicago for Insurance Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. Lipe Lyons also had six attorneys selected for inclusion in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.

We invite you to visit Lipe Lyons’ Best Law Firms® profile: https://www.bestlawfirms.com/firms/lipe-lyons-murphy-nahrstadt-pontikis-ltd/64121/US

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Edward N. Cain as a new Associate Attorney at the firm!

Partner Amanda Zink obtained a favorable ruling for their clients in a negligence lawsuit arising out of an injury that occurred at a private university in South Bend, Indiana. Plaintiff filed a motion for partial summary judgment contending Lipe Lyons’ clients were liable as a matter of law by violating their own internal rules and procedures and that Defendants actions were the cause of his injuries. Plaintiff also requested a finding by the Court that he was not comparatively at fault for his injuries. After briefing the issue, the Court denied Plaintiff’s motion, ruling in favor of Lipe Lyons’ clients on the issue of liability and further finding there existed a question of fact as to Plaintiff’s comparative negligence.
 
The case then proceeded to a jury trial, wherein Plaintiff sought damages in excess of seven figures. During trial, Partners Amanda Zink and Henry Ortiz demonstrated Plaintiff’s own actions contributed to the incident and further established Plaintiff failed to mitigate his injuries by deviating from the recommendations of his medical professionals following the incident. Prior to the close of evidence at trial, Lipe Lyons obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of its clients.

Lipe Lyons Shareholder Jordan Tank and Senior Associate Attorney Anthony DeJulius obtained summary judgment for their client in a wrongful death lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
 
The plaintiff’s decedent drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan. The plaintiff alleged the defendant, a municipal entity, failed to provide lifesaving flotation devices along the lakefront despite its knowledge of other similar drownings that could have been prevented if those devices had been in place.
 
The plaintiff also alleged the defendant’s signage failed to adequately warn against swimming in the area of the drowning.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Kevin McGinn and Natiera Robinson, Esq. as new Associate Attorneys at the firm! 

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce that six of our attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.

Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe and Thomas Pontikis were selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in personal injury litigation. Shareholder James Whalen, Partner Amanda Zink, and Of Counsel Raymond Lyons, Jr. were selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in insurance litigation. And Partner Alejandra Barcenas was selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for her work in Insurance Law and Construction Litigation.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation.

Ones to Watch in America™ highlights the legal talent of lawyers who have been in practice less than 10 years. These awards are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in America.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Rachel Wayne as a new Partner at Lipe Lyons!

Shareholder Jordan Tank and Senior Associate JohnFranco Joyce obtained summary judgment on behalf of their client in a first-party insurance coverage dispute pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
 
The plaintiff, a hospitality business, claimed substantial property damage after its exterior masonry wall collapsed during a severe windstorm. The plaintiff sought coverage from its insurer, alleging the masonry wall collapsed because of high winds.
 
After fact and expert discovery on causation, Lipe Lyons obtained summary judgment under a policy exclusion by proving there was no question of fact the masonry wall fell due to old, corroded anchors holding the wall upright that were defective when the policy was issued.

Shareholder Jordan Tank and Senior Associate JohnFranco Joyce obtained a defense verdict on behalf of their client following a two-week jury trial in Cook County.
 
Plaintiff alleges he suffered significant and permanent injuries when he was injured by a dangerous condition on a municipality’s sports field while playing softball. Plaintiff claimed over $500,000 in economic damages and asked the jury to return a seven-figure verdict.
 
The jury returned a complete defense verdict after deliberating for less than an hour over lunch.

Lipe Lyons Senior Associate Alexzandria Rice honored to serve as Co-Chair of the Cook County Bar Association’s 110th Annual Installation and Awards Banquet. Lipe Lyons was also a proud sponsor for the event. Congratulations to President Nicholas Cummings, the board of directors, and all awardees.

Lipe Lyons Partner Amanda Zink and Senior Associate Rebecca Israel obtained Summary Judgment on behalf of their client, a local business owner, in a premises liability case pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
 
The plaintiff alleged he sustained injuries when he slipped on pieces of wood allegedly left on stairs at the property owned by Lipe Lyons’ client. Lipe Lyons successfully filed a motion to transfer this case to the municipal district based on the value of plaintiff’s alleged damages and to trigger mandatory arbitration. Thereafter, a three-arbitrator panel entered an award in favor if Lipe Lyons’ client, finding that plaintiff had not met his burden to prove negligence.
 
Then, the plaintiff rejected the arbitration award, and Lipe Lyons moved for summary judgment. Lipe Lyons obtained summary judgment by establishing plaintiff could not meet his burden to establish negligence, and that the alleged hazards were open and obvious.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Walker McDonald and as new Associate Attorneys at the firm!

We are excited to share that on Tuesday April 9, Lipe Lyons Partner Alejandra Barcenas will be presenting for the International Society of Primerus Law Firms’ Young Lawyers Section networking call discussing the topic of “Expediting One’s Career within the First Few Years of Practice.” She will focus on subjects such as “taking the challenge,” “productivity and proactivity,” and “fighting imposter syndrome.” 

Partner Jordan Tank and Senior Associate JohnFranco Joyce obtained summary judgment on behalf of their client in a first party insurance coverage dispute pending in the Circuit Court of Adams County, Illinois. The plaintiff was a university that sustained substantial water damage to its library following a severe storm that flooded the lower levels of the building. The plaintiff sought coverage from its insurer, alleging the property damage resulted from water infiltration caused by backups in its sewer, drains, or sump pump. After fact and expert discovery on causation, Lipe Lyons obtained summary judgment by establishing the property damage was caused at least in part by water infiltration through multiple entrances to the building and not solely due to backups through the sewer, drains, or sump pump.

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce that Associate Alexzandria Rice, Esq. has been selected as a recipient of the Cook County Bar Association's (CCBA) prestigious 2024 Next Generation Award. This award recognizes "the next generation of powerhouse Black attorneys" for their achievements and leadership in the law. Alexzandria will be celebrated with her fellow honorees at the CCBA 2024 Next Generation Awards Ceremony on March 30.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcomeCaroline Adams and David Birmingham as new Associate Attorneys at the firm!

Lipe Lyons is pleased to announce that ten of our Attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine. 

Super Lawyers

• Shareholder, Jeffrey Lipe
• Shareholder, Thomas Pontikis
• Shareholder, James Whalen
• Of Counsel, Raymond Lyons

• Shareholder, Jordan Tank
• Partner, Alejandra Barcenas
• Senior Associate, Elise Ruff Winter
• Senior Associate, JohnFranco Joyce
• Senior Associate, Rebecca Israel
• Associate, Alexzandria Rice

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce that Associate attorney Anthony DeJulius has been promoted to Senior Associate Attorney, commensurate with his experience in our firm’s areas of practice.

Lipe Lyons is pleased to announce that Alejandra Barcenas has been named a partner in the firm. Please join us in congratulating Alejandra! 

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Julia Kasbohm as a new Associate Attorneys at Lipe Lyons! 

Lipe Lyons also had six attorneys selected for inclusion in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.

Lipe Lyons is proud to welcome Shivani Bahl and Madeleine King as new Associate Attorneys at Lipe Lyons!

The panel consisted of multiple UIC alumni, and was moderated by the Black Law Students Association’s Vice President.
Alexzandria shared advice about how to succeed in law school, and motivated the law students in attendance to seek out opportunities to gain litigation experience.
 
 

Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe and Thomas Pontikis were selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in personal injury litigation. Shareholder James Whalen, Partner Amanda Zink, and Of Counsel Raymond Lyons Jr. were selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in insurance litigation. And Senior Associate Alejandra Barcenas was selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for her work in Insurance Law and Construction Litigation.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation.

Ones to Watch in America™ highlights the legal talent of lawyers who have been in practice less than 10 years. These awards are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in America.

We invite you to visit Lipe Lyons’ Best Lawyers® profile: https://lnkd.in/gQ2aXFak

Lipe Lyons Associate Alexzandria Johnson received the Junior Counselor Award and Presidential Award from the Cook County Bar Association on Friday, June 16, 2023 at the CBA's annual Installation Gala and Awards Ceremony. Lipe Lyons extends their best wishes to the other Cook County Bar Association’s award recipients and incoming leadership. 

Last week Primerus™ held its annual Primerus Midwest Regional Meeting. The event hosted many of the organization’s midwest Primerus members in Chicago, Illinois for two days of connection and education. Lipe Lyons co-hosted the event with  Kozacky Weitzel McGrath P.C.. Lipe Lyons Shareholder and Managing Partner James Whalen was a featured speaker at the event presenting on the topic of "A.I. and How to Use it In Your Practice"

Lipe Lyons Shareholder and Managing Partner James Whalen will be a featured speaker at the International Society of Primerus Law Firms™ 2023 Midwest Regional meeting on June 21st & 22nd. James is presenting on the topic of "A.I. and How to Use it In Your Practice" 

Lipe Lyons Shareholder and Managing Partner James Whalen will be a featured speaker at the International Society of Primerus Law Firms™ 2023 Defense Institute Convocation this week. 

Partner James H. Whalen and Associate JohnFranco Joyce obtained a dismissal of a legal malpractice claim on behalf of their defendant clients, an attorney and law firm in Lake County, Indiana.  Plaintiff, an attorney, retained defendants in relation to a federal indictment for tax evasion and failure to file federal income taxes. The lawsuit filed against defendants alleged that their negligent legal representation of Plaintiff resulted in tax liability owed to the U.S. government that substantially exceeded what Plaintiff actually owed and a more severe federal prison sentence than he otherwise would have received.  Defendants filed a motion to dismiss asserting several factual and legal arguments. The Court agreed with Lipe Lyons’ arguments and granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss. 

Senior Associate Alejandra Barcenas currently serves as a Commissioner for the HNBA Latina Commission, Co-Chair of the Latina Leadership Academy Committee, and she is also a Deputy Regional President for HNBA Region IX, which serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Alejandra organized a Pro Bono Naturalization Clinic co-hosted by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Region IX, the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), HLAI- Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois (HLAI), and the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic. These organizations are partnering with Highwood Public Library to bring naturalization screenings to their citizenship preparation class students.

Lipe Lyons Partner Amanda Zink and Associate Daiana Man negotiated a favorable settlement for their clients in a personal injury lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County involving an industrial collision. Plaintiff was a truck driver injured while docked at a distribution facility in Itasca when an individual driving a forklift hit the back of Plaintiff’s tractor-trailer, ultimately resulting in Plaintiff sustaining injuries to his neck and spine. Lipe Lyons’ clients, the individual who operated the forklift and company who hired him, were two of three defendants named in Plaintiff’s lawsuit. Plaintiff’s complaint alleged that Defendants were negligent in failing to operate the forklift and failing to properly train individuals to operate a forklift. Plaintiff also alleged third party defendant failed to properly train Lipe Lyon’s client to operate a forklift. Following a significant amount of discovery, the case proceeded to mediation. Despite Plaintiff’s demand of $1,750,000, Amanda and Daiana were able to settle the case for a total of $225,000 plus mediation costs on behalf of their clients.

Lipe Lyons Senior Associate Alejandra Barcenas is a featured panelist at the Hispanic National Bar Association HNBA Latina Commission's “Pearls of Wisdom” in-person panel today at Benito Juarez High School in Chicago, Illinois. Alejandra currently serves as a Commissioner for the HNBA Latina Commission, Co-Chair of the Latina Leadership Academy Committee, and she is also a Deputy Regional President for HNBA Region IX, which serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Today’s panel will be hosted and moderated by fellow Latina Commissioner, Fatima Garcia, Esq., LLM. Guest panelists include Alejandra and fellow Latina Commissioner and Co-Chair of the Latina Leadership Academy Committee, Jessica Velez.  The HNBA Latina Commission “Pearls of Wisdom” program is a panel of Latina lawyers who speak with young Latinx students across the country about their path to becoming a lawyer with the hope of inspiring them to consider a career in law.

Lipe Lyons Partner Amanda Zink will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Illinois Defense Counsel In House Conference "Navigating Today's Litigation Landscape" on April 26 in Chicago. Registration for the conference is complimentary to all corporate and association counsel and claims professionals. If you're interested in attending sign up today at www.idc.law. This event brings together defense counsel and in house attorneys to discuss topics such as social inflation, anchoring, non-economic damages, 206(a) witnesses, In House Counsel expectations of Outside Defense Counsel, implicit bias, and understanding today’s jurors and plaintiff’s tactics. Amanda will be presenting on the topic of "Defense Strategies for Effectively Anchoring Damages at Trial." 

Last week Lipe Lyons Associates attended the 24th Annual Judicial Reception put on by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Pictured below are Senior Associate Elise Ruff and Associates Rebecca Israel Daiana Man and Alexzandria Johnson, Esq. standing by the Lipe Lyons sponsorship sign.

Lipe Lyons Murphy Nahrstadt & Pontikis, Ltd. is proud to support the Women's Bar Association of Illinois and to sponsor the 24th Annual Judicial Reception on March 9, 2023. At this event the WBAI will present the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Judicial Achievement Award to the Women of the Illinois Supreme Court.

On February 16, 2023, Lipe Lyons Partner Amanda L. Zink, will perform Mazurek Dabrowskiego, the Polish National Anthem, and the Star Spangled Banner at the Advocates Society, Association of Polish-American Attorney’s Annual Installation and Award of Merit Dinner.  The event celebrates the installation of Ann Melichar as President and will honor John J. Pikarski, Jr. and his contributions to the Polish Community.  This is Ms. Zink’s tenth year singing for the Advocates.
 

Partner Amanda Zink and Associate Alexzandria Johnson negotiated a favorable settlement for their client corporation in a personal injury lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Plaintiff alleged that he was injured after being struck by a railroad wheel, while unloading a truck at work. Plaintiff filed negligence claims against the client, and another entity. Plaintiff’s special damages were $126,431.85, and their initial demand was $600,000.  After many exorbitant demands,  Amanda and Alexzandria were able to settle the case for $65,000 on behalf of their client.

Shareholder Jordan Tank and Associate Alexzandria Johnson Secure Dismissal With Prejudice for their client, which was sued for negligence in Cook County. Their aggressive initial investigation revealed their client could not have been responsible for the accidents as alleged by Plaintiff. Before filing a responsive pleading, Lipe Lyons raised the factual issues with Plaintiff’s claim to the Court and obtained an order that required Plaintiff to provide evidence showing why the client was named as a defendant. Plaintiff instead agreed to voluntarily dismiss the client with prejudice, avoiding unnecessary and costly motion practice and discovery. 

The firm is pleased to announce that five of our Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe, Raymond Lyons, Thomas Pontikis, James Whalen, and Jordan Tank, and two of our Senior Associates Alejandra Barcenas and Elise Ruff, were recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for the 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine. We invite you to learn more about our attorneys by visiting their Attorney Bios.

Lipe Lyons Associate Alexzandria Johnson, Esq. Johnson co-chaired and attended the Cook County Bar Association’s Annual Winter Ball and Toy Drive. The event is an annual fundraiser that is attended by lawyers, judges, elected officials, and law students throughout the Chicago land area. Alexzandria is pictured speaking to guests during the ball. Also pictured are the Cook County Bar Association President, and Alexzandria’s co-chair for the event.