Linda Mensch
Kristin L. Rakowski
Sweeney, Scharkey & Blanchard LLC added Kristin L. Rakowski as a partner. Rakowski brings more than a decade of litigation, investigative, and compliance experience to the firm.
Most recently she was senior corporate counsel for CDW Corporation and will strengthen the firm’s Trials & Controversies and Investigations practices.
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Smith Blake Hill LLC announced the addition of Tim Dobry as partner. Dobry joins the firm from DuPage Medical Group, where he was the associate general counsel. He has also been a trial lawyer at two Chicago defense firms where he practiced medical negligence defense, including the representation of doctors, nurses, and hospitals.
The firm also welcomed new litigation associates Suzana Broderick, Marina Diambri, Lauren Scalzo, Lacey Locke and Nina Finnigan.
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Linda Mensch, a prominent Chicago entertainment attorney, died Aug. 26 after being hit by a vehicle on the West Side. She was 70 years old. The Chicago Police Department said no one is in custody and an investigation remains open.
Mensch was of counsel at Mandell Menkes LLC. She was an associate producer of “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise” for the PBS “American Masters” series, previous president of the Chicago Recording Academy and a board member for A Safe Haven, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing in Chicago.
“It wasn’t lost on her on how the issue of addiction, mental health and homelessness impacted people who were talented and had gifts for music and film,” said Neli Vazquez Rowland, president and co-founder.
Added Mandell Menkes founding partner Steven P. Mandell: “We lost a great friend.”