DePaul University College of Law

Jennifer Hughes (JD ’05) was named managing partner of Church Church Hittle & Antrim (CCHA). CCHA is a full-service firm serving clients throughout the Indianapolis metropolitan area in a wide range of practice areas, including personal injury, business formation and representation, divorce and family law, estate planning and administration, collegiate sports, K–12 and higher education, complex litigation, governmental and municipal law, real estate law, criminal law, labor and employment law, mediation services and appellate litigation. Jennifer joined the firm in 2009 and is a partner in its family law practice.

Read more: https://ow.ly/20rn50ZcLrc

Gregory M. Gilmore (BUS ’89, JD ’93) was appointed United States attorney for the Central District of Illinois. U.S. Attorney Gilmore is a longtime federal prosecutor who has served the Central District of Illinois as first assistant U.S. attorney, criminal chief, civil chief and criminal supervisor of the Springfield Division. As an assistant U.S. attorney, he represented the government in a wide range of criminal prosecutions and tried more than 25 cases to jury verdict.

Read more: https://ow.ly/JAHB50ZcqLA

Barry Conybeare (JD ’92) was named president of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) for the 2026-2027 bar year. The MAJ serves as a voice for Michigan’s trial attorneys and consumers seeking equal access to justice across the state. Barry is a longtime trial attorney and shareholder at Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers focusing his practice on personal injury litigation, including automobile negligence, medical malpractice, product liability and insurance disputes.

Read more: https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Articles?DataId=1607372

Corporate Law: Not Every Lawyer Works at a Firm

Law firms are only part of Chicago’s legal landscape. Last week, we covered the range of firms across the Loop. This week, we’re turning to the major corporations where lawyers build careers in-house.

In the Loop, companies like the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) Group and Northern Trust rely on lawyers for markets, finance and regulatory strategy. At Exelon, lawyers work on energy, regulatory and compliance matters, while United Airlines relies on lawyers across contracts, operations and risk.

Same degree. Different role. The companies that run the economy are all within blocks of DePaul Law.

Daniel P. Kinstedt (JD ’25) received the Federal Defender Program’s Board of Directors Special Recognition Award from U.S. District Court of Northern District of Illinois. The honor recognizes a law student intern who has demonstrated an interest and love of criminal law, good character, unquestioned integrity and devotion to the goals of the Federal Defender Program. Daniel is now an assistant public defender with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender.

Craig M. Mandell (JD ’06) was sworn in as president of the Lake County Bar Association (LCBA) for the organization’s 2026-2027 bar year. Craig, a longtime LCBA leader, volunteer and supporter, is a partner at Beermann LLP, where he represents clients in all areas of family law.

Read more: https://ow.ly/snN450Z9T4s

Joyce Michele Maxberry Malliet (JD ’87) has been appointed first assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. As first assistant, Joyce will serve as the office’s second-ranking official and assist in leading the office’s operations and mission throughout the District of New Jersey. She has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for nearly 24 years and currently serves as chief of the National Security Unit, becoming the first woman to lead that unit.

Read more: https://ow.ly/1cjh50Z9m63

Join us in celebrating this year's award recipients!

Each year, DePaul Law recognizes the faculty and staff whose contributions make a lasting impact. We are proud to honor three faculty members for excellence in teaching, scholarship and achievement, and one staff member for outstanding service and dedication.

Congratulations to these exceptional community members, and thank you for the dedication, leadership and service you bring to DePaul Law every day.

Every Path, One Place: DePaul Law in Chicago

In Chicago’s Loop, law isn’t in one place—it’s everywhere.

Courts, law firms, government offices, corporations and public interest organizations operate side by side.

Over the next six weeks, we’ll break down what that actually means—where lawyers work, what they do and how many different paths exist, all within blocks of DePaul Law.

This first week, we are focusing on the expansive range of law firms located across Chicago’s Loop.

Law Firms: Big Law and More

Most people hear “law firm” and think Big Law. That’s just one version of it.

In the Loop, large, Chicago-founded firms like Sidley Austin and Mayer Brown handle major corporate deals and high-stakes litigation through offices around the world. Others, like single-office firm Neal, Ge**er & Eisenberg, advise clients across business, regulatory and litigation matters. Some focus more narrowly, such as Clifford Law Offices in personal injury and wrongful death and Banner Witcoff in intellectual property.

Every kind of law firm can be found in Chicago’s Loop, within blocks of DePaul Law.

Brian P. Murray (JD ’11) joined Neal Ge**er Eisenberg as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Brian brings more than a decade of experience advising clients on complex intellectual property matters across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and advanced technology sectors.

Read more: https://ow.ly/4THU50Z7c1z