Muslim Bar Association of Chicago

CLE PROGRAM: NUTS & BOLTS OF PRACTICING LAW

NUTS & BOLTS OF TRANSACTIONAL PRACTICE

A Continuing Legal Education program designed to introduce important but often misunderstood areas of the law to beginning and mid-level attorneys. 

Did you ever want to learn the essentials of corporate law or real estate transactions but were never exposed to them or had the opportunity?  

Are you a general practitioner that wants to expand your client portfolio to include potential employers as clients?

Are you a seasoned attorney with a law firm and need a refresher course on employment issues or real estate ?

Do existing or potential clients ask you about the differences between immigrant and non-immigrant visas?

Do you need to satisfy some MCLE credits, including the ethics component?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this program is perfect for you.

 

The MBA’s inaugural CLE program will focus on practical aspects of real estate, employment, and corporate transactional practice that are often not taught in law school.  There will also be a section on the salient features of immigration law.  This program will be most beneficial to new and mid-level attorneys who are in solo or small firm practice settings.  But it can also serve as a refresher course for seasoned attorneys in real estate, corporate, employment practice.  The four topics to be covered have been chosen in order to provide attorneys to learn or review the basics of business transactional practice. There will also be a special section on ethics and professionalism, which is an MCLE requirement.  The Program is listed below. 

• 8:30                        Registration

• 9:00 –9:45               Nuts and Bolts of Real Estate Transactions

R. Kymn Harp, Robbins, Saloman & Patt

• 10:00 – 10:45           Nuts and Bolts of Employment Practice 

Jeremy Glenn, Meckler Bulger & Tilson

• 11:00 – 11:45          Nuts and Bolts of Corporate Transactions

R. Kymn Harp, Robbins, Saloman & Patt

• Noon                       Lunch (on your own) & Dhuhr Salaat

• 1:30 to 2:15            Introduction to Immigration (Recent Developments) 

Fazila Vaid, Masuda Funai

• 2:30 to 3:00            Ethics and Professionalism

Tracy L. Kepler, Illinois ARDC

• 3:15                        Conclude 

There will be ample time for questions after each session.

DATE:             October 19 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

LOCATION:    Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

                     Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 2200

                     Chicago Illinois

Registration Fee: $50.00.

MCLE credit is pending approval.  

Come, listen, and learn from some of the best attorneys in Chicago.  They will provide you with knowledge, advice, and useful tips to enhance your practice and make you a better and more productive attorney.     

About the Speakers:

Kymn Harp is a partner with Robbins Saloman and Patt where he is a trusted advisor to investors, business owners, commercial real estate developers and commercial lenders. Since 1978, Kymn [pronounced "Kim"] has focused his practice in two complementary areas of law: (1) commercial real estate development, entitlement, acquisition and financing; and (2) business development, management, acquisitions and sales.  Kymn has substantial experience handling commercial loan workouts and complex and distressed transactions. For over thirty years Kymn has actively represented clients in developing, entitling, financing and transferring shopping centers, mixed-use developments, office buildings, warehouses and industrial properties, as well as non-conventional projects including sports and entertainment facilities, restaurants, health care facilities and other specialty developments.   Kymn is a member of the Chicago Real Estate Council, Illinois State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, and State Bar of New Mexico. Kymn has a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability and is a multi-year Super Lawyer designee in commercial real estate. Kymn is a widely published author and frequent speaker. His 2009 book entitled INTENT TO PROSPER, VOL. 1 - COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE includes a compilation of many of his most popular articles on topics relating to commercial real estate due diligence, financing and development. 

Jeremy Glenn is a partner at Meckler, Bulger and Tilson where he represents management in labor and employment litigation and counseling matters. From the ADA to the Wage and Hour Division of the DOL, Jeremy’s practice encompasses all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Jeremy’s trial skills have been honed in federal and state courts and administrative hearings involving individual and class action wage and hour/overtime disputes, harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, non-compete agreements, OFCCP compliance and retaliatory discharge cases. Jeremy has first-chaired over a dozen labor arbitration trials and regularly advises employers on traditional labor matters such as union avoidance, elections and collective bargaining.  Jeremy designed a proactive approach to human resources counseling to help his clients avoid litigation through effective workplace policies, procedures and training programs and these innovative ideas led to appearances on CBS' The Early Show with Bryant Gumbel and in Crain's Business Insurance Magazine. Jeremy regularly speaks and writes for national publications on employment law topics. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Age Discrimination in Employment Law treatise supplement, a member of the senior editorial board for Wage and Hour Laws: A State-by-State Survey, a chapter author for How to Take a Case Before the NLRB and chairs the ABA subcommittee on the ADEA.

 

Fazila Vaid is an attorney with Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell where she assists multinational corporations and business professionals with temporary and permanent residence matters, including a full range of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and PERM applications. In addition, Ms. Vaid addresses issues related to family-based immigration matters.  Ms. Vaid has devoted her career to the practice of immigration and nationality matters. After graduating from law school in 2000, Ms. Vaid was employed as an associate in the immigration department of a mid-size law firm in downtown Chicago, where she represented corporations, universities, hospitals, medical institutions, foreign medical graduates and individual clients with temporary and permanent residence matters.  Ms. Vaid frequently speaks at community-based legal clinics, where she disseminates information regarding current immigration laws and regulations. In addition, she has served as pro bono counsel to low-income individuals in asylum matters for the Midwest Immigrants Human Rights Center, an organization that she has been involved with since law school.

 

Tracy L. Kepler is Senior Litigation Counsel for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), where she concentrates her practice in the investigation and prosecution of attorney disciplinary matters.  Ms. Kepler currently serves as Secretary to the National Organization of Bar Counsel (NOBC), a non-profit organization of legal professionals whose members enforce ethics rules that regulate the professional conduct of lawyers who practice law in the United States, Canada and Australia.  She has previously served as the NOBC’s Director-at-Large from 2009-2011.  Ms. Kepler is the NOBC Liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics & Professional Responsibility, and from 2009-2011, she served as the NOBC Liaison to the ABA Standing Commission on Legal Assistance Programs.  Ms. Kepler is an active member of the ABA and a frequent presenter of ethics related topics to various national, state and local organizations.  Prior to joining the Commission in 2000, Ms. Kepler served as Regional Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.  She is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and received her law degree from New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts.

2011 MBA Iftar brings together newly licensed attorneys and seasoned veterans

On August 18, 2011 the Muslim Bar Association held another very successful Iftar Dinner.  The event was co-sponsored by the Arab American Bar Association and the Chicago-Kent Muslim Law Students Association.

Matt Rooney, Special Counsel at Mayer Brown, was the keynote speaker and gave a very interesting presentation on his experiences teaching trial advocacy to Iraqi lawyers.  Also speaking at the event were Judge William Haddad and Project Mobilize executive director Reema Ahmad.

Among the established attorneys were Sana'a Hussein, Amina Saeed, Fazila Vaid and Hina Sodha.  Law students and newly licensed attorneys had ample opportunities to network with attorneys and learn tips on finding permanent positions in the Chicagoland legal job market.

Hina Sodha, MBA's Director of Professional Networking programs, did an incredible job organizing, publicizing and running the 2011 MBA Iftar.  The MBA is grateful for the partnership of the Arab American Bar Association and the Chicago-Kent Muslim Law Students Association.

 

Iftar Dinner Registration

 

Our popular Annual Iftaar and Dinner event is back for 2011.  We are excited to announce that this year's event is in cosponsorship with the Arab American Bar Association and the Muslim Law Students Association at IIT Kent College of Law.

Our guest speakers: Matt Rooney and Reema Ahmad

Matt Rooney, Mayer Brown

 Matt Rooney is a with the law firm Mayer Brown. He oversees the firm’s pro bono projects around the world. Rooney visited Iraq last year, where he trained a group of trial lawyers via a program developed by Heartland Alliance International, a Chicago organization that provides a range of services for refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of torture.  

Reema Ahmad, Executive Director, Project Mobilize

Reema Ahmad has been a long time advocate of political engagement throughout her local community.  Whether it was organizing issue forums while in University, increasing voter awareness in her hometown of Milwaukee, or connecting constituents with their elected officials, she is a firm believer in the civic responsibilities inherent to a full realization of patriotism.

Event:               Annual MBA Iftaar and Dinner

Cosponsored by: Arab American Bar Association & MLSA at IIT-Kent College of Law

 

Date:                 Thursday, August 18, 2011

Time:                6:30pm to 9:30pm

Place:               Chicago-Kent College of Law

                            Main Event Room, 10th Floor

Cost:                 $25.00

                        (Advance Registration Required) 

                                             

MBA to Co-host Lawyers & Law Students Reception at ISNA Convention

The Muslim Bar Association of Chicago is once again pleased to serve as local host for the annual Lawyers and Law Student Reception at the Islamic Society of North America's Annual Convention. We are co-hosting with Muslim Advocates. Please make time to participate. It is a great opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the country as well as the hardworking staff of Muslim Advocates. Muslim lawyers and law students, the judiciary and friends and partners of the Muslim legal community are invited to attend.

Date: Saturday, July 2, 2012

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Place: Teylers Room, InterContinental Chicago O'Hare

(Teylers Room is on the main level. Walk to the right from the main entrance, around the curve, and room is at the end of the hallway)
5300 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL

The Hotel InterContinental is directly across the street from the Stephens Convention Center.

Attire: Business Casual

Cost: Free

Refreshments will be served.

Attendance at the reception does not require registration at the ISNA Convention.

As a reminder, the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago is the local host of the annual Lawyers and Law Student Reception at the ISNA Convention. We are co-hosting with Muslim Advocates. Please make time to participate. It is a great opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the country as well as the hardworking staff of Muslim Advocates. Drinks and appetizers will be served.

Saturday, July 2, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Teylers Room
InterContinental Chicago O'Hare
(Teylers Room is on the main level. Walk to the right from the main entrance, around the curve, and room is at the end of the hallway)
5300 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL

The Hotel InterContinental is directly across the street from the Stephens Convention Center.

MBA CoSponsors Zoning Summit

 

The Muslim Bar Association is pleased to cosponsor a program on zoning regulation and managing opposition to mosque construction.  The other program cosponsors are the Council of Islamic Orgs. of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), and CAIR Chicago.

The Zoning Summit is intended to help Muslim community members understand all aspects of the zoning process and discuss successful strategies for securing municipal approvals.  Key presenters include Attorney Mark Daniel, who has been involved in zoning litigation in DuPage County, and ISPU Fellow Kathleen E. Foley, an expert on zoning matters.  More information about these speakers is below.

Zoning issues will, undoubtedly, become even more complex in the foreseeable future.  This is an area of law that attorneys who work with nonprofits should have at least some basic understanding of.  This event presents a great opportunity to learn about zoning law at practically no cost!

NOT IN MY BACKYARD!

Saturday, April 23rd, 10:00 - 4:00 PM

Islamic Foundation, Villa Park

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: www.ciogc.org

Advance Registration Fee: $10.00  ($20 day of event)

 

SPEAKER INFORMATION

MARK DANIEL, ESQ.

Mark W. Daniel is the owner of Daniel Law Office, P.C. (Elmhurst). He has significant experience with local government law, zoning and land use, land development, real estate and title matters, civil litigation and appeals, as well as trademark, copyright and unfair competition. Mark’s clients include governmental and private entities and individuals from several states and his practice extends across Illinois. 

Mark has assisted many not-for-profits, assembly uses and religious institutions in land development efforts and his municipal representation has included Broadview, Cicero, Diamond, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace and Westmont. He has also worked for publicly-held and privately held developers on projects ranging from residential subdivisions to development efforts valued in the range of one billion dollars. He obtained his J.D. at The John Marshall Law School (1994, magna cum laude) and his B.S. from the University of Illinois (1990). He is admitted in Illinois and Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court and various federal district courts in Illinois and Ohio.

Daniel Law Office, P.C. has two attorneys (including Afia Yunus) who offer services in several fields of practice. They can be contacted at mark@thedaniellawoffice.com or afia@thedaniellawoffice.com and a summary of the available services is available on the Internet web site.

ISPU FELLOW, KATHLEEN E. FOLEY

Kathleen E. Foley, a Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) and a Research Affiliate in Harvard University's Pluralism Project, is a PhD Candidate in Cornell University's Department of City and Regional Planning. She studies land use planning and conflict management in public processes.  Her dissertation research, funded by the Graham Foundation for Advance Studies in the Fine Arts and the Barakat Foundation, focuses on the development of Islamic Centers in American suburbs. She is particularly interested in the civic engagement of immigrants via participation in public processes, as well as the influence of public negotiation and compromise on the evolution of a distinctly American form of mosque architecture. She is the author of two reports published by ISPU--"Building Mosques in America: Strategies for Securing Municipal Approvals" (a guide for faith communities) and "'Not in Our Neighborhood': Managing Opposition to Mosque Construction" (a guide for municipal officials). Ms. Foley received her BA in communications from Ithaca College, with minor studies in the history of Islamic architecture and urbanism, and holds an MA in historic preservation planning from Cornell University.

MBA to Cohost Networking Event with Pakistani American Bar Association

 

The Muslim Bar Association will hold its first social networking event of the year on Thursday, March 3rd. We are excited to cohost the event with the Pakistani American Bar Association.  Attorneys, law students, judges and others associated with the legal profession are invited.  

Gino's East

633 N. Wells, Chicago,IL 60610

6:00 pm

COST: $20 per person and includes dinner, dessert and drinks

 

Renew Your MBA Membership Today and Save

It's time to renew your annual membership or make 2011 the first year you become an official member of the MBA!   As an incentive to submit your application right away, a 10% discount on the membership fee will apply to all applications received on or before February 1.* Please do not hesitate to contact any of our Board Members with questions or concerns about membership.   Thank you for your continued support of the MBA in 2011.   Please download the application and mail it in with your check or pay online at the link below. If you pay online, please remember to mail your application or submit it electronically to: muslimbar@gmail.com. Download 2011 New Member App *Discount will be in the form of a refund issued after the February 1st early application deadline.

2011 Membership Fee Categories

Admitted 6+ Years $150.00 Admitted 1-5 Years $100.00 Admitted 0-1 Year $0.00 Government Employee $50.00 Judge $125.00 Law Student $0.00 Paralegal $25.00

A Conversation with Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Join your colleagues from the Bench and the Bar for a conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.    Event organized by the Chicago Bar Association and Just the Beginning Foundation.     Cosponsored by the Muslim Bar Association.   Monday, January 31    4:00 p.m. Standard Club $50/person Download SotomayorEventInfo

Register Now for the Annual Iftaar and Networking Reception

The MBA Chicago Board looks forward to welcoming you to the popular annual Iftaar and dinner event.  The MBA Iftaar is one of the most well attended events of the year.  It brings together lawyers, law students and academics for an evening of networking and fellowship that is simultaneously infused with the increased spirituality that blesses the Muslim community every Ramadan.

This year, we are combining the Iftaar event with a Networking Reception intended to encourage the participation of new and returning law students.  Law students from all the Chicago-area law schools are encouraged to attend.  There will be ample opportunity to meet and get to know attorneys who practice in many different areas of the law.  We will also have a short program to help law students and new lawyers develop and practice elevator speeches.  

The first 15 law students who rsvp for the event will receive complimentary admission.  Law students should submit their rsvp to: muslimbar@gmail.com.  Registration will be completed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Event: Annual MBA Iftaar, Reception, and 

Networking Skills Program 

Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010

Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Place: Chicago-Kent College of Law

Main Event Room, 10th Floor

Cost:         Law Students - $10.00

(Advance Registration Required)

Attorneys and Others - $25.00 

(Advance Purchase Required)

Iftaar Dinner

Attorney $25.00 Law Student $10.00 Other Guests $25.00