2026 Professional Responsibility Boot Camp for Workers’ Compensation Lawyers - 2/12/2026

Mary F. Andreoni is Ethics Education Counsel for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) where she develops and implements the ARDC’s ethics education initiatives, including the ARDC Ethics Inquiry Program and the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute, where she is also an instructor. She has authored several articles including the ARDC publication, Client Trust Account Handbook and spoken at hundreds of programs on legal ethics.

Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Andreoni was law clerk to Illinois Appellate Court Justice Mel R. Jiganti and later practiced commercial litigation with the law firm of Peterson & Ross in Chicago. While in practice, she also served as a board member on the ARDC Inquiry and Hearing Boards. Active in the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), she has served on a number of committees, and is past chair of the CBA Professional Responsibility Committee (2014-2015). Ms. Andreoni received her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in Chicago.

Caroleann Gallagher is a seasoned personal injury attorney and proud partner at Coogan Gallagher. Originally from Ireland, she brings a global legal perspective and over two decades of experience to her work—fighting for individuals and families harmed by negligence.

Her practice focuses on medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, trucking and construction accidents, and serious workplace injuries. Known for her meticulous preparation and compassionate client care, Caroleann is a fierce advocate both in and out of the courtroom.

Caroleann earned her law degree from the National University of Ireland – Galway and was admitted to The Law Society of Ireland in 2004. After moving to Chicago in 2008, she passed the Illinois Bar in 2011 and has been practicing in the state ever since.

Deeply rooted in the Irish American community, Caroleann lives on Chicago’s Northwest Side with her husband Patrick and their two daughters. She currently serves as Vice President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Dr. Diana Uchiyama, JD, PsyD, CAADC—Executive Director at the Lawyers’ Assistance Program "LAP"

Dr. Diana Uchiyama is the Executive Director of the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP).  Prior to joining LAP, she was the Administrator of Psychological Services for DuPage County and ran a licensed outpatient substance use treatment program, including a Mentally Ill Substance Abuse (MISA) program and Seeking Safety program for individuals with substance use problems, who were also trauma survivors.  While at DuPage County she also ran a 26-week Domestic Batterer Intervention Program for a court mandated population of clients. 

Dr. Uchiyama has also worked for the Kane County Diagnostic Center, as both a Staff Psychologist and Juvenile Drug Court Coordinator and has an extensive background doing court ordered evaluations including psychological, sanity, fitness, fitness to parent, and sex offender evaluations.  She is a licensed sex offender evaluator in the State of Illinois.   She has implemented numerous changes to court ordered programs both in Kane and DuPage County and is a SAMSHA certified trauma informed care trainer.  Dr. Uchiyama also conducts therapy with adults and adolescents, is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and has an Advanced Mindfulness Training Certificate, teaching mindfulness skills to others in order to increase their wellbeing.

 Prior to obtaining her master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Uchiyama was an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County working in various felony courtrooms at 26th and California in Chicago for over a decade. She obtained her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Austin protects, defends, and litigates on behalf of insurance companies and employers in workplace accident claims including workers' compensation and related civil litigation claims.

He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, for which he serves as a member of the organization’s board of directors. Austin has presented on various workers’ compensation topics at seminars, and he has authored case law summaries for the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association’s membership.

He graduated from Ripon College with a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Government and was also a four-year letter winner in football. After graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C. and worked on Capitol Hill for two different members of Congress. During his time on the Hill, he handled many different issues and areas of legislation, including those impacting small businesses, veterans, trade, appropriations, and defense matters.

Seeking a new challenge, Austin attended UIC John Marshall Law School, where he was a regional finalist in the ABA Negotiation Competition, served as a teaching assistant, and was a member of the Veterans Law moot court competition team. Since passing the bar, Austin has dedicated his career to workers’ compensation defense and related civil ligation claims.

Austin is an avid sports fan, enjoys golfing as much as possible and most of all loves spending time with his wife and three sons whether at the lake, traveling or just trying to keep them safe.

David B Menchetti’s a shareholder in Cullen, Haskins, Nicholson & Menchetti, P.C. in Chicago and concentrates his practice in the representation of injured workers throughout Illinois before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Circuit Courts and the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (JD) and attained an undergraduate degree (BA) with distinction from Stanford University. Mr. Menchetti is a former staff counsel to Illinois State Senate President Philip J. Rock and concentrated in legislation dealing with insurance, pensions and licensed activities. He has served as counsel to Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. and advised about and drafted reforms to the Workers’ Compensation Act in 1989 and 1991.

He is a member of: the Illinois State Bar Association (Workers’ Compensation Law Section Council Chair and Legislation Committee member); the Chicago Bar Association (Industrial Commission Committee Chair ); the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (Workers’ Compensation Committee Chair); the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (President); the American Association for Justice (Workplace Injury Section); the Workplace Injury Litigation Group; and the Board of the Chicago Area Committee on Occupational Health and Safety.

He has authored the chapter on “Penalties” in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Notebook and has lectured on workers’ compensation issues for: the Illinois State Bar Association; the Chicago Bar Association; the National Business Institute: the Council on Education in Management; the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claims Association; the judicial training program for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission; the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission; the United Food and Commercial Workers Union; the Laborers International Union; Combined Orthopedic Specialists; the Illinois Bones Association; Kankakee Community College; the University of Chicago Hospitals.

He serves as an advisor to the Illinois AFL-CIO on workers’ compensation matters and participated in the negotiations and drafted the amendments contained in the historic 2005 and 2012 Workers’ Compensation reform legislation. He is listed in the Who’s Who in American Law, has been designated as one of the Best Lawyers in America and has been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer and a Super Lawyer. The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association has presented him the President’s Award. He has been selected as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America.