WCLA Welcomes CWCL 3/15/2024 - Virtual

Zach Warren leads technology and innovation content and research for the Thomson Reuters Institute. Zach has been writing and speaking on tech and innovation for more than a decade, and charts the future of professional services industries, including legal, tax, and risk & fraud, through writing, podcasts, speaking engagements, and more. With the Institute, Zach has helmed multiple research projects on technology in professional services, including a series of Generative AI reports for the legal and tax industries, the Digital Strategy Report for law firms, and others. Before TRI, Zach was the editor-in-chief of ALM’s Legaltech News and regularly featured on Law.com, The American Lawyer and ALM events such as Legalweek.

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.

Christine Jagodzinski is a shareholder at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie, & Lowry, P.C., a Chicago-based workers’ compensation defense firm representing employers in the Midwest. Ms. Jagodzinski has defended workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employers and insurance companies in Illinois for the last 18 years, frequently trying cases and handling appeals. She also enjoys lecturing on topics involving workers’ compensation.

In 1998, Ms. Jagodzinski received her B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa while playing volleyball for Loyola. In 2000, she received a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Loyola University Chicago. Ms. Jagodzinski later earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago in 2002, graduating Cum Laude. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. Outside of work, Ms. Jagodzinski enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and three children.

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Sheral C. Kellar received her bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from Louisiana State University. She was appointed director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration in 2016. She has served as a workers’ compensation judge since 1991 and as chief judge since 1999. In 2014, she was inducted as a fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. Since 2007, she has been a NAWCJ member and serves on its board and Curriculum Committee. In 2007, Judge Kellar received the Louisiana State Bar Association President’s Award for her many contributions to the bar association and her exceptional service as co-chair of the Access to Justice Committee. 

Matt represents management and executives in disputes claiming breach of contract, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and employment torts. He counsels clients in all aspects of employment and labor relations including wage and hour disputes, trade secrets, confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. 

Matt often counsels law firms and medical practices in employment matters. He is an experienced litigator who has tried or arbitrated a wide range of cases and argued numerous appeals. Matt assists his clients in developing employee handbooks, policies, employment contracts and separation agreements. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements and helps his unionized clients with contract administration.

Matt holds the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell (AV® Preeminent™) and AVVO (10/10). He has repeatedly been recognized as an Illinois  “Super Lawyer” in Labor & Employment and as a “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyers Magazine. Matt has been elected as a Life Fellow in the American Bar Foundation (limited to 1/3 of 1% of Illinois Lawyers). He is also a fellow of the ABA College of Workers Compensation Lawyers. Matt regularly speaks at conferences and publishes books and law reviews including a chapter in the recent ABA book “Litigating Sexual Harassment & Sex Discrimination Cases.

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.