On an ongoing basis, the Law Bulletin, an Illinois lawyers’ publication, publishes articles and lists of what its surveys indicate are the leading lawyers in the state. Its December 2009 edition, “Leading Lawyers Network: Consumer Edition,” lists Tony Licata prominently and appropriately. This publication conducts extensive research in collecting and compiling the information contained in its feature articles. Within the legal community it is understood that one is not undeservingly highlighted and recognized in this publication. Lawyers strive for such recognition, and to be included among the most respected in the Illinois legal community is a tremendous honor. This month …

This month we highlight the career of Susan A. Capra, a prominent catastrophic injury trial lawyer. While she may remain in the background while working on a plaintiff’s medical malpractice matter, she plays a vital role in successful outcomes of cases. A partner with the prominent personal injury firm of Clifford Law Offices P.C. in Chicago headed by Robert A. Clifford, Capra has spent her entire 20-year legal career with the firm. She does not act as the lead trial lawyer but provides a support and advisory role, working with fellow partners on about 20 jury trials that resulted in …

Like many successful folks in our community, Mary Ann Iantorno Hynes is a child of immigrants. Her father, Ernest Mario Iantorno, came to this country from Rende, in the province of Cosenza, Italy, and her mother, Emma Louise Noto Iantorno, came from San Fili, in the same province. Although her parents came from neighboring towns in Calabria, they first met in this country in Cicero. They sought the “American Dream” for their children and, as Mary Ann tells the story, to accomplish that they worked different shifts at factories so that one parent would always be home caring for the …

“Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat.” For the eleventh straight year, the 40 Under 40 Committee at Law Bulletin Publishing Company sifted through almost one thousand nomination forms to select the 40 most talented attorneys in Illinois under the age of 40. The Law Bulletin is the preeminent legal publication in the state of Illinois, having been in operation for over 150 years. What does it take to earn the 40/40 recognition? The standards applied in the selection process include: intelligence, professional achievements, outstanding reputation amongst …

This month we highlight the distinguished career of Vincent C. Cipolla, a successful attorney with a wonderful reputation who is on the cutting edge of a relatively new, significant development in the field of law, alternate dispute resolution (ADR). What precipitated highlighting the career of Vincent C. Cipolla was the announcement of the creation of Cipolla Mediation and Arbitration Services. For the readers of Fra Noi not familiar with ADR, let me explain. Historically, especially in major metropolitan areas like Cook County, so many people have taken advantage of access to the courts that justice often seemed to be backlogged …

Every year, Crain’s Chicago Business, a leading weekly newspaper servicing the Chicagoland business community, publishes a list of their annual selection of the top 40 business professionals in this community under the age of 40. Always, Italian Americans are prominent on the list. This year is no exception. One of the selectees is Dino De Vita, Senior Vice President at the Northern Trust Company, Managing Director of its significant Personal Financial Services Group. In the article, highlighting the career of this outstanding young Italian-American professional, it was mentioned: For his first day in first grade, Dino De Vita showed up …

Today we highlight the distinguished career of Michael D. Ruggiero, a financial advisor/planner with Ameriprise Financial Inc., a position in which he has excelled for 10 years. Michael is a neighborhood guy, born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park and then River Forest. His father, Angelo Ruggiero, is a highly respected attorney and longtime and influential member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers. The Ruggiero’s are of Neapolitan descent and Michael’s mother, Gina, is of Sicilian descent. Angelo grew up around Leavitt and Harrison and his mother grew up in the Cragin neighborhood. Angelo is still a practicing and …

On an annual basis, the Law Bulletin, an Illinois lawyers’ publication, publishes a volume called, “Forty Under 40,” recognizing through a statewide nomination process outstanding attorneys under the age of forty in the State of Illinois to watch. The most recent publication identified two outstanding young professionals from our community, for this recognition, Kenneth C. Apicella and Peter M. Spingola. We introduce these two rising stars to our readers. Kenneth C. Apicella attended DePaul University College of Law where he distinguished himself as a Dean’s List student. While there, he was elected to be an executive board member on the …

This month, we highlight the career of Brian A. Bernardoni, a truly accomplished individual in many fields and many endeavors. He is an interesting product of an Italian neighborhood and an accomplished, dynamic and respected community leader. Brian A. Bernardoni of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® is the senior director of governmental affairs and public policy serving Chicago real estate professionals. He is a resident of the city of Chicago in the Little Italy community and is regarded by many as a powerful voice on real estate matters in Chicago. Bernardoni works with the association’s leadership and volunteers to assess …

Today we highlight the distinguished career of prominent attorney Charles R. Bernardini. Rarely has anything of any consequence occurred in our ethnic community without Chuck being in the forefront, or participating as a statesman, mentor and advisor, be it politics, local or statewide, cultural and/or social. A recognized community leader, Chuck, in addition to being a leading and successful attorney with the prominent Chicago firm of Ungaretti & Harris, has always made time to work toward the improvement of our Italian-American condition. A second-generation Italian American, Chuck grew up in Streator, Ill., and distinguished himself as an undergraduate and then …