Firm News

JAY STEFANI LEADS DISCUSSION TO AID SOLE PRACTIONERS & SMALL FIRMS DURING UPCOMING AAJ WEBINAR

May 9, 2022 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Jay will be discussing “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right,” by Atul Gawande during the American Association for Justice (“AAJ”) Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section “Book Club” webinar. He will touch on multiple subtopics including:

why checklists are needed in an increasingly complex world;
types of checklists;
what constitutes an effective checklist; and
how to create and implement checklists in your practice.

The webinar will be held on May 11, 2022, and will begin at 12:00pm (CST). Attendance is free for AAJ members, but advance registration is required.

Jay is the current Chair of AAJ’s Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section, which focuses on supporting trial attorneys across the country who manage their own law practices. Jay frequently speaks on topics concerning law firm management and technology.

Jay Stefani Honored as a Super Lawyer for 2022

February 4, 2022 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani is thrilled to congratulate Jay Stefani for his recent recognition as a 2022 Super Lawyer in Illinois!

2022 marks Stefani’s third year in a row as an Illinois Super Lawyer, a recognition that came swiftly following four years of being named a ‘Rising Star’ by Thomson Reuters.

Outstanding attorneys are chosen through Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers process, a multiphase selection program that takes into account independent research, peer nominations, and extensive attorney evaluations. Super Lawyers candidates are evaluated on a wide range of criteria involving peer recognition and their own professional and personal accomplishments.

“It’s an honor to be recognized, especially considering how recipients are nominated by peers,” said Stefani. “The accolades are nice, but knowing that my fellow attorneys recognize the work I do for my clients is what means the most.”

Super Lawyers aims to create an extensive listing of exceptional attorneys in each state so potential clients can easily find the best possible legal counsel to fit their needs.

“I’m humbled to be listed amongst some truly outstanding lawyers in Illinois,” Stefani added.

Levinson and Stefani’s Ken Levinson was also selected as a 2022 Super Lawyer; both attorneys’ recognitions are huge honors for the firm.

“It really shows how much effort we put into our cases and how much we truly care about our clients,” said Ken Levinson. “This reflects upon our representation within the community–but it’s all about our clients, really. That’s the focus. It stems from our hard work and the dedication we have to our clients.”

To view 2022’s full list of Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers, click here.

Ken Levinson Recognized as 2022 Top 100 Super Lawyer

January 24, 2022 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani congratulates Ken Levinson on being recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Chicago for 2022!

Levinson has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters for over a decade, and is beyond honored for this recognition in the new year.

“We’re thrilled for the acknowledgement from our peers–this is truly a vote of confidence and recommendation by fellow lawyers in the community, and by fellow Illinois attorneys who screen their colleagues throughout the state,” Levinson said. “To be recognized by my peers is fantastic and I’m just really thrilled and honored to be in the top 100 category–it’s just really humbling.”

Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers chooses outstanding attorneys through a multiphase selection process, including peer nominations, thorough evaluations, and independent research, with candidates being evaluated on a dozen criteria in regards to personal, professional achievement and peer recognition.

The overarching goal of Super Lawyers is to comprise a comprehensive listing of attorneys who go above and beyond so that clients can find the best legal counsel possible to fit their needs.

Levinson and Stefani’s Jay Levinson was also chosen as a top 100 Super Lawyer for 2022, about which Levinson is equally as thrilled.

“It really shows how much effort we put into our cases and how much we truly care about our clients,” noted Levinson. “This reflects upon our representation within the community–but it’s all about our clients, really. That’s the focus. It stems from our hard work and the dedication we have to our clients.”

To see a full list of Illinois’ 2022 Top 100 Super Lawyers, click here.

Levinson and Stefani Welcomes Brett Kaplan, its Newest Associate Attorney

January 21, 2022 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani is excited to welcome its newest Associate Attorney, Brett Kaplan!

Kaplan, who earned his Juris Doctor in 2015 from Chicago-Kent College of Law, has spent the last six years litigating corporate and injury cases, although his passion lies strongly in securing successful results for his clients regarding personal injury matters.

“I like the aspect of helping people who are in need of assistance when they don’t really have anywhere to look or don’t really know what the right thing to do is,” explained Kaplan. “Everyone has seen movies about lawsuits, but they don’t really know what goes into them. A lot of the time, we’ll see these clients who are really in need of legal assistance and guidance, and I think it’s nice to be there for those people. I kind of got into this field by luck–but that’s what has kept me so intrigued by it.”

In fact, Kaplan wasn’t necessarily searching for a new firm when he was informed of an open role at Levinson and Stefani–which goes to show his new position was indeed meant to be.

“I got a call from a family member of mine who knows Ken and Jay–he reached out to me and said there was an opportunity,” he said. “He told me a bit about them and had great things to say, so I took a few calls and was very impressed. After some time, I decided to make the move.”

Now, Kaplan is thrilled for a chance to grow even further in his experience as an attorney, and to do so alongside some of Chicago’s most widely-respected personal injury lawyers.

“My goal is to learn more about legal practice and to maximize my ability as a litigator,” Kaplan noted. “The reason I came to this firm is because I believe this is the right place for that. I know I’ll learn a lot; I’ve had a lot of experience, but I always want to continue to learn and become a better attorney. I think there’s a lot of potential at this firm and my hope is that I will be one of the catalysts that can help bring the firm to new heights.”

Updates in 2021-2022 Edition of Ken Levinson’s Book Series

November 26, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The 2021 to 2022 Edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, written by Levinson and Stefani’s own Ken Levinson along with Tom D’Amore, has some new updates in its latest version.

The two-volume series, which aims to offer legal and scientific insight regarding how best to prepare auto injury cases for the best possible awards, has some updated materials in Chapter 1, “The Importance of Law Firm Marketing.” This chapter covers how best to build your firm brand using internet marketing, organic and local SEO, and Google search result rankings, as well as how to use social media and email marketing to your advantage.

“This series is designed to provide plaintiff attorneys with clear guidance on representing major automobile injury and death cases, and strategies for winning large damage awards with the least expenditure of effort,” explained Levinson.

Additionally, Chapter 8–Depositions–is revised to look further into how to boost remote deposition success when so many depositions are now held over Zoom following the pandemic. Specifically, this chapter covers how to allow all participants to see exhibits and witnesses as clearly as possible, how to maximize your video and audio quality, and as how to minimize background or technical difficulty disturbances.

“Our objective is to help attorneys achieve maximum damage awards on behalf of their severely injured clients,” said Levinson. “The series features written discovery, depositions, medical, and other expert witness testimony, and aspects of automobile jury trials–as well as the necessary forms needed to handle a case from beginning to end.”

The series, published Thomson Reuters, is available here.

Levinson and Stefani Welcomes Newest Associate Attorney, Vanessa A. Gebka

November 24, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani is thrilled to announce the firm’s newest associate attorney, Vanessa A. Gebka! Vanessa served as a law clerk for the firm for nearly two years before rising up to her new position, and earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law.

“I hit the ground running the day after I was sworn in,” said Gebka of her start as an associate attorney. “I had a lot on my plate, as far as cases go, but I was happy to have the opportunity. Within about a week of being sworn in, I had already appeared in court for the first time as an attorney of record, I was able to file a motion under my name as the attorney, and I was also included in a deposition where I was listed as an attorney for the plaintiffs–so that’s all amazing to me and very exciting.”

At Loyola, Gebka worked on the Chicago Bar Association’s Moot Court Team and as a Student Clinician in Loyola’s Civitas ChildLaw Clinic. During her schooling, it didn’t take long for her to find the area of law that would become her passion.

“I’ve always wanted to work in personal injury,” she explained. “I always felt like it was the right area for me because I’ve always wanted to help people who have been harmed. I found this area of law and have been involved in it since the beginning of my law school career, and I really enjoyed it. Because I was a law clerk here for almost two years, I was able to become really familiar with everyone in the office and with the team here, and they’ve been very supportive.”

Gebka noted that she is incredibly grateful now that she gets to go to bat for the clients she cares about most.

“First of all, I think it’s a privilege and an honor for somebody to trust you in something as serious as a case where they’ve been seriously harmed or injured in something as traumatic as a car crash, even if that injury doesn’t happen to be as significant as other ones–just going through that kind of accident is very traumatic,” she said. “Just trusted as someone who can take care of that for them is an honor. I’m happy and thrilled to step up to the plate and be that person for these clients who are everyday people who have just been involved in something awful and just want someone to be their voice and advocate and help them get back to where they were before–to make them whole again.”