Experience

Johnson, Blumberg & Associates, LLC

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Attorney Bankruptcy

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  • Representing mortgage servicers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies including motion and adversary proceedings • Responsibilities include: representation at court hearings; drafting proofs of claims; drafting motions for relief from the automatic stay; reviewing and advising on treatment in Chapter 13 plans; drafting Chapter 7 reaffirmation agreements • Representing mortgage servicers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies including motion and adversary proceedings • Responsibilities include: representation at court hearings; drafting proofs of claims; drafting motions for relief from the automatic stay; reviewing and advising on treatment in Chapter 13 plans; drafting Chapter 7 reaffirmation agreements



Illinois Attorney General's Office

• United States
• Legal Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Assistant Attorney General

  • Jun 2022 - Nov 2022

  • Acted as lead trial counsel for cases in the General Law Bureau’s prisoner litigation unit involving civil rights actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and disability claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act • Responsibilities included: answering pleadings; drafting and responding to discovery requests; taking and defending depositions; drafting motions for dismissal for failure to state a claim and for summary judgment • Acted as lead trial counsel for cases in the General Law Bureau’s prisoner litigation unit involving civil rights actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and disability claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act • Responsibilities included: answering pleadings; drafting and responding to discovery requests; taking and defending depositions; drafting motions for dismissal for failure to state a claim and for summary judgment



DebtStoppers | The Semrad Law Firm

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Attorney

  • Apr 2013 - Apr 2022

  • Managed active Chapter 13 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois from client intake consultations through representation in Section 341 meetings of creditors and plan confirmation hearings • Trained attorneys and paraprofessional staff in case preparation, filing, and motion practice • Prosecuted creditor discharge violations in adversary proceedings and defended clients in adversary proceedings involving dischargeability of debts • Managed active Chapter 13 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois from client intake consultations through representation in Section 341 meetings of creditors and plan confirmation hearings • Trained attorneys and paraprofessional staff in case preparation, filing, and motion practice • Prosecuted creditor discharge violations in adversary proceedings and defended clients in adversary proceedings involving dischargeability of debts



Law Offices of David M Sternfield, LLC

• Chicago

• Associate Attorney

  • Nov 2012 - Apr 2013

  • Assisted with court filing and answering discovery requests for divorce and child support cases • Drafted motions for custody, visitation, and modification of child support and petitions for rule to show cause based on respondents’ failure to pay child support • Drafted a memorandum in support of a motion to modify child support that refuted the ex-husband’s arguments that income from several businesses awarded to him pursuant to a marital settlement agreement does not qualify as net income for the computation of child support • Drafted a memorandum in support of a petition to modify bond for an indirect civil contempt of court case arguing that continued confinement via electronic home monitoring was inappropriate when the court failed to specify valid conditions for the defendant to purge his contempt Show less



U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

• Chicago

• Judicial Extern for Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

  • Jan 2012 - May 2012

  • Drafted an opinion and order ruling on the merits of a FRCP 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss a claim for breach of contract in an employment discrimination case • Drafted a bench memorandum on the merits of a motion for summary judgment in an employment discrimination case involving claims of age, race, and natural origin discrimination • Researched complex issues of subject matter jurisdiction under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act • Drafted a bench memorandum on the merits of a university’s motion to dismiss claims brought under ERISA by part-time security guards who claimed they were wrongfully excluded from participating in a retirement plan • Researched the sufficiency of the facts and circumstances justifying a Terry stop and frisk of a criminal defendant being charged with illegal possession of a handgun Show less



Chicago Transit Authority

• United States
• Truck Transportation
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Extern

  • May 2011 - Apr 2012

  • Conducted plaintiff’s deposition in a negligence suit for injuries sustained from a slip and fall while boarding a bus • Drafted several successful closing briefs submitted to arbitrators in labor disputes defending CTA’s discharge of union employees for cause for excessive absenteeism, safety violations, and fighting in the workplace • Investigated claims of employment discrimination by interviewing the supervising managers and compiling relevant work documentation, and drafted position statements in response to those claims submitted to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Rights • Drafted a FRCP 56 motion for summary judgment for a civil rights action filed in federal court against the CTA, City of Chicago, and several police officers that strengthened CTA’s position in settlement negotiations so that CTA paid nothing to settle the malicious prosecution claims brought against it • Drafted sections of an appellate brief for a workers’ compensation case on appeal to the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District involving novel claims of only mental injury from witnessing the death of a pedestrian in a bus accident Show less



Lambda Legal

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Law Clerk

  • Sep 2010 - Dec 2010

  • Researched arguments for an amicus curiae brief submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit filed in support of Eastern Michigan University’s position that it did not violate a graduate student’s free speech and free exercise of religion rights when it discharged her from the counseling program for refusing to counsel a gay undergraduate student, who sought counseling at the school’s clinic for problems involving his same-sex relationship • Drafted memoranda on issues of civil procedure, defenses, and remedies for ongoing cases • Contributed to the maintenance and expansion of resources for the national legal help desk Show less



Equality Illinois

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Law Fellow

  • Jun 2010 - Aug 2010

  • Drafted educational materials for the public on The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act • Outlined and drafted chapters of a best employment practices manual for law firms with regards to LGBT attorneys and staff • Drafted educational materials for the public on The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act • Outlined and drafted chapters of a best employment practices manual for law firms with regards to LGBT attorneys and staff