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IN THIS ISSUE
When Estate Planning Meets a Murder Mystery
By Adam J. Poteracki
Is It Assets? Is It Stocks? That's the Question!
By James J. Riebandt
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| When Estate Planning Meets a Murder Mystery | | |
Few things create more tension than a surprising estate plan. In the hit film Knives Out, the unexpected reading of a will turns a wealthy family against one another and raises an important legal question: what happens if someone who stands to inherit is responsible for the decedent’s death?
While most families won’t face circumstances as dramatic as those surrounding Harlan Thrombey and his heirs, the legal issue at the heart of the story is very real...
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| | Is It Assets? Is It Stocks? That's the Question! | | |
When purchasing a business, one of the most important initial decisions is how the transaction will be structured. Will the Buyer purchase the Seller’s assets, or will the Buyer purchase the Seller’s stock or ownership interest? This article highlights the key elements involved in each type of transaction.
In an asset sale, the Buyer acquires some or all of the contents of the business, such as equipment, inventory, and other assets. In a stock sale, the Buyer acquires...
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| | RD Welcomes New Attorneys! | |
Nicholas A. DeConcilis
Associate
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RD welcomes Attorney Nicholas A. DeConcilis to the firm. Nicholas focuses his practice on estate and tax planning, bringing valuable tax experience that complements the firm’s planning capabilities. With a foundation in tax law and prior experience as a tax analyst, he approaches planning matters with careful attention to detail and a strong understanding of complex tax considerations. We are pleased to have him join our team and look forward to the analytical insight and guidance he offers his clients.
T: 847.698.9600
E: ndeconcilis@robbinsdimonte.com
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Jackson C. Doughty
Associate
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Esteban Valtierra
Associate
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RD welcomes Attorney Esteban Valtierra to the firm. Esteban focuses his practice on bankruptcy and commercial litigation, with experience in Chapter 11 reorganizations, Section 363 sales, Chapter 7 liquidations, and out-of-court workouts. He brings valuable insight from his prior experience as a Judicial Law Clerk with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court, where he worked closely on a high volume of insolvency matters and the judicial decision-making process. Esteban brings a strong understanding of how complex bankruptcy matters are analyzed and resolved, both in and out of the courtroom. We are proud to have him join our team and look forward to the insight he brings to our bankruptcy and litigation practices.
T: 847.698.9600
E: evaltierra@robbinsdimonte.com
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Congratulations
2026 Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Honorees!
| | RD is pleased to announce that five firm attorneys have been selected as 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers® & Rising Stars Honorees. All attorney rankings are based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research. Due to a rigorous selection process, only 5% of all practicing lawyers are selected to the Super Lawyers® list for their state and practice area. Only 2.5% of all attorneys in each state who are under age 40 or have been in practice for less than ten years have been selected as Rising Stars. | | | |
Anthony B. Ferraro was selected as a 2026 Super Lawyers Honoree in the area of Elder Law. This is Attorney Ferraro's tenth year being nominated. | | | | |
Julia Jensen Smolka was selected as a 2026 Super Lawyers Honoree in the area of Bankruptcy. This is Attorney Smolka's third year being nominated. | | | | |
Carolina Y. Sales was selected as a 2026 Super Lawyers Honoree in the area of Bankruptcy. This is Attorney Sales' third year being nominated. | | | | |
Samantha J. Martin was selected as a 2026 Rising Stars Honoree in the area of Elder Law. This is Attorney Martin's fifth year being nominated. | | | Julia Jensen Smolka Elected Second Vice President of The Advocates Society | | |
Julia Jensen Smolka was elected Second Vice President of The Advocates Society in February 2026.
The Advocate Society strives to promote the welfare of its members, establish and maintain proper relationships with the general public, promote the progress of the law and the administration of justice, maintain the honor and dignity of the legal profession, and foster interest in Polish-American culture and heritage.
Robbins DiMonte congratulates the 2026-2027 Advocates Society officers and newly elected President Kathy E. Bojczuk.
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Carolina Y. Sales Elected to the 2026 Board of Directors
Filipino American Lawyers Association
| | Carolina Y. Sales was elected to serve on the 2026 Board of Directors for the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago ("FALA Chicago") in March 2026. In this role, Carolina will help support the organization's mission of advancing the Filipino American legal community through mentorship, professional development, and community engagement within the Chicagoland legal community. | | RD Celebrates Women's History Month | | |
This Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight the strength, dedication, and excellence of the women attorneys at Robbins DiMonte—Julia Jensen Smolka, Samantha J. Martin, Carolina Y. Sales, Sarah D. Jeong, and Sophia R. Brandenburg. Their impact is felt every day through their work, leadership, and commitment to our clients.
We also recognize and appreciate the contributions of the many women across our firm whose work supports our clients, strengthens our team, and contributes to the service we provide every day. We celebrate the achievements of women everywhere who continuously strive to grow, uplift others, and lead by example for future generations.
| | Riccardo A. DiMonte and Dominic G. Erbacci successfully argued before the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, which upheld the trial court’s decision to compel arbitration at the behest of their law firm clients in a shareholder dispute. The appellate court held the shareholder agreement’s arbitration clause was enforceable and unambiguous as to the method and number of arbitrators, notwithstanding a scrivener’s error. The panel rejected appellant’s arguments for termination of the arbitration agreement and allegations of improper reformation, and it confirmed the trial court did not rely on the contents of a challenged affidavit in compelling arbitration. As a result, the arbitration will proceed as directed by the trial court, with dismissal or stay of the litigation affirmed. | | |
Anastas Shkurti Presents
"AI in Action: Tools That Work for Your Practice"
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Anastas Shkurti presented “AI in Action: Tools That Work for Your Practice” as part of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ (NAELA) webinar, "AI in the Modern Law Practice: Opportunities, Ethical Challenges, and Best Practices for Attorneys and Their Clients" in March 2026.
Anastas discussed practical artificial intelligence tools that attorneys can integrate into their daily practice to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance client service. His presentation highlighted real-world applications of AI in areas such as legal research, document drafting, document review, and practice management, while also addressing responsible and ethical use of these emerging technologies.
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Anthony B. Ferraro Presents
"2026 Legislative Updates for Care Managers"
| | Anthony B. Ferraro presented "2026 Legislative Updates for Care Managers" at the "2026 Care Manager Lollapalooza" event, hosted by Silver Connections in March 2026. His session provided an overview of key legal and legislative developments impacting care managers, nurses, social workers, and other related professionals. | | |
Julia Jensen Smolka Moderates
Illinois State Bar Association Webinars
| | Julia Jensen Smolka served as Program Coordinator and Chat Moderator for two Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) webinars in March 2026. The programs included, "Boomers to Gen Z: Managing Intergenerational Attorneys", which examined strategies for bridging generational gaps and fostering collaboration across today's multi-generational legal workforce, and "Ethical Alternative Fee Arrangements with Clients That Work" which discussed alternative fee structures, the importance of clear written communication, and best practices for ethical billing and client engagement. | | Robbins DiMonte's Annual Chili Cook-Off | | |
Robbins DiMonte held its Annual Chili Cook-Off this February, where things heated up as several participants competed for the title of best chili. From classic recipes to more creative takes, the competition brought a variety of flavors and plenty of friendly rivalry.
After much deliberation, this year's winners were Jackson C. Doughty, Matthew E. Suhl, and Riccardo A. DiMonte.
Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. We look forward to next year's competition!
| | Publication of this legal newsletter by Robbins DiMonte is not intended as a solicitation of legal representation, but rather educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law. It is written entirely by members of the firm. We welcome any comments or questions about topics covered in this or any issue. This newsletter is not intended as a replacement for individual legal advice. The contents of this publication may be quoted or reproduced if credit is properly given to the source. | | | | |
