Recent News

Congratulations to Chris Johnson on being named a Partner at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca!! Chris handles Personal Injury Cases and has a special interest in trucking and auto accident claims. He represents his clients at the highest level and has an ongoing history of successful settlements and verdicts on behalf of those injured. We are very proud of Chris and are excited about his future at the firm!

Katz Friedmanis proud that five of the firm’s lawyers are designated as Illinois Super Lawyers for 2010: (1) Harold Katz, the co-founder of the firm, who has practiced many years in labor and workers’ compensation law; (2) Stanley Eisenstein, who concentrates his practice in Labor and Employment law on behalf of unions and employees; (3) Richard Johnson, who concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation; (4) Philip Bareck, who also concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation on behalf of injured workers.

They have received this honor because they have been recognized by their peers for their professional achievements. Only 5% of attorneys in Illinois receive this honor. Approximately 47,000 attorneys who have been licensed five years or more are asked each year to name the best lawyers they have personally observed practicing law. Profiles of our honored lawyers are accessible from the Attorney Profiles page.

Harold Katz is listed in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Labor and Employment law. This means that Mr. Katz has been listed in this publication for over twenty-five years! In December 2007, the Chicago Chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), the premier professional society in labor law and labor relations, presented its Distinguished Service Award to Harold Katz, founding partner of this firm.

On November 17, 2009, Ron Schwarrtz spoke at an EEOC panel about regulations enforcing the new improved Americans with Disabilities Act.

Stanley Eisenstein, on October 31, 2008, was a guest presenter at the University of Illinois College of Law Trial Advocacy Program. He gave a presentation for third year law students on civil discovery and deposition practice. Stanley also made this presentation in October 2007. On June 19, 2008, Stanley was a speaker at Chicago-Kent College of Law at the “Hot Topics in Contemporary Labor Relations Law” program. In February 2007, he spoke at the IICLE legal education seminar entitled “Labor and Employment Law Short Course.” He spoke on the topic “Trends and Developments in Collective Bargaining” and presented a paper.

Richard Johnson is listed in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Workers’ Compensation law.

Phil Bareck spoke in Chicago at the Illinois Institute on Continuing Legal Education in August, 2008 on trial preparation from the Petitioner’s standpoint. The topic was entitled “The Savvy Litigator.” Phil wrote an article published in the Summer 2007 Illinois Trial Journal on “Jurisdiction in Illinois Workers’ Compensation Cases: The 2006 Mahoney Decision.” Read this article on this key workers’ compensation topic.

Martha Garcia and Richard Johnson submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in Mahoney v. Industrial Commission of Illinois and United Airlines, No. 100239. The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously upheld the position advocated in the amicus brief! Employees with employment contracts that are created in Illinois have the right to apply for workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. This provides the maximum flexibility for injured workers who have been employed in Illinois.

David Barish lectured in Springfield, Illinois for the Illinois Institute on Continuing Legal Education in August, 2008 on trial preparation from the Petitioner’s standpoint. The topic was entitled “The Savvy Litigator.” In October 2008, David moderated the Illinois State Bar Association Advanced Workers’ Compensation Seminar in Chicago. He spoke on Slips and Falls in the Workplace. David is currently the Vice-Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section Council. He is scheduled to moderate and speak on “the Top Ten Cases You should Know” at an upcoming Illinois State Bar Association Back to Basics seminar in February, 2009.