LAGBAC BOARD MEMBERS

Jeremy Gottschalk - President
jgottschalk@lagbac.org

Jeremy H. Gottschalk is an attorney at the firm Bell, Boyd, and Lloyd LLP in the firm's Intellectual Property Department, where he focuses his practice in licensing, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. He holds a B.A. from Marquette University where he graduated magna cum laude. He received his J.D. from Loyola University College of Law in 2001. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Gottschalk is involved with many civic and community organizations. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of Equality Illinois; the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago and the LAGBAC Foundation. He is the liaison to the Gay and Lesbian Legal Alliance; coordinates legal seminars for the Center on Halsted and the Chicago Public Library; and volunteers as an on-call attorney for First Defense Legal Aid. He is also a member of many other organizations including the Bar Alliance Judicial Evaluation Committee, Chicago Council of Lawyers, American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.

Will Thomas - Treasurer
wthomas@lagbac.org

William W. Thomas is an attorney at the firm of Futterman, Howard, Watkins, Wylie & Ashley, Chartered. He concentrates his practice on consumer and securities class actions, qui tam/whistleblower representation, and civil rights law. He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA from the University of Maryland, both in American History. He received his JD (with honors) from Chicago Kent College of Law in 2001 and his LLM in taxation (with honors) from Kent in 2006. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Thomas worked as an administrator for the UIC HIV/AIDS Project, managing primary care clinics across the city of Chicago. His work with LAGBAC began when he joined the Judicial Evaluation Committee in his second year of law school. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2004, and became Treasurer in 2005. He also is LAGBAC's newsletter Editor in Chief.

William H. Hall, IV - Board Member
whall@lagbac.org

William is an Assistant State's Attorney, and has been a LAGBAC Board member for 3 years. He has been partnered for 11 years and married for 9 to Kevin Tindell, an activist in the Chicago GLBT community. William and Kevin have a busy household. They have 2 children, Carter and Charles, 4 "pound puppies", Czar, Sheba, Sarabi & Moses, and a turtle, Samantha. William is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the National Black Prosecutors Association.

Mario Sullivan - Board Member
msullivan@lagbac.org

Mario A. Sullivan is an associate at the Law Offices of Peter Anthony Johnson, P.C. He counsels clients on a wide range of issues relating to real estate, evictions, business formation, and estate planning. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), the Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (ABA). In addition, he is a member of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA), the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC), and the American Constitution Society (ACS). Mr. Sullivan serves as NLGLA's National Representative to the ABA Young Lawyers Division (YLD), Committee Member for the ABA YLD Diversity Team, Board Member and Chair of the Program Committee for LAGBAC, Chair of the CBA Committee on the Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men; and Board Member and Programming Committee Member of the ACS Chicago Lawyer Chapter. Mr. Sullivan graduated from the Illinois State University in 2000 and obtained his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 2005.

Brian Butler - Board Member
bbutler@lagbac.org

Brian Butler is a second year law student at the DePaul University College of Law where he is the President of the DePaul OUTlaws. As a member of his school's Diversity Committee, he coordinated with fellow students and faculty members to bring speakers and professionals from organizations such as the Servicemen's Legal Defense Network on campus to provide important insight into issues like Don't Ask, Don't Tell. He is also a member of the OUTlaw Coalition of Chicago and has volunteered with local Chicago groups on behalf of LGBT issues and events. He is currently a member of Lambda Legal's Chicago Leadership Council and sits as a student representative on the Lavender Law Host Committee. In June, he worked with DePaul University to sponsor a number of students to attend the annual gala for the Human Rights Campaign. Mr. Butler attended the University of Illinois College of Business in Urbana-Champaign and graduated with honors with a degree in accounting in 2006.

Alex Kolod - Board Member
akolod@lagbac.org

Alex Kolod is a second year law student at the University of Chicago. She studied philosophy as an undergrad, also at the University of Chicago. In between college and law school she worked as a litigation paralegal at Moses & Singer, LLC in New York City. Alex began her involvement in the GLBT community as a teenager in New York City, where she was a member, and later an officer, of her high school's student-run club, GLASS (Gays, Lesbians and Straight Supporters). Currently, Alex a co-chair of the University of Chicago Outlaws and a member of the Outlaws Coalition Chicago.

Richard Wilson - Board Member
rwilson@lagbac.org

Richard A. Wilson is principal in The Law Offices of Richard A Wilson PC, in Chicago, where he concentrates exclusively on litigation and appellate practice relating to domestic relations law and legal issues, including divorce and dissolution of relationships, with particular emphasis on same-sex issues, including domestic partnerships, parentage, custody and visitation and related concerns and rights of persons in same-sex as well as opposite-sex relationships.

Mr. Wilson is currently Chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (Sep 2006 - Feb 2008).

He is immediate past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2006-2007) and the Chicago Bar Association's Committee on the Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men (2005-2006, 2004-2005). He is also member of the American Bar Association's AIDS Coordinating Committee, the SOGI committee of the ABA's Family Law Section, the Board of Directors of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, and the Board of Directors of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. He also a founding member of the National Family Law Advisory Council, a roundtable of lawyers who practice same-sex Domestic Relations law, established in 2003 by the National Center for Lesbian Rights. He and his partner of 25 years, Sam, lives in Chicago.

Nicole Bashor - Board Member
nbashor@lagbac.org

Nicole Bashor is a first year associate at McCracken & Frank LLP who specializes in client counseling related to all areas of intellectual property. Specifically, Nicole's practice is focused on patent prosecution and due diligence in a variety of areas including chemical, mechanical, and software arts. Her experience further includes trademarks, copyright, and domain name dispute resolution. Nicole received her J.D. from the John Marshall Law School in May of 2007. She also holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to law school, Nicole worked as the Director of Training and Installations for Computerworks of Chicago, Inc., where she implemented software, hardware, website, and networking packages onsite for clients and provided database management support. Additionally, Nicole conducted workshops and gave presentations on software, hardware, networking, and financial applications at national and international meetings and tradeshows. In law school, Nicole published an article in the Review of Intellectual Property law and was also a staff editor. She competed in the 2007 UCLA sexual orientation moot court competition, where her team made it to the quarter-final round and received the second place brief award.

Toby Eveland - Board Member
teveland@lagbac.org

Toby Eveland is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and is presently an attorney with the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr LLP. His practice area focuses on complex insurance coverage and contractual disputes, products liability defense and commercial litigation. Toby also counsels a number of not-for-profit organizations in the city. He serves as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Committee on Legal Rights for Lesbians and Gay Men, and was appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association's Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Toby is also a member of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's Board of Directors, and was the Founding President of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's Junior Board, a group of forty young professionals committed to increasing awareness and advocacy for HIV/AIDS related issues. Additionally, he serves on the Gala Committee for Equality Illinois, and is also an instructor for Loyola University's Moot Court program. In 2007, Toby was recognized by the Windy City Times as a recipient of its 30 Under 30 Award for his professional and civic contributions to the Chicago LGBT community. Toby has supported a number of LAGBAC events, causes and initiatives, including recently speaking at LAGBAC's summer associate reception.

Malcolm "Skip" Harsch - Board Member
mharsch@lagbac.org

Malcolm "Skip" Harsch is a recent graduate of DePaul University College of Law and a newly sworn in member of the Illinois Bar. He was one of the first recipients of the LAGBAC Foundation Summer Intern Scholarships in 2007. He worked at Lambda Legal that summer. Malcolm supported LAGBAC throughout his law school tenure, so while he is a new board member, he is by no means a new face.

John R. Richards - Board Member
jrichards@lagbac.org

John R. Richards is an associate in Morgan Lewis' Labor and Employment Practice. Mr. Richards represents and counsels management in a wide range of labor and employment issues, with a particular emphasis in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation and employment discrimination. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Richards clerked for Judge Gregory L. Frost of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He also served as an intern for the Office of Political Affairs of the White House, the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and Legal Aid of Tennessee. Mr. Richards earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006. While in law school, he participated in the LGBT clinic, serving for two years as an extern for Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. Mr. Richards worked on LGBT client matters, including name changes for transgender individuals, custody modifications, and employment discrimination. Mr. Richards earned his B.S., summa cum laude, in political science, with a minor in sociology, from Vanderbilt University in 2003. Mr. Richards is actively involved in Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign. He is Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Committee on Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and LAGBAC. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles addressing issues arising under ERISA litigation, employment law, and federal tort and product liability law. He has spoken on various LGBT issues, most recently at a panel on Gay Marriage in America at the John Marshall Law School.

Mr. Richards is admitted to practice in Illinois and the District of Columbia.

Gregory M. Zinkl, Ph.D. - Board Member
gzinkl@lagbac.org

Gregory M. Zinkl, Ph.D. is an associate with Dykema Gossett PLLC in the intellectual property department, working as a biotechnology patent attorney with Dykema's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Team. Greg's intellectual property practice has a global reach and includes drafting patent applications, prosecuting patent and trademark applications, and advising clients on complex scientific matters. He represents a variety of start-up biotech ventures and established pharmaceutical companies that require IP and patent prosecution counsel in both the United States and abroad. Millikin University awarded Greg a BA in Biology, French and Music ('90). Greg studied cell biology at Harvard, wanting to experience cooler summers by the ocean (Ph.D., '97), but then he came to the world's greatest city for post-doc studies at the University of Chicago ('97-'00). In 2001, the US Patent and Trademark Office decided he did okay on the patent bar ('01) and then Chicago-Kent awarded him a J.D. ('06). Greg lives in mid-century modern condo in Lakeview with his partner of 10 years, Thomas Braham, AIA, an architect with Gensler, and his son Justin, 12, who would like you to know that he's in the jazz band as a keyboard artist. Greg also attempts to herd their two cats, Figaro and Stanzy. Treasured houseplants also suffer under Greg's regime. He continues to pay membership dues for the American Society for Cell Biology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Speaking of herding cats, he serves as a co-chair for the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra, principally consisting of attorneys and legal professionals. He is also a viola section member in the Classical Symphony Orchestra. He has greatly enjoyed participating in LAGBAC's mentoring program. Tom and Greg are active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church , a welcoming congregation, where Tom is also a council member.

John Litchfield - Board Member
jlitchfield@lagbac.org

John Litchfield is currently a third year at Loyola University Chicago, and is a Chicagoland native. After graduating from Miami University in Ohio with a B.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs in 2004, John left the country for Scotland to pursue a degree in International and European Politics (M.Sc.). While at the University of Edinburgh, he studied European and American relations, the development of the European Neighborhood Policy, and was an avid member of the Edinburgh Whiskey Appreciation Society. Upon his return to the U.S., John worked both as a substitute teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, IL, and as a communications and press intern for Senator Dick Durbin.

At Loyola, John is a senior editor on the International Law Review, and acted as co-president of OUTLaw during the 2007-2008 school year. He currently serves on the Student Committee of LAGBAC, and has taken an active role in promoting the mentorship program. John also encouraged Loyola's Career Services Office to co-sponsor the Speed Networking Night with LAGBAC in February, 2008, where students and attorneys were able to make valuable contacts. As a summer associate at Foley & Lardner LLP, John participated in the firm's LGBT affinity group whose aim is to promote diversity in the firm. In the fall of 2008, he will be externing for the Honorable Judge Guzman in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. John is very excited to start his term on the LAGBAC Board, and is looking forward to a productive and progressive year.

Emma Ruby-Sachs - Board Member
erubysachs@lagbac.org

Emma Ruby-Sachs is an articling student with the firm Sutts, Strosberg LLP. She holds an Honors B.A. from Wesleyan University and split her law school career between the University of Toronto and The University of Chicago. She currently commutes between Toronto and Chicago. While working on her degrees, Emma dabbled in freelance writing and lobbying on behalf of native communities in Canada. She currently volunteers with Congo/Women, a non-profit touring photo exhibit, and stays in close contact with OUTlaw, the student gay and lesbian organization at the University of Chicago.

Paul E. Johnson - Board Member
pjohnson@lagbac.org

Paul E. Johnson, a big-city boy from a small town in rural Missouri, is currently a third-year law student at The John Marshall Law School, where he is co-president of GALLA (Gay and Lesbian Legal Alliance). During the 2007-2008 school year Mr. Johnson helped create the position of Diversity Affairs Committee Liaison to the American Bar Association, a position he filled during the Committee's second year of existence. In this role, he worked to gain ABA funding for the first JMLS Diversity Week, which focused on many issues including a round-table discussion of same-sex partnership rights.

During his first two years of law school, Paul worked with Professor Mark Wojcik, a recognized expert in sexual orientation legal issues, assisting in legal research for law review articles and course materials for a course in Sexual Orientation Law. He also helped to host Evan Wolfson, of Freedom to Marry, and Judge Pat Logue, when both spoke at John Marshall in November 2006. He volunteered with the NLGLA Chicago Host Committee during Lavender Law 2007 in Chicago.

Mr. Johnson will also serve on the OUTLaw Coalition of Chicago as The John Marshall Law School attains leadership of the group from June 2008-January 2009. In May 2008, Paul was appointed to serve as the first ABA Law Students Division Liaison to the ABA's recently-formed Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). Paul is currently a member of the ABA (including the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities' Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity), ISBA, CBA, ASIL, NLGLA, and LAGBAC, and recently became founding vice-chair of the newly formed Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the ABA Section of International Law. During non-law school hours he enjoys Chicago architecture and helping to welcome foreigners through the International Visitors Center of Chicago (IVCC), the city's official welcome wagon for State Department-sponsored visitors to the U.S.