Jan. 27 - Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Associate Dean Kathryn Kennedy featured
Kennedy, an associate dean and professor at The John Marshall Law School, and 43 other academics participated in roundtable discussions on tax reform Jan. 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C. The experts shared
their opinions and insights with staff members of the Senate Finance Committee.Kennedy, who focuses on employee benefits law, previously testified before the finance committee in 2002 and 2003. Unlike that experience, however, the 90-minute sessions this month allowed for deeper exploration of the issues on the agenda.
“When you actually do testimony, you get literally five minutes to say what you want and then you’re silenced,” she said. “Here, we had an hour and a half on each panel. We had a little bit longer time for
discussion.”
Read more: John Marshall Professor Offers Input at Senate Finance Roundtable
Jan. 11 - Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Kathryn Kennedy, director of the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, featured
Tom Reeder (right), a U.S. Senate Finance Committee staff member, welcomed The John Marshall Law School professor Kathryn Jennings Kennedy, director of the law school’s Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits, as one of 44 speakers for a two-day academic roundtable discussion on Thursday and Friday on Capitol Hill. The majority and minority staffs of the Finance Committee hosted the roundtable focusing on tax reform, including employee benefits. Kennedy was invited as a nationally recognized expert in employee benefits.
See photo: John Marshall Director Gets an Invite to Roundtable on Capitol Hill
Professor Kathryn Kennedy of The John Marshall Law School, a nationally recognized expert in employee benefits, was one of 44 academics to share her insights with staff members of the United States Senate Finance Committee on Jan. 5 and 6, 2012, at a roundtable discussion on tax reform.
Jan. 6 - TaxProf Blog
The Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits sponsors writing competition
Scope: The scope of permissible topics for the writing competition is broad—any aspect of Tax Law is acceptable: ... a paper on a public policy issue, a critique of a leading case or doctrine, a comment on a statute, or the need for statutory modification, or a comment on a common law doctrine.
Eligibility: Any currently enrolled law school student attending an ABA-accredited law school.
Prizes: A grand prize of $3,000 plus two honorable mentions of $1,000 will be awarded. The winner's paper will also be posted on the program's website.
Rules: See here.
Deadline for Submissions: April 15, 2012.
Read more: Faherty Student Tax Writing Competition
Nov. 7 - Bureau of National Affairs
Professor Kathryn Kennedy authored article:
A new set of IRA rules is causing a stir among the benefits and financial communities. Beginning in 2011, there are no longer any income restrictions for taxpayers wishing to do a Roth IRA conversion from a traditional IRA; thus, the wealthy can now pursue a Roth IRA conversion. While the conversion to a Roth IRA from a traditional IRA causes immediate taxation of the IRA, all subsequent distributions from the Roth IRA are currently exempt from federal taxation. Many wealthy taxpayers understand the tax advantages of doing the conversion (as the income growth under the Roth IRA will be exempt from taxation), but balk at the payment of the upfront taxes due upon the Roth conversion, especially if the IRA account is sizable.
November 2011 - Chicago Lawyer
Professors Barry Kozak, Kelli Dudley and Michael Erde, and students Rebecca Erde and Sonja Jin quoted:
"[Elder law] is one of the fastest growing areas of legal practice," said Kelli Dudley … who teaches a legal skills drafting course at The John Marshall Law School and runs a solo practice that focuses on helping people facing discrimination on mortgage lending.
"We used to offer one class every other semester, but as the area has grown we have seen more interest, so we decided to ramp it up, " said Barry Kozak, who serves as director of the Elder Law Program at John Marshall.
"I handle a lot of guardianship and probate matters as well as living and special needs trusts. Living trusts are created during a person's lifetime and are capable of being changed or terminated and the assets do not have to go through the probate process," said Michael Erde, who will teach ethics and elder law at John Marshall.
"I wanted to work in a career where I felt like I was helping people," said Rebecca Erde, who intends to specialize in elder law. "As An elder law attorney I will be guiding people who are making important decisions about their finances and health care support and making plans for their family's future. Few people understand the intricacies of this area and how it can be used to their benefit."
"I worked with immigrant survivors of domestic violence and I helped women and children obtain order of protection against their abusers," said Sonja Jin, who intends to specialize in elder law. "... I believe elder law is very holistic and it touches on everything that I have been doing. I also feel that the needs of the elderly are not as highlights as they should be."
PDF: A Changing Population Creates a Growing Niche for Lawyers
The Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits welcomed 10th District Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer as the Lunch & Learn program speaker Oct. 19, 2011. Gainer spoke on “A Local Taxation Perspective.”
Oct. 26 - Clark Hill PLC
Elder Law Adjunct Professor Ray J. Koenig III featured:
Attorney Ray J. Koenig III has been named the Managing Member of Clark Hill PLC’s Chicago office, CEO John Hern announced today. Koenig is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, and is a well-known civic activist and leader in the Chicago community.
“We are pleased to announce that Ray has agreed to serve in this leadership role for our Chicago office,” Hern said. “Ray is an accomplished attorney, and has demonstrated impressive leadership skills during his time with Clark Hill. This is a time of tremendous growth in our firm, and we are fortunate to have someone like Ray as a part of our team.”
Read more: Attorney Ray J. Koenig III Named Head of Clark Hill PLC Chicago
Oct. 18 - Market Watch
Professor Kathryn Kennedy joins panel:
PLC announced the addition of seven members to its Advisory Board, a prestigious panel of expert attorneys specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation law. The new Advisory Board members will help PLC shape the direction of its newest service and will act as high-level consultants, advising on emerging trends and practice developments.
Read more: Practical Law Company Announces Panel of Legal Industry Leaders to Advisory Board
