Specialty Sections Committees
Geographic Sections Coordinators


The heart and vitality of the IPA are its members, especially those who steer the networks of the many specialty and geographic sections and committees that meet and collaborate on their common areas of interest. Their fields of expertise span the majority of the various areas of the legal practice, and then some. Sections and committees have been established in the following areas to keep members abreast of the most recent developments in specific areas of the law, as well as to network with other members with common interests or similar geographic area. In keeping with the intent of the Association, additional sections and committees are developed as interest arises to better serve paralegals throughout the state.

Currently, there are several vacant Chair positions. Regular members of the IPA can serve as Chairs; however, all members can sit on Committees. If you are a Regular member and interested in serving as a Chair, please read the Duties of a Chairperson as well as the Description of Sections/Specialty Areas prior to contacting the IPA President. All Chairs are appointed for one-year terms by the IPA President.


Specialty Sections
SENIOR PARALEGALS Chair
Christine Hansen

AT&T
225 W. Randolph St. #25A
Chicago, IL 60606-1624
(312)727-8717

COMMERCIAL FINANCE Co-chair
Sharon Patterson

Goldberg, Kohn, Bell et al.
55 E. Monroe St. #3700
Chicago, IL 60603
(312)201-3865

COMMERCIAL FINANCE Co-chair
Penelope Johnson

GE Commercial Finance
222 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312)499-3874

CORPORATE Chair
Suzanne Garrison

A.M. Castle & Co.
3400 N. Wolf Rd.
Franklin Park, IL 60131
(847)349-2524

ESTATES & TRUSTS Chair
Vicki Y. Curtis

Foley & Lardner LLP
321 N. Clark St. #2800
Chicago, IL 60610
(312)832-4527

LITIGATION Chair
Eric Baker

Reed Smith Sachnoff & Weaver
10 S. Wacker Dr. #39-205
Chicago, IL 60606
(312)207-3892

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Chair
James Salla

Jenner & Block, LLC
330 N. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60611
(312)840-7860

IMMIGRATION Chair
Anita Benditzson

Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz
222 N. LaSalle St. #2600
Chicago, IL 60601
(312)609-7632

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Chair
Laura Turczak

Levenfeld Pearlstein
Two N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312)476-7534

REAL ESTATE Chair
Linda Mosley

Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz
222 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312)609-7825