FRANCZEK - Key Persons
Adam Dauksas is a partner in the Education Practice Group at Franczek P.C.
Adam focuses his practice on representing public school districts in all aspects of labor and employment law. He routinely leads collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of clients, drafting language proposals, and crafting complex financial offers/counteroffers. His practice also includes advising and counseling school districts on a range of employee-related issues, from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Adam also regularly negotiates and drafts employment and separation agreements and has significant experience conducting all manner of workplace investigations.
Adam has extensive litigation experience in all forums. He has litigated numerous cases involving claims of employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as defamation and personal injury. In 2020, Adam successfully argued before the Illinois Supreme Court in a case involving school district employees' paid sick leave benefits. Adam has also litigated cases before administrative tribunals, including the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board.
Adam is a 2006 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was a standout basketball player, and a 2010 graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago Law School, where he served on the school's Law Review.
Amy Kosanovich Dickerson serves as co-chair of the firm's K-12 Education Practice Group. Amy represents educational institutions, including public school districts, charter schools, private schools, and higher education institutions, as well as education-related organizations, in a variety of education law matters. Amy primarily counsels clients in student and labor and employment issues including student rights, student discipline, bullying, discrimination and harassment, civil rights, residency and homelessness, abuse and neglect and other matters involving the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), student accommodation issues, Title IX complaints and investigations, education reform initiatives, employee and teacher evaluation, employee discipline and dismissal, and policy and governance issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Amy served as the law clerk for the Honorable Morton Denlow, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Illinois. Prior to attending law school, Amy taught fifth and sixth grades in the District of Columbia Public School System as a Teach for America Corps Member.
Amy serves on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and is co-chair of the Council's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also an active member of the National Council of School Attorneys and frequently speaks on education law topics at various bar association and school administrator association events. Amy has served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law teaching Education Law and Policy, Legal Writing, and has also served as a faculty member for Loyola's Childlaw Trial Practice course.
Amy participates in various community interest initiatives with Franczek P.C., including leading the Firm's Education Law Practicum program with Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Amy enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family, including her twin daughters and twin sons.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- General Counsel to a Number of Illinois
- Member of the Firm 's Executive
Ares Dalianis is a member of the Firm's Executive Committee. Ares serves as general counsel to a number of Illinois school districts where he focuses his practice in the areas of education law, real property taxation and assessment appeals, real estate, eminent domain, TIF counseling, and school district revenue litigation. Ares has a substantial practice representing school districts before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, and in the circuit and appellate courts on valuation and tax rate objections, as well as an exemption, tax incentive, condemnation, and land acquisition issues. Ares is a past co-chair of the firm's Education Practice Group and served on the firm Executive Committee from 2009 to 2015, and currently.
Before joining the firm, Ares served as the Deputy Supervisor of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Real Estate Tax Section and as an Assistant State's Attorney in Lake County, Illinois.
Ares is the co-author of the chapter entitled "Property Tax Litigation" in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education book Real Estate Litigation (2016) and the author of recent articles in the Illinois Association of School Business Officials' IASBO UPDATE Magazine titled "Capturing All Your Revenues" (Winter 2015) and "Referendum Requirement: Mechanics of the 110% Adequacy Referendum" (Spring 2018).
Ares is a frequent speaker before diverse groups interested in property assessment, taxation, and tax increment financing issues including IASBO, IASA, the Civic Federation of Chicago, the Illinois Property Assessment Institute, Ed-Red, LEND, NWSSBO, SCOPE, SSSBO, and others.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- General Counsel to Many Illinois
Brian serves as general counsel to many Illinois school districts, charter schools, private schools, other public bodies, and not-for-profit organizations. While Brian's practice touches on virtually every matter his clients face, he tends to focus on general governance, bidding, all types of contractual matters, from software to construction contracts and employment contracts. He also specializes in real estate, land use, and zoning matters. Brian has significant experience regarding the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), advising clients on nearly a daily basis.
Brian served as associate counsel to the Illinois Speaker of the House for a legislative term. He was the primary attorney for the Local Government, Urban Revitalization, and Transportation Committees.
Brittany Begley's practice focuses on education law, entering the profession after receiving a dual degree in both law and education policy studies from Loyola University Chicago. Prior to attending law school, Brittany was a middle school teacher for seven years in the Boston and Chicago land areas. During her time in education, Brittany held a number of leadership positions including grade level chair, new teacher mentor, and policy debate coach. She is passionate about education policy and serving the needs of schools.
While in law school at Loyola, Brittany served on the Education Law and Policy Society board and was a board member of a student led clinic through which she worked with clients on school law related issues. Additionally, she was a member of the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial team, placing first in Regionals and advancing to Nationals. Brittany also served as a writer and editor for the Public Interest Law Reporter, publishing an article that explored the role of the 4 th Amendment in schools and the constitutionality of student searches in the context of a specific case study involving a school shooting. During law school, Brittany worked at a general practice law firm where she worked on a variety of both transactional and litigation focused matters.
In her free time, Brittany enjoys reading and taking walks with her family around the city.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Chair for the Labor & Employment Practice Group
Franczek P.C. is pleased to announce that partner Caroline Kane has been selected to Women We Admire's Top Women Leaders in Law in 2024. Women We Admire releases this list annually to acknowledge the accomplishments of women leaders in law and support their continued growth in their careers. […]
Caroline serves as Co-Chair for the Labor & Employment Practice Group and regularly counsels employers on various labor and employment related issues arising throughout all stages of the employment relationship.
Caroline provides clients with proactive counseling in drafting and implementing employment related policies to ensure compliance with various state and federal laws. She also assists clients with transactional matters including drafting and negotiating employment agreements, as well as separation agreements. Caroline conducts training for both managerial and non-managerial employees on personnel policies and relevant laws, including policies related to the prevention of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She advises clients on conducting investigations into employee complaints, particularly in the context of harassment.
Caroline graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University College of Law, where she was elected to Order of the Coif. While at DePaul, Caroline served on the editorial board of the DePaul Law Review and was the recipient of the Presidential Service Award for volunteer work completed while in law school.
Caroline has been recognized as an Illinois Rising Star in 2023 by Super Lawyers.
Dana Fattore Crumley is a partner in the Education Practice Group. A former public school teacher and school board president, Dana uses her practical experience and broad legal expertise in education law to serve as general counsel to public school districts, special education cooperatives, and private schools. Her practice includes counseling on special education matters, teacher employment and discipline, collective bargaining, student rights and discipline, and school board policy and governance.
Dana presents frequently to school administrators, educators and board members on a wide range of education law topics at the state and national level. She has taught education law classes at Loyola University's Graduate School of Education, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Roosevelt University. She works extensively on board governance matters, providing training to board members in regard to both their legal obligations and best practices for transparent, collaborative, and student-focused leadership.
Dana has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer from 2021-2023 by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Emily's practice includes advising and representing K-12 and higher education clients on a wide range of education and employment law matters, including student discipline, residency issues, Title IX compliance, policy reviews, discrimination claims, teacher dismissals, and employee misconduct. Emily also has significant experience with a variety of board governance and business matters, including contract review and Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act concerns.
Emily represents clients in state and federal court and in administrative proceedings including tenured teacher discipline proceedings, student expulsion hearings, and residency hearings. She also advises clients facing complaints or administrative charges relating to harassment and discrimination. Emily has trained K-12 and higher education institutions on compliance with Title IX and has served as an outside investigator, decisionmaker, and advisor for Title IX complaints and complaints of sexual misconduct.
She is also the co-author of the chapter entitled "School Board Practices, Procedures, and Elections" found in the Illinois School Law: Organization, Finance & Property published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). Emily also participates in various community interest initiatives with Franczek P.C., including supervising the Firm's Education Law Practicum program with Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Emily is a cum laude graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she earned a certificate in Child and Family Law and was a senior editor for the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. Emily received her undergraduate degree, with honors, from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was Captain of the varsity volleyball team.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and dog, traveling, and live music.
Jamar Orr specializes in education law, providing comprehensive guidance and representation to higher education and K-12 clients, as well as education-based non-profit organizations. His expertise spans a wide range of student issues, business and employment matters, governance, and responses to federal and state agency complaints. Jamar brings extensive experience in student and employee discipline, employment investigations, Title IX compliance, FOIA requests, discrimination and harassment investigations, ADA/Section 504 considerations, as well as policy development and review.
Drawing from his 15 years of experience in higher education administration, Jamar joins Franczek with a wealth of knowledge and insight. Previously, he held the positions of Associate General Counsel for Compliance, Title IX Coordinator, as well as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs, allowing him to develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by educational institutions.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Partner
- President
- Top Labor Negotiator
James C. Franczek, Jr. is a founding partner and president of Franczek P.C. His clients include scores of private and public sector employers, including clients in the education, hospitality, banking, and energy industries. He is the chief labor counsel for the City of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McCormick Place), and the Obama Presidential Center.
Jim is a member of The Commercial Club of Chicago; The Chicago Club; The Economic Club of Chicago; and, the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Jim serves as a member of the boards of Advance Illinois and G-PAC, a leading anti-gun organization.
Jim is a popular speaker on labor, employment, and education law and is a former lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Business, Northwestern Business School, the Loyola University Institute of Industrial Relations, Northeastern University, and IIT-Kent School of Law. He has lectured on labor law at the University of Chicago Law School and at Northwestern University School of Law. Jim has appeared on television as a commentator on labor topics and is often quoted in the media on professional and educational issues.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Education Practice Group
James Petrungaro is a partner in the Education Practice Group at Franczek P.C.
James has a diverse practice focusing on board governance, labor and employment, business practices, and student issues. James has an extensive litigation background at both the trial and appellate levels that make him a much sought-after ally and representative of educational institutions.
James has significant experience in the application of Illinois' Local Government Tort Immunity Act, student transportation matters, Open Meetings Act and FOIA compliance, and board self-governance. He regularly represents boards of education in student disciplinary and employee due process proceedings and defends them in grievance arbitrations and from charges of unfair labor practices. His practice also includes tax rate referenda and guiding public officials on conflicts of interest and ethics. James currently serves as chairperson for the Illinois Council of School Attorneys from 2023 to 2025.
During law school, James lived in Washington D.C., where he clerked for the General Counsel's Office of the National School Boards Association and for the General Counsel's Office of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.
James resides in Glenview with his wife, Dr. Kathryn Petrungaro and their three children.
Jared is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, where he served as president of the Education Law and Policy Society and student attorney in the Federal Civil Rights Clinic. While in law school, he interned at the Illinois State Board of Education, Office of General Counsel. Jared received his undergraduate degree from American University in Washington D.C.
Jenny Lee focuses her practice on education law, advising and representing higher education and K-12 clients in a wide range of student, labor and employment, governance, and federal and state compliance matters. She has extensive experience in Title IX, civil rights, discrimination and harassment investigations, student and employee discipline, school safety and student mental health, policy development and review, curriculum, tenure, and due process issues. Jenny comes to Franczek with over a decade of experience in higher education teaching and administration. Prior to Franczek, Jenny was an English and Humanities professor and a Title IX administrator, serving as Title IX Deputy Coordinator, investigator, decision maker, and informal resolution facilitator and overseeing and conducting investigations and trainings for college leadership and students. She has presented at workshops and conferences on a range of academic and legal topics, and she is a frequent contributor to Franczek's Thought Leadership and Title IX blogs.
Jenny received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Ph.D. from Northwestern University, M.A. from the University of Cape Town, and B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. A recipient of Loyola's Leadership, Service, and Public Interest Award, she interned during law school with the Center for the Human Rights of Children and Loyola's Educational Advocacy Program, working on initiatives related to migrant children and bullying prevention in Illinois schools, and volunteered with legal aid organizations serving low-income elderly clients, domestic violence survivors, and persons seeking asylum. Jenny has served on nonprofit boards and community relations commissions and written and co-authored numerous publications, including articles on Title IX, labor and employment, and constitutional issues, and advisory reports to the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court. She is the recipient of honors including national and statewide teaching and research awards, fellowships from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Women's Bar Foundation, and membership in Alpha Sigma Nu and Phi Beta Kappa.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys
Kaitlin Atlas concentrates her practice on student and special education related issues arising in both the public and private school sectors. Kaitlin regularly works with clients on due process matters, student discipline matters, and developing policies and procedures. Kaitlin enjoys proactively counseling clients to maintain compliance with state and federal laws.
Kaitlin is an active member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys and the National Council of School Attorneys. She is a frequent speaker at the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education, the Joint Annual Conference, and at school districts throughout the state. Kaitlin also regularly serves as a guest lecturer for school law classes.
In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys spending time outside with her dog, her friends, and her family.
Job Titles:
- School Finance and Property Taxation Issues in the Time of the Coronavirus
Nicki Bazer serves as co-chair of the firm's Higher Education Practice Group. Nicki focuses her legal practice on policy and governance issues, student privacy rights, teacher evaluation, teacher misconduct issues, educator licensure compliance, general public school compliance, as well as charter schools. As former general counsel at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), she provides valuable insight and counsel to school districts on the regulations and reform initiatives endorsed by ISBE. Nicki regularly represents clients in both state and federal court, in administrative hearings on teacher matters, and before the Illinois Department of Human Rights. She represented Chicago Public Schools during its most recent labor negotiations with the nation's largest teachers union resulting in a five-year agreement. Nicki also works with higher education institutions on labor issues, intellectual property matters and student matters.
Nicki is a frequent speaker on school law matters, specifically on student data security and privacy and teacher performance and evaluation. Nicki has made presentations for the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, the Illinois Association of Administrators of Special Education, the Illinois Association of School Boards and Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators.
While at ISBE, she provided legal advice and support to districts under direct state oversight. She facilitated state-wide working groups on data security as it relates to student privacy, as well as the state school funding formula. As ISBE's General Counsel, Nicki oversaw the legislative agenda of the agency, including drafting legislation, working with education stakeholders and testifying before the Illinois General Assembly.
Prior to her time at ISBE, Nicki served as Bureau Chief for the Disability Rights Bureau at the Illinois Attorney General. She completed a federal judicial clerkship with Chief Judge Janet Hall in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. During law school, Nicki was a Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholar and an editor with the Review of Law and Social Change.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Founding Partner of Franczek P.C. Throughout
Todd is a founding partner of Franczek P.C. Throughout his legal career Todd has concentrated on the practice of education law. He serves as general counsel to many of the firm's school district clients and has written a number of pieces on education law, some of which include "Formal Dismissal Procedures Under Illinois Teacher Tenure Laws," published by the Illinois Association of School Boards, and newsletters for the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Association of School Boards. He co-authored the chapter entitled "School Board Practices, Procedures, and Elections" in the 2012 and 2010 edition of Illinois School Law: Organization, Finance & Property published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). In 2017, Todd was named an Advisory Board Member for Law Bulletin Publishing's Leading and Emerging Lawyers.
Todd has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer from 2006-2023 by Super Lawyers Magazine.