THOMAS MAMER - Key Persons
Alyson (Kinstner) Cloyd joined Thomas Mamer as its student law clerk in 2019. Alyson became an associate with the firm in 2021 after graduating law school and being admitted to the Illinois Bar.
Alyson graduated summa cum laude from Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Missouri) in December 2017, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Gender Studies. At Lindenwood, Alyson was a dual sport athlete, participating in Lindenwood's national title winning competitive cheerleading team and shotgun sports team.
She received her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2021. During law school, Alyson was the Community Service Chair for the Women's Law Society, participated in the Family Advocacy Clinic ("FAC"), and held two internships with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid in Champaign, Illinois. Throughout her time with the FAC and Land of Lincoln, Alyson was able to use her 711 license to conduct hearings in front of local judges. In her final year of law school, Alyson won several scholarships, including a Rickert Award for her excellence in service.
Since joining the firm as an associate, Alyson has concentrated her practice in all areas of medical malpractice defense and civil litigation, including personal injury disputes.
Outside of work, Alyson enjoys spending time with her family and boating on Lake Shelbyville. By default of marrying her husband, Colton, she has become an avid Philadelphia Eagles football fan.
Alyson can be reached at ADC@ThomasMamer.com, or by calling the firm's main switchboard at (217) 351-1500.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel of the State Universities Retirement System
After practicing at Thomas Mamer LLP for 30 years, 4 as an associate attorney and 26 as a partner, David E. Krchak is now of counsel with Thomas Mamer LLP. He is available to represent or consult with management on labor and employment law issues, including specifically: developing employee policies, defending discrimination charges, negotiating union contracts, and representing employers in union disputes. Mr. Krchak is also available to serve as a mediator to assist parties in resolving employment or labor disputes. Immediately prior to joining Thomas Mamer LLP in 1990, Mr. Krchak was an attorney for the City of Champaign serving as chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements and representing the City's interests in employment matters and serving as interim department head over the personnel department covering the City's 350 employees.
Thomas Mamer LLP believes that Mr. Krchak provides a valuable asset to the firm and serving the firm's business and municipal clients in employment law and related matters.
Denise Knipp Bates joined Thomas Mamer in 2007 and became a partner in 2014. She concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate, wills, trusts, probate, guardianships, general business law, and elder law.
Denise graduated as a James Scholar from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2000, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Speech Communication with a minor in Spanish. Denise earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2003, with a concentration in trial advocacy. During law school, she served as captain of the Niagara International Moot Court Team, competed in the Intraschool Moot Court Competition, and was on the National Moot Court Team, where she advanced to the National Competition.
In 2003, Denise was admitted to the Illinois Bar and is licensed to practice law in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Champaign County Bar Association, as well as the East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association, where she served as President for two years and won its 2006 Service Award. Denise is also a member of the Champaign County Association of Realtors and the Executive Club of Champaign County. In 2008, she was a winner of the Central Illinois Business Magazine's "40 Under 40." She is a former President of the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana and a former President of the Eastern Illinois Estate Planning Council. She was named an Emerging Lawyer in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017 by Leading Lawyers Magazine. In 2017, she was named one of the Top Real Estate Lawyers by Chicago Lawyer Magazine.
Eric S. Chovanec became an associate with Thomas Mamer in 2009 and a partner in 2016. Prior to joining the firm full-time, Mr. Chovanec served as its law clerk. He concentrates his practice in the areas of management-side employment and labor law as well as workers' compensation. From 2015 through 2022, Mr. Chovanec was chosen by Leading Lawyers Network as an Emerging Lawyer. Emerging Lawyers are in the top 2% of all state of Illinois lawyers under the age of 40. Leading Lawyer membership is based upon voting from other attorneys who having the personal knowledge of the individual's work product. Mr. Chovanec was a co-author of IICLE's 2020 Edition of Conducting the Employment Practices Audit book.
In 2020 Mr. Chovanec was named by Leading Lawyers Network as a Top 100 Emerging Lawyer in Downstate Illinois.
A recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, Mr. Chovanec graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2006 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, as well as a minor in Classical Civilizations. He received his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in 2009.
Mr. Chovanec is admitted to practice before the Illinois State Courts and United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern District of Illinois. Mr. Chovanec is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the Champaign County Bar Association.
In addition to his practice of law, Mr. Chovanec, a long-time Boy Scout, enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and golf.
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2006
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Minor in Classical Civilizations
DePaul University College of Law 2009
Juris Doctor
Awards
Leading Lawyer Top 100 Emerging Lawyer in Downstate Illinois
Leading Lawyer Emerging Lawyer 2015-2022
For over 30 years, James D. Green has successfully handled complex civil litigation throughout central Illinois, including trials and appeals.
John Sturmanis joined Thomas Mamer in 1994 and became a partner in 2000. For over 20 years he has practiced as a workers' compensation defense attorney.
Mr. Sturmanis received a Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University in 1992. There he served as an editor of the Law Journal. Following graduation, he served as a research attorney for the Third-District Appellate Court until joining Thomas Mamer.
Mr. Sturmanis' clients range from small and large businesses, and self-insured risk pools located throughout Illinois. Locally he represents the two largest employers, Carle Physician Group and Flex-n-Gate Corporation / Guardian West, Inc.
He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Champaign County Bar Association. Mr. Sturmanis has served on various non-profit boards.
Justin N. Brunner joined Thomas Mamer in 2017 and became a partner in 2019.
His practice focuses in four major areas. First, Justin defends municipalities and their agents, including police officers, in federal court actions alleging civil rights violations under 42 USC ยง 1983 and the U.S. Constitution. Second, he defends medical professionals, hospitals and their agents against state court claims alleging medical malpractice or professional negligence. Third, he represents municipalities in a variety of matters, including demolition and ordinance enforcement. Fourth, he represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation related to contracts, leases, fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, employment issues, estates, and trusts.
Justin grew up in Central Illinois near Decatur, and graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. Next, he graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2008 with a Juris Doctor with honors. Justin worked as an attorney in Minnesota from 2008-2017. In that time, he clerked for a state court judge then transitioned to private law firms. There, he focused on plaintiff's personal injury, railroad and employment issues, before shifting to the representation of small businesses and their principals in civil disputes involving contract, trust, shareholder, unfair competition, employment, construction, regulatory and consumer protection issues.
Kenneth C. Sensenbrenner joined Thomas Mamer in March 2022 and focuses his practice on real estate, wills, trusts, probate, guardianships, elder law, and general business law. Previously, he was a research attorney for the Hamilton Circuit Court in Hamilton County, Indiana.
Ken was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. He is a 2004 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received a B.A. in Psychology and was a member of the Men's Swimming Team. Prior to law school, Ken received a M.S. in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Global Campus in 2010, while working for CNO Financial Group in Carmel, Indiana.
Ken earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2015. He was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 2016, and the Illinois Bar in 2017.
Kenneth Reifsteck joined the firm in 1996 and was named Managing Partner in 2022. His practice is primarily devoted to workers' compensation, civil defense litigation, and appellate advocacy.
Mr. Reifsteck is a life-long resident of Champaign County, Illinois. He is a 1988 graduate of Illinois State University and received a Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University in 1991. Prior to his association with Thomas Mamer, he was engaged in the general practice of law and also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General's Champaign Regional Office.
In addition to being admitted to practice before the State Courts of Illinois, Mr. Reifsteck is admitted to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the Champaign County Bar Association, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association, and the Seventh Circuit Bar Association.
Kent W. Follmer has practiced law in Champaign and surrounding counties since 1988. Kent and his father, Clive Follmer, were partners at Follmer Law Office for 25 years in their Urbana office until Clive passed in 2016.
Kent joined Thomas Mamer in 2022 of counsel where he continues to represent clients in all aspects of real estate law (development, transactions, and zoning) and all types of civil litigation (plaintiff's personal injury, premises liability, construction disputes, trust, and probate litigation). In addition to civil litigation and real estate law, Kent has extensive experience in drafting wills and trusts for his clients.
Born and raised in Urbana, Kent is a graduate of Urbana High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin at Madison and his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Kent is the proud father of two daughters and one granddaughter. He enjoys woodworking, gardening, e-bike touring, and traveling.
Lott H. Thomas, son of one of the firm's original partners, joined Thomas Mamer in 1962 after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law.
In his practice, he concentrates in the areas of probate, wills, trusts, real estate, general business and tax law. Mr. Thomas is a past president of the Champaign County Bar Association and has served on several Illinois State Bar Association committees. He was selected as one of the Top 50 consumer lawyers in Downstate Illinois based upon surveys by the Leading Lawyers Network.
His community involvement includes service as president of each of the following: Champaign County United Way; Champaign Rotary Club; Arrowhead Council, Boy Scouts of America; Champaign Public Library Board of Trustees; CCDC Foundation and the Champaign Public Library Foundation.
Melissa Thomas, granddaughter of one of the firm's original partners, joined Thomas Mamer in 1999. Previously, Ms. Thomas was an attorney with a law firm in Naperville, Illinois, and conducted her own practice in Plainfield, Illinois.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was selected to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1994, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that year.
In her practice, she concentrates in the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, guardianships, probate, trusts, wills, real estate, general business law. She was selected as a leading lawyer by her peers and noted as one of the top 50 female attorneys in downstate Illinois.
Ms. Thomas is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Champaign County Bar Association. She was a member of the Corporation, Securities, and Business Law Section Council for the Illinois State Bar Association in 2003. In addition to her legal activities, she has served in animal rescue for many years and as a volunteer for Humane Societies. She was President of the Champaign County Humane Society in 2003, and chair of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
Nathan T. Kolb joined Thomas Mamer as an Associate in 2016 and was made Partner in 2020. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general negligence, medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, and appellate law.
Mr. Kolb graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky in 2012, where he was named to the Order of the Coif. During law school, Mr. Kolb served as an editor of the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Law.
Upon admission to the Kentucky bar in 2012, Mr. Kolb began his practice as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, participating in all stages of prosecuting felony offenses. In 2013, Mr. Kolb joined the Attorney General's Office of Criminal Appeals.
As an Assistant Attorney General, Mr. Kolb represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky in post-conviction proceedings throughout the state, including more than 50 cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Mr. Kolb was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2016.
Mr. Kolb is admitted to practice in the Illinois State Courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
In addition to practicing law, Mr. Kolb enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and golf.
Nathaniel (Nate) Schmitz joined Thomas Mamer in June 2020 and focuses his practice on real estate, wills, probate, and general business law. Previously, Mr. Schmitz spent ten years with Torricelli and Limentato, P.C. where he concentrated his practice on insurance defense litigation, real estate, and advising small businesses and local governmental entities.
Mr. Schmitz earned his B.A. in Latin American Studies from the George Washington University in 1994. He earned his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 2006, with honors in legal writing and research. Mr. Schmitz was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006.
Prior to law school, Mr. Schmitz worked in international finance and public relations. He was the Investor Relations Director for IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A., one of the largest real estate investment corporations in Argentina. Mr. Schmitz was also the Public Relations Director for Clevite Engine Parts, a division of the Dana Corporation.
Mr. Schmitz lives in Urbana with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys traveling abroad and surprising his family with his cooking abilities. Mr. Schmitz is fluent in Spanish.
Education
B.A. in Latin American Studies from the George Washington University
Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School
Philip J. ("PJ") Pence re-joined Thomas Mamer as an associate attorney in 2022. Mr. Pence's legal career started at Thomas Mamer, first as a law clerk while attending the University of Illinois College of Law, then as an associate attorney after being admitted to the Illinois bar in 2016. He then practiced employment law at a large international law firm in Chicago.
Mr. Pence concentrates his practice in complex matters in employment law and litigation. He represents and counsels employers in a wide range of federal, state, and local employment matters, including claims arising under the FLSA, Title VII, FMLA, OSHA, and the ADA. He also advises clients on day-to-day employment issues, including personnel policies and procedures, independent contractor arrangements, employee misclassification risks, accommodations, and restrictive covenants.
Litigation is at the center of Mr. Pence's practice, handling complex litigation matters from the pre-litigation stage through appeal, both in employment litigation and as a general litigator. He represents clients in numerous industries, including education, retail, manufacturing, finance, hospitality, and healthcare.
In addition to practicing law, Mr. Pence is a musician who plays drums with various artists in Illinois and beyond.
Education
University of Illinois College of Law - J.D. 2016
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - B.A. 2012, Philosophy
Richard Harden concentrates in the areas of civil litigation, professional malpractice and insurance defense law in the trial and appellate courts. In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in any state. An "AV - Pre-eminent" rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell*, he is also a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. He is also an Illinois "Super Lawyer."
He is a member of the Council on Litigation Management, an organization devoted to integrity in billing. He has been named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary organization honoring attorneys "based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation."
Mr. Harden received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from Knox College, where he was selected to Phi Beta Kappa. A 1983 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, he was admitted to the Illinois Bar that year.
He has written and supplemented the chapter "Uses of Medical Evidence" in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Handbook Medical Evidence, and co-wrote "Risk Management Strategies and Deposition Testimony" in the Spring, 2000 edition of Carle Selected Papers. He is a member of the Illinois State and Champaign County Bar Associations, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Defense Research Institute.
Awards
American College of Trial Lawyers
AV-rated Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell
Leading Lawyer
Member of Council on Litigation Management
Tiffany became an associate with Thomas Mamer in 2021 after graduating law school and being admitted to the Illinois Bar. Prior to joining the firm full-time, Tiffany served as its student law clerk. She concentrates her practice in the areas of general litigation, employment and labor law, and workers' compensation defense.
Tiffany graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2017, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Community Heath. In 2021, she received her Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. While in law school, Tiffany served as a member of the Women's Law Caucus and the Federalist Society. She completed work as a legal intern for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy - Appellate Branch and completed an externship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Office of University Counsel. Throughout law school, Tiffany earned multiple CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for her highest scoring work in Evidence, Bankruptcy, and Civil Rights and Remedies.
In addition to practicing law, Tiffany enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her family.
Tiffany can be reached at TJB@ThomasMamer.com, or by calling the firm's main switchboard at (217) 351-1500.
William J. Brinkmann has been a member of Thomas Mamer since 1974, and became a partner in 1979. He concentrates his practice in civil litigation with an emphasis in the areas of professional liability, managed care and employment law.
A 1974 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Mr. Brinkmann also holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Administration from the University of Illinois. He is an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Illinois Defense Trial Counsel, American Health Lawyers Association, and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Brinkmann served as president of the Champaign County Bar Association, and has served as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association's Civil Practice Committee, Chair of the Bench-Bar Section Council and chair of the Federal Civil Practice Section Council.
Mr. Brinkmann served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois College of Law where he formerly taught a course on pre-trial litigation. He has authored a chapter on "Uses on Medical Evidence" for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Medical Evidence Manual, and has been a speaker at the Illinois State Bar Association seminars on trial practice.
Within the community, Mr. Brinkmann has served on the board of the Champaign Country Club and the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association.