CHICAGO, July 1, 2005 -- Monte L. Mann of Novack and Macey has been named one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” in The Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s prestigious annual listing. In announcing the award, The Law Bulletin called Mann “one of the top litigators in the city.”

Major Honor
Mann was selected from more than 1,200 nominations for the award, which is bestowed annually by the publisher of The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Illinois Lawyer. Recipients were chosen based on their career achievements, courtroom victories and commitment to their clients and the community.

High Praise
“Novack and Macey began in 1984 with the vision of being a specialized firm of top-quality business trial lawyers, and since he walked through our doors, Monte has been just that,” said senior partner Eric Macey. “When he joined us as an associate, we were immediately impressed with his skill and tenacity. His career has prospered right before our eyes, and we are very proud that he has been recognized for this award.”

Senior partner Stephen Novack added, “From the start, Monte set the standard for our young attorneys. He is an aggressive and passionate advocate. He has received glowing praise from our clients and earned the respect of our adversaries. The award is well deserved.”

Practice Strengths
Mann represents clients in high-stakes business litigation, including contract disputes and others involving corporate governance, business torts, real estate, partnerships, closely held corporations, restrictive covenants and trade secrets. He handles all aspects of these matters, from inception to conclusion, including trials, mediation, arbitration and appeals.

Mann was nominated for the award by his clients, other attorneys who have acted as co-counsel and even those who have been his opponents. Their representative comments illustrate the key traits that have made Mann one of the city’s best-regarded commercial litigators, and which typify the strengths of Novack and Macey generally:

• Client focused: “Keeps us informed every step of the way, always seeks the best, most economical resolution. . . . Has a practical understanding of clients’ needs and a talent at getting things done. . . . Always intuitively understood how best to meet the client’s goals.”
• Creative: “Has the knowledge and skill to effectively prepare a strategy for any situation. . . . Has always been able to identify and analyze thorny issues and to quickly decide, correctly, how to get from point A to point B.”
• Effective: “He is always well prepared and knows exactly where he wants to go. . . . Is a doer and go-to lawyer. . . . Has insight and wisdom well beyond his years.”
• Knowledgeable: “His legal scholarship is first-rate, combined with a large dose of common sense. . . . Combination of knowledge and confidence allows him never to be shaken by the opposition.”
• Respected: “Carried himself at all times with the greatest of integrity and honesty. . . . Considers his ethical obligations and the pursuit of justice to be of the highest importance.”

Client and Community Service
To be selected to “40 Under 40,” a nominee must demonstrate success at serving clients and the community, and Mann has done both. By way of example, he recently has:
• Defeated an $11 million claim against a client in a bankruptcy proceeding on the basis of a rare defense called judicial estoppel;
• Successfully defended a major Chicago real estate developer against a multi-million dollar claim asserted by an East Coast real estate magnate in a widely publicized dispute; and
• Won summary judgment for a client, arguing that the doctrine of res judicata prohibited the opponent from asserting multi-million dollar claims that should have been resolved in prior litigation.

Moreover, Mann has recently served on the Board of Directors of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Evening Associates, which is committed to increasing awareness of art and the Institute’s resources as well as raising funds for Institute programming. He also has successfully provided pro bono representation to inmates to correct sentencing errors and redress civil rights violations during their incarceration.

Professional and Personal Credentials
Monte Mann received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, which included undergraduate studies at the prestigious London School of Economics. He was awarded his J.D. degree in 1995 from Northwestern University, where he was Note and Comment Editor of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and the District of Columbia, and he is a member of the Trial Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Firm Overview
Novack and Macey’s 25-plus lawyers try lawsuits and handle appeals for clients in many industries, including energy, real estate, banking, securities, high technology, chemicals, financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, retailing and transportation. The firm represents investment ventures, partnerships and individuals, as well as governmental entities and other law firms, in complex litigation. Major law firms throughout the country refer their difficult cases to Novack and Macey (or come to it when they themselves are sued) because of its reputation for skillful and aggressive client representation. The firm’s web site is www.novackandmacey.com.

For additional information, please contact Donald A. Tarkington, Managing Partner, at 312-419-6900.