Aktuality
11 Apr 2008
William Rudnick honored at 20th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner
Rudnick Recognized for Founding Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner which Benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository; Docket Specialist, Tony Cerda Honored by Chicago Bar Association for Pro Bono Service
Tiskové prohlášení
(Chicago) – DLA Piper today announced that William A. Rudnick, managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office, was recently honored at the 20th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner for founding this event which benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD).
The firm also announced that Tony Cerda, docketing specialist in the firm’s Chicago office, has been honored with the Liberty Bell Award from the Chicago Bar Association's Young Lawyer's Division in part for his service to the GCFD.
Rudnick was recognized alongside event co-founder Christopher Kennedy of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. Rudnick and Kennedy were honored for helping launch Chicago’s premier benefit designed to both celebrate outstanding achievements in the real estate industry and support the community.
“Bill is one of the Food Depository’s greatest ambassadors and we’re proud that his contributions to the community have also been recognized by his peers,” said Kate Maehr, executive director for the GCFD. “The success of this event and its growing tradition is further testament to Bill’s dedication to his profession and community.”
Often referred to as “the Oscars” of the Chicago commercial real estate industry, the Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner draws more than 2,000 of the area’s top brokers, developers, property managers, interior contractors and design professionals. The benefit has raised nearly $10 million over the past 20 years to support the GCFD’s hunger-relief program.
In a related honor, Tony Cerda, docketing specialist in the firm’s Chicago office, has won the prestigious Liberty Bell Award from the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division for his 15-plus years of pro bono service with the GCFD and Asian American Legal Services Clinic in Chicago.
“We commend Tony for his tremendous dedication to pro bono over the past several years,” said Chris Gierymski, director of docketing for DLA Piper’s Chicago office. “We are delighted that Tony is being recognized with this award for his hard work and commitment to serving the various needs of the community.”
The Liberty Bell Award is given each year by local bar associations in conjunction with Law Day to honor outstanding citizens within the local community. The award recognizes important service performed by a non-lawyer citizen who has demonstrated a sense of responsibility for community welfare and public duty under law; has helped others to understand and assert their rights under the law; promoted and encouraged respect for and obedience to the law; and assisted the smooth functioning of our system of justice.
At the GCFD, Cerda organizes food repack nights and other events, where volunteers clean and pack hundreds of boxes of perishable and non-perishable food items for local pantries and kitchens which then serve the homeless and less fortunate people of Chicago. At the Asian American Legal Services Clinic, Cerda volunteers as a paralegal by screening cases and bridging the gap between clients who do not speak English and their volunteer attorneys. He also advises both attorneys and clients on a myriad of complex court procedures, including those specifically dealing with domestic relations and child support.
Cerda will be presented with a commemorative plaque by the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division on Tuesday, April 29 during the Judge's Reception at Law Day.
About DLA Piper
DLA Piper has 3,700 lawyers in 25 countries and 64 offices throughout the US, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia. It has leading practices in corporate, finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, tax, and technology, media and communications. Former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell is chairman of DLA Piper. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.
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