John B. Adams graduated from the University of Iowa with his Bachelor of Business in 1970 and from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law with his Juris Doctor in 1973. He served the Assistant States Attorney Cook County Felony Trial Division 26th and California from 1973 to 1976. Mr. Adams was in private practice from 1976 to 2012. He is the past-chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Workers Compensation Section and the past-chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Workers Compensation Section.

Maria S. Bocanegra is an Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission,

where she presides over workers’ compensation claims and hearings. Previously, Arbitrator

Bocanegra was a practicing attorney with Katz Friedman, where she handled all phases of

workers’ compensation matters, wage and hour disputes, employment law matters and personal

injury claims. Arbitrator Bocanegra has experience in practicing before administrative, state and

federal courts. She formerly held the public member seat for the Illinois Department of Labor’s

Labor Advisory Board, where she actively advised the Director of Labor regarding labor policy

and enforcement of laws, reviewed statutes enforced by the Department and provided

recommendations regarding the Department’s administrative regulations. In addition, Arbitrator

Bocanegra previously served for the Workers’ Compensation Lawyer’s Association’s Young

Lawyers Section, where she gave a presentation regarding pre and post-trial issues concerning

medical billing. She has given numerous presentations in her current and former capacity on

labor and employment laws, workers’ compensation and trial advocacy.

Arbitrator Bocanegra volunteers as a moot court coach for DePaul College of Law’s Latino/a

Law Student Association. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the National

Hispanic Bar Association and the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association. Arbitrator

received her BA from Quincy University and her JD from DePaul College of Law.

Dr. Benjamin Domb is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and hip

arthroscopy. He has been rated amongst the Top Doctors in the country by NY Times, US News,

Word Report, and Castle Connelly. He is the founder of the American Hip Institute, a not-for-

profit organization dedicated to educating, innovating, and improving the minimally invasive

treatment of hip injuries.

Dr. Domb has treated numerous professional, Olympic, and elite level athletes, including players

for the NFL, NBA, and NHL. He is Head Team Physician for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, and

has cared for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Kings, and Galaxy. Dr. Domb is amongst the

most experienced hip arthroscopy surgeons in the United States, and is one of the first surgeons

to perform robotic hip replacements. He is the inventor of cutting edge techniques in hip

arthroscopy to treat injuries such as labral tears, impingement, and gluteus medius tears. Dr.

Domb treats patients from across the country who travel to Chicago for their surgery, and he

takes pride in caring for every patient like a professional athlete.

Dr. Domb earned his B.A. at Princeton University and his M.D. at John Hopkins School of

Medicine. He completed his Residency at Cornell University Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr.

Domb has completed a Fellowship in Hip Arthroscopy and Joint Preservation, as well as a

Fellowship in Sports Medicine Surgery. He is a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic

Surgeons (AAOS); Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA); American Orthopaedic

Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM); Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons (ABJS);

International Society of Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA); and American Association of Hip and Knee

Surgeons (AAHKS).

Michael P. Downey graduated first in his class from Washington University School of Law in 1998

and spent 1998-99 clerking for the Honorable Pasco M. Bowman, then Chief Judge of the U.S. Court

of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Michael also earned a graduate certificate in Law Firm

Management from George Washington University in 2006. Prior to law school, Michael taught Latin

and Ancient Greek and coached soccer and chess at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, a public

school in St. Louis County.

Mr. Downey is a legal ethics lawyer and founder of Downey Law Group LLC, a law firm devoted to

legal ethics, law firm risk management, and the law of lawyering. He regularly represents lawyers,

their clients, judges, and other professionals in high stakes and complex civil litigation and

disciplinary proceedings. Michael also serves as outside general counsel to numerous law firms.

The litigation matters Michael handles often garner considerable media attention, particularly from

the legal press. Michael has completed formal training in media relations, and often assists clients in

preparing and implementing public relations strategies as part of work on high-visibility, high-stakes

matters.

An experienced litigator, Michael has represented lawyers and other clients in state and federal trial

and appellate courts. Prior to focusing his practice on professional ethics, he handled complex class

action, employment, environmental, and product liability cases primarily for global consumer

products, pharmaceutical and refining companies. Michael continues his involvement in such

complex litigation matters, including serving as lead counsel, assisting in strategy preparation, and

handling with specific aspects of complex civil matters relating to legal ethics, sanctions, and

privilege issues.

Michael has also served as an expert witness – testifying primarily on legal ethics, lawyer

malpractice, and legal billing matters – in cases pending in Missouri, Kansas and the District of

Columbia.

For the past decade, Michael has taught legal ethics and law firm practice as an adjunct professor at

Washington University School of Law. He has also taught professional responsibility as an adjunct

professor at St. Louis University School of Law. He has presented on legal ethics more than 350

times, including for global corporations and law firms, throughout the United States as well as in the

United Kingdom and Canada.

His first book, Introduction to Law Firm Practice, was published in 2010. Michael has contributed

chapters to three other book-length publications, and published more than 100 articles in publications

including in the ABA Journal, National Law Journal, For the Defense, and the Missouri Bar Journal.

A regular ethics columnist for the National Law Journal, ABA’s Litigation and Law Practice

magazines, and the St. Louis Lawyer, Michael won a Distinguished Legal Writing Award from the

Burton Foundation in 2013 for an article on lawyers’ ethical limitations on communications with the

media. Popular and legal publications frequently quote Michael as an expert on legal ethics and law

firm practice issues. He has been interviewed more than 75 times, and has been quoted in the New

York Times, WSJ Law Blog, National Law Journal, ABA Journal, Illinois Bar Journal, Missouri

Lawyers Weekly, St. Louis Post Dispatch, and St. Louis Business Journal. In 2009, Michael

appeared as a guest on NPR’s Talk of the Nation.

In 2013, Missouri Lawyers Weekly named Michael a 2014 Most Influential Lawyer as the “go-to

legal ethics counsel in Missouri.”

Thomas W. Duda is the sole owner of the firm known as Law Offices of Thomas W. Duda with

offices in Palatine and Springfield, Illinois. He has been a specialist in private and public sector

labor relations since admission to the bar in 1973. His initial experience was obtained while

working as an Associate and eventually Partner in a Chicago law firm then known as Kleiman,

Cornfield and Feldman, n/k/a Cornfield and Feldman. From 1973 to 1977 he performed all

aspects of labor relations work before the National Labor Relations Board, Federal Courts in

multiple jurisdictions and before labor Arbitrators. Since 1977 his practice has been

concentrating in the areas of workers’ compensation and public sector labor relations. He is a

member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois State

Bar Association. He received his BA degree, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre

Dame, and his JD, Cum Laude degree from Northwestern University School of Law

Brent R. Eames is a partner with the firm Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd. with offices in Chicago,

Illinois and Shorewood, Illinois. His practice exclusively consists of plaintiff’s personal injury

and petitioner’s workers’ compensation litigation, with an emphasis on representing injured first

responders. Brent has represented injured police officers and firefighters in claims for workers’

compensation, disability pensions, PEDA and PSEBA all across the state of Illinois.

Brent is a 2009 graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Law. He has been recognized

as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. He is a

member of the ISBA Section Council for Workers’ Compensation; the Illinois Trial Lawyers

Association; and the Board of Visitors for Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Robert J. Finley earned his B.A. at Marquette University in 1995 and his J.D. at DePaul University College of Law in 2001. While attending DePaul University College of Law, Mr. Finley was selected to study abroad at University College Dublin School of Law (Ireland), where he concentrated in comparative and European Union law studies and volunteered with a Dublin-based law firm in its litigation sector. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinoi. Mr. Finley is a Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Chicago where he concentrates his practice on personal injury/property damage defense litigation, transportation law, health care, workers’ compensation defense, labor and employment, and commercial litigation. Mr. Finley is a member of Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA); ISBA Workers' Compensation Law Section Council, Chair (2017); ISBA Workers' Compensation Law Section Council, Vice-Chair (2016 – 2017); ISBA Workers' Compensation Law Section Council, Member (2012 – present); Illinois Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance – Member and Instructor (2013- present); Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association, Investigator & Hearing Officer (2006 – 2011); and American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition and Regional Negotiation Competition, Judge (2003 – 2011) Prior to pursuing a career in law, Mr. Finley worked in the sports radio industry as a producer and reporter covering major spectator events, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Kentucky Derby, U.S. Open Golf Championship, NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Richard D. Hannigan earned his B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Dayton in

1970 and his J.D. at John Marshall Law School in 1973. He completed the Illinois Appellate

Defender Program in 1972. Mr. Hannigan is admitted to practice in Illinois and Arizona, and

before the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois. He has practice at Hannigan & Botha,

Ltd. since 2008. Prior to this, he was a solo practitioner (1991-2008) and an associate attorney at

Burgesson, Laughlin, Cunningham and Fanone (1973-1991). He was appointed by the Chairman

of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission to the Rules Committee in 2001 and 2015.

Mr. Hannigan is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers

Association, Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, Worker’ Injury Law & Advocacy

Group, Chicago Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, Arizona State Bar, and the

Appellate Defender Program.

Christina S. Hemenway graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Arts

degree in Political Science, and earned her Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri-

Columbia. She has been an Arbitrator since 2015. Prior to that, she was the Worker’s

Compensation Manager and Senior Claims Attorney for Country Financial in Bloomington, IL

for 20 years. She has more than 30 years’ experience in various roles in worker’s compensation

and has spoken at both state and national conferences. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar

Association.

Robert C. Nelson received his undergraduate and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of

Illinois. He limits his practice to representing injured persons. Since 1973, Mr. Nelson has

practiced in Belleville, Illinois where he concentrates his practice in personal injury and workers’

compensation claims. He has presented at many programs on workers’ compensation through the

ISBA and ITLA.

John W. Powers graduated from Eastern Illinois University and received his Juris Doctorate

from John Marshall Law School. After receiving his undergraduate degree, the Eastern Illinois

University Political Science Department faculty selected him to serve as the Pre-Law Advisor’s

teaching assistant. His practice is concentrated in Workers’ Compensation, representing injured

workers throughout the State of Illinois. He has litigated claims from arbitration to the Illinois

Appellate Court. He has argued cases before the Appellate Court on multiple occasions. He has

also drafted Amicus Curiae briefs on behalf of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in the area

of workers’ compensation for which he received the William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award

in 2008.

He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Law Section

Counsel, The Chicago Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Committee, the Workers’

Compensation Lawyers Association, Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group, the Illinois

Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association of Justice. In 2008, he was elected to

the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly. He co-authors Chapter One – Summons and

Reviews for the Illinois Trail Lawyers Association’s Workers’ Compensation Notebook. He

assisted in the drafting of 2005 Amendments to Workers’ Compensation Act regarding uninsured

employees. Beginning in 2011 he was nominated by his peers as a “Leading Lawyer in workers’

compensation.” John became a shareholder in the firm in 2014.

Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner in August of 2015 as an

Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Her current assignment is Zone

1, which covers the Collinsville, Herrin, and Mt. Vernon dockets.

Ms. Rowe-Sullivan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) in Health

Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1995. She earned a Master of Business

Administration degree from Lewis University in 1997 and, after having worked in the health care

administration field for several years in the far western Chicago suburbs, she graduated from

Northern Illinois University College of Law (cum laude) in 2003.

Immediately prior to her appointment as an Arbitrator, Ms. Rowe-Sullivan worked at Ganan &

Shapiro’s Peoria office where she worked from July 2008 until the time of her appointment. At

Ganan & Shapiro, her primary responsibilities surrounded case management of workers’

compensation defense litigation. Prior to working at Ganan & Shapiro, she worked at

Schweickert & Ganassin in Peru from April 2007 through July 2008 where her primary

responsibilities surrounded case management in personal injury litigation from the Plaintiff’s

perspective. Immediately prior to that, she worked at Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius in

Peoria where she started after graduation from law school in 2003. At the Quinn firm, her

primary responsibilities included case management in personal injury defense litigation

involvement in a hospital/health care advisory capacity on a variety of regulatory issues.

Ms. Rowe-Sullivan is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Frank J. Soto earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and Business Administration from

Eastern Illinois University and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 1995. He is an

Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission in Chicago. Prior to his role as

Arbitrator, Mr. Soto was Principal of the Law Offices of Frank J. Soto, Ltd. where he

concentrated his practice in workers’ compensation law, civil litigation, administrative hearings,

municipal law, real estate, and business law. Mr. Soto is a former Hearings Officer for the

Illinois Court of Claims, the Former Director of the Secretary of State Department of

Administrative Hearings, the Former President of the Village of Bensenville, and the Former

Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. He has

received many awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Secret Service for

his contributions to law enforcement (2009) and the international Police and Public Safety 9/11

medal Commendation Award issued by the Secretary General of the 911 Inter Port Police

(2012). He was the Recipient of the Municipal Leader of the Year and best adaptive reuse of a

building by CISCO. Mr. Soto has been a guest speaker at The John Marshall Law School for the

Annual Latino Law Forum.

Ari Telisman serves as Litigation Counsel for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois ("ARDC"). His duties include investigating and prosecuting lawyer misconduct. Previously, Mr. Telisman served as a prosecutor in Indiana and Florida as well as an Assistant Attorney General in Illinois, where he pursued involuntary commitments of sexually violent offenders. He has tried nearly 100 cases involving a wide variety of crimes (including violent felonies, drug and gun prosecutions, and complex economic crimes) as well as many civil trials. Mr. Telisman is a faculty instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's Midwest Building Trial Skills Program and gives continuing legal education speeches on behalf of the ARDC. He is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he has taught Intensive Trial Practice and Expert Witness Theory and Practice. Mr. Telisman received his JD from the Florida State University College of Law and his BS from Carnegie Mellon University.

Kenneth F. Werts is a member in the law firm of Craig & Craig, Mattoon & Mt. Vernon. He is

a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law. Mr. Werts concentrates his practice in

the areas of Workers’ Compensation Law and Occupational Disease Law. He is a member and

past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Section on Worker’s Compensation Law. He is

the past President of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the past co-chair of

the IDC Workers’ Compensation Committee. Mr. Werts is the author of the Illinois Workers’

Compensation Guidebook, Lexis Nexis 2017.