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PRESS RELEASE: Kaufman Dolowich Expands into Chicago Market

Posted Sep 9, 2014

Stefan R. Dandelles Joins New Office as Managing Partner

(September 9, 2014, Chicago) — Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP (KD), a leading national law firm, today announced that it is establishing a strong presence in the Midwest with the opening of an office in Chicago and the addition of two partners and one senior associate with extensive litigation and insurance coverage experience. The move strengthens KD’s ability to represent regional, national, and international clients, and responds to client requests and growing opportunities for a presence in the Midwest region.

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Stefan Dandelles, who has been practicing law for more than 16 years, has joined the firm as managing partner in the new office. Stefan comes to KD from Wilson Elser’s Chicago office, where he was leader of its national securities practice and co-leader of the firm’s national fidelity law practice.

“Expanding to Chicago was the next, logical move for KD following the building of a strong East and West coast presence,” said Ivan J. Dolowich, co-managing partner, KD. “For our clients in the Midwest, as well as those nationally and internationally who conduct business there, Stefan and his team offer keen regional knowledge of laws and regulations and experience in both state and federal courts. As the demand from our clients doing business in the center of the country continues, our goal is to grow this office to at least a dozen attorneys over the next few years.”

Joining Dandelles in the Chicago office are David T. Brown, as a partner, and Brendan P. McGarry, as a senior associate.

Dandelles, who represents domestic and London-based clients, handles complex coverage matters and litigates complex coverage disputes, including matters involving fidelity bonds, D&O liability, lawyers and bankers, professional liability, employment practices, rescission and bad faith. He also represents domestic and international financial institution bond and commercial crime insurers, assists securities brokers, investment advisors and broker-dealers in regulatory investigations and defends their interests in arbitration proceedings before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), American Arbitration Association (AAA) and civil litigation in both state and federal courts nationwide.

Dandelles earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, with Distinction. He is a member of the American Bar Association Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), Fidelity Law Association and Hellenic Bar Association.

“Joining KD offers my group the opportunity to be a part of a firm that is growing and provide on-the-ground service in Chicago and throughout the Midwest for both domestic and international clients,” said Dandelles. “KD has a very strong, well regarded insurance and financial services practice and we look forward to expanding its reputation in this region.”

“Stefan has extensive client contacts in London that can both complement and amplify KD’s already growing London-based client activity,” said Kevin M. Mattessich, managing partner of KD’s New York City office whose practice in securities, fidelity and surety, commercial litigation and insurance law includes considerable work with London clients.

Brown joins KD from the Chicago office of Wilson Elser where he was a partner. He has a dozen years of experience representing domestic and London-based insurance carrier clients on commercial general liability policies, various professional lines of insurance including D&O and employment practices liability policies, and first party fidelity bonds, crime policies and property policies. Brown earned his B.B.A. from the University of Iowa and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Also joining KD from the Chicago office of Wilson Elser is McGarry who was an associate representing clients in the financial industry, including securities broker-dealers, directors and officers of financial institutions, and registered investment advisers. He litigates disputes before federal and state courts and various arbitration forums and represents clients in regulatory matters brought by federal and state regulators including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission as well as self-regulatory organizations including FINRA and the National Futures Association. He earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from DePaul University of College of Law.

KD’s new office is located at 111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60604.

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