CHICAGO – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that Tracey L. Holtshirley has been named Volunteer Attorney of the Month for November 2008 by the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, for his work with the organization’s Legal Assistance and Resource Center (LARC).  Mr. Holtshirley has served clients through the LARC since June 2008, offering legal advice and presenting educational seminars on various topics related to veterans’ benefits.

Attorneys in the LARC offer Chicago’s economically disadvantaged basic legal advice and referral services via telephone hotline and in-person.  Clients in need of legal representation may be placed with a volunteer attorney from LARC’s Pro Bono Network or directed to a legal aid organization.  The organization also operates monthly legal advice desks at some of Catholic Charities’ Evening Supper Programs and offers educational seminars throughout Chicago and its suburbs on various legal topics, including collections, understanding juvenile court, powers of attorney for healthcare and property, and criminal expungement.

A staff attorney based in Katten’s Chicago office, Mr. Holtshirley concentrates his practice on intellectual property and litigation matters.  In addition to LARC, he is active in other inner-city philanthropic organizations, including the Illinois Pro Bono Initiative and the National Veterans Legal Service Program.  Additionally, Mr. Holtshirley chairs the committee that coordinates Katten’s “Adopt-a-School” program, where he serves as a reader for elementary school children.  He is also the program coordinator for the “Mock Trial” program at Philo Carpenter Elementary School.

Mr. Holtshirley earned his B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University and his J.D. from John Marshall Law School.  He also holds an M.B.A. from the Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago.  A combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he currently serves as a major in the Marine Corps reserves.

Katten has a long-term commitment to helping the poor, the powerless and the disenfranchised obtain first-rate representation without charge.  Attorneys and other legal professionals give their time, resources and talent to serve individuals and organizations in need, to engage in important national litigation, and to partner with local legal service providers to ensure access to the justice system.  The firm encourages its attorneys to become involved in pro bono projects with the same unwavering dedication, commitment to hard work and legal excellence that they bring to all matters handled by the firm.

Founded in 1974, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 650 attorneys in locations across the United States and an affiliate in London.  The firm’s business-savvy professionals provide clients in numerous industries with sophisticated, high-value legal services, with a focus on corporate, financial services, litigation, real estate, commercial finance, intellectual property and trusts and estates.  Among our clients are a wide range of public and private companies, including nearly a third of the Fortune 100, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.