Tressler LLP issued the following announcement on July 1.
Tressler LLP has promoted attorney Elizabeth F. Wagman to partner. Elizabeth joined Tressler as senior counsel in 2020 and is a member of our Government and Education Practice Groups.
“We could not be more pleased to have Elizabeth join our partnership as we continue to forge a new path into the future,” said Mark Banovetz, partner and member of Tressler’s Executive Committee. “She represents the energy, enthusiasm and drive that will help us continue to expand our storied 35-year-old law firm.”
With over a decade of experience, Elizabeth Wagman brings a unique perspective to the representation of educational institutions and local government entities, including school districts, charter schools, municipalities, libraries and park districts.
“I am honored to be a partner at Tressler,” said Elizabeth Wagman. “As our Government and Education Practices continue to grow, I look forward to working with our wonderful team of experienced attorneys to support our clients. I am proud of Tressler’s reputation for providing responsive client service, engaging client trainings and trusted legal support. We look forward to this upcoming school year and are grateful for our dedicated clients throughout Illinois.”
In recent months, much of Elizabeth’s practice has surrounded the numerous implications of COVID-19 in the public sector. She has created popular guidance documents pertaining to employee health and safety (including self-certification procedures) and best practices for reopening public entities amidst the ever-changing IDPH, CDC and DCEO guidance. Elizabeth also provides legal advice to her clients regarding the OMA, including the recent requirements outlined by gubernatorial proclamations and executive orders during the pandemic. She acts as a sounding board for clients as they navigate the complexities of employment law including leave requests under FMLA and FFCRA, what constitutes a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the drafting of employment handbooks/procedures/policies. Elizabeth recently launched new client trainings for the 2021-2022 school year.
Beyond COVID-19-based legal support, Elizabeth guides clients through questions surrounding election law requirements, including the nuances of resignations/vacancies. Elizabeth is well-versed in record requirements for public bodies, including FOIA and what may be considered Personally Identifiable Information, protected or confidential material. As an attorney focusing her practice on the representation of various public bodies, she is familiar the intricacies that go into writing intergovernmental agreements and the beneficial connections they establish throughout the entire community.
Prior to joining Tressler, Elizabeth served as the Director of Due Process and Mediation for Chicago Public Schools, a position covering approximately 400,000 students in 660 schools across Chicago. In this role, Elizabeth acted as lead legal counsel for all matters stemming from special education litigation and mediation. In her leadership role, she led her team to act proactively to decrease litigation and increase mechanisms to support schools in participating in early resolution, leading to a decrease in litigation costs and a preservation of the school community. Throughout her tenure at CPS, Elizabeth created and provided professional development to District-level administrators, principals, clinicians, school staff and parents.
Elizabeth received her B.A. from University of Wisconsin – Madison and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Original source can be found here.