I am thrilled to be able to share with the world that Stuart Chanen has joined Valorem! Stuart is an incredibly accomplished litigator and adds immeasurably to our strength and creativity. Here is the press release we issued a short while ago:
Stuart J. Chanen joins Valorem Law Group as Partner
CHICAGO, August 31, 2009–Valorem Law Group LLC, a business litigation firm using non-hourly billing tools, announced today that Stuart J. Chanen has joined the firm as a partner. Prior to joining Valorem, Chanen was a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP. Chanen served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Northern District of Illinois from 2000 to 2004. Previously, he was a partner and an associate at Sachnoff Weaver, now known as Reed Smith LLP.
Chanen’s practice focuses on criminal and civil fraud investigations and defense, wage claims, non-compete agreements, shareholder disputes, as well complex business disputes. “Stuart’s lengthy criminal defense and fraud experience provides a new dimension of value that we can provide to our clients,” said Nicole Nehama Auerbach, one of the firm’s founding partners. “We are thrilled to have a lawyer with his accomplishments join us.”
Valorem, a litigation firm which began operations in January 2008, is comprised of former large firm lawyers who believe that results, not hours, should determine how a firm is paid by its clients. The founding members have leveraged their large firm and trial experience into a practice where the firm has “skin in the game” on virtually all of its cases.
“Valorem is one of the most innovative, forward-looking firms in the country,” said Chanen. “The chance to be part of this elite group of lawyers is a fantastic opportunity, and I look forward to being part of a firm that is redefining the relationship between lawyers and their clients.”
Chanen earned his BA, cum laude, from Brandeis University in 1981 and his law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1985, where he served on the Law Review. He clerked for Honorable John Grady, then Chief Judge of the Northern District of Illinois. Chanen has been an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern Law School since 1994. Since 2004, Chanen has been on the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern. In May, he was instrumental in overturning the conviction and 45-year sentence of Thaddeus Jimenez, who was convicted at age 13 for a murder he did not commit. Jimenez is believed to be the youngest person in U.S. history to be convicted of murder and later fully exonerated.
ABOUT VALOREM
Valorem (meaning “value” in Latin) Law Group, LLC opened its doors on January 2, 2008. Formed by four partners who are self-proclaimed “BigLaw Refugees,” the firm represents business interests in litigation and other disputes. The firm’s website declares “The Billable Hour Is Dead,” and details the firm’s belief that alternative fee arrangements can provide clients with budget certainty and results-oriented discipline in any kind of litigation. The firm also provides its clients a “Value Adjustment Line” on every invoice, giving clients the ultimate discretion to adjust the amount of the firm’s invoice to match the value received.
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This is a coup for Valorem not only because it expands the skill set we can offer our clients, but also because it demonstrates that there are "true believers" out there who share our view of the way to practice law. We’ve had so many former BigLaw partners ask to join our numbers as firms shrunk, but we held firm to our view that only those who "had drunk the Kool-Aid" would be considered. Stuart understands and has embraced the value of what we do, why we do it and how it advances the interests of our clients.