Firm's Staff
Head paralegal/law clerk
Suzanne Blaz worked for Frederick J. Daley, Ltd. from November 2001 to April 2002, and has worked at DDB since then as the head paralegal and law clerk. Suzanne received a B.A. from University of Wisconsin-Madison and spent her junior year abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, studying at l'Institut d'Étude Politique and l'Université de Provence. She obtained a paralegal certificate with honors in 2002 and her Juris Doctor degree in January of 2007 from Loyola University Chicago.
Email: sblaz@ddbchicago.com
Paralegals
Stephen Weinstein received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked with his father, Attorney Seymour B. Weinstein, in a Social Security Disability law practice from 1990-2003, where he did legal research, prepared cases, and represented claimants at administrative hearings. In April 2003, he started working in the the same capacity for DDB. He also worked for attorney David R. Bryant and was involved in the development of a client tracking software program for his Social Security Disability law practice.
Shannon Cottrell joined DDB in September 2011. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Paralegal Studies from Kaplan University in 2010. Prior to joining DDB, Shannon worked researching criminal background checks.
Email: scottrell@ddbchicago.com
Krystle Reniguntala joined DDB in June of 2010. She graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago with majors in International Studies and History (Honors Program). Prior to joining DDB, Krystle worked in the language department at a global relocation and workforce development company
Email: kreniguntala@ddbchicago.com
Anna Afanasieva graduated from University of Chicago with LL.M. Degree in 2011 and joined Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant in September 2011. Anna received her LLB in 2008 and LLM in 2010 in International Law from Kyiv Shevchenko University. Anna practiced as a legal intern for the Ukrainian-American Bar Association.
Law clerks
The many fine law schools in and around Chicago provide a wealth of bright law students who help to keep Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant up to date on new developments in the law. Please read more about our team of law clerks below, all of whom show promise to be excellent attorneys upon their graduation from law school.
Maria Merman joined DDB as a law clerk in June of 2011. Maria graduated from University of Illinois with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. Maria is a full-time student at John Marshall where she was selected to become a teaching assistant for a first year Civil Procedure course. She is also a member of Jessup International Moot Court team and will be representing John Marshall in the international competition in February of 2012. Maria is also a recipient of the 2011 ASLME ( American Society of Law Medicine and Ethics) Annual Health Law Student Award.
Keri Schaubert joined DDB in May of 2011. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2000 with a degree in Biology and Anthropology. Following graduation, she attended Wayne State University where she received her Ph.D. in the field of Immunology. After her graduate work, Keri did a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan before going to law school. Keri is currently in her second year at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Jillian S
teinberg joined DDB as a law clerk in February of 2012. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011 with a degree in Political Science and Psychology and is now a first-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Lily Strumwasser joined DDB in February of 2012. Lily graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with honors in History. Lily is currently in her second year at John Marshall; she is a member of its Law Review, and was selected to work as a teaching assistant for a first year Legal Writing course.
Office Manager
Evelyn Kida joined DDB in July of 2009. She received her B.A. from Columbia College in Chicago in 2004 and is currently working on her master’s thesis at Roosevelt University. Prior to joining DDB, Evelyn worked for a professional performing arts company.
Email: evelynkida@ddbchicago.com
Timothy Costello joined Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant in November of 2011. He is originally from Western New York and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. Before joining Daley, DeBofsky and Bryant, Timothy worked as a Leasing Assistant/Receptionist for a property management company. Email: tcostello@ddbchicago.com Rossy Dracheva joined DDB in September 2010 as a receptionist and was promoted to Case Manger in April 2011. She holds a B.S. degree in Political Science from DePaul University and is currently in her first year of law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Prior to joining DDB, Rossy worked in various administrative positions for professional services companies. Email: rdracheva@ddbchicago.com Peter Kordas joined DDB in April of 2011 as a receptionist and was promoted to Case Manager in September, 2011. He holds a B.A.degree in Social Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Email: pkordas@ddbchicago.com Ralph McGeary joined DDB in July of 2009. He holds a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago, from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2009. Prior to joining DDB, Ralph worked for the Natural Science department at Loyola. Email: rmcgeary@ddbchicago.com Jasmine Mendiola joined DDB as a case manager in December 2011. Jasmine has worked as a paralegal since 1996 working in Plaintiff's litigation firms doing Personal Injury Medical Malpractice and Workers' Compensation Law. Jasmine received her Associates Degree from Robert Morris College in Applied Science with a concentration in Paralegal Studies. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree at Robert Morris College. Email: jmendiola@ddbchicago.com Jasmine Santiago joined DDB in 2011 as a receptionist and was promoted to Case Manager in January 2012. Email: jsantiago@ddbchicago.com Case Managers
