Vedder Price Names New Shareholders
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been named Shareholders in the firm, effective April 1, 2021.
“On behalf of the Executive Committee, I’d like to congratulate Michelle, John, David and Jeff on this career milestone,” said Dana S. Armagno, Vedder Price Operating Shareholder. “This group of lawyers is deeply committed not only to ensuring the success of our clients, but to building the firm of the future. Their focus on delivering outstanding client service will help the firm grow and succeed in the years ahead and we look forward to working with them in their new leadership roles.”
Michelle T. Olson, elevated from Associate and a member of the Labor & Employment practice area in the Chicago office, also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. Ms. Olson regularly counsels employers on day-to-day employment law and human resources matters, including federal and state antidiscrimination laws, medical leaves of absence and accommodation requests, employee discipline and discharge, whistle blower and retaliation claims, and wage and hour violations. She helps employers navigate challenging workplace investigations, including allegations of harassment, bullying and retaliation, and provides employers with thoughtful and practical advice in the development of separation and settlement agreements, employee handbooks, training programs, and related policies and procedures. From 2016 to 2020, Ms. Olson was selected as an Illinois Rising Star in Employment Litigation: Defense by Super Lawyers. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude, and her B.S. from the University of Illinois with highest honors.
John K. Burke, elevated from Associate and a member of the Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation practice groups in the Chicago office, regularly counsels clients in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters, with a focus on intellectual property litigation, prosecution and transactional matters. In 2021, Mr. Burke was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in the field of Intellectual Property Law. Prior to law school, Mr. Burke spent three summers working at a major semiconductor manufacturer and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He earned his J.D. from The University of Notre Dame Law School, magna cum laude, and his B.S. from The University of Notre Dame, cum laude.
David N. Swendsen, elevated from Associate and a member of the Finance & Transactions practice area in the Chicago office, executes transactions from start to finish on behalf of his clients. He has in-depth experience in traditional buy-side/sell-side M&A, minority investment transactions and venture capital transactions. Mr. Swendsen specializes in private equity and investor-side representation. He also acts as outside general counsel for start-up and middle-market clients, drafting and negotiating key commercial contracts and advising them on a variety of legal matters. Mr. Swendsen was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021 Edition) in the field of Mergers & Acquisitions Law. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Mr. Swendsen was a Supply Chain Management Consultant in Chicago, where he developed cost-saving solutions for his clients. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, magna cum laude, and his B.A. from the University of Illinois.
Jeff VonDruska, elevated from Associate and a member of the Investment Services group in the Chicago office, represents investment advisers, family offices, private funds, registered mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and other financial institutions on a broad range of legal, regulatory, governance, formation and compliance matters. Mr. VonDruska has significant experience in regulatory and compliance matters affecting investment advisers, including registration and marketing. He also counsels clients with respect to examinations and investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators. Mr. VonDruska has been selected for inclusion as an "Illinois Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2019 and 2021. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Mr. VonDruska worked as counsel for a large fund of hedge funds adviser. He earned his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School, cum laude, and his B.A. from Lake Forest College, with distinction.
Vedder Thinking | News Vedder Price Names New Shareholders
Press Release
April 6, 2021
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been named Shareholders in the firm, effective April 1, 2021.
“On behalf of the Executive Committee, I’d like to congratulate Michelle, John, David and Jeff on this career milestone,” said Dana S. Armagno, Vedder Price Operating Shareholder. “This group of lawyers is deeply committed not only to ensuring the success of our clients, but to building the firm of the future. Their focus on delivering outstanding client service will help the firm grow and succeed in the years ahead and we look forward to working with them in their new leadership roles.”
Michelle T. Olson, elevated from Associate and a member of the Labor & Employment practice area in the Chicago office, also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. Ms. Olson regularly counsels employers on day-to-day employment law and human resources matters, including federal and state antidiscrimination laws, medical leaves of absence and accommodation requests, employee discipline and discharge, whistle blower and retaliation claims, and wage and hour violations. She helps employers navigate challenging workplace investigations, including allegations of harassment, bullying and retaliation, and provides employers with thoughtful and practical advice in the development of separation and settlement agreements, employee handbooks, training programs, and related policies and procedures. From 2016 to 2020, Ms. Olson was selected as an Illinois Rising Star in Employment Litigation: Defense by Super Lawyers. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude, and her B.S. from the University of Illinois with highest honors.
John K. Burke, elevated from Associate and a member of the Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation practice groups in the Chicago office, regularly counsels clients in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters, with a focus on intellectual property litigation, prosecution and transactional matters. In 2021, Mr. Burke was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in the field of Intellectual Property Law. Prior to law school, Mr. Burke spent three summers working at a major semiconductor manufacturer and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He earned his J.D. from The University of Notre Dame Law School, magna cum laude, and his B.S. from The University of Notre Dame, cum laude.
David N. Swendsen, elevated from Associate and a member of the Finance & Transactions practice area in the Chicago office, executes transactions from start to finish on behalf of his clients. He has in-depth experience in traditional buy-side/sell-side M&A, minority investment transactions and venture capital transactions. Mr. Swendsen specializes in private equity and investor-side representation. He also acts as outside general counsel for start-up and middle-market clients, drafting and negotiating key commercial contracts and advising them on a variety of legal matters. Mr. Swendsen was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021 Edition) in the field of Mergers & Acquisitions Law. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Mr. Swendsen was a Supply Chain Management Consultant in Chicago, where he developed cost-saving solutions for his clients. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, magna cum laude, and his B.A. from the University of Illinois.
Jeff VonDruska, elevated from Associate and a member of the Investment Services group in the Chicago office, represents investment advisers, family offices, private funds, registered mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and other financial institutions on a broad range of legal, regulatory, governance, formation and compliance matters. Mr. VonDruska has significant experience in regulatory and compliance matters affecting investment advisers, including registration and marketing. He also counsels clients with respect to examinations and investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators. Mr. VonDruska has been selected for inclusion as an "Illinois Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2019 and 2021. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Mr. VonDruska worked as counsel for a large fund of hedge funds adviser. He earned his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School, cum laude, and his B.A. from Lake Forest College, with distinction.
