DIVERSITY
At Aronberg Goldgehn, we are committed to promoting a professional environment that attracts and sustains staff and attorneys of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, race, national origin, religious affiliation, marital status or social perspective. We value attorneys and staff members who not only excel in their chosen fields but enhance and improve our work environment by contributing their unique perspectives and personalities.
An important component of our diversity commitment is the enhancement of the careers and personal lives of our attorneys. The firm recognizes that a balanced work, family and personal life is important and allows for flexible work schedules that allow opportunity to progress toward partnership. The firm also offers mentoring, leadership, networking and training initiatives to the women at the firm.
The women at Aronberg Goldgehn personify the importance we place on our diversity initiative. Blooma Stark, an equity member of the firm, is the head of our personal services/estate planning department. Blooma is an accomplished speaker and writer in the area of financial and estate planning and known by her peers as an authority in this area. She has been invited to speak before many organizations, including the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Illinois CPA Society and Foundation, American Bankers Association, Attorney Alliance, Financial Planning Association, ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company, Chicago, DuPage County, Northwest Suburban and Lake County Estate Planning Councils, and numerous community groups on the subjects of estate and trust administration, estate planning, elder law and Medicaid planning, asset protection planning and other estate planning topics. She is also an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School and is the past chair of the Chicago Bar Association Trust Law committee. In her spare time, she supports Temple B’Nai Israel by serving on its board of directors.
Mary Hays, another equity member of the firm, has chosen to balance her work/home life by working in the office four days per week. The firm respects and supports her career choice and has rewarded her for her excellent work and achievements in the area of trademark and personal legal services. As a result, she is a mentor to several of the women associates of the firm and enjoys full equity member status. Mary teaches religion classes at St. John of the Cross parish during her time off.
Elizabeth Lazzara is an equity member of the firm who serves as co-chair of our family law department. She is responsible for making department decisions and recommendations on improving the delivery of service to family law clients. Elizabeth regularly publishes and lectures on numerous family law topics including, “Preventing Critical Financial Mistakes During Divorce.”
Over the past five years, an overwhelming majority of the new hires at the firm have been women attorneys. Each has a mentor responsible for their growth as an attorney, and hopefully, one day, a member of the firm.
Additionally, Aronberg Goldgehn also encourages attorneys and staff to support professional, civic and community organizations through public service and pro bono legal efforts that advance the interests of the legal community and the community at large.
