Anesi Ozmon associate, Lisa M. Ciharan, has been recognized as an “Emerging Lawyer” in Illinois for 2020 by Leading Lawyers, a division of Law Bulletin Publishing Company, which publishes the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer.
Associate attorney Lisa M. Ciharan is an accomplished trial attorney who advocates on behalf of clients who have suffered injuries or death due to the negligent or careless conduct of others. She was born in Romania and emigrated with her family to the United States when she was two years old.
Lisa M. Ciharan grew up in Hubbard, Ohio, where she was a talented soccer player and was academically accomplished. In early middle school, she played on a boys’ soccer team because it was more competitive. As a freshman in high school, she started on the girls’ varsity team. Lisa says that her “strategy for success in soccer applies to her legal career today. You have to maintain a perspective of the entire field and be aware of what’s going on at all times all around you—every decision and movement of the ball affects the field and the rest of the game.”
Lisa’s interest in the law began in elementary school. During high school, she attended two college academic programs at Yale University and Harvard University where she studied psychology, public speaking, and constitutional law. These programs and classes confirmed Lisa’s interest in law. By attending the summer academic programs, Lisa missed extensive time from soccer, and the coach ended up kicking her off the team. Although disappointed to no longer play soccer, Lisa continued to make academics her priority, graduating as a valedictorian of her high school.
Lisa attended The Ohio State University (OSU) and was very active in her local chapter of A.R.O.Y. (American Romanian Orthodox Youth), a national youth organization, where she became their national president while in college. She graduated from OSU cum laude with a double major in psychology and sociology in 3 ½ years, and worked for the University’s Student Safety Services throughout her time at OSU.
Later she became engaged to Viorel Ciharan after college. She attended DePaul University College of Law, where she competed in moot court competitions locally and across the country, eventually serving on the moot court board. Her law school employment included clerking for the Cook County State’s Attorney, being a judicial extern for Circuit Court Judge James Murray, and serving as a law clerk at a prestigious workers’ compensation firm. Lisa knew early on that she wanted to help people and was attracted to the field of personal injury because of its detailed discovery process and because of her passion for being in the courtroom.
Lisa began her legal career after law school at the Law Office of Cy Weiner, a small firm based out of Detroit. As the sole attorney practicing in the Chicago office for the first two years, Lisa quickly learned all the intricacies of litigation. After spending five years there, she sought to join a firm where she could have more mentorship and could talk to colleagues about case development.
Lisa has been a Plaintiff’s personal injury trial lawyer since 2012, concentrating her practice in the areas of premises liability, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, construction negligence and vehicular collisions.
In 2017, Lisa joined her current firm, Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak and Kohen, Ltd. (Anesi Ozmon), where she concentrates her practice in the areas of premises liability, vehicular collisions, medical malpractice and nursing home negligence. Anesi Ozmon President Mark Novak said of Lisa, “Not only is she a devoted mother and a devoted wife, but she also has a real bond with each of her clients. They continue to rely on her and trust her to do her very best on their behalf… She gives her max to every assignment she has with this firm.”
Lisa has achieved many favorable and substantial verdicts and settlements, and recently obtained a $500,000 verdict in a premises liability trial with 0% contributory negligence. “The client felt (the defense) was blaming her, so it was important that she be vindicated as she’d done nothing wrong,” said Lisa. Both her client and opposing counsel in the case sang her praises, as both an outstanding advocate and a fierce and talented opponent.
Lisa’s Romanian heritage and orthodox faith have always played a large role in her life, and her strong values are reflected in both her personal and professional life. “I’ve worked diligently in my career to cultivate an impressive reputation and am privileged to be at a firm that shares the same noble values regarding having an honorable reputation and striving to seek ultimate client satisfaction,” said Lisa.
“She does incredible preparation and is very creative and technologically savvy in terms of her various presentations to the jury,” said Novak. “All that aside, she’s a great person and fun to be around. Everybody in the firm loves whatever interaction they have with Lisa. She has it all going for her. She really is an emerging star.”
Source: www.anesilaw.com