The Illinois Administrator has charged a New York attorney with unauthorized practice in an amended complaint

At no time has Respondent applied for admission to practice law in Illinois or been admitted to the Illinois bar.

On April 24, 1974, Respondent was admitted to practice law in New York. At no time was he admitted to practice law in any other states. On August 12, 2010, he registered for retirement status with New York, and he remained on retirement status until August 19, 2011, when he resumed active status. While on retirement status, Respondent was not permitted to practice law in any jurisdiction.

On July 1, 2005, Respondent leased an apartment from Dennis Martinek (“Martinek”) at 111 Groveland Avenue in Riverside, Illinois (“the Groveland apartment”). Shortly thereafter, Respondent informed Martinek that he was a New York attorney.

From February 5, 2008, to August 12, 2011, Martinek was an investor in a business, Politico, LLC d/b/a Vini’s of Lincoln Park, which operated a pizza restaurant, Vini’s Pizza, at 2429 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago (hereinafter, collectively “Vini’s”).

In August 2010, Martinek informed Respondent about a number of legal problems that Martinek had encountered in connection with Vini’s, including alleged fraud and mismanagement by the then-General Manager of the company, Rosendo Diaz (“Diaz”).

Between August 2010 and September 2010, Respondent and Martinek agreed that Respondent would represent Martinek and Vini’s in at least eight different legal matters.

The complaint alleges that he bartered rent for legal fees.