CHICAGO– LAWFUEL – Law News Network –The intellectual property law firm Wood Phillips held an off-site grief counseling session today as employees began coping with the shooting that took place in the firm’s offices Friday afternoon. The four-hour session was led by a team of professional grief counselors from around the Chicago area.
“We gathered together today as both colleagues and friends to share our feelings about the senseless tragedy and to remember those we lost. There were many hugs and tears as we worked together to come to terms with this and to begin moving on. There are no words to express the range of emotions felt,” said Managing Partner John S. Mortimer. “Our firm’s top priority now is to take care of our own within the firm family and to make sure everyone has what they need to cope. Together we will make it through this heart wrenching time.”
“Thank you to everyone who has expressed condolences to us individually, as well as collectively as a firm. We appreciate every one of the loving thoughts and prayers we have received,” Mortimer said.
While this is a terribly difficult time, Wood Phillips attorneys are also working to ensure their clients’ pressing legal issues are managed.
Wood Phillips was closed Monday and will remain closed Tuesday so employees may attend funeral services and visitation for beloved Wood Phillips partner Allen Hoover and Michael McKenna, who rented space within the Wood Phillips offices for more than a decade and was a friend to everyone in the firm. Funeral arrangements are pending for Paul Goodson, who worked part time for the firm as a mail clerk, a caring man with a big heart who would do anything to help anyone.
