Freeborn & Peters LLP Promotes Joel Bruckman, Elitsa Dimitrova and Christina L. Flatau to Partner

CHICAGO – Freeborn & Peters LLP announces that Joel Bruckman, Elitsa Dimitrova and Christina L. Flatau have been promoted to Partner, effective January 1.

“We congratulate Joel, Elitsa, and Christina on their impressive accomplishments that resulted in their well-deserved promotions,” said William E. Russell, Freeborn’s Co-Managing Partner. “They are each talented attorneys who excel in their practice areas. We are thrilled that they have joined our partnership and look forward to their continued achievements as leaders at Freeborn.”

Mr. Bruckman is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group and member of the Freeborn Insurance/Reinsurance and the Emerging Industries Teams. His practice includes complex commercial litigation with a focus on trade secrets and restrictive covenant matters.  Mr. Bruckman also dedicates a significant portion of his practice to advising clients on data privacy and cybersecurity issues, including proactive preparedness and reactive incident response.  As a former Financial Crimes Prosecutor Joel also has extensive experience in white-collar criminal investigations and post-indictment matters involving allegations of Fraud, Theft, Embezzlement, Money Laundering, Wire Fraud and private-sector Honest Services Fraud.  

Joel is a regular speaker on cybersecurity issues and best practices. He has presented continuing legal education seminars for attorneys, as well as presented to professionals on behalf of their employers and trade associations.  Joel has also led trainings for some of the nation’s largest retailers and law enforcement agencies at all levels of government.  Joel is a former Cook County state’s Attorney and a former member of the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force.  Joel sits on the Board of Directors and co-Chairs the Junior Board for the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.  Joel is also Chairman of the North Suburban Bar Association Foundation and a Director for the North Suburban Bar Association.  Joel is also the Recording Secretary and Manager on the Board of Managers for the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. 

Joel received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and his B.S. from Indiana University.

Ms. Dimitrova is a Partner in the Corporate Practice Group. Her practice is focused on private equity and venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, private placements and securities, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Elitsa frequently advises lead investors in seed, convertible note and alternative investments in the fintech, biotech, software, transportation and cannabis spaces.  As part of the M&A Team for First-Time Sellers®, Elitsa regularly counsels privately held, middle-market companies in exit transactions.  She also regularly represents clients in their buy-side M&A transactions. Elitsa also consults clients as it relates to general corporate governance matters.    

Elitsa is also involved in general business pro bono counseling of not-for-profit businesses providing services to women and girls and providing legal services to asylum seekers. 

Elitsa received her J.D. (magna cum laude and Dean’s List) from University of Illinois College of Law, her M.B.A. (Finance) from Illinois State University, and her LL.B. LL.M.  from University of Sofia.

Ms. Flatau is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group and the Insurance/Reinsurance Industry Team. She focuses her practice on business and commercial litigation and has experience litigating a variety of claims including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and enforcement of restrictive covenants as well as experience as appellate counsel. Christina represents a diverse range of clients from large national corporations to small new businesses. 

Christina received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from University of Miami School of Law and her B.A. from Trinity University.