Contact Us
Office of Legal Services
Archdiocese of Chicago
835 N. Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
P.O. Box 1979
Chicago, Illinois 60690-1979
Telephone: 312.534.8239
Fax: 312.674.7543
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mission
James C. Geoly, General Counsel
312.534.8303
[email protected]
James C. Geoly joined the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Legal Services as General Counsel in September 2020. Prior to joining this office, Jim was a Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay and Serritella since 1997, and was at Mayer, Brown prior to that. Jim has broad experience representing religious, not-for-profit, educational, social services, health care, and commercial organizations, and has represented the Archdiocese of Chicago in various matters since 1986. In private practice Jim’s experience was primarily in litigation, risk management and client counseling with a special focus on religious liberty issues and the unique way religious organizations interact with the civil law. Among Jim’s cases were the successful defense of Cardinal Bernardin against false allegations in the 1990’s and, since joining the Archdiocese, his successful First Amendment defense of the Archdiocese in Demkovich v. St. Andrew Parish (applying the ministerial exception to all hostile work environment cases), which he argued to an en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Jim earned an A.B. degree magna cum laude from Columbia University where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Contact Jim regarding the following:
Patricia B. Carlson, Deputy General Counsel
312.534.8783
[email protected]
Patricia B. Carlson is Deputy General Counsel. Pat joined the Office of Legal Services as the Deputy General Counsel in November 2017. Prior to joining this office, Pat was a partner in the law firm of Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella and, while working at several law firms, represented the Archdiocese of Chicago for over thirty years. She has spent her legal career primarily doing legal and tax work for not-for-profit clients. She received her A.B. from Princeton University and her J.D. from Northwestern University.
Contact Pat regarding the following:
Gary R. Ansier, Deputy General Counsel - Operations
312.534.8306
[email protected]
Gary Ansier is Senior Counsel of Transactions for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Prior to joining the Archdiocese in October 2012, Gary managed a variety of corporate, transactional and litigation matters as Senior Staff Counsel for a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Gary received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (UIC Law).
Contact Gary regarding the following:
Legal and Business Operations
Facilities and Construction
Finance
General Contracts (e.g. operational agreements for goods or services)
Legal Compliance (e.g. governmental licensing, permits, charitable gaming such as raffles, fundraising initiatives and donations, carnivals)
Procurement
Real Estate Agreements (leases and licenses)
Technology
John L. DiJohn, Jr., Senior Counsel – Employment and School Law
312.534.5370
[email protected]
John DiJohn joined the Office of Legal Services in February 2016. Prior to joining us, John was with the firm Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn, representing public and private sector employers in all areas of labor and employment law. John received his B.A. from DePaul University and his J.D. from Chicago Kent College of Law.
Contact John regarding the following:
Jamie Ende, Legal Staff – Real Estate
312.534.5420
[email protected]
Jamie joined the Office of Legal Services in October 2022. Jamie received her Bachelor's degree from Edgewood College and at earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Contact Jamie regarding the following:
Olga Rojas, Counsel – Immigration Services
312.534.8332
[email protected]
Olga Rojas has served as Counsel for the Archdiocese of Chicago since December 2008. Olga concentrates her practice in the area of employment based immigration. She served as a Constituent Services Aide in the Office of U.S. Senator Peter G. Fitzgerald, handling immigration issues and Hispanic Affairs. Olga is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and was formerly the Chair for the Chicago Chapter and was previously on the Board of Governors for AILA National. Olga is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is fluent in Spanish.
Contact Olga regarding the following:
James G. Stathopoulos, Counsel – Litigation
312.534.5201
[email protected]
Jimmy Stathopoulos has worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Legal Services since 2006. Jimmy received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Contact Jimmy regarding the following:
General Liability Services (lawsuits & administrative complaints)
Subpoenas
Insurance Claims
Graciela Laboy, Paralegal – Real Estate
312.534.2553
[email protected]
Graciela Laboy joined the Office of Legal Services in September 2022. Graciela assists in Real Estate and general contract and transaction matters.
Kamil Podufaly, Paralegal – Immigration Services
312.534.8789
[email protected]
Kamil Podufaly joined the Office of Legal Services in July 2019. Kamil assists Olga Rojas on Immigration matters (including Religious Worker Visa Petitions, Student Visas, Legal Permanent Residency and Naturalization for persons who serve the Archdiocese of Chicago or attend the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago).
Yolanda Chavez-Olaguez, Legal Secretary
312.534.8288
[email protected]
Yolanda Chavez-Olaguez joined the Office of Legal Services in January 2018. Yoli administers all Misconduct related matters.
Debbie Finley, Transactions Coordinator
312.534.8319
[email protected]
Debbie Finley joined the Office of Legal Services in October 2017. Debbie supports transaction of Contracts, Agreements, and Real Estate.
Haley Garvey, Legal Secretary
312.534.2553
[email protected]
Haley Garvey joined the Office of Legal Services in September 2022. Haley provides administrative support in the area of Litigation, Employment / School Law, and Compliance Hotline matters.
Darlene Robey, Legal Secretary
312.534.2027
[email protected]
Darlene Robey joined the Office of Legal Services in August 2012. Darlene assists the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Immigration, and provides administrative support to the entire Legal Services team.
