McAndrews Shareholder Eligio C. Pimentel Appointed by Governor Rauner to the Illinois State Board of Education

02.20.15

McAndrews, Held & Malloy shareholder Eligio C. Pimentel has been appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to the Illinois State Board of Education. The Board, which consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, sets educational policies and guidelines for public and private schools, pre-school through grade 12, as well as vocational education. The Board also recommends legislation to the General Assembly and Governor for the benefit of the more than two million school children in Illinois.

A passionate and long-time supporter of educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged children, Pimentel is a past member of the Board of Directors at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Located in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, Cristo Rey offers a college preparatory education to those who could otherwise not afford it. Prior to Cristo Rey, Pimentel served on the Board of Directors of the Mary Crane Center, a non-profit organization that promotes early childhood education through school-readiness programs, personal enrichment activities and family support services.

At McAndrews, Pimentel has litigated and tried complex, high-stakes patent cases in courts across the United States for nearly 20 years.  He also maintains an active transactional practice, advising clients on a range of issues including IP portfolio management, and the acquisition and transfer of intellectual property in business mergers and divestitures.  Prior to McAndrews, Pimentel worked as an engineer at the 3M Company and Bechtel Corporation.

Pimentel received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota, where he graduated cum laude.