Belknap Lawyers

Cannon is a highly skilled, well-respected trial attorney who aggressively seeks justice and real compensation for his clients. In his career, Cannon's cases have often received national attention. He recovered over a half-million dollars for a father mistakenly locked in a visitor's room at the Cook County Jail. Cannon represented Sandra Bland (a woman wrongfully arrested and then found dead in a Texas jail cell) and not only obtained $1.9 million dollars for the family but also forced policy changes in a manner never done before. It does not matter to Cannon if a case is high profile or not, he...

Matthew B. Karchmar is a partner at Karchmar & Lambert, P.C. with over 25 years of experience practicing in personal injury and wrongful death. Dealing with personal injuries and holding liable parties accountable can be difficult, but Matthew is here to alleviate the stress and ensure that his clients are fully compensated for the ways their lives have been affected. For a FREE consultation, contact Matthew online or call 312-977-1300.

I worked as Senior Special Agent Criminal Investigator for the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice for over 26 years. As a Special Agent I worked in all aspects of the immigration mission both criminally and administratively. After leaving the US Government I was a founding partner of Alliant Law Group, LLC and currently oversee the business and operation of the firm. At Alliant, we emphasize client service in every matter, including the importance of attorney/staff accessibility, and client understanding regardless of their primary language. With the firm, I strive to provide...

Steven A. Sigmond has been representing injured people in and around Chicago for over 30 years in personal injury cases, workers compensation cases and social security disability claims. After graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1985, Steven A. Sigmond returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he spent the next four years working with law firms in and around the city, gaining important professional experience. In 1989, Mr. Sigmond founded his own practice, the Law Office of Steven A. Sigmond. Since then, he has represented thousands of clients in personal injury and workers compensation...

Mr. Passen is a personal injury attorney at Chicago-based Passen Law Group. Mr. Passen concentrates in all areas of personal injury, including truck accidents, brain and spinal cord injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. Prior to joining Passen Law Group, Mr. Passen was an attorney in the litigation department of Jenner & Block LLP. Mr. Passen received his B.A. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2002. Mr. Passen obtained his law degree, summa cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 2006, where he graduated Order of the Coif. ...

Mr. Dinizulu was born in Washington D.C., and after graduating from high school in Queens, New York, Mr. Dinizulu attended Florida A& M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he graduated magna cum laude. While at Florida A&M University, Mr. Dinizulu was a member of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities; the National Dean’s List, the Golden Key National Honor Society, Founder of the Collegiate Democratic Caucus of Florida, Student Government Association Student Senate, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, and campus spokesperson for the Television and Radio broadcast of the NAACP Speaks. After graduating from Florida A&M University, Mr. Dinizulu...

Levin & Perconti welcomed Andrew (A.J.) Thut as an associate attorney in July 2013. Prior to his hiring, A.J. worked at a Waukegan personal injury firm where he prepared and handled all types of injury and malpractice cases from pre-suit investigation through trial.

A.J. brings with him experience and a passion for serving clients who have been seriously injury or killed as a result of negligence. “My father practiced as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney in suburban Chicago, and from an early age I knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” recalls A.J. “During law school, I spent two...

Abby Marshall joined Levin & Perconti as a law clerk in September 2018 and was hired as an associate attorney in January 2021. She focuses her practice on nursing home cases, medical malpractice and other personal injury matters. While attending the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Abby was involved in the Women’s Law Society and the Business Law Society. She also wrote articles for the Journal of Regulatory Compliance, a Loyola publication. Abby received her bachelor’s degree in social work and psychology from the University of Iowa. Following her graduation, Abby completed her social work practicum at the DuPage County Probation...

Recognized for his national reputation and success as a child advocate, Dov Apfel has investigated and litigated birth trauma and obstetrical malpractice claims involving children with cerebral palsy and other neurological and intellectual disabilities throughout the United States for over forty years. Mr. Apfel’s lifetime of achievements in birth injury litigation, education and advocacy was recognized by the Executive Board of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice in 2011, an organization consisting of thousands of trial lawyers throughout the United States, when he received the Dan Cullan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. Judges, too, have recognized Mr....

Mr. Patrick brings years of experience in both law and business, equipping him with the skills needed to build strong cases and negotiate favorable outcomes for his clients. Additionally, he has served as a legal clerk for the Arbitrators of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Aleah Severin is a dedicated Associate Attorney focusing on Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Nursing Home cases. With a fervent commitment to advocating for victims and their families, Aleah has devoted her career to ensuring their loved ones receive the justice they deserve. Aleah’s academic journey began at DePaul University, where she graduated in 2010. She further pursued her passion for law and graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 2015. In law school, she focused on medical malpractice, taking a course in Medical Negligence and receiving a Health Law certificate. Aleah’s dedication to her profession is reflected not...

Matt devotes 100% of his practice to representing plaintiffs in product liability, medical malpractice and other personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

Erin is a healthcare attorney and Firmwide Managing Partner of Jackson LLP, a client-centered law firm that offers healthcare providers a comprehensive, full-service solution. Erin focuses on practice start-up and compliance and also spearheads the firm’s healthcare consulting services. In addition, Erin serves as the President of the nonprofit organization Inspire Santé. Because of her healthcare knowledge and patient experience, Erin is a sought-after speaker. She is passionate about creating positive change in healthcare and teaching individuals how to advocate for their needs within the medical system.

Erin was raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where she graduated from...

Connor is a founding partner of Jackson LLP, an entrepreneurial health law firm. He focuses his practice on the business side of healthcare law, which aligns with his detail-orientation, strong problem-solving skills, and business background.

Connor enjoys working with clients to create their ideal practice environment and build a strong compliance foundation that supports long-term success. He strives to not just counsel, but educate his clients on key laws and regulations, giving them the tools to make legally prudent decisions moving forward.

Connor earned his undergraduate business degree from Oregon State University and worked in the real estate sector. He then graduated...

Merrill K. Davis is an Attorney at The Davis Law Group, P.C. Ms. Davis received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in Legal Studies. Ms. Davis received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award and the Prosser award for the highest grade in torts. She also served on Loyola University Chicago Law Journal as a Senior Editor. During law school, Ms. Davis gained valuable experience as a law clerk at a personal injury and worker’s compensation firm in Chicago. ...

Sam Neschis works with businesses and business owners in a variety of industries. Sam began his career at the New York County District Attorney’s Office, where he gained valuable trial and investigative experience. He has been practicing corporate and commercial law in Chicago since 2002 representing businesses and individuals in a wide range of areas including shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, general employment matters, restrictive employment covenants (including non-competition and non-solicitation matters), commercial fraud, and unfair competition. He also represents clients in real estate, trust, and probate...

Daniel R. Hernandez is a social entrepreneur and attorney who brings access to justice to families that once could not imagine affording an attorney. At age 27, Daniel started a law firm with the mission of offering competent legal services at affordable fixed costs. In this short period, shockwaves have hit the legal community caused by Daniel’s innovative business and pricing model –where clients pay flat-monthly fees for legal services, slashing the overall legal cost for his clients. As a practitioner, Daniel assists families in transition through divorce and child custody proceedings. His experience among transitioning families is wide-ranging –...

Mr. Mancini has over 31 years of experience representing thousands of individuals in all types of personal injury matters. He has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for his injured clients. Mr. Mancini is a member of the Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin Bars, and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Mancini is also a National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyer. Mr. Mancini received his B.A. from The University of Illinois at Chicago and his J.D. from the Valparaiso University School of Law.

Steve Pisman’s experience as the son of immigrant parents has profoundly influenced his approach to law and advocacy. This upbringing has instilled in him a strong sense of determination, which he channels into his work as a Chicago personal injury attorney at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers. Steve’s practice focuses on personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007, Steve went on to earn his juris doctor from the same institution in 2010. His admission to the Illinois bar in the same year marked...

Founder of Front Door Legal LLC, Justin Strane focuses his practice primarily on commercial and residential real estate transactions, and estate planning. His firm is located in Chicago, and he provides representation to people and businesses throughout the greater metropolitan area. In addition to his real estate practice, Justin handles a variety of other types of business matters for his clients, and he is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Justin attended the University of Michigan, where he studied political science and music and received a Bachelor of Arts in...

Attorney Bridget Brown is poised to bring an exemplary command of Criminal and Family Law to any case. Her skills, confidence and experience have made her a verifiable force for each client she defends.

Ms. Brown boasts an impressive repertoire in achieving justice and satisfaction for her clients.

Bridget graduated from John Marshall Law School in 2006 and was admitted to practice in Illinois in 2008, going on to perform as a Law Clerk in the fields of Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Litigation.

She excels in providing hope, support and effective litigation to the sensitive realm of Family...

Jennifer Bunker Skerston has worked in the Illinois Valley legal community for the past seven years handling many litigation related matters including will contests, property tax appeals, breach of contract, and personal injury claims.

Jennifer Bunker Skerston is actively involved in the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section Council. She is the Editor of the Council’s monthly publication distributed to members throughout Illinois. She also assists the Council in providing continuing legal education to attorneys, determining the need for new legislation, and reviewing and suggesting changes to current legislative proposals affecting wills, trusts and estates....

A top-ranked Criminal Defense firm.

Caitlin K. Finnegan joined Schwartz Injury Law in November 2013 shortly after being admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Caitlin concentrates her practice in the areas of medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, and personal injury. As an attorney with Schwartz Injury Law, Caitlin has obtained numerous settlements on behalf of her clients, including, $775,000 for the family of a woman whose surgical site became infected due to improper wound care at the nursing home; $690,000 for the family of an 85-year old who fell in a nursing home and suffered a traumatic brain injury; and $550,000 for the family of...

Joel Patrick Brown was admitted to the practice of law in 2008. In 2009 Joel formed his own law firm and mainly practiced in the areas of criminal law, traffic law, and family law. In 2010 Joel closed his law firm and became an Assistant State's Attorney with the Will County State's Attorney's Office where he prosecuted thousands of DUI cases, hundreds of domestic battery cases, and countless aggravated and petty traffic criminal cases. Joel left the Will County State's Attorney's Office in January 2016. Joel practices in the areas of criminal law, DUI law, family, and divorce law, and...

Being injured by a negligent party can have devastating consequences on every aspect of your life. If someone rear-ended your car while you waited at a red light, or if a surgeon made an error during an important medical procedure, your day-to-day routine will be interrupted. It’s important to know that you have rights in these situations. A Chicago personal injury lawyer can help if you’ve suffered due to the reckless acts of another. I am a Chicago native, and I have been practicing personal injury law since 2012. In my years of practice, I have helped clients with a...

I was raised in Channahon, Illinois. I graduated from Minooka High School. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State University in 2010, where I majored in Politics and Government and minored in Legal Studies. I was actively involved in the ISU Mock Trial program, competing in many tournaments throughout different states. Throughout college I had various legal internships, most notably with the McLean County State's Attorney Drug and Gang Unit, where I first found my interest for criminal law.

I earned my Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University School of Law in 2013. While at NIU, I also participated in...

Wakenight Divorce Lawyers serve clients in these counties, in no particular order: Will, Cook, Grundy, Kendall, Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, Winnebago, Boone and McHenry. Covid has forced the courts to use Zoom and there is no going back. Whichever county you live in . . . we can help you! Free Telephone or Zoom Consultation Available. Mark T. Wakenight, J.D.

Eric Zelazny is a bankruptcy attorney who is the founder and managing partner of Zelazny Business Bankruptcy. Before becoming an attorney, Eric was a Certified Public Accountant and worked for KPMG, which is the largest accounting firm in the world. He graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana with Honors. At the time, the University of Illinois was the number one-ranked accounting program in the United States. Eric also managed to pass the Certified Public Accountant exam the first time he sat for the exam, a feat only twenty-eight percent of those who took the exam managed...

Daniel R. Flaherty, founder and managing attorney of Flaherty Law,LLC is a respected and accomplished trial lawyer with a history of success representing both plaintiffs and defendants. His practice focuses on personal injury matters, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, product liability, and estate planning. Daniel began his career in insurance defense litigation representing individuals in personal injury and property damage matters. In 2010, he decided his true passion was representing individuals injured due to no fault of their own. So, Daniel joined a larger, Chicago-area trial firm and began exclusively representing individuals in various personal injury matters. In his...

I work with senior citizens, their families, and small business owners to get their affairs organized, safeguard their estates, and prepare succession plans. In matters of probate or trust administration, I work with personal representatives to properly manage the administration of the estate and advise them of their legal duties along the way. My experience in these practice areas has been exclusive since I have been private practice. In 2010, I expanded my practice territory to include Lake County, Indiana by obtaining an Indiana law license.

Christopher Panio received his undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a minor in International Business from the University of Colorado in 2002. He subsequently attended the John Marshall Law School in Chicago where he earned Dean's List honors. During his time at John Marshall, he clerked at Lavin & Nisivaco, for Terrance J. Lavin, now a judge on the Illinois First District Appellate Court, Fifth Division. After graduating from law school, Christopher continued working in the personal injury field, handling complex injury cases on behalf of a prestigious Chicago law firm. With significant trial...

Sarah A. Nolan is a founding partner of Suburban Law Group, LLC with over 10 years of experience. She primarily practices Family Law, including Divorce, Paternity, Child Support, and Parenting Time and handles cases in Cook County and Will County. Ms. Nolan received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, from the Loyola University of Chicago in 2005. In 2009, Ms. Nolan earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University - College of Law. She is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois.

Offices in Chicago and Orland Park serving public, closely held for profit and not-for-profit entities, entrepreneurs and professionals in the health care, education, sports, construction and entertainment industries and their families with legacy preservation, estate planning, real estate, health care, business, trust administration, complex civil litigation, serious injury, adoption, agency, elder law, guardianship, professional responsibility and white collar criminal matters.

Kristina K. Green joined the team of trial attorneys at Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz upon admission to the Illinois State Bar in 2011. Since that time, Ms. Green has devoted her career to helping victims of negligence. Ms. Green has successfully resolved numerous personal injury and wrongful death actions in a number of complex fields, including medical malpractice; vaccine injuries; products liability; premises liability; dog bite cases; and accidents involving taxis, automobiles, and semi-tractor trailers.

Ms. Green has been recognized and received numerous awards for her contributions to the legal profession from a number of legal organizations and publications, as well...

Cherissa "Reese" Loire Krajniak obtained her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Marquette University before going on to attend Florida Coastal Law School. She graduated with honors in 209 and was active with the school's Pro Bono Clinic, donating more than 200 hours of legal work to underserved members of the community. While taking a full course load and giving her time to the clinic, Reese was still able to complete her Juris Doctorate program in just over two years. She passed the bar exam in 2010 and opened her own practice in downtown Chicago. After medical issues sidetracked her career for...

In 2007, Brett Appelman established Appelman Law LLC with the primary mission of safeguarding the rights of individuals accused of crimes. His fundamental belief is in providing the highest quality legal defense to all defendants, irrespective of the charges they face. Brett personally manages the most complex cases at the firm, which encompass a wide range of offenses, from Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, and Aggravated Sexual Assault to individuals facing repeated DUI charges. His successful defense record extends across various crimes, including but not limited to DUI, Aggravated Battery, Solicitation, Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery, Tax Evasion, and Felony Drug Possession and...

"A Top Personal Injury Lawyer" Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; "A Top Medical Malpractice Lawyer" Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; Member, Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee 1998-2001; Member, Illinois Supreme Court Professional Responsibility Committee 1996-1998; Editorial Board Illinois State Bar Journal 1996-2006; Editor-In-Chief, Du Page County Bar Journal 1995-1999; Illinois State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee 1997-2006; Invited Speaker, Numerous Illinois State Bar and Other Bar Continuing Legal Education Seminars on Various Topics; Chapter Author and Past Editor Illinois Continuing Legal Education Medical Malpractice Book 2005-2024. Highest Rating Reviews *****Martindale, Lawyers. A+ Rating BBB Chicago "I've Heard Of Him" Republicans Have Accidents...

Denice A. Gierach is a business and estate planning lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing business owners in the formation, franchising, and dissolution of businesses; contract negotiation and reviews; business litigation; partnership disputes, succession planning; commercial real estate; and aiding individuals in matters of advanced estate planning, and charitable giving. She also leads her firm’s YourOGC program providing Outsourced General Counsel services to small and medium size businesses to assist them in preventing legal issues, providing proper planning for reaching goals, and insight into issues preventing them from further success. As a Certified Public Accountant with a master's degree...