Elgin, Illinois Lawyers

Attorney Charles Canning has represented clients throughout Kane County and across Northern Illinois for over 30 years. He assists clients with cases in the following practice areas:

Farrah Qazi is the founding attorney and owner of Qazi Law Offices. She received her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago, where she majored in Political Science, with minors in English Literature and Spanish Language and Literature. She also attended the University College of London where she studied Global Business and International Law. As an intern and associate at the International Human Rights Institute, Farrah handled cases involving the trafficking of women and children in Latin America, and translated critical court documents from Spanish into English. Farrah is multilingual and...

Michigan State University School of Law, East Lansing, Michigan
Juris Doctorate

John Marshall School of Law, Chicago Illinois
LLM (Law of Masters Candidate) Real Estate Law

Argosy University, Chicago Illinois
Doctorate of Business Administration, International Business
Published Dissertation

Robert Morris University, Chicago, Illinois
Master in Business Administration, Concentration Management

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois
Bachelor of Arts, Administration of Justice, Minor: Sociology

LAW LICENSES:

Illinois
Northern District of Illinois
Central District Court of Illinois
Southern District Court of Illinois
United States Tax Court

I am an attorney who is passionate about my profession and clients. I believe in providing top-notch, innovative, cutting-edge strategies and advice. My clients feel as if they are my only client. ...

Lauren Jackson focuses her practice primarily in the areas of real estate and estate planning, although her background includes probate, contracts, corporate formation and business succession planning. Lauren’s unintimidating, caring approach has garnered her a respectable reputation all over Northern Illinois. With her dedication for efficient cost effective services, you will learn that with Lauren on your side you have a reachable attorney with your best intentions in mind. Lauren prides herself on quality work over quantity and it has proved she is a success based on past customer positive reviews. Lauren eagerly represents...

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...

Julie M. Pirtle has been a partner at Pucci Pirtle since our formation in April of 2013. Ms. Pirtle began her career as an attorney at Schwarz & Pucci, LLC with Attorney Julia Pucci. She concentrates her practice in the areas of family law, including divorce and custody matters, and residential real estate transactions. Ms. Pirtle graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois College of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Northern Illinois University. During law school, Ms. Pirtle was active in the Dooley Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, serving as the vice...

When you’re hurt in a car accident, at the hands of a negligent medical professional, or on the property of another party, there are a number of paths you can take. Not every route is accessible to every individual, however. That is why it’s important to do your research when considering personal injury lawyers after an accident in Chicago. Since 2013, I’ve been compassionately and aggressively representing clients who have limited options following a car crash, truck accident, workplace injury, or another related legal issue. I am dedicated to providing clients with the information they need to make knowledgeable choices...

Anthony R. Scifo is a duly licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, admitted in November 2007. He is experienced in the practice of civil litigation, particularly family law litigation and probate litigation. Anthony is an experienced and Court approved Guardian ad Litem for the Family Law Divisions of Kane County, DuPage County, Kendall County, and DeKalb County. Further, he is a Court approved Guardian ad Litem for the Adoption Division and the Probate Division in Kane County, Illinois. Anthony is also an experienced and Court-Approved Family Law Mediator in DuPage County, DeKalb County, and Kendall County. In November...

Mr. Covey concentrates his practice in all chapters of bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related law with special emphasis in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Mr. Covey has concentrated his practice in consumer and business bankruptcy matters for the past 21 years. Mr. Covey graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1984 with a B.S in Journalism. He then earned his J.D. at Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1992.

I am criminal defense lawyer Brian J. Mirandola. I served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Kane County for more than seven years, where I prosecuted hundreds of DUI cases and other misdemeanors and felonies. I understand the prosecutor's strategy. I was also a member of the criminal defense team at a large local law firm for nearly two years, where I learned that handling case files as they land in your in-box is no way to provide effective, honest criminal defense representation. That is why I opened my private solo practice last year. I started law school...

Brad Cahow has been practicing law in Kane, Dekalb, McHenry, DuPage, Cook, Will and nearby counties since 1981. Brad provides legal services in the following areas: REAL ESTATE LAW Brad has represented several thousand real estate clients in residential sales and purchases. He prepares contracts and provides title insurance services. His experience also includes loan modifications, short sales, and landlord tenant dispute. FAMILY LAW Brad has...

Lisa M. Nyuli has been a partner since joining the firm of Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C. in 2000. Prior to joining the firm, for the first 10 years of her career, she worked as an attorney in Aurora, Illinois and in Geneva, Illinois. She was licensed in 1989 and focuses her practice primarily in all areas of family law. In 2008, she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Ms. Nyuli is also active in the Illinois State Bar Association as a member, having served two terms on the Board of Governors, and...

Karrsten Goettel concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, leasing, zoning and land use, business, merger and acquisition transactions (sales and purchases of assets and/or stock), corporate and business law and estate planning and administration. He has practiced among our firm's attorneys since 1997 and as a partner since 2002.

Mr. Goettel currently serves on the Board of Commissioners of the St. Charles Park District (where he is President), as a member of the St. Charles Housing Commission and as a Board Member of the Celtic Sports Foundation. From 2000 to 2002, he...

Scott G. Richmond practices in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, banking, collections, employment, Landlord-Tenant law including evictions, personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation, real estate short sales, homeowner and condominium association representation and zoning/land use issues. He is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Richmond was named a Leading Lawyer in Illinois for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Mr. Richmond is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association (where he's served as General Counsel...

Aaron J. Lytle is one of the firm's suburban Chicago attorneys who practices in several key areas: estate planning and wealth protection, wills and trusts, probate administration, trust administration, business planning, taxation, real estate and special needs planning for children with disabilities. Mr. Lytle has spent several years working in the business sector on corporate issues relating to succession planning, valuation, acquisitions and generating capital. Before joining AHR, he worked for companies such as American Express and Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase).

Mr. Lytle also previously served on the Board of Trustees for DayOne Reliance, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that...

In 1993, Attorney Robin Zandri graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago with her Bachelor of Science degree. Ms. Zandri graduated Magna Cum Lade from Northern Illinois University in 1997, where she received her Juris Doctorate. With extensive family law experience, Ms. Zandri provides clients legal representation in spousal maintenance, child custody, visitation, and divorce litigation, as well as paternity and adoption matters.

Donald J. Ramsell, author of several DUI articles and books, is the one of the few DUI defense attorneys to appear and argue on a DUI case before the United States Supreme Court in its entire 213 years of existence. In his 33 year career his firms have defended 15,000 clients.

ANDRESEN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. is a Chicago-based law firm that focuses its offerings in the areas of sports law, entertainment and the arts, intellectual property and online legal matters. The firm further offers a wide array of legal and non-legal services and consultation to business and corporate clients ranging from small entrepreneurs and startups to multi-million dollar corporations. The firm always strives to provide clients the finest, cost-effective legal services delivered with personal attention and professional diligence. When possible, flat fees and other individualized fee structures are implemented to help clients obtain the services they need at a price they...

Benedict Schwarz, II has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law for over 40 years. He is a past director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is also a trained divorce mediator; Mr. Schwarz has taught numerous 40-hour divorce mediation training and conflict resolution seminars and has also co-authored chapters on the subject in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education publications.

In 1992, Mr. Schwarz was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). In 2001, Mr. Schwarz was appointed the Chairperson of the Commission from January...

With over a decade of experience, Ms. Hower is highly regarded by local Judges in the surrounding counties. She is a Certified GAL and Mediator in Kane and DuPage Counties. She is compassionate about her clients and vigorously advocates for her clients' needs, both in the courtroom and with opposing counsel during negotiations, never losing sight of what is important to her clients. Ms. Hower takes the time to develop a perspective of the entire case and uses her negotiation, litigation, and business experiences to creatively and successfully advocate for her clients.

The Hower Law Firm LLC is focused on meeting...

Megan C. Harris joined Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella in July 2013, where she focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, child custody, and child support. Prior to that, Ms. Harris worked as an attorney and Guardian ad Litem at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office, representing children in abuse and neglect cases. Ms. Harris is a DuPage County Court-Appointed Guardian ad Litem and presented at the 2013 DuPage Guardian ad Litem training as well as the 2014 National Business Institute training on challenges in family law. She practices in DuPage, Kane, Kendall,...

William ("Bill") F. Bochte is a graduate of Fenwick High School, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's University (formerly Saint Mary's College) in Winona, Minnesota in 1965. Bill went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1969 and has been in the private practice of law serving his client's needs ever since. Mr. Bochte practiced in the city of Chicago for approximately 10 years before relocating to Kane County and the Fox Valley area. Mr. Bochte has received a United States of America Presidential Commendation in "recognition of exceptional...

Tricia knew she wanted to be an attorney when she was 10 years old - being an attorney seemed glamorous and exciting. It was not until college, when Tricia was selected for Eastern Illinois University's mock trial time, that she realized how much she would enjoy litigation and courtroom work. After being accepted to the John Marshall Law School with a Dean's Scholarship, she added excellent writing skills to her love of working in the courtroom, winning the Dean Fred F. Herzog Moot Court Competition. Tricia was awarded a Moot Court Executive Board scholarship and went on to...

Marissa’s main areas of concentration are family law matters such as Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Visitation and Adoption. Marissa is also a court approved family Mediator and Guardian ad Litem in Kane and Dekalb County. In addition, Marissa is one of the few Kane County foreclosure mediators for the sixteenth judicial circuit.

Mr. Shaw attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and graduated from Illinois College, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1983. He continued his education at the Northern Illinois University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1986, and became a Licensed Attorney in Illinois on November 6, 1986. Having previously practiced in general and family law practices, and having served as the Child Support Attorney for Kane County Circuit Court Clerk from 1987-1995, Mr. Shaw opened his own law practice concentrating in family law in 1991. In 2000 he co-founded the law firm...

Rachel Hernandez began her career with the Community Crisis Center in 1999 and now serves on their Board of Directors. The center is a not for profit domestic violence shelter and social service agency in Elgin. Rachel has a passion for helping others and community building and attended NIU College of Law committed to pursuing those goals.
After graduating, she served as an assistant state's attorney handling a variety of criminal and civil matters in Boone and Winnebago Counties, with a particular passion for seeking justice for children and victims of violent crimes. As an assistant state's attorney, she managed a...

Steven N. Peskind has reinvented Illinois Family Law. Mr. Peskind believes that a successful divorce results from the intersection of three competencies: legal skill, positive decision making, and financial analysis. As a result, he has compiled a team of highly trained professionals dedicated to helping our clients achieve that success. The lawyers at Peskind Law Firm are skilled negotiators, legal analysts, problem solvers and courtroom advocates. Mr. Peskind is one of only 100 lawyers in the nation elected as a Diplomate to the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, an honor society reflecting accomplishments in Family...

Julia A. Pucci, managing partner with Pucci Pirtle, focuses her practice in the areas of divorce and custody litigation. Ms. Pucci attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois where she received a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Sociology and Political Science. Ms. Pucci subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. During her law school career, Julia taught legal research and writing as a teaching assistant and was also active in the mediation clinic where she obtained her mediation certification. As a certified mediator, she mediated court-ordered child custody matters and...

Mr. Shore is acutely aware that when an individual contacts Mevorah Law Offices LLC about a legal problem, that for the client it is also a personal problem. In addition to litigating or negotiating settlements in many major cases, Mr. Shore is a skilled listener who is adept at developing and implementing cost effective and winning strategies. Mr. Shore represents divorce and parentage clients in settlement negotiations, pre-trials, hearings, and trials. Mr. Shore is also appointed by the Court to represent minors in custody proceedings. As an appointed guardian for the children (referred to as a Guardian Ad Litem...

Brian J. Banahan has been practicing law in DuPage, Kane and Cook County Illinois for 18 years. He began his legal career and learned his way around the courtroom in 1997 as a full time 711 prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. From there, Mr. Banahan moved to serve as chief legal counsel and Deputy Public Administrator for DuPage County for 17 years. In that job, Mr. Banahan managed, administered, litigated, settled, and closed hundreds of decedent’s estates and an extensive number of related legal matters in nearly every area of the law. In the process, he has...

Stacey A. McCullough's career has been focused on the successful defense of the criminally accused in DuPage County for over 20 years. She has firmly established her advocacy skills through hundreds of hearings and trials for offenses ranging from traffic violations to felonies. Stacey's experiences and involvement in the legal community have instilled in her the understanding that each case and client she takes on is unique and important. She reviews all circumstances thoroughly and provides clients with explanations of proceedings, potential challenges, and possible outcomes. Clients can be confident Stacey's representation is personal, honest, respectful and dedicated.

BAR ADMISSIONS

State of...

Jane M. Brennan received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Emory University. She attended Emory University Law School and received her Juris Doctorate degree in 1985. She was sworn in to the Illinois Bar in November 1985.

Ms. Brennan has previously served as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, a special prosecutor for the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office, and a Staff Attorney with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. She now provides family law services to clients in St. Charles and throughout Kane County.

Mr. Kuzniar is a member of the Illinois State and Kane County Bar Associations where he has been a frequent lecturer. He was recently honored by the Kane County Bar Association for 30 years of service to the profession and membership in the Association. Mr. Kuzniar is licensed to practice in the Illinois state, appellate and Supreme Courts, as well as the United States Federal District Court, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, he is licensed to practice in the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Kuzniar was chosen by the Supreme Court of the...

Richard Doerr is married and has two children and three teenage grandchildren. In his 40+ years' experience, Mr. Doerr has tried cases on matters ranging from speeding to murder. In 1972, he was selected out of 200 applicants as one of ten participants in the St. Louis County Prosecutor's intern program. During his 31 years in bankruptcy practice, he has seen two major revisions in bankruptcy laws, the first in 1978 and the second in 2005. Mr. Doerr's leisure activities include cross-country skiing, car shows, and driving his classic 1973 Corvette convertible.

Otto S. Hurtado is an experienced family law attorney. He is certified as a Family Law Mediator and Guardian ad Litem. Mr. Hurtado is a Graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and earned his Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois, College of Law. Mr. Hurtado is actively involved in the Kane County Bar Association, participating in various activities such as, Ask A Lawyer Day, Lawyer in the Library, volunteer Judge for Mock Trial Competitions, and as a participate the Guardian Ad Litem training. Mr. Hurtado understands that no two cases are alike, and believes in tailoring services specifically for...