Mackinaw Lawyers

I joined Spiros Law, P.C. in August 2024 after completing my education and gaining unique work experience. I earned my B.A. in History from The College of New Jersey in 2015 and later pursued my J.D. at the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2024. Before my legal studies, I was a professional winemaker in New Jersey, which provided me with a diverse background and a unique perspective that I bring to my legal practice. While attending law school, I worked at the University of Illinois’s Family Advocacy Clinic. This legal aid clinic focuses on representing...

Attorney Lauren A. Anaya has over 20 years' experience in the practice of law and is ready to put her experience to work for you. Dr. Anaya began her legal career with the United States Department of Justice after being hired pursuant to the Attorney General's Honors Program, the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level attorney hiring program of its kind. She served with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and subsequently went to work for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the Office of the General Counsel. She knows immigration law and can assist...

Clarissa Rietveld was born in Iowa and raised in Rushville, Indiana. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2009 and worked as a registered nurse in operating rooms across the Midwest and on the East Coast. While working as a nurse, Ms. Rietveld had a patient whose medical history documented that he did not have regular access to food and was starving. Ms. Rietveld spent the afternoon working with hospital social services to arrange for her patient to gain access to regular meals and was shocked to learn that he didn’t qualify for any of the available programs. She...

Athena Farmakis was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, graduated with a B.A. from Northwestern University, and received her law degree from DePaul University College of law. With over 25 years of litigation experience, Athena has tried 67 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials in complex and media-sensitive cases. Athena currently practices in all areas of personal injury including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, animal attacks, negligent security, wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice.

As a former prosecutor, Athena dedicated much of her legal career to serving the public for over 20 years...

Born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, Todd has been surrounded by legal role models his entire life. His father, the Honorable Joseph C. Polito (retired) built a highly successful legal practice in Will County before being appointed as an Associate Judge in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, which gave Todd the opportunity to regularly interact with many of his father’s colleagues and fueled his passion for the legal profession at a young age.

Todd served in the United States Navy for four years, earning the prestigious Naval Achievement medal before being honorably discharged. Upon returning to civilian life, Todd built...

If you are looking for assistance creating a will or living trust, or updating an existing estate plan, please contact the Law Offices of Robert J. Varak to start the process. Your convenience and satisfaction are the most important things to me. I will be happy to come to your home during the day or in the evening to make things easier for you, and I am always available directly to answer your questions. I will give you candid, up-front advice about your options, the costs, and what to expect from the experience of making an estate plan....

Mr. White has practiced law for thirty years. He graduated from Indiana University in 1986 and received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1989. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar, and admitted to practice in the Federal Court in the Northern District of Illinois, in 1989. While attending law school, he was a law clerk with the law firm of Carey, Filter, White & Boland. He became an associate of that firm upon graduating, and in 1996 became a partner.

Mr. White served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Summit Homes beginning...

I'm a trial attorney with extensive courtroom experience. I also teach college classes as an adjunct professor in areas such as criminal law, criminal procedure, business law, business ethics and corrections.

My primary practice focus is family law and domestic relations litigation. My secondary areas of concentration include estate planning and probate.

* 2018 SuperLawyers Top 2.5% Rising Star
* 2018 National Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys in Illinois in Matrimonial and Family Law
* 2018 Recognized as one of the "Ten Best" Family Law Attorneys in Illinois by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (AIOFLA)

Wayne Johnson is a partner at Johnson & Johnson, Ltd. He has been practicing law for over 35 years, and his practice focuses primarily on family law, criminal law, bankruptcy law, estate law, and real estate matters. He has conducted numerous trials and court hearings involving large marital estates and complex child custody issues.

Angela Henderson received her undergraduate and Juris Doctorate from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1997. During law school, she participated in the mediation clinic at DePaul after taking two semesters of mediation training. She also practiced as a family lawyer during law school through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services under a 711 license. Angela began her career as a family attorney with offices in Hinsdale and Lemont. Nine years ago she decided to limit her practice to one county and now has a single office in Joliet.

Her practice continues to focus on...

With over 10 years of experience in Divorce and Child Custody Law, Michael Navarro devotes 100% of his practice to Family Law, and represents clients throughout the Will County, DuPage County, and Kendall County areas.

I am a personable and caring attorney who aims to serve those in need.

My office is located in Coles County, but happy and able to serve those as far north as Champaign-Urbana, or as far south as Effingham.

Born in Chicago, IL. Admitted to Illinois bar, 1995. United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1995. Preparatory education: Loras College, Dubuque, IA (B.A., 1992). Legal education: IIT, Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., 1995). Former Will County Assistant State’s Attorney. Member: Illinois State Bar Association, Will County Bar Association, Illinois Worker’s Compensation Lawyer’s Association.

Brian has been practicing law in Will County for over 20 years, and handles a variety of legal issues, be they simple, complex or something in between. He is a trial lawyer, with a current focus in the area of workers’ compensation and general civil litigation....

Ron has been a member of several area boards of directors, including the Will Grundy Medical Clinic and the St. Raymond School Athletic Board. Ron, along with his wife Kim, a Will County Assistant State's Attorney, are members of the Cathedral of St. Raymond Parish and are heavily involved with Joliet Catholic Academy, where their two children attend high school.

Ron has represented petitioners before the Illinois Industrial Commission for the past 18 years and has represented applicants for Social Security Disability benefits for over 24 years. He prides himself on achieving maximum results for his clients under the law. He...

Jared possesses a varied background from family and divorce law to criminal law.

I help clients protect their most valuable business assets: their ideas and inventions, their purpose, and their products. I help clients protect themselves and their assets through a combination of intellectual property management, business planning, and estate planning. I help business owners start and run their businesses successfully. I help clients keep their focus on the core parts of the business, the things that made them want to do it in the first place, by making sure their foundations and legal strategies are strong and tailored to their unique needs. My focus on clients’ legal issues takes that off their list...

Colby is an associate attorney at Meyer Capel, A Professional Corporation. Awarded his juris doctorate with honors (magna cum laude) by Northern Illinois University in 2012, Colby demonstrated excellence though his academic endeavors and by his participation as the Symposium Editor for the Board of Editors of the Northern Illinois University Law Review and as an accomplished moot court competitor. Colby was a Semi-finalist at the 29th Annual NIU Prize Moot Court Competition and an Octofinalist at the 30th Annual John Marshall Law School International Moot Court Competition in Information Technology and Privacy Law. Colby has...

Shayla Maatuka transitioned her private practice into the partnership of Dodd & Maatuka. She currently serves as managing partner for Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC. She combines her expertise as an entrepreneur - successfully establishing four businesses - with the practice of law, concentrating on civil and commercial litigation, personal injury, as well as business litigation. Her passion for the community helps others achieve their goals through entrepreneurship. She currently sits on the boards of Visit Champaign County and Mettler Studios, Inc. and formerly sat on the boards of the East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association, the Executive Club...

Attorney Jeana K. Reinbold's practice focus is on resolving disputes between debtors and creditors and she will assist with strategy and prosecution or defense if a bankruptcy case (chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13) needs to be involved.

Nrupa Patel joined the BRE Law team as a partner in June of 2017. Nrupa is an experienced litigator, having served as a Macon County prosecutor for four years. During her time there, she handled a variety of matters, including: felonies, traffic cases, domestic batteries, and juvenile delinquencies.

Utilizing and leveraging her previous experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system, Nrupa primarily practices criminal defense and family law at BRE Law. Nrupa is multilingual, giving her the unique ability to assist clients in Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati.

Nrupa is a native of the Chicago suburbs. After graduating from high school, she...

Jon Erickson, known formally as Jonathan Parker Erickson, is a Decatur native and attended Decatur public schools through 12th grade. He graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1991 and completed his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State University in 1995. He received his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University in 1999. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 2000.

Jon worked as an Assistant State's Attorney for Macon County from Spring 2000 until December 2000 at which time...

Ms. O'Brien graduated with the highest honors from Lewis University in May 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, double majoring in Criminal / Social Justice and American Studies (History Department). In 2001, Ms. O'Brien worked for Target Corporation as a human resources manager where she recruited new team members and helped run the Orland Park Target store. Ms. O'Brien then attended DePaul University College of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor in May 2004. While a law student, she was employed at the National Anti-Vivisection Society as a legal analyst helping maintain http://www.AnimalLaw.com. Ms. O'Brien also clerked with...

Tom practices primarily in the area of personal injury, representing the seriously injured in state and federal trial courts. He also represents clients in general administrative litigation. Tom has litigation experience before trial and appellate courts in Missouri and Illinois, including arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court. He has represented clients and tried cases in U.S. Federal Courts in the Illinois Central and Northern Districts.

Tom was an academic All-American football player at Washington University in St. Louis and is married to a former national champion volleyball player. He maintains a strong interest in all sports and counts riding his bicycle,...

Estate Planning: James has conducted estate planning matters including creation of wills (last will and testament), trusts, special needs trusts, irrevocable creditor protection trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, beneficiary planning and beneficiary designation, corporate succession planning, tax planning, and transfer on death instruments. Litigation: James has litigated matters including probate disputes, elder abuse claims, debt collection issues, contract disputes, and conducted other litigation as required by his clients. James has practiced across Iowa and Illinois.

U.S. Air Force Veteran Michael S. Hopkins has been practicing law in Will and surrounding counties for more than a decade. He is a former prosecutor experienced in both the prosecution and defense of traffic and ordinance offenses, including misdemeanors. He is also well-versed in municipal law and has represented numerous clients in municipal matters, including liquor control, video gaming, planning and zoning, code enforcement, and boards of fire and police commissioners. Currently, Mr. Hopkins is accepting new clients in traffic, municipal, and general practice matters, including evictions.

In his free time, Michael is an avid motorcyclist and runner. ...

Mark D. Brent is a native of Aurora. He graduated with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Illinois in 1988, and the University of Illinois College Of Law in 1991. Mark spent several years doing major tort and insurance litigation with Williams and Montgomery in Chicago. He began his focus on Domestic Relations and Family Law in 1997 in Aurora. Mark is well-versed in all areas of family law, and family law is Mark's primary focus. Mark is an aggressive advocate for family law clients, handling all types of cases, with a focus on high-conflict issues, custody...

Amanda Waechter is an experienced and professional criminal defense attorney who can help you. She will listen to you, fight for you and be with you through every step of your criminal or traffic case. Amanda can also help you clear your criminal record.

Fred is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel, an honor bestowed upon very few attorneys. He focuses in the areas of estate and tax planning, trust, estate and probate administration, and business structuring and counseling. Fred enjoys helping people accomplish their personal goals. He has an extensive background assisting clients in the transfer of small businesses and farms during their lifetime or at death while minimizing taxes and expenses. Many of his estate plans are sophisticated and involve using wills, trusts, limited liability companies, family limited partnerships and other closely held entities. He has...

Liz Nohren has been practicing law for over 20 years. Her first 5 years were spent at a commercial litigation firm in Chicago, where she thrived and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of a city practice. However, Liz felt a pull to return home to the family firm in Shelbyville and join her father in practice. She remained lead counsel on a couple trials, including a construction litigation jury trial, and completed that work by commuting to Chicago for approximately 8 months after her move at the firm's request. Since moving home to Shelby County, Liz...

John is a former Assistant State's Attorney in the counties of Will and Peoria, Illinois. He has been practicing in the field of family law for 20 years. He is also an accredited mediator in family law, and acts as a guardian ad litem, representing children in family law matters. In addition to family law, he is also an experienced probate lawyer, representing decedent's estates and their families. He has prepared countless Wills and Powers of Attorneys for individuals. In addition, he is a skilled adoption attorney, representing families in both related and unrelated adoptions.

Originally from the south suburbs of...

Gregory Jumbeck was admitted in 2003 to practice law in the State of Illinois. He focuses his practice in the area of domestic relations. Gregory centralizes his practice to Will and Grundy Counties as well as the Illinos appellate courts. Mr. Jumbeck has tried numerous pre and post-decree cases including child custody (aka allocation of parental responsibilities), removal from Illinois, business valuation, child support, and maintenance. Gregory focuses on reaching a favorable and equitable result for all parties involved. Gregory's courtroom presence makes him an effective litigator both in and out of the courtroom. Originally from the southwest suburbs...

Dan Reynolds tells bad jokes and finds humor in the antics of poorly-behaved dogs. Dan is a lawyer serving Macon County and surrounding areas. His primary areas of practice are DUI, criminal law, divorce and family law, civil litigation, and FOID appeals.