Merna Lawyers

Richard T. West has been practicing law for over forty-one years. He has been a shareholder of Meyer Capel for over half of his career, having practiced in other firms in the community prior to joining Meyer Capel in 1991 as a shareholder. Throughout much of his career, his focus has been in the areas of complex litigation involving, for example, intellectual property, construction, banking, products liability, contract disputes and corporate and fiduciary obligations, as well as business representation, construction law, and health care law. In recent years, he has begun to shift his focus from an active litigation practice...

Matthew Miller is an attorney dedicated to assisting individuals throughout Peoria with their various family law and criminal law matters. He recognizes that every individual is going through a situation that is unique to them, and he works to develop strategies that are tailored to fit each client’s specific needs and goals. Mr. Miller is recognized for the effective counsel and representation he provides, and even has an Avvo Rating of 9.5 Excellent. To learn more about working with Attorney Miller, be sure to contact the firm today.

Patrick Fitzgerald begin his legal career with Meyer Capel in 1987 as a law clerk. Now, as a shareholder with the firm, he concentrates in real estate. Mr. Fitzgerald is a 1989 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law where he earned a spot on the Dean's List. In 1986, he received a bachelor of arts in economics, also from the University of Illinois. Mr. Fitzgerald is a member of the Champaign County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Further, he is actively involved with the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Champaign...

With a focus on estate planning and administration, Marjorie A. Harris works closely with individuals and families who are seeking ways to provide financial security for today and protect their assets for the next generation. In addition to advising clients on trust and estates and tax planning matters, Marjorie's practice also includes the establishment and representation of nonprofit and charitable organizations, and charitable gift planning. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, Marjorie earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in applied mathematics and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. She went on to earn...

Evan Coobs is a shareholder in Meyer Capel's business and transactional practice group. A practicing attorney since 1989, he has been with Meyer Capel since 1996, and a shareholder of the firm since 1998. He regularly works with other lawyers as cost-effective and trusted co-counsel and local counsel. Experience There is no substitute for experience. Mr. Coobs' experience ranges from assisting developers of affordable housing, to in-house work for a multinational manufacturing company, to helping start-up clients negotiate their first commercial lease, to parsing through the details of complex financing arrangements, including syndicated loan transactions. Mr. Coobs' practice is focused in the...

Rochelle A. Funderburg brings extensive knowledge of labor and employment issues and wide-ranging litigation experience to the practice of law at Meyer Capel. A former assistant city attorney and practicing lawyer for more than 30 years, Ms. Funderburg has handled a variety of cases – from inception through trial and appeal, representing insurance carriers, employers, employees, and various local governmental bodies. Ms. Funderburg received her bachelor of science and juris doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois, where she also earned the Charles E. Merriam Scholarship. Following completion of her formal legal studies in 1981, Ms. Funderburg joined Coles County, Illinois-based...

Alex was born in Galesburg, Ill., and has lived in rural western and central Illinois throughout his life. He attended Knox College in Galesburg, graduating in 2011 with a double major in History/Political Science. Prior to law school, Alex worked as a special education aide at West Central High School in Biggsville, Ill., where he coached the football and track teams.Alex earned his J.D., cum laude, in 2016 from the Saint Louis University School of Law. Alex married his wife Joni in October 2021. They live in the Groveland area along with their two dachshunds and two cats. They welcomed...

Forrest Heyman joined the firm as a summer associate in 2011 and became an associate attorney following his admission to the Illinois Bar in 2012. His areas of practice include business planning, corporate transactions, real estate, and estate planning and administration. Forrest is a locally-raised attorney with an international perspective. Hailing from Paxton, Illinois, Forrest attended Butler University from 2005 to 2008, where he earned a bachelor of science in economics, with honors. Following a semester in Hong Kong, Forrest was named Sigma Nu National Man of the Year and joined The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, where he...

As a former teacher and school administrator, Jim Mullady brings a unique perspective to the practice of law at Meyer Capel. Mr. Mullady is a 1991 graduate of Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, which he attended on a fellowship. In addition to coursework at IU, his legal education included a year at the University of Illinois as a visiting scholar. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Mullady taught social studies in the central Illinois communities of Arcola and Fisher, and served as principal of the National Academy of Arts High School in Champaign for four years. Mr. Mullady was an...

Dennis K. Muncy is recognized nationally as an expert in the field of telecommunications law and regulation. During the course of his legal career, he has handled litigation in 38 states and the District of Columbia and has testified before Congress and the Federal Communications Commission concerning telecommunications issues. In addition to representing telecommunications clients in regulatory and other matters, Dennis has negotiated numerous sales, acquisitions and mergers of telecommunication properties. He has delivered numerous speeches and provided instruction on telecommunications issues to both clients and other counsel. Dennis joined Meyer Capel as a law clerk in 1965 and became an...

5 Reasons to Consider Me as Your Tax Lawyer 1) I am a 20+ year Attorney, Former IRS agent, Retired CPA, and national speaker on tax problems. I handle serious business tax matters, with IRS tax debt greater than $100,000. I also handle tax audits and investigations with legal issues or "sensitive" facts. 2) My fees are affordable, and realistic. As your tax lawyer, I am sensitive your financial situation. 3) My specific services include: • Settlements for Business, Payroll and Sales Taxes • Release of IRS Levy on Business Bank Accounts • Representation in IRS Criminal Investigations • Audit Challenges in the U.S. Tax Court • Tax from Death, Divorce, Sale...

Robert "Bobby" Buchanan is a seasoned practitioner that focuses his practice exclusively on helping parents through divorce and custody matters. He is a 2019 recipient of the "10 Best" award for client satisfaction and a 2023 Illinois SuperLawyer. His team at The Law Offices of Robert B. Buchanan has consistently achieved results for his clients, including: - Secured regular parenting time for father who had not seen his two-year old son in over one year. - Obtained 50-50 parenting time for father who had been marginalized to every other weekend before hiring lawyer and starting court process. - Successfully re-gained custody for a...

You are getting divorced, and you want to save your kids, your money, and your sanity. We understand your needs. We help smart, successful people get divorced efficiently while helping stay sane during tough times. Satisfied clients have referred us to friends and family since 1994. I'm a divorce lawyer with over 20 years of experience. My bestselling divorce guide, I Just Want This Done, has received rave reviews on Amazon.com and in the media. My law firm, STG Divorce Law, has been in business over 25 years. Our firm has a large team of skilled and empathetic divorce lawyers....

Mark Mathys is a personal injury attorney and co-founder of Mathys & Schneid Personal Injury Lawyers. With his firm of Naperville personal injury lawyers, he handles all types of injury cases, including vehicle accidents, bus accidents, child accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, workplace accidents, and other incidents where injuries result from intentional or negligent actions of others. Mr. Mathys also handles wrongful death claims for families of deceased accident victims and workers’ compensation claims for workers who have been injured in the workplace. Mr. Mathys is a native of Chicago. He has also lived in the Chicagoland area for most...

Audrey Anderson is an experienced, dynamic, and accomplished trial attorney. She is a 20-year veteran of the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office who has conducted over 250 trials to verdict and received numerous commendations from law enforcement. During her tenure as an Assistant State's Attorney at the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Audrey was Supervisor of the Major Crimes/Narcotics Unit where she prosecuted serious and high profile crimes in DuPage County. She coordinated numerous multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency investigations with a variety of federal, state, and local agencies and police departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and...

Expert Advocacy in Employment Law: Attorney Cynthia Pietrucha ========================================================== I champion the rights of employees and guide employers through the legal intricacies of the workplace. With a decade of dedicated legal service, I am a seasoned employment attorney with expertise in drafting and negotiating separation agreements, litigating medical leave and ADA employment cases, and negotiating remote work terms, even prior to COVID-19! **Your Advocate for Fair Severance and Medical Leave Rights** Navigating the end of an employment relationship or grappling with medical leave can be daunting. As an expert in separation negotiations, I ensure that my clients—whether employees or employers—receive the most favorable terms...