Strawn Lawyers

I have been a practicing attorney since 1973. I used to handle a wide variety of legal matters for individuals and families. At present, my practice is concentrated in consumer bankruptcy. In addition to our main office in Chicago, we also have offices in Skokie, Schaumburg, Naperville, Joliet and Gurnee, Illinois. I am married with one son who is married, living in California, and who is a practicing attorney working for the State of California. I am a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Committee of the Chicago Bar Association....

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...

My interest in the law began before attending law school. After attending college at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1996), Christopher worked one of the largest insurance companies in Illinois as an injury claims adjustor and later, a senior claims adjustor. After graduating from John Marshall Law School (2002), he worked as an insurance defense and divorce trial attorney. Since the start of his career as an attorney advocate, my practice focuses on divorce and other litigation matters including an active trial practice. My office handles matters in Cook County, Lake County, Will County, DuPage County...

Lisa Weinstein is a principal at Grant & Eisenhofer and leads the firm’s birth injury litigation division. Her practice primarily focuses on representing women and children in birth injury and birth trauma litigation. Prior to joining G&E, Ms. Weinstein founded The Weinstein Law Group, where she represented children who were victims of medical malpractice and birth injuries. In her practice as a plaintiffs’ trial lawyer, Ms. Weinstein has successfully litigated personal injury, medical malpractice and birth injury matters resulting in over $300 million in settlements and verdicts. Representative of Ms. Weinstein’s work is a $12.5 million settlement in which her...

William Moore is an associate at Grant & Eisenhofer where he focuses on representing families and children in birth injury and birth trauma litigation. Prior to joining G&E, Mr. Moore was an associate attorney at a civil litigation firm practicing personal injury, wrongful death, and other liability claims. From 2015-2018, Mr. Moore was selected for inclusion to Leading Lawyers’ list of Emerging Lawyers. In 2010 and 2011, Mr. Moore was selected to Illinois Super Lawyers’ list of Rising Stars. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and a Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Fellow.

Joshua E. Stern, Esq. is the managing partner of Stern Mendez. As a dedicated family law practitioner, his goal is to help families through difficult transitions and act as a source of stability throughout the legal process. Whether you are preparing to marry or are leaving your marriage behind, Joshua provides the legal expertise you need while lending an empathetic ear and remaining sensitive to the individual needs of each and every one of his clients. Because every matter is unique, Joshua takes the time to listen to what his clients want and outline their options, so they know what to...

Elizabeth Fink focuses her career on the practice of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianships, and Medicaid Planning. She has been practicing law in Chicago, IL since 2009 and has represented clients throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University and spent a semester of study at Justus-Liebig-Universität in Giessen, Germany. She received her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL and was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in May 2009. Elizabeth is a member of the National Academy of...

Rob L. Kohen joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in 2014 and was promoted to Partner in 2023. He focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, construction negligence, and medical malpractice. Mr. Kohen has obtained a number of noteworthy verdicts and settlements in his time with the firm. In 2021, Mr. Kohen was part of a trial team that obtained a $21.05 million jury verdict on behalf of a woman who suffered a thoracic spine injury in a Maywood, Ill. car crash. In 2020, Mr. Kohen obtained a $20.5 million settlement...

My practice is focused on helping the individual. I represent individuals hurt at work or hurt by the fault of someone else who has been negligent. I help them navigate the often puzzling path against the mammoth insurance companies of the world and keep the bill collectors at bay while the client recovers from their injuries. I have tried numerous cases and am a Federal Trial Bar member. I also help individuals affected by an arrest or traffic ticket to get their life back to normal and assist them to retain their license. Last, I help individuals who have been affected by...

A respected member of the Northern Illinois legal community, John has successfully represented victims of medical malpractice, wrongful death, serious personal injuries, and railroad injuries (FELA). John has recovered over $250 million in verdicts and settlements. John is respected by his colleagues and opponents for his unmatched trial skills, intelligence, and shrewd negotiating. John stays several moves ahead of his opponents. These skills have led John to obtain record setting verdicts and settlements including a recent 25-million-dollar settlement for an injured railroad worker. His counsel and mentoring are regularly sought out by fellow trial lawyers.

I am a Chicago based litigation attorney who has been practicing law since 1988. I opened my own law firm in 1997 and I have been a successful solo-practitioner ever since. I take a tenacious, results driven, approach to all matters in my practice which makes me a strong advocate and assists in my proven record of success. Because I am a solo-practitioner, I will be directly and personally involved in your legal matters from its inception through its conclusion and together, I believe we will achieve a positive resolve to your legal problems.

The focus of my practice is litigation...

Donna J. Pugh is a zoning and land use attorney in the Chicago office of Foley & Lardner LLP where she focuses her practice on obtaining governmental approvals related to land use and zoning on behalf of her retail, health care and corporate clients. With her approach of bridging the gap between client, civic and municipal needs, Ms. Pugh has an exceptionally high success rate of securing necessary entitlements for land development projects in the Chicago area. Ms. Pugh served as 2009-2010 Chair of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of State and Local Government Law. A consensus builder, Ms. Pugh works...

Attorney Megan Shore-Toca is a Plaintiff's attorney who litigates cases involving sexual assault, medical malpractice, birth injury, nursing home abuse and neglect, assisted living abuse and neglect, community integrated living arrangement (CILA) abuse and neglect, dental malpractice, and other personal injury cases including privacy invasion, slip and falls, and auto accidents. Throughout her career, Megan has a 100% success rate at obtaining compensation for her clients. Megan is Super Lawyer's Illinois 2021 and 2022 Rising Star, The National Trial Lawyer’s Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyer’s Top 10 Nursing Home Lawyers. Throughout her career her cases...

Chiacchio IP, LLC, is a law firm that specializes in intellectual property law. Mr. Chiacchio has been practicing intellectual property law for over 15 years. He regularly prepares and prosecutes U.S. patent and trademark applications. Mr. Chiacchio counsels clients regarding a wide range of intellectual property issues, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret issues. Mr. Chiacchio prepares cease-and-desist letters for clients whose intellectual property rights are being infringed or misappropriated. Mr. Chiacchio has also spent well over a decade litigating intellectual property disputes on behalf of his clients. He has served as lead trial counsel in federal trademark infringement,...

Mark Connolly is an experienced trial attorney in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation. He focuses his practices in motor vehicle accidents, construction negligence, slip and falls, work accidents, medical malpractice, and product liability, among others. He has handled cases in numerous counties of the Circuit Courts of Illinois, the Northern District of Illinois Federal Court and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He has also litigated and argued before the Illinois Appellate Court. Mark has always dedicated himself to his clients’ cases and provides the same devotion and intensity regardless of the case size. Mark...

Associate - Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP

The Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege was founded by Attorney Schmiege, who is devoted to the practice of criminal defense alone. When an individual retains the representation of the firm, Mr. Schmiege works tirelessly to prepare the strongest defense possible. He will not hesitate to challenge any federal investigation or evidence brought forth by the prosecution. For more information about working with a Chicago criminal lawyer, do not wait to contact the firm! Mr. Schmiege is known for taking cases that no one else will take and winning the "unwinnable" cases against all odds.

Attorney David R. Drwencke brings an aggressive, nuanced approach to every file that he works on and will do his best to find creative solutions to resolve clients’ legal matters. When you work with Attorney Drwencke, you will be working with an experienced professional who prioritizes his client-attorney relationship. He seeks to be an approachable and communicative advocate for his clients going through a tough time. As a “Rising Star” according to Super Lawyers Magazine in both 2019 and 2020, Attorney Drwencke has the skill and experience to defend you. He is licensed with the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State...

Mr. Gountanis joined Therman Law Offices, LTD. directly upon completing his summer externship and graduating law school in November, 2010. Gountanis became one of Mr. Therman’s quick understudies, learning the art of aggressive negotiation, arbitration as well as trying cases to favorable verdict.

Mr. Gountanis received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Keller Graduate School of Management - Lincolnshire, and his Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School at Grand Rapids, MI. He is admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and...

Mr. Bennett Baker is a personal injury attorney at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC that has been helping to represent the rights of the injured for more than 35 years. Throughout his career, Bennett has helped his clients to recover MILLIONS in compensation, including a $3.1 MILLION recovery for a 39 year old Hispanic man that was injured by a negligent motorist and a $2.6 MILLION recovery for a female that was hit in her vehicle by a County Sheriff. If you have been injured due to the negligence of another individual and require the services of...

Mr. Garcia recently completed his externship with Therman Law Offices and transitioned into the role of associate attorney. He passed the bar in August 2017. He was a law clerk with the firm for 2 years prior to becoming an attorney. Garcia focuses his practice in personal injury and workers’ compensation. Trained personally on the ‘ins and outs’ by Mr. Therman, he continues to grow and learn how to aggressively represent those in need.

Mr. Garcia received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Anthropology, at the The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctorate...

Ms. Mule joined Therman Law Offices, LTD., in July, 2010. She concentrates her legal practice on cases concerning both personal injury and workers’ compensation. During her time at Therman Law, she has developed and strengthened her experience negotiating and settling cases at mediation and arbitration as well as trying cases to favorable verdict.

Mrs. Mulé received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School– Chicago. She is admitted to the Illinois State Bar.

Attorney Peter Sullivan is a quiet fighter. He grew up on some pretty mean streets but, since being accepted into private high school in Jersey City, he has had a passion for intellectual pursuits, including languages, arts, world history and the law. He joined the business of the law as a proofreader for some of the best antitrust lawyers in America. Based on his insatiable engagement with content, he graduated to paralegal (without the need for paralegal training) and wound up managing their antitrust litigation office. Needing to be convinced that lawyers can actually do good, before attending law school...

Throughout much of Pat's career, he has worked defending insurance companies against personal injury, wrongful death, and healthcare negligence cases. This experience gives Pat a unique perspective, since he knows the "tricks of the trade" which insurance companies use as they value a personal injury claim and defend against a case. With this knowledge and understanding, Pat will ensure you are not taken advantage of in these situations, allowing you to achieve maximum compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Pat has been a trial lawyer for more than a decade and has tried numerous cases to verdict. Pat first developed...

Attorney David P. Gonet comes to family law with a background in appellate law and intellectual property law. A business major in college, David went on to get his law degree from the University of Houston College of Law, where he participated in clinical work, researching and drafting state and federal appeals, and petitioning for writs of habeas corpus. Prior to practicing exclusively in the area of family law, David worked at a law firm concentrating in civil appeals, were be drafted appeals to the Illinois Court of Appeals, State of Illinois Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, and...

Vicki Hathaway Gonzalez is an experienced facilitator of real estate transactions. Vicki is known for her style of representation that insists that her clients are fully informed of their rights and obligations under their real estate contract, as well as the real consequences of their decisions regarding those rights and obligations.

Vicki's interest in real estate started long before her graduation from John Marshall Law School in 1992. She started investing in real estate in the 1970's, then became a licensed real estate agent, and also taught real estate licensing for the Century 21 Real Estate Academy. As an attorney, she...

C. Dean Matsas [known as "Dean"], is the owner of "C. Dean Matsas & Assoc., PC," also known as: MakeItBetterLaw. Born and raised in Chicagoland, to Greek immigrants, Dean understands and appreciates the day-to-day struggles people and their families face. He is a licensed attorney for over 30 years and has extensive experience and knowledge of the law, concentrating in the areas of injury law and debt relief or bankruptcy, helping 100's of clients and their families over the years, to either receive compensation or to get rid of debt. He focuses on giving his clients personal and individualized...

Nichole’s understanding of the great emotional toll family law disputes have on her clients helps her to assist her clients during a very difficult time. Nichole’s approach to her client’s matters is to advocate for her clients and find legally reasonable solutions which don’t exacerbate the financial toll divorce often takes on families, while also keeping her client’s best interests at the forefront. To help achieve this goal for her clients, Nichole has had extensive training with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago, Illinois where she further developed her skills in the art of mediation. Nichole also trained in...

Attorney Scott D. Lane is a managing partner of the reputable Chicago personal injury law firm, Lane & Lane, LLC. This boutique family-managed law firm specializes in medical and professional negligence, advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, promises and product liability, motor vehicle accidents, and other related practice areas that involve catastrophic injury and wrongful death. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude; from Southern Methodist University, Mr. Lane earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 1988. In 2002, Attorney Lane was selected as a 40 Under 40 Attorney to Watch in Illinois....

Mr. Fakhouri is a personal injury trial lawyer and the President of The Fakhouri Firm, which is based in downtown Chicago. If you require the services of a highly skilled personal injury trial lawyer in Chicago, contact The Fakhouri Firm at (312) 471-8873 or to reach Robert directly at (312) 999-9990.

Mr. Joel Block is a highly skilled workers' compensation lawyer at the Chicago office of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC. Since joining the firm in February 1995, Joel has successfully negotiated hundreds of cases and is one of the 3 most senior associates as our law firm. If you or someone that you love has suffered a work place injury, contact Mr. Block today for comprehensive legal solutions at (312) 464-1234 or toll free at (800) 464-4772.

I joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. as an associate attorney in 2024 after serving as a law clerk at the same firm since 2022. My practice areas include personal injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death cases. During my time as a law clerk, I was involved in several high-profile cases, including a birth injury case that led to a $75.9 million jury verdict. I also played a crucial role in hazing lawsuits involving Northwestern University athletes. I received my law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where I was an active member of the Moot Court Honor Society and received...

I am an immigration attorney that practices exclusively U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law. As an Associate Immigration Attorney, I handle a variety of immigration matters from Waivers for Undocumented Immigrants, VAWA/other Humanitarian Relief Petitions to Employment based Petitions. We have an extremely high approve rate due to our focus on building personalized and approvable immigration strategies for our clients' unique situation.

Tracy Robb joined Curcio Law Offices in 2001 and was named managing partner in 2016. She concentrates her practice predominantly on appellate law. Tracy has also established herself as a strategist for brainstorming with the trial team at the firm. She provides support at the trial court level with her research and writing skills which has served as the foundation for victory on many dispositive motions including motions in limine successfully barring defendants’ key evidence and experts from the trial. Ms. Robb has successfully defended the firm’s verdicts appealed by the defense firms and insurance companies both at the appellate...

Laura Canulli joined the Cogan & Power, P.C. the summer of 2023. Laura handles matters involving motor vehicle collisions, premises liability and medical malpractice. Laura is a 2012 graduate of Seton Hall University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She went on to earn her law degree from the John Marshall Law School, now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, in 2017. While attending law school, she received academic honors and was a finalist in the Dean Fred F. Herzog Moot Court Competition. After passing the Illinois bar examination, Laura obtained her license to practice law...

Chris is a savvy litigator and negotiator who specializes in workers’ compensation law and social security disability law. Over the course of his career, he has represented thousands of clients from all walks of life: from teachers to truck drivers and from factory workers to nurses, and union members from the UAW, IEA, INA, SEIU, Teamsters, and various building trades. He is a tireless fighter on behalf of his clients and will do whatever it takes to make sure his clients receive their benefits. He has obtained awards for disability benefits and penalties against employers for not paying disability benefits...

Bridgette A. Kolb joined Katz Friedman in 2014. Her practice is focused on protecting the rights of workers in Workers’ Compensation, Labor, and Employment law.

Bridgette represents clients in Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease cases. She is a zealous advocate who is dedicated to obtaining the compensation that injured workers and their families deserve. Bridgette has successfully represented clients with a wide variety of injuries, including injuries to the back, neck, and shoulders as well as burns, infections, and significant injuries to eyes. She has represented injured workers’ in claims against United Continental Holdings, American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, DHL,...

Jeff is Consumer Law, Securities Law, Stockbroker & Investment Fraud, and Arbitration & Mediation. He has unique experience with a background in law, as well as econometrics, mathematics, and computer programming. Jeff holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Michigan and an LL.D. in Antitrust from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Additionally, he received a M.S. (ABD) in Industrial Organization and Econometrics from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jeff's academic and professional training have facilitated many successful outcomes in complex litigation cases. With more than 40 years of experience, Jeff is committed to providing exceptional legal...