Gardner Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Richard maintains a busy statewide practice representing injured men and women, many of whom are union members. The unique combination of representing labor unions and individual members in work-related injury claims provides Richard the opportunity to integrate the rights and benefits of a union contract with the statutory benefits of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Maximizing these benefits for the injured work is the goal of every case.

Richard has had an active role in establishing the rights of injured workers in repetitive trauma claims, handling the trial and appeal of the cases from the Commission level to the Illinois Supreme...

Larry joined the Springfield office of Kanoski Bresney in 1989 and opened the firm's Bloomington office in 1995. Along with his staff of dedicated legal assistants in Bloomington and Champaign, Larry has successfully represented thousands of personal injury and workers’ compensation clients throughout central Illinois for more than 30 years.

Larry was born in Freeport, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area with three brothers. After graduating from Illinois State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree focusing on business administration and accounting, he attended the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign, earning his Juris Doctor degree...

Matthew L. Willens is the founder of Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. He is an experienced, skilled, and aggressive trial lawyer who fights for those who have been hurt by the negligence or legal fault of other people. He is the top-rated Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer who has obtained numerous million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. He has been practicing law for more than twenty-seven years. Mr. Willens has a unique understanding of the dynamics and strategies of serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. In the past, he was...

Kathy has spent her entire legal career advocating for fair compensation to those who are injured and believes in the mission to do the right thing, not the convenient thing on behalf of Kanoski Bresney's clients. Kathy believes the greatest accomplishments she has received are the words of appreciation and gratefulness from those she has represented.

Kathy was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, and grew up in a small town in Peoria County, Illinois. Kathy attended the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, and she was on the Dean's List several semesters and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts...

After completing his term of service with the United States Army’s 24th Infantry Division, Matt went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a law degree from The John Marshall Law School. Matt’s practice is focused on protecting the rights of injured workers throughout the State of Illinois. He has argued cases before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Circuit Courts and the Illinois Appellate Court. Matt also represents clients before the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.

Matt is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, and the...

Alexander Gruzmark was born in Lvov, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States in 1978, where he was raised and educated. Mr. Gruzmark graduated from Loyola University in 1992, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, and then completed his education at Loyola University School of Law in 1998 where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree. Mr. Gruzmark has been practicing law in Illinois for more than 20 years. During law school, Mr. Gruzmark worked for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office under a 711 License. He also volunteered at the Free Legal Aid Clinic at Loyola University School of...

Mr. Justen has been representing severely injured persons since 1998 - involved in a variety of causes, including, trucking, electrical injuries, construction injuries, slip and falls, work injuries and auto accidents. Mr. Justen also represents family members and estates in wrongful death and survival claims. Mr. Justen held various electrical engineering positions with a major Northern Illinois Electric Utility Company prior to becoming licensed to practice law. His background in electrical engineering provides the ability to formulate an analytical approach and focus on the details of your case. Mr. Justen is recognized in the nationwide Million Dollar Advocates Forum for...

Keith is a partner at the firm. Since becoming an attorney, he has almost exclusively represented minor children injured as a result of obstetrical or neonatal malpractice. Keith is licensed to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Minnesota. In 2012 and 2013, he was instrumental in the firm obtaining three of the four largest verdicts in medical malpractice cases in Maryland history – a $55 million dollar verdict against Johns Hopkins Hospital, a $21 million dollar verdict against Harbor Hospital, and a $15.6 million dollar verdict against a nurse midwife and a hospital in Prince George’s County, Maryland....

Ryan Bradley focuses his practice primarily on civil litigation including mass torts, especially defective medical devices and drugs, automobile accidents, wrongful death, medical negligence, products liability, and general personal injury. He is also involved in class action litigation as well as business litigation. He is leading the Syngenta Corn and Invokana litigation for Koester & Bradley, LLP and is developing the Firm's business consulting practice. Ryan leads the firm's mass tort and business litigation team and has been devoting much of his time to pursuing claims arising out of the defective metal hip prosthesis system. He...

Salvi is recognized as a one of the top 10 lawyers in America by the American Institute of Legal Counsel, and a top 100 lawyer by the American Society of Legal Advocates in 2016. Additionally, the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents presented Salvi with the Litigator Award. Further, he has also earned a spot among the "Top One Percent" of attorneys from the National Association of Distinguished Counsel from 2015-2016 and AVVO named Salvi a "Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney" based on exceptional client reviews and peer recommendations Al Salvi has lived in Lake County his whole life. He was...

At Royce Injury Attorneys LLC, personal injury law is all we do. Whether you’ve been hurt on the job, had an auto accident, nursing home injury, or experienced medical malpractice, you can count on our attorneys and investigators to work for you. In the past fifteen years, our attorneys have collected more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements for people like you. All of the cases are handled on a contingency fee basis where there is never a legal fee charged until there is a recovery for you. Our Kansas City, MO injury law firm looks forward to serving...

I love working with my clients and I treat them as best as I can. My number one goal is to get them the compensation they deserve after they have been injured. I have won millions of dollars on behalf of my clients over the years.

Mark Dym is an accomplished and dedicated attorney concentrating in workers' compensation and other claims for injured workers. With 41 years of experience in the field, he has become a trusted advocate for individuals facing workplace injuries and their related legal challenges. Mr. Dym’s passion for ensuring workers' rights are protected has driven him to establish an impressive track record of successful cases and settlements. He also handles complex personal injury cases of all types throughout the country and has been recognized for his accomplishments by many organizations. With a remarkable career, Mr. Dym has received numerous accolades and honors. He...

Philip A. Bareck has been with Katz Friedman since 1991, became a partner in 2003, and a shareholder in 2007. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law teaching Workers' Compensation Law, was inducted into the College of Workers' Compensation in 2022, has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer (5% of the attorneys in Illinois), included in Best Lawyers in Workers’ Compensation Law, awarded inclusion in Top Trial Lawyers (American Trial Lawyers Association top 100 Trial Lawyers for Illinois), Top Attorneys in Illinois, selected as one of America’s Most Honored Professionals, nominated as “10...

My legal experience includes trying over seventy cases to verdict before juries in Illinois. In addition to the Circuit Court of Cook County, I have tried cases to verdict before juries in the Circuit Courts of DuPage County, Will County, Lake County, Kane County and Jackson County. Moreover, I have tried cases to verdict before juries in federal court both in Chicago and in Danville, Illinois.

In addition to my experience at the trial court level, I have argued numerous appeals before the First District of the Appellate Court of Illinois

I am in private practice at 120 West Madison Street in...

Attorney Charles (Chuck) Adler has been fighting for the rights of his clients his entire career. He had only been an attorney for just 30 days when he stepped into the courtroom to try his first case defending a small business owner. Chuck has maintained a litigation practice since then. Early on in his career, Chuck represented clients in construction litigation and took numerous cases to trial both prosecuting cases on behalf of his clients or defending his clients' rights. The construction claims involved numerous industrial, commercial, and shopping center properties. In taking a number of those cases to trial, Chuck...

Don Kurasch was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1972, following his graduation from the University of Illinois College of Law. He limits his practice to civil litigation, including plaintiff’s personal injury, medical malpractice, corporate litigation, nursing home negligence, auto accidents, premises liability, FELA, products liability, and wrongful discharge.

Don has won many millions of dollars for his clients over the years, including two recently litigated cases resulting in settlements of 7.5 million dollars and 4.8 million dollar, in addition to a trial verdict of $4.8 million. He has been a frequent speaker in the field of injury law over the...

Under Contract? Need a Lawyer? We excel in assisting clients buy and sell all types of real estate,including, but not limited to single family homes, condos, co-ops and multi family apartment buildings, in Chicago and the surrounding metro area (suburbs). We identify and quantify potential issues, evaluate risk and provide prompt guidance so that our clients can make educated and concrete decisions as they navigate the process of buying or selling real estate.

REAL Law Group, P.C. is a boutique law firm established in 2015 with the idea that effective representation requires both a professional commitment and personal approach that...

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...

A lifelong resident of Illinois, John Waldman raised his family in the Pekin/Peoria area, where he resides today. John attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, graduating with University Honors with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Paralegal Studies. He began practicing law after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1988.

After law school, John began working for a law firm that primarily did work for insurance companies, defending personal injury and workers' compensation claims. Trying to save insurance companies money at the expense of innocent accident victims was not very rewarding. He joined Kanoski Bresney in...

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...

Attorney Robert R. Duncan is founder of the Chicago personal injury law firm Duncan Law Group. As a passionate advocate for injured victims and their loved ones, Mr. Duncan has successfully represented numerous injured residents throughout Chicago, the state of Illinois, and the Midwest. His extensive experience and professional abilities have earned him a positive reputation throughout the local and legal community, success in State and Federal Courts, and recoveries in the millions of dollars on behalf of his clients. Attorney Duncan began his legal career after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois...

Cary M. Stein is the co-managing partner of Stein & Shulman, LLC and specializes in representing individuals who have sustained serious personal injuries. Recently he has been concentrating in representing individuals who have sustained injuries after accidents with uninsured and underinsured motorists. Cary has collected multiple millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients over his 28 plus years of practicing law. He has tried 25 jury cases to verdict and has arbitrated over 500 mandatory and uninsured motorist cases. His practice areas include auto accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, medical and nursing home negligence, and work related...

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...

Todd received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law Chicago in 2005. For more than 10 years following law school, he served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Toll Highway Authority. In this trusted position, Todd litigated eminent domain cases on behalf of IDOT and the ISTHA. In addition, during this time Todd also served as a defense attorney in personal injury lawsuits. Todd also served as local liquor counsel for several high-end hotels and restaurants, including the Palmer House Hilton, Hilton Towers, Hilton Rosemont, Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, Hilton...

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...

Jennifer joined Spiros Law, P.C. as a Senior Associate in January 2024. Jennifer’s practice focuses on workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. She has dedicated herself to being an advocate for her clients. Her compassion and empathy, combined with her legal knowledge and expertise, have resulted in significant settlements and judgments for her clients. She believes every client is entitled to dynamic representation and strives to ensure each of her clients understand the legal process along the way. Jennifer is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Champaign County Bar Association, East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association and Workers’ Compensation Lawyers...

Mr. Louis Cairo is a senior partner at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC and has been helping to fight for the rights of injury victims throughout Illinois for more than three decades. As the son of an Italian immigrant that owned a union construction company, Lou gained valuable insight and respect for the men and women that work in the construction industry. Having personally obtained more $1 million PLUS settlements in Illinois than any other lawyer in the state, Mr. Cairo is a highly skilled litigator that fights for the little guy. If you or someone that...

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...

Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Thompson earned his B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1984. In 1987 he graduated with his J.D. at the Northern Illinois University in Chicago. He is fluent in Spanish.

Mr. Thompson has 18 years of experience litigating Personal Injury claims, Workers' Compensation, Criminal Law, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy & Traffic cases. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Admission to Federal Trial Bar, and is a board member in good standing with multiple charitable organizations.

Mr. Thompson has been married for thirteen years and...

In 2005, David McGinley joined the personal injury law firm of Law Offices of Kupets & DeCaro, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, he has spent his entire legal career serving individuals injured by another’s negligent conduct. David is committed to advocating for his clients and to making sure they receive fair and just compensation. David represents clients severely injured from automobile and trucking accidents, workplace and machinery accidents, slip and falls, and medical malpractice. He has obtained substantial recoveries for his clients, through arbitration, mediation, and trial resolutions. David currently practices in state and federal...

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...

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.

At Budin Law Offices in Chicago, we are focused exclusively on helping injured people get the money they need through personal injury and workers’ compensation claims.

Our law firm was founded in 1990 by attorney John J. Budin. Prior to forming the law firm, Mr. Budin worked as a prosecutor, holding criminals accountable for their wrongdoing. In this role, he honed the skills that he now puts to use holding negligent parties and their insurers accountable for their wrongdoing and relentlessly pursuing justice and compensation for victims. In addition to his legal background, Mr. Budin has a great deal of real...

Nicole Sommerfeld has focused her law practice on workers’ compensation and personal injury law ever since passing the Illinois bar exam and getting licensed in 1994, so she now has over 25 years of experience on the job.

Nicole grew up in the Chicago area, attending Highland Park High School. She went to college at University of Wisconsin - Madison and earned her juris doctorate from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

When she first started practicing law it was a family affair, going to work at her father and brother’s law firm where she focused on helping workers...

native of central Illinois, Attorney, Jerry A. Tuffentsamer, was raised in the local small community of Manito, Illinois. Prior to attending law school, Jerry worked for several years in the central Illinois as union construction laborer out of the Laborers’ International Union, Local 231. As a union laborer, Jerry worked several years for a local commercial concrete and masonry company.

Jerry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies/Pre-law from Southern Illinois University in 2008. Jerry then received his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2011. While in law school, Jerry was a member of...

Jonathan T. Nessler began his legal career with Nessler & Associates in 2007. His practice is focused on personal injury claims, including catastrophic automobile accidents, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. Mr. Nessler has dedicated his entire legal career to helping injured people recover for their loss. He is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer in Illinois. He is also recognized by The Law Bulletin Publishing Company Leading Lawyers as an Emerging Lawyer. - Education Bachelor of Science...