Illinois Civil Litigation Lawyers

Civil Litigation

211 North Broadway, Suite 2625, Edwardsville, IL 62025

Judge Ann Callis (retired) is a partner at Holland Law Firm and heads up the firm’s Madison County, Illinois office. She serves as local counsel and leads major civil litigations in state and federal courts in Illinois and Missouri. Ann Callis was the first woman Circuit Judge in Madison County, Illinois and was the first woman Chief Judge in Madison County, where she served for 18 years. She served in every division in the 3rd Circuit Court where she presided over hundreds of jury and non-jury trials including complex litigation, environmental, personal injury, and professional negligence (legal and medical). She spent 8 years on the circuit bench on the Felony docket. In addition to handling a full civil docket, Chief Judge Callis was instrumental in creating the nationally recognized Veterans Treatment Court, the first of its kind in Illinois, where Veterans involved with the justice system are given necessary assistance and counseling to become once again productive members of society. She also established the Mandatory Foreclosure Mediation Program that saved hundreds of families their homes. As an attorney, Judge Callis concentrates her practice on mass torts, products liability, environmental disasters and commercial practice. She is currently handling many aspects of the opioid litigation, where she represents more than thirty Governmental Entities in Illinois and Missouri and has also been appointed to the Plaintiffs ’Executive Committee for the Statewide Opioid MDL in Illinois. Judge Callis also represents women in the Illinois Essure Litigation. She has received many awards and recognition for her judicial service including an Achievement Award from the Alton Branch of the NAACP, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Alton Chairman Award (for promoting Justice for All), the Community Counseling Center Mental Health Hero and an award from the St. Clair/ Monroe Counties Salute for Protecting the Children from the Storms of Life. Judge Callis obtained her B.A. Magna Cum Laude from St. Louis University in 1987 and went on to earn her law degree from S.LU. in 1990. She also completed a public managers program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard College.

Civil Litigation

156 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025

Beth Gori graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1995 with a degree in Biology. She attended law school at St. Louis University and graduated with a J.D. and certificate in Health Law Studies in 1999. Mrs. Gori is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois. She has worked for many years in the field of personal injury and as a Madison County Assistant State's Attorney. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association and the Madison County Bar Association. In the community, Mrs. Gori serves on the board of directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Southern Illinois and is also a member of the board of the Friends of the Wildey.

Civil Litigation

311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1500, IL Chicago

Brad Gordon is the managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office. He focuses his practice on litigation, representing the interests of corporations and insurance companies throughout the United States. Mr. Gordon has extensive experience in all phases of complex litigation, as well as aggregation of mass tort claims. In addition to handling subrogation matters involving product failures and construction defects, Mr. Gordon has also prosecuted high-profile claims involving Ford Ignition Switches, Ford Speed Control Deactivation Switches and Torchiere Halogen Lamps. Mr. Gordon takes great pride in his long-standing relationships with clients as he leads them through all phases of litigation. He is also well-versed in resolving matters through alternative dispute resolution in forums such as the American Arbitration Association and Inter-Company Arbitration. Mr. Gordon is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, the Northern District of Texas, the District of Colorado and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1993 and his Juris Doctor from DePaul College of Law in 1997. Mr. Gordon frequently presents and lectures at the National Association of Subrogation Professional’s annual conference, along with other regional insurance seminars. Recent presentations include Fundamentals of a Relationship between Origin and Cause Investigator and Attorney, Spoliation of Evidence, and Aggregation of Claims. Recently, he was a participant in an expert panel at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Association of Arson Investigators and was named to the IAAI Insurance Training and Membership Advisory Committee. In 2015, he achieved an AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell rating, the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. In his spare time, Mr. Gordon has volunteered his time with the local YMCA and Y-ME programs, along with becoming involved with the Court Appointed Special Advocates program of Lake County, Illinois. Mr. Gordon also spends his time volunteering for the Lincolnshire Sports Association.

Civil Litigation

27 North Wacker Dr., same, 446, IL 60606

Mr. Busse has concentrated his practice in the defense of tort and insurance coverage litigation. He has handled hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death cases in various Illinois venues, including automobile, trucking, premises liability, product liability, aviation and construction injury claims, as well as fire and explosion and property damage claims. Mr. Busse has defended numerous cases involving churches and other charitable organizations. Mr. Busse has also prosecuted and defended numerous insurance coverage cases. He has obtained numerous jury verdicts in favor of his clients in both state and federal courts. Mr. Busse has also defended a large number of lawsuits in alternative dispute resolution forums, including American Arbitration Association, Mandatory Court Annexed Arbitration and in numerous private alternative dispute resolution forums.

Civil Litigation

114 E Everett St suite 300, Dixon, IL 61021, USA

Courtney E. Kennedy concentrates her practice in commercial and civil litigation, residential and commercial real estate, residential and commercial zoning, business matters, municipal law, agricultural law and environmental law. Mrs. Kennedy graduated magna cum laude from Ashford University in 2013, where she obtained her Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, completing her undergraduate degree in just three years instead of the standard four-year program. During her time at Ashford University, Mrs. Kennedy played on the Women’s Basketball Team and served as President of the Pre-Law Society. Mrs. Kennedy joined Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC, as an associate attorney in 2016 and was named a partner in 2021. Prior to joining the Firm, Mrs. Kennedy graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law, completing her law school education in two and one-half years rather than the standard three-year program. While at Northern Illinois University College of Law, Mrs. Kennedy served as Vice President of the Environmental Law Society, was a member of the Christian Legal Society, and served as a mentor for the Women’s Law Caucus. She also tutored first-year law students in Civil Procedure. She completed a judicial externship with the Judges in Ogle County, Illinois, during her second year of law school. Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Lee, Ogle, Whiteside and Winnebago County Bar Associations. She has served as Treasurer/Secretary for the Lee County Bar Association since 2017 and is a board member for the Lee County Health Department. She has co-authored articles for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. In addition, she serves as a mentor for first-year law students at Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Civil Litigation

20 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

Aviation Litigation

Civil Litigation

70 W Madison, 5200, Chicago, IL 60602

Floyd Perkins, CPA, is a partner with over 27 years of experience as a trial lawyer. He has successfully litigated hundreds of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, healthcare recoupment, probate and commercial cases. Floyd has practiced in state and federal court, including the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Civil Litigation

One East Wacker Drive, Suite 1414, Chicago, IL 60601

Area of Practice: Class Action Litigation Glen was born in Manassass, Virginia and grew up in London, England where his father worked for TWA. Glen was blessed with the opportunity to travel the world with his family as a child and experience foreign culture on nearly every continent. Glen attended one of the leading international boarding schools, The American School In Switzerland (T.A.S.I.S.), where he created lifelong relationships with foreign royalty, diplomats, and leaders of industry. ? A graduate of DePaul College of Law and active member of the American Association for Justice and the Illinois State Bar Association, he works tirelessly in pursuit of an outcome that satisfies his clients. ? Glen spent his early career as a successful defense lawyer, representing a Fortune 100 corporation in matters across the country. In 2004, Glen changed direction and dedicated himself to the representation of individuals who do not have the resources to take on big corporations alone. Glen possesses the unique experience of seeing litigation from the opponent’s perspective, and utilizes this knowledge to expose weaknesses and eliminate delay in the handling of his clients’ affairs. ?

Civil Litigation

300 North LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60654

Hariklia (Carrie) Karis is a Kirkland trial lawyer who has extensive lead trial experience in jury and bench trials and arbitration involving personal injury in a broad range of high profile personal injury, product liability and other commercial cases throughout the country. Hariklia was recently recognized by various legal publications as a first class trial lawyer in mass tort and commercial litigation. She was awarded Law360 MVP for Trials in 2022. The American Lawyer named Hariklia “Litigator of the Week” for achieving the first defense win in a bellwether trial involving 3M’s dual-ended combat arms in the largest MDL in US history. She was also recognized by the American Lawyer’s List of Midwest Trailblazers and named a nationwide finalist for the The National Law Journal’s Winning Litigator for 2022. Hariklia’s successful defense of General Motors Corporation was chosen as one of the top defense wins by The National Law Journal. She was also been recognized as a Lead Female Trial Lawyer for her work in large exposure civil litigation. In 2018, she was named to Crain’s list of Most Notable Women Lawyers. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, where she taught “Trial Advocacy.” In her 27 year career at Kirkland, Hariklia has managed and tried massive disaster litigation cases for clients, in which substantial reputational and financial exposure is at risk. She served as co-lead trial counsel for BP in the litigation arising from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in several regulatory agency and government investigations that resulted in numerous nationally televised and highly publicized trials. She also serves as lead trial counsel in the nationwide multi-district litigation involving opioids as well as other pharmaceutical products. She has served as trial counsel for General Motors in state and federal cases arising out of the company’s voluntary recalls related to ignition switches and other safety issues.

Civil Litigation

10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60606

Harry Arger has been practicing law and trying cases for over 30 years. He is a seasoned litigator and serves as Dykema’s Chicago Office Managing Member. He has tried over 30 cases to verdict and has handled matters in which the amounts in controversy have ranged from hundreds of thousands of dollars to those involving hundreds of millions of dollars. Harry litigates on behalf of a variety of clients throughout Illinois, Missouri and the Midwest. His clients include mortgage companies, financial institutions, insurance carriers, municipalities, product manufacturers, service entities, railroads, public officials, and other professional individuals and entities. He concentrates his practice in the areas of consumer financial services, civil rights litigation, product liability litigation, commercial and business litigation, personal injury litigation, environmental litigation, asbestos and toxic tort litigation and railroad litigation. Harry's representations include disputes involving mortgages, class actions, banking disputes, breach of fiduciary and other related duties, product liability, intellectual property, contracts and tort claims, and BIPA litigation. In addition to his trial work, Harry is an experienced arbitrator and regularly handles mediations and arbitrations through the American Arbitration Association and other alternative dispute resolution services. He is also an experienced appellate attorney, having handled and argued many appeals in various state and federal courts.

Civil Litigation

10 W State St, STE 200, Geneva, IL 60134

Ms. Chavez earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1998 from Northwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University in 1995. She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1998 and is admitted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the Federal Trial Bar and the Federal Court of Claims. Ms. Chavez has also been admitted pro hac vice in numerous cases nationwide. She has extensive litigation experience in multi-district litigation (“MDL”), federal and state civil litigation, class action litigation, arbitrations (including class and multi-plaintiff) and litigation before administrative tribunals, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Chavez is an accomplished trial attorney who has extensive experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation including such tasks as: case investigation, pleadings, discovery, e-discovery, document review, motion practice, trial (including class action), appeals and mediation/settlements. Her practice is focused on complex civil cases (including class, multi-plaintiff, mass tort and individual) involving competition, consumer fraud, unfair trade practices, environmental, technology, trademark, qui tam, civil rights, breach of contract, Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), employment, wage and hour, insurance and other state and federal statutory and common law claims.

Civil Litigation

111 East Wacker Drive, 2800, Chicago, IL 60601

Kim concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, including breach of contract, business torts, shareholder disputes, class action defense, construction litigation, zoning litigation, commercial lease disputes, enforcement of restrictive covenants, trust litigation and Section 1983 civil rights litigation. Kim has defended the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department in multiple class actions alleging due process violations based on the purported deprivation of money and other personal property. She has achieved successful resolutions of these cases at the district court level, involving issues which have been appealed and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. Kim has also represented the Chicago Park District against opponents of the relocation of the Chicago Children’s Museum from Navy Pier to Grant Park. She successfully defended the Park District’s position at both the circuit court and appellate court levels, taking on legal precedent from the 1800’s concerning Chicago’s Lakefront. Kim is a pioneer in Illinois video gaming litigation, setting the industry precedent in the area of the enforceability of pre-licensure contracts between video terminal operators and establishments. She also represents Chicago’s premier financial institutions in various litigation matters relating to bank practices and owned real estate.

Civil Litigation

200 W Monroe St #2025, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

I’m Kristi Browne, a Partner at Patterson Law in Chicago. I focus my practice on business litigation, legal and financial professional malpractice, fraud, class actions and employment law, including representing medical residents being unfairly treated by their programs. I really enjoy digging into a complex case, especially when someone else couldn’t figure it out before the client came to us. In one case another attorney had represented the client through a jury trial and lost. I successfully moved for a new trial and won a jury verdict for the full amount claimed. In another case, I tackled the problem of avoiding nationwide discovery in a legal malpractice case regarding patent proceedings. That case also presented some significant hurdles in calculating damages for lost opportunities. In the end, I achieved a $32.2m jury verdict that was upheld by the state appellate and supreme courts. The law plays an important role in protecting the rights of minorities, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities, including kids. As both a parent and a minority, these causes are important to me, so I support them with my time and expertise. I’m responsible for Operations and Diversity and Inclusion at Patterson. Because I’m also passionate about helping young lawyers become great attorneys, I act as a mentor both at our firm and around Chicago. Driven by a strong undercurrent of justice, I aspire to deliver the best possible result for clients based on their situation. A “win” often means more than simply winning a judgement. A master of creative thinking, I can weave a successful resolution from even the most complex cases. I have been named an Illinois Leading Lawyer in commercial litigation and one of Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyer’s by Crain’s Chicago Business for 2018.

Civil Litigation

161 N Clark St suite 4300, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Maria Vathis is a seasoned commercial litigator with a broad range of experience with defending corporate clients in complex business litigation matters and class actions involving alleged statutory violations. She manages a national portfolio of complex business litigation matters for Fortune 150 companies, and she regularly represents clients from the United States and Europe in complex business litigation lawsuits alleging breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts throughout the United States. Maria also represents fashion houses, financial institutions and loan servicers. She represents retail and fashion industry clients from the United States and Europe. Maria litigates matters nationwide in federal and state courts. She also advises businesses on statutory compliance, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Maria also has deep and well-rounded experience with the insurance industry, including representing both insurers and insureds throughout her career, drafting coverage opinions, and drafting insurance policies. She monitored worldwide litigation for international insurers, which includes claims and litigation assessment and management of securities class actions and other complex civil litigation. In 2011, Maria was seconded to a leading broker in the London insurance market where she advised on policy language and legal issues. Maria is a frequent speaker at conferences in Chicago, New York, Paris, France and online. She is past national president of the Federal Bar Association (2018-2019), past president of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois (2018-2019), and past president of the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (2010-2011). Maria was selected for inclusion in America’s High Stakes Litigators for Illinois in 2019-2021, recognized for outstanding leadership along with Judge Loretta Preska for Fordham University School of Law/Southern District of New York Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2018, and selected as the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois’ “Lawyer of the Year” for 2017. Maria has appeared on podcasts, radio and local television. She is a board member of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. and an advisory board member of the Creative Center for Entrepreneurship.

Civil Litigation

7707 Knoxville Ave suite 201 a, Peoria, IL 61614, USA

Matthew Hefflefinger is a partner in Chartwell Law’s Peoria office. He is an accomplished trial lawyer who focuses on the transportation and construction industries. He represents businesses, large self-insured organizations, insurance carriers, and employers in state and federal courts throughout the midwestern United States. Matt’s effectiveness in dealing with catastrophic losses is well-known throughout the trucking industry, as he is frequently contacted immediately after catastrophic losses to visit accident scenes and develop strategies with an eye toward successful resolutions in potential litigations. Matt ha been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list and is an AV rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell AV. He is a frequent speaker on cutting edge trucking-related litigation topics around the country. In 2000, InterBusiness Issues, a leading publication in Central Illinois, named Matt one of its "40 Leaders Under 40." Before joining Chartwell Law, Matt was a partner in the Peoria office of a regional law firm.

Civil Litigation

416 Ravine Road, Hinsdale, IL 60521

Civil Litigation

111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60601

Richard is a regulatory attorney and litigator who helps companies resolve complex gaming law, data privacy and healthcare issues affecting their businesses. Since joining Taft in 2013, Richard has helped casinos, terminal operators, gaming equipment manufacturers, and video game businesses resolve legal matters arising under the Illinois Video Gaming Act and other gaming regulations nationwide. Richard has also helped clients successfully challenge the constitutionality of other local gaming laws. Richard’s comprehensive knowledge of gaming law issues and successful track record assisting terminal operators and gaming companies are among the reasons why he was honored as Top Gaming Litigation Lawyer for Chicago at Corporate LiveWire’s Excellence in Gaming Awards in 2016. Richard was recognized as one of 100 attorneys featured in the Lawyers of Color “Nation’s Best 2020,” which promotes diversity in the legal profession and advances democracy and equality in marginalized communities. In addition to gaming law issues, Richard’s practice also covers data privacy, commercial litigation, labor and employment litigation and compliance, regulatory compliance defense, healthcare regulatory litigation and compliance, and medical cannabis licensing and compliance. Richard uses court-tested strategies to help his clients obtain temporary restraining orders, defeat motions to dismiss, and obtain injunctive and declaratory relief. Richard also has experience using cost-saving eDiscovery tools and tactics that help reduce his clients’ litigation costs without sacrificing results. Richard is also experienced in peer reviews, privacy policies, business associate agreements, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act and HIPAA/HITECH issues.

Civil Litigation

120 North LaSalle Street, Ste 3400, Chicago, IL 60602

Robert A. Shipley is the founding partner of Shipley Law Group, Ltd. For 37 years he has maintained long-standing client relationships while engaged in an active litigation and trial practice, along with general business counseling. A trusted advisor and counselor to business owners and principals, Mr. Shipley is a recognized problem solver and solution provider. He has hands on involvement with clients representing businesses, construction and design professionals, insurers and individuals in complex business, construction, construction defect, insurance, professional liability and tort claims and disputes. An experienced trial attorney, Certified Mediator and appellate advocate, Mr. Shipley has in excess of 100 cases to verdict in addition to numerous Arbitrations and Mediations.

Civil Litigation

200 W. Monroe Street, Suite 2025, Chicago, IL 60606

Business, Commercial and Professional Liability Litigation

Civil Litigation

1456, North Bell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

Taylor Rothman is a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Taylor has broad experience in complex commercial litigation and government investigations. Her commercial litigation experience includes antitrust, healthcare fraud, data privacy, False Claims Act and breach of contract matters. She has played an integral role in several class actions and other cases involving federal and state courts. Her government investigations experience includes internal antitrust investigations. Taylor also maintains an active pro bono practice.

Civil Litigation

237 E Front St., Bloomington, IL 61701

Todd is the Senior Partner and Equity Shareholder of the law firm of Kanoski Bresney. He took over operations in January 2018 after his partner and firm founder, Ron Kanoski, retired. He is also the Senior Trial Attorney who manages the complex litigation division. Todd is married and has three children, which he proudly devotes 100% of his time to when he is not working.

Civil Litigation

400, Flagstone Pass Dr, O\'Fallon, IL 62269

During the past two decades, Todd Mathews has secured numerous multi-million dollar trial verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, successfully representing plaintiffs nationwide across product liability, personal injury, employment, sexual abuse, class action, mass tort, and whistleblower cases. Todd served as co-lead trial counsel to the Official Committee of Talc Claimants in the Johnson & Johnson bankruptcy of its special purpose subsidiary LTL Management. For more please visit here. His courtroom efforts have not gone unnoticed. Todd is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, an invitation-only organization composed of premier trial lawyers from each state or region, and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in America. A partner in Bailey Glasser’s St. Louis, MO and Maryville IL offices, Todd joined the firm in September 2021. Todd serves on the plaintiff’s executive committee of both the Atrium Hernia Mesh Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) in New Hampshire and the Smith and Nephew Hips MDL in Maryland. He also holds leadership committee positions on the Bard Hernia Mesh Coordinated Cases, Mirena PTC MDL, and Taxotere MDL. He serves the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers as a representative to the American Association of Justice’s board of governors. A regular organizer of and speaker at legal symposiums worldwide, Todd designs events that facilitate leadership roles, reflect organizational structure, and encourage coordinated litigation efforts. His conferences have featured hundreds of U.S. law firms. Todd holds a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University School of Law, as well as a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University.

Civil Litigation

1312 Rolling Prairie Ct, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

Mr. Morel has litigated and won matters at motion to dismiss, summary judgment and class action certification stages involving a full range of commercial and tort matters for clients such as BP, Briggs and Stratton, Brunswick, Dow Chemical Company, HCSC, General Motors, GATX Corporation, PWC, Rohm and Haas, Union Carbide and United Air Lines. He has counseled and represented clients in response to significant industrial disasters including petrochemical plant explosions and releases in Louisiana and Texas, and rail disasters in Viareggio, Italy, Lac-Megantic, Canada, California, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia. Mr. Morel has also advised clients with respect to internal matters including corporate governance, internal systems, securities and regulatory compliance, risk management, due diligence, and best practices. He has conducted internal investigations involving a number of issues including trade secret theft and harassment.

Civil Litigation

840 Audubon Way #116, Lincolnshire, IL 60069, USA

Wayne B. Giampietro is an attorney admitted to practice by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1966. He received his B.A. degree from Purdue University in 1963, and a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1966. He has maintained an office in the Chicago area, concentrating on civil trial and appellate cases. In addition to having been involved in well over two hundred fifty trials, he has authored briefs in approximately fifty appeals in the federal system, including cases before the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and over seventy appeals in state courts, including the Supreme Courts of Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as various state appellate courts. He currently practices as a sole practitioner.. He has previously been a partner in: Gertz & Giampietro; Ligtenberg, DeJong, Poltrock & Giampietro; Witwer, Poltrock & Giampietro; Stitt Klein Daday, Aretos & Giampietro and Poltrock & Giampietro

Civil Litigation

311 N Aberdeen St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Elliot Slosar is a partner at Loevy & Loevy. Elliot worked full-time as the Loevy & Loevy and Exoneration Project in-house investigator while attending DePaul University’s College of Law at night. In law school, Elliot received numerous awards for his outstanding work in trial advocacy, pre-trial civil litigation, and mass media law. Elliot is the Chicago Bar Foundation’s 2009 Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Scholar, a prestigious award given annually to an incoming Illinois law student who has shown a deep commitment and future dedication to public interest law. As an attorney, Elliot has concentrated his practice on wrongful convictions and other constitutional issues. Elliot also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame Law School, where he co-teaches the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic and represents individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes in state and federal proceedings. To date, Elliot has assisted in exonerating thirteen individuals from wrongful convictions across Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana. After a long day of practicing law, Elliot can be found at home with his daughter Sophia. If you are looking for Elliot before dawn, he can be found at his local CrossFit box. Elliot is an avid fan of Borussia Dortmund, the Chicago Cubs, DePaul basketball, and Notre Dame football.

Civil Litigation

416 Ravine Rd, Hinsdale, IL 60521, USA

Michael J. Pasquinelli joined PJM, after compiling 17 years’ experience in complex litigation in both the private and governmental sectors. Prior to joining the firm, Michael represented clients in personal injury, consumer fraud, breach of contract, corporate transactional, corporate general counsel, commercial real estate, and residential real estate matters; and defended a broad portfolio of civil litigation cases from construction general liability to breach of contract and fiduciary claims. In addition to experience in the private sector, Michael served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both the criminal and civil divisions, where he reached First Chair status; and worked to resolve over one thousand cases over the course of his public career. Notably, Michael successfully briefed and argued the landmark case of People v. Johnnie Wilson, before the Illinois Supreme Court, which set the legal standard for parolee searches in Illinois state and federal courts. See People v. Wilson, 228 Ill. 2d 35 (2008). Michael has also successfully appealed civil forfeiture matters, which helped define the procedural burdens and standards under the Illinois Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. People v. $111,900 United States Currency, 366 Ill. App. 3d 21 (Ill. App. 1st 2006) Michael graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in Economics, and later graduated cum laude from The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly The John Marshall Law School), where he was a Member of the John Marshall Law Review. In addition to his legal experience, Michael has experience in the construction industry, having worked as a carpenter, assistant superintendent, superintendent, project manager, construction manager, and home builder in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. In addition, Michael started his own Development Company, having provided development and consulting services in the Chicagoland region, and worked in the mortgage banking industry as well. Mr. Pasquinelli’s hands on experience in business and development industry brings a common-sense, streamlined approach to providing residential/commercial contract and transactional services, and with providing tort and contract litigation services as well. This same hands-on practical experience has aided in the assessment and preparation of various planned unit developments, and development agreements for Peterson Johnson and Murray’s existing municipal clients.

Civil Litigation

821 W. Highway 50, Suite 303, O'Fallon, IL 62269

Russell K. Scott’s legal career in Belleville, Illinois, included trial practice and management responsibilities at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. His litigation work covered legal and medical malpractice defense, product liability, industrial accidents, insurance disputes and commercial matters. In 2012, he held officer and practice group manager positions at the firm and was also a certified mediator.