Illinois Attorneys to Watch
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
Ropes & Gray congratulates Benjamin Rhode Partner, Business Restructuring
and all of this year’s 40 Under Forty honorees.
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Much congratulates Much congratulates
for being named to Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Under Forty List of Illinois Attorneys in 2024. Laura Elkayam for being named to Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Under Forty List of Illinois Attorneys in 2024. Laura Elkayam
We’re Much. Attorneys who embrace passion and pragmatism in equal parts. Champion big ideas over big law and high-touch service over high cost. Care deeply about people’s quality of work and their quality of life. Remain laser-focused on taking you to the next level. We’re Much. Attorneys who embrace passion and pragmatism in equal parts. Champion big ideas over big law and high-touch service over high cost. Care deeply about people’s quality of work and their quality of life. Remain laser-focused on taking you to the next level. We’re a law firm that gets your business.
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Beth has been a trusted advisor and valued legal expert to me and my team for many years, always providing a timely response and a thoughtful approach to the wide variety of challenges that we faced. She has proven to be exceptional every time we call on her for guidance and support.
– Joshua Lerner Senior Vice President, O’Connor Capital Partners
Congratulations to our Real Estate partner
Neal Gerber Eisenberg fosters a collaborative environment that empowers our attorneys to excel. Beth's recognition underscores her dedication to client service, her mentorship of women across the legal community, and her steadfast commitment to giving back. We are incredibly proud of the impact she has made and her outstanding accomplishments. We are delighted to see her join the distinguished ranks of the firm's talented attorneys, who have garnered this recognition for over a decade. It is truly an honor to have one of our own named to the list of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" for fieen consecutive years. on being selected among this remarkable group of young leaders in the Illinois Legal Community. BETH RADICHEL
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For 25 years, the 40 Under Forty Committee at Law Bulletin Media has sifted through piles of nomination forms to select 40 of the most tal- ented young attorneys working in Illinois. This publication is the result of this work. Since the inaugural issue of 40 Under Forty in 2000 and despite the ever changing legal profession, the competition featured in these pages has remained intense. In 2024, we received more than 1000 nominations for attorneys throughout Illinois. Choosing who to include was just as chal- lenging as the previous 24 editions. What does it take to earn recognition as one of the best young lawyers in the state? Intelligence, passion, success in the office, a desire to help the community and, most importantly, a willingness to work hard at one of the country’s most important professions. Putting together this issue is no easy task. We solicited nominations from across the state. We then worked with our nominated attorneys in fine tuning their profiles. The results, we hope are both an entertaining and educational read. Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat. This though, is exactly what the 40 young attorneys fea- tured in this publication have done.
OTHER LEGAL EVENTS JVR Trial Excellence Awards Law Bulletin Seminars
Adam Hrejsa Director, 40 Under Forty
Copyright © 2024 by Law Bulletin Media. This is a product of the Legal Advertising Department. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system. Reproduction available from the publisher.
P.S. After reading about this year’s honorees, please flip to pages 80-87 as we reconnected with some of the honorees from the previous 24 years.
40 Under Forty 2024
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LEVIN & PERCONTI CONGRATULATES NICHOLAS EMERSON for being named to the 2024 40 Under Forty list
You Join a Prestigious List of Levin & Perconti Honorees
Michael Bonamarte 2010
Margaret Battersby Black 2011
Cari Silverman 2014
Jaime Koziol Delaney 2016
Andrew J. Thut 2017
Daniel Goldfaden 2019
Michael Shanahan 2020
Kelly Sabo Gaden 2021
Megan O’Connor 2022
Daniel Broderick 2023
(312) 332 - 2872 www.LevinPerconti.com Questions@LevinPerconti.com
Honorees Table of Contents 16 Jessica Levitt Acuna Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP 17 Christine Barone Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. 18 Susan Best Gordon, Rees, Scully, Mansukhani LLP 19 Shelley Bethune Illinois Courts Commission 22 Benjamin Breslau Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry 23 David Cascio Laner Muchin, Ltd. 24 Michael Crane Costello, McMahon, Gilbreth & Murphy, Ltd. 25 Matthew D'Avanzo Johnson & Bell, Ltd. 28 Daissy Dominguez Justice Connect, LLC 29 David Duffey Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth, LLC
32 Sarah Dunkley
Golan Christie Taglia
33 Laura A. Elkayam Much Shelist 34 Nicholas Emerson Levin & Perconti 35 Jennifer Enloe
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, LLP
38 Michael Fleck
Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, LLP
39 Erin McAdams Franzblau Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres 40 John Giokaris Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC 41 Laura Gottlieb Berger Schatz 44 Ryan Hatten
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, P.C.
45 Kathryne Hayes
Collins Bargione & Vuckovich
40 Under Forty 2024
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Don't miss featured testimonials from over 50 honorees over the past 25 years in this special anniversary publication. See pages 80-89.
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
46 Jonathan Hughley 47 Lara Lickhalter 50 Kellie Mazzarella
62 Elizabeth E. Radichel Neal Gerber Eisenberg 63 Benjamin Rhode Ropes & Gray 64 Abigail Rocap BatesCarey LLP 65 Blake Roter 68 Marisa Schostok Dudley & Lake, LLC 69 Katie Schwartz 70 Michael Sciaccotta Kirkland & Ellis LLP 71 Elizabeth Shindler Grund & Leavitt 74 Kyle Shires 75 Thomas Tomasik Clifford Law Offices
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker
Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP
51 Maggie Mendenhall Casey City of Chicago Department of Law 52 Megan Fahey Monty Cooney & Conway 53 Cole Munvez Parente & Norem 56 Andrew Murphy Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 57 Ervin Nevitt Coplan & Crane, Ltd. 58 Molly Pankauskas Hall Prangle & Schoonveld, LLC 59 Kaitlin Post Beermann LLP
Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, PC
Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
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Congratulations
to Andrew Murphy, recognized in Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch.
Andrew S. Murphy Associate / Employment and Labor Relations
Taftlaw.com
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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40 Under Forty 2024
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JESSICA LEVITT ACUNA
AGE 37
FIRM Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP
LAW SCHOOL Valparaiso University School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Medical negligence and healthcare
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T he numbers tell the story: During the last several years, Jessica Levitt Acuna has secured seven defense verdicts for total damages exceeding $55 million. That's especially im- pressive considering that Acuna has not yet reached her 40th birthday. And it's this record of success that has earned Acuna a reputation as one of the rising stars in Chicago's medical de- fense field. Acuna has thrived when taking on general negligence work, too, securing summary judgment three times for major health- care institutions in the last year alone. Lisa Homer, senior claims analyst with the University of Illinois System, said that Acuna has become a valuable asset in the sys- tem's efforts to defend its nurses and doctors against medical malpractice claims. "Jessica works well with her co-workers during a trial," Homer said. "Coordinating the trials along with organizing the witnesses and the evidence without a hitch gives us the greatest confi- dence in Jessica and her firm to provide our office with the best defense. We are very blessed to work with Jessica." Catherine Basque Weiler with Chicago's Hinshaw & Culb- ertson says that Acuna's string of victories is no fluke. Acuna is well-versed in the details of medical law. She doesn't hesitate to log long hours. And she's deeply committed to her clients, Weiler said. "When she works on a case, she understands every detail and how to ensure that she provides the best possible defense for
She understands every detail and how to ensure that she provides the best possible defense for her clients. ”
her clients," Weiler said. "There are many, many things about Jess's professional skill that are unique and extraordinary. She is very smart. She is very knowledgeable. She is one of the hard- est-working people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is also charismatic and an excellent judge of character, which serves her well both inside and outside of the courtroom." Acuna has found success outside the courtroom, too. For the last several years, she has served as a co-chair of Swan- son Martin and Bell's Medical Negligence and Healthcare Prac- tice Group. Acuna also played college soccer and remains active as an endurance athlete, completing four Ironman triathlons to date. "Jessica is an exceptional attorney," said Laura DeDecker, claims counsel at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. "She is always professional, well-spoken and prepared. She can remain calm and composed under stressful situations and in the most complex legal matters. She also has a great attention to detail and is always willing to work long hours going above and beyond what anyone would expect from her."
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CHRISTINE BARONE
AGE 37
FIRM Chuhak & Tecson, P.C.
LAW SCHOOL Loyola University School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Elder law, estate and trust administration, estate planning
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C hristine Barone is among select company: She is one of only 13 Certified Elder Law Attorneys practicing in Illinois. The CELA designation is only given to highly qualified attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. Barone's inclusion in this group is evidence of the esteem in which her clients and peers hold her. Those who have worked with Barone aren't surprised by this honor. Barone routinely delivers the best results for her clients. During her career, she has worked with clients on contested and uncontested adult guardianships, decedents' estates, trust ad- ministration and litigation, estate planning and asset protection. Barone also handles the estate planning for those with dis- abilities or special needs and strategizes and implements long- term care plans for those seeking eligibility for Medicaid. She, too, has represented nursing homes in securing and appealing Medicaid benefits for their residents and claims for payment from the state in the Illinois Court of Claims. "Christine is more knowledgeable in this area than just about anyone else I know," said Chicago attorney Stephanie Sexauer. "She's extremely patient and kind, working with people from all walks of life." As one of the busiest elder law specialists in Illinois, Barone has helped hundreds of clients resolve their elder law issues. "Christine is excellent at listening to a client and presenting a solution that allows the client to feel comfortable and con- fident," said Simon Mayali, director of estate planning with
Her technical expertise is second to none. ”
BakerAvenue Wealth Management. "She is incredibly responsive and treats every client with kindness and respect. Her technical expertise is second to none. This combination makes her one of the top attorneys in Illinois." Donald Higgins, vice president and senior trust advisor with the Oak Brook office of Fifth Third Private Bank, says that he is often "floored" by Barone's wealth of knowledge. Barone helped mentor Higgins as he transitioned from estate planning and ad- ministration to elder law planning. Her knowledge, he said, made this transition a far simpler one. "The Medicaid process can be overwhelming for clients, but Christine's patient and thorough demeanor always turned a mountain of a challenge into something manageable, leaving clients with a true confidence in her abilities," Higgins said. "She is never afraid to go above and beyond for her clients, who just so happen to be among the most vulnerable class in America." Barone enjoys any downtime with her husband and four young children in the northwest suburbs and surviving water- park vacations.
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SUSAN BEST
AGE 38
FIRM Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
LAW SCHOOL Northern Illinois University College of Law AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Employment law, education, litigation, counseling
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S usan Best's colleagues say that she possesses a rare blend of authoritative confidence and warm collegiality. This combination means that Best ranks as a formidable and feared opponent, one who is passionate about achieving the best re- sults for her clients. She is also committed to her profession, devoting countless hours to mentoring and providing opportunities to new lawyers. "But don't mistake Susan's lovely personality for softness: She will out-prepare, out-wit, out-word and out-work any challenge or opponent," said Sarah Quinn, partner with the Chicago office of Husch Blackwell. "Susan is also a great friend and supporter of other lawyers. She makes space for others in all settings. She is generous with her time, her contacts and her mentorship. She is unapologetically authentic and her integrity is unmatched." “Susan has a remarkable ability to relate to her clients with compassion and empathy. She remains composed in the face of extraordinarily challenging and sometimes tragic fact patterns to guide her clients using thoughtful, creative solutions” said Elizabeth Barton, Managing Deputy General Counsel at Chicago Public Schools (“CPS”). Best's career includes a long list of victories for her clients. In the last five years, she has represented CPS in two high-profile federal jury cases, both of which resulted in full defense verdicts. In one case, the plaintiff alleged discrimination, inference and retaliation under the ADA and FMLA. The jury found in favor of
She will out-prepare, out-wit, out-word and out-work any challenge or opponent. ”
CPS on all counts. In the most recent trial, the plaintiff, a former high school principal, alleged that he was defamed when he was terminated amid several misconduct allegations that were high- ly publicized. The plaintiff asked the jury for $10 million. The jury found in favor of CPS on all counts and awarded zero damages. "Susan has acquired litigation experience beyond her years of practicing," said Alissa Griffin with the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law. In addition, Susan worked to start the Office of Student Protection & Title IX at CPS. This endeavor was historic as the District was at the forefront in creating an office designed to coordinate the response to all incidents of sexual misconduct under Title IX. “Susan never forgets the human element to her matters and works tirelessly to advocate for her clients,” said CPS’ General Counsel, Ruchi Verma. Douglas Henning, senior legal counsel with Siemens Mobility, praised not only Best's legal knowledge, but her work ethic. No one, he says, outworks Best.
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SHELLEY BETHUNE
AGE 38
FIRM Illinois Courts Commission
LAW SCHOOL Loyola University Chicago School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Litigation, government law
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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S helley Bethune played a major role in the 2022 overturning of the Shakman Consent Decree, a decree originally enacted in 1972 to prohibit the hiring or firing of Illinois government employ- ees for political reasons. The vacation of the decree is considered one of the most important legal moments in Illinois' recent history. Bethune served as co-counsel for the Cook County Clerk's office in the Shakman litigation, and she used her outstanding writing skills to advance the Clerk’s position. She and other lit- igators argued that Shakman had become antiquated and was an abuse of the system that primarily served to enrich attorneys rather than help the public. Adam Vaught, partner at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, rec- ognized Bethune's skills and asked her to help him defend the County Clerk in the Shakman litigation. "The case had its own unique procedures, precedents and customs, yet Shelley navigated it as though she had been work- ing on the case for decades. Her work was significant in helping end the 50-year-old case," Vaught said. "The maturity with which she handled the Shakman litigation cannot be overstated," said Travis Richardson of the Office of the Cook County Clerk. "She is a respected legal ethics specialist.” Indeed, the Shakman litigation is just one example of Bethune's impact during a thriving legal career. Today, she serves as the inaugural executive director and general counsel of the Illinois Courts Commission, a state agency that adjudicates com- plaints alleging judicial misconduct. As the first employee of the Commission, Bethune was in the unique position of building the office from the ground up, with no predecessor or rule book to
She is a respected legal ethics specialist. ”
follow. But despite this, Bethune has risen to the challenge and, among other things, has launched the Commission’s first web- site, which now houses all the Commission’s orders from past cases. This alone has made the work of the Commission much more transparent and accessible to the public, Bethune started her career as a litigator at the Illinois Attor- ney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. There, she inves- tigated hundreds of charges of attorney misconduct and litigat- ed nearly all phases of those matters that were prosecuted. She then joined a private law firm and quickly established herself as a litigator with skills and insight. She defended profes- sionals in a range of liability issues, including legal malpractice and disciplinary matters, and counseled lawyers on various risk management issues Over the years, Bethune has also found time to give back to her community and profession. She has been an active lecturer and has participated in numerous forums, panels and seminars on topics relating to attorney ethics and the rules of profession- al conduct. Most recently, she has devoted time to help educate the public and the legal profession on changes to the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.
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John C. Sciaccotta Partner, Aronberg Goldgehn 40 Under Forty Class of 2000
Michael K. Sciaccotta Partner, Kirkland & Ellis 40 Under Forty Class of 2024
Congratulations to the first-ever 40 Under Forty parent-child duo!
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From all of us at Marshall Gerstein, Congratulations to Jonathan Hughley! Partner, Law Bulletin ’s 2024 “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” Honoree, and a truly exceptional individual. We hold you in the highest regard, and your clients do too: “Jonathan’s contributions to our team extend to helping us build other efficiencies. We don’t hesitate to call on him to encourage innovation within our team.” - Client quote
BENJAMIN BRESLAU
AGE 39
FIRM Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry
LAW SCHOOL UIC Law School
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Workers' compensation
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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A n unwavering commitment to fairness and ethics. An in- depth knowledge of the law. And a fierce commitment to his clients. Those qualities have made Benjamin Breslau one of the most in-demand workers' compensation specialists in the Chicago area, according to colleagues. His peers say that Breslau is always well-prepared and high- ly proficient, regularly earning positive results for his clients. It's no surprise, then, that he has quickly risen in status within the community and at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie, & Lowry. "Ben's ascent to partnership within his law firm is a testament to his strong work ethic, interpersonal finesse, and depth of legal knowledge," said fellow attorney William Stanczak. "This achievement not only underscores the value he brings to his firm but also validates what those of us who have collaborated with him have long recognized: his prowess as an attorney and his sterling character as an individual." Chicago attorney Lindsey Strom says that seeing Breslau's name attached to a file means far less stress and seamless col- laboration to close a case. "Ben’s quality of work is exceptional, and he works very hard to achieve optimal results for his clients, but at the same time, he is never disparaging to his opponents or difficult to get along with," Strom further states. "He understands how to work well with others to get the job done and reach the ultimate
The fact that he just 'gets it' is something that one cannot teach. ”
goal of closing the file." Strom says that while Breslau's in-depth knowledge of the law is essential, it isn't the sole reason for his success. She points to his personality and ability to work with others as additional key reasons for his quick ascent in the workers' compensation field. "His candor is what makes him such a pleasure to work with in my eyes, as we can talk about files without anything ever being personal, and the fact that he just 'gets it' is something that one cannot teach," Strom said. Nina Mariano, arbitrator with the Illinois Workers' Compen- sation Commission, has seen Breslau in action often during her career. She says that Breslau zealously advocates for his clients and always provides them with the best representation. "He has accomplished great things for not yet being 40," Mariano said. "He is a highly respected member of the commu- nity for his integrity and ability to practice law in his field while carrying a heavy caseload."
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DAVID CASCIO
AGE 39
FIRM Laner Muchin, Ltd.
LAW SCHOOL University of Kansas School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Labor and employment law
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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D avid Cascio performed some of his most important work in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pan- demic. It was during these years that thousands of unionized healthcare workers in Illinois were voting to go on strike. One of these planned strikes at an Illinois hospital system in- cluded 1,400 nurses in 12 units, including the emergency room and labor departments. Another union's health workers tried to strike twice at a County hospital system. This was where labor and employment law litigator Cascio ex- celled. He argued that preventing these strikes was a matter of life and death. Though only in his mid-30s, Cascio was already an expert in jury trials and hearings for emergency relief, including preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders. The legal standards that Cascio had to meet for these in- junctions was high. Cascio argued that the strikes would have caused a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the public. Cascio prevailed, persuading judges to grant all four of his temporary restraining orders in favor of the hospital systems. Pat Salvi, Jr., Managing Partner of Chicago's Salvi, Schostok & Prichard, said that Cascio is known by his peers as a skilled, no-nonsense litigator and trial lawyer whose deposition skills are "off the charts." "He is more than just a rising star in the field of labor and em- ployment. He is a force," Salvi said. "Whether trials or temporary restraining orders, David handles high-stakes issues requiring vast legal knowledge and skill. He does it with excellence."
He is more than just a rising star in the field of labor and employment. He is a force. ”
La'Shon DeFell, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer and Director of Labor with Cook County, said that she first worked with Cascio during the COVID-19 pandemic, when es- sential county hospital workers, including respiratory therapists, threatened to strike. She said that Cascio's work on more than one occasion prevented a strike that could have been disastrous to county residents. Seeking a temporary restraining order from a public employ- ee union involves a complex process, including an initial hearing before the Illinois Labor Relations Board followed by a related action in Chancery Court. "David navigated these procedures with skill and determina- tion," DeFell said. "What sets David apart is his unwavering ded- ication to serving the county's interests." DeFell points to one instance in which Cascio worked through the night to ensure the enforcement of the temporary restrain- ing order. DeFell said that Cascio's commitment ultimately guaranteed that essential services provided to the county's un- derserved community within the Cook County Health System remained uninterrupted.
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MICHAEL CRANE
AGE 37
FIRM Costello, McMahon, Gilbreth & Murphy, Ltd.
LAW SCHOOL DePaul University College of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Personal injury
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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M ichael Crane has positively impacted the lives of his many clients, helping them find financial relief after they have been injured or have suffered the loss of a family member. Retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jack Callahan presided over a trial in which Crane was one of the lead attor- neys for the estate of a 6-year-old girl who was killed by a trac- tor-trailer driven by a City of Chicago subcontractor. According to Judge Callahan, “Mike's trial skills and personal touch allow him to connect with jurors more than many litigators. Mike is simply a great talent and well respected attorney.” The case re- solved two weeks into trial for $5 million. Robert Lauer of Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik S.C., represented one of the main defendants that Crane’s clients were pursuing in a multi-plaintiff, multi-defendant fatal trucking case in Wiscon- sin. He described Crane as always being prepared. “For instance, his two-day depositions of a bank representative spanned over a decade of complex financial information and covered thou- sands of pages of financial records. His work on the case was in- strumental in pushing the case towards its ultimate resolution.” That case settled for $11.5 million, with Crane’s clients receiving $8 million. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joan Powell presided over two lengthy jury trials that Crane tried to verdict. "These were not simple trials," Powell said. "He made his arguments to the court in pretrial motions and to the jury with intelligence, passion and preparedness, zealously protecting his client's
Mike's trial skills and personal touch allow him to connect with jurors more than many litigators. ”
position and remaining professional in his demeanor and ac- tions." Both juries returned verdicts in favor of Crane’s clients. Robert Burtker with Chicago's Brennan Burtker LLC op- posed Crane during a three-week medical negligence trial in which Crane played a key role in every aspect of the case. "Mike has the unique ability to remain calm and focused, even when things were not going his way. There was never a display of dissatisfaction with the court's rulings. His approach earned him the respect of the trial judge." The jury in that case returned a $2 million verdict for Crane's client. Because of results such as these, Crane has earned a reputa- tion as a star in the personal injury field. While Crane, a graduate of Fenwick High School, dedicates his practice to personal injury, he is most proud of his pro bono representation of a Cook County torture victim who spent 30 years in prison based on a coerced false confession. For three years, Crane and co-counsel litigated the post-conviction peti- tion, which resulted in a bench hearing where the judge over- turned the wrongful conviction and set the innocent man free.
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MATTHEW D'AVANZO
AGE 36
FIRM Johnson & Bell, Ltd.
LAW SCHOOL Loyola University Chicago School of Law AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Defendant personal injury, medical malpractice
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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H ow skilled is Matthew D'Avanzo? One nominator points to a defense verdict he earned in the Circuit Court of Cook County for a nursing home client. Typically, plaintiffs have a built-in advantage in such cases because of language in the Illi- nois Nursing Home Care Act and the public perception of nurs- ing homes. Such cases can be very difficult to defend. But D'Avanzo still earned a verdict of not guilty for his nursing home client in a pressure-wound case. The plaintiff had sought $1.85 million in damages. This, said nominator Christopher Cortese with Chicago law firm Hurley McKenna & Metz, is an almost unheard-of result. "The defense verdict Matt obtained in that case is a testa- ment to his skill and dedication as a litigator," Cortese said. "Matt is able to successfully represent his clients and obtain excep- tional results because he is thoughtful, prepared and dedicated." D'Avanzo began his career representing plaintiffs before switching to the defense side of personal injury and medical malpractice law. He still practices law with the compassion he learned as a plaintiff's lawyer and recognizes the human element in his cases. This gives D'Avanzo instant credibility before jurors, his peers and judges. Before switching to the defense side of the law, D'Avanzo notched several impressive results for his plaintiff clients. This includes a settlement of more than $2.8 million against a hos- pital and nursing home for failing to stop the development of pressure injuries to a quadriplegic patient and a settlement of
The defense verdict Matt obtained in that case is a testament to his skill and dedication as a litigator. ”
more than $1.4 million for the estate of a 50-year-old develop- mentally disabled resident who choked and died in a medical facility. "Matt is a strong advocate on behalf of his clients," said Greta Powell with Chicago's Smith Blake Hill. "He is committed to his clients and has consistently demonstrated remarkable skill and unwavering integrity. His unwavering commitment to excellence and advocacy makes him a trusted ally for his clients and well-re- spected member of the bar." Katherine Moorhouse, an attorney with Skokie's McCabe & Kirshner, calls D'Avanzo an expert in his field, especially when it comes to nursing home litigation, continually securing winning results for his clients. "Beyond the impressive results he achieves, his profession- alism and reputation among his peers are equally impressive," Moorhouse said. "Although he is a fierce advocate for his clients, he is able to foster positive relationships with the attorneys he works with whether they are opposing counsel, co-counsel or counsel for a co-defendant."
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ROCK FUSCO & CONNELLY, LLC Proudly Congratulates JOHN GIOKARIS
FOR BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF THE 40 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS UNDER FORTY TO WATCH
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DAISSY DOMINGUEZ
AGE 36
FIRM Justice Connect, LLC
LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois Chicago Law School
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Immigration law
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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I mmigration law has always been a passion for attorney Daissy Dominguez. It's why she founded Chicago's Justice Connect after graduating law school. This firm provides much-needed legal services to immigrants who want to obtain citizenship, have been victims of a crime or are facing deportation. In 2023, Dominguez won 100% of her immigration cases and on average wins at least 95% of her immigration cases. During her still-young career, Dominguez has earned a repu- tation as a fierce advocate for her clients. Roya Samarghandi, associate director of advocacy, innovation and training with the Chicago Bar Foundation, said that Dominquez is an ally of women and minorities and has made a positive mark in both her profession and community. "Daisy is an attorney and social entrepreneur who works to instill positive change within the community," Samarghandi said. "Through Justice Connect, Dais- sy has guided countless clients through the immigration process, helping many achieve their dreams of becoming a U.S. citizen." Dominguez is also a successful entrepreneur. She participat- ed in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, which helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and support services. At the Goldman Sachs graduation she received the Most Inspi- rational award. She also earned the 2017 Ms. JD's Woman of In- spiration Award, which is given to a woman lawyer who inspires others with her commitment and passion for her work. In addition, Dominguez won the INVEST Chicago's Wom- en Innovation Fund Award and was previously named to the Negocios Now's 40-Under-40 list. This talented attorney also
Daissy is an attorney and social entrepreneur who works to instill positive change within the community. ”
received the Remy "Centaur" Award from Remy Martin, in rec- ognition of her being a multi-talented Latina. Dominguez's passion was evident even while she was a stu- dent in law school. While attending classes, she founded the Academic Enhancement Program, developed to increase the retention rate of first-year minority law students. She's con- tinued these efforts with the Ibanez Scholarship, designed to encourage higher education for undocumented college stu- dents. Dominguez is an adjunct law professor at UIC Law School teaching Immigration Law and Procedure and SCALES Academ- ic Skills since 2017. "Daissy is passionate about helping others and has offered affordable representation to underrepresented groups," said Margaret Frossard, associate dean at University of Illinois-Chi- cago Law School and a retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice. "She is committed to social change and has achieved excellent results representing members of the immigration community." As a way of giving back to the community, Dominguez offers legal workshops, immigration training for the staff members of community organizations and free consultations at community centers. She also mentors law students at UIC Law School.
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DAVID DUFFEY
AGE 38
FIRM Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth, LLC LAW SCHOOL Loyola University Chicago School of Law AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Medical malpractice, professional responsibility
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D avid Duffey's command of both legal and medical knowl- edge have made him a force in the medical malpractice defense field. Just ask Sean Houlihan with Chicago's Power Rogers. He first met David when the attorney was presenting a treating physi- cian for a discovery deposition. Houlihan says that he was im- mediately impressed with Duffey's in-depth knowledge of the 2,000-page record. David shone, too, in the way he controlled the deposition. Since then, Houlihan has litigated against Duffey in several cases. Duffey continues to impress, Houlihan said. "David's knowledge and command of the medicine and his ability to break that knowledge down so that a lay person can understand it, makes him invaluable to his clients," Houlihan said. "David has an easy manner about him and uses that in his examinations to have conversations with witnesses instead of examinations. David is a hard-working advocate for his clients." Elizabeth Bruer with Chicago's Swanson, Martin & Bell, echoes Houlihan's praise, adding that Duffey is often called upon by cli- ents to represent medical providers in those cases that are the most difficult and complicated. "David is one of the smartest and hardest working attor- neys I have practiced with in my 20-plus years as an attorney in Cook County," Bruer said. "He is patient and a constant pro-
David truly is one of the most unique and exceptional litigators in the city. ”
fessional, regardless of how difficult his opposing counsel may be. I am always assured that if David is on a case, it will be handled with skill and professionalism. He is a true pleasure to practice with." Duffey has shone his skills in three recent trials that went to verdict, helping his clients obtain a defense verdict in all three cases. He collectively saved his clients more than $17 million that had been requested from plaintiffs. "David truly is one of the most unique and exceptional liti- gators in the city," said Laura DeDecker, claims counsel with Northwestern Medicine. "David is dependable, knowledgeable and well-spoken, making him an all-around asset to his clients. He always gives 110% by working long hours and weekends, and going above and beyond what anyone would expect from him. He is also a true pleasure to work with. I am positive attorneys from both sides would agree that David approaches each case with civility, grace, kindness and, most importantly, humor."
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CONGRATULATES Susan J. Best on being selected among the 2024 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch
Susan Best specializes in employment law litigation representing both public and private employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, civil rights and constitutional claims, including those brought pursuant to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 1983, the ADA, the FMLA, the ADEA, and similar state statutes. Susan is also experienced in training and counseling clients on a wide variety of employment-related issues, including Title IX compliance, anti-discrimination policies and procedures, discipline, work performance, leave policies, workplace accommodations, and best practices. She has experience representing clients at the administrative level, including at that IDHR and EEOC, at the district and circuit court levels, and at the appellate level.
As the only law firm with offices and attorneys in all 50 states, GRSM delivers maximum value to our clients by combining the resources of a full-service national firm with the local knowledge of a regional firm. Featuring more than 1400 lawyers nationwide, we provide comprehensive litigation and business transactions services to companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations.
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Susan J. Best: direct 312.796.2961 · email sbest@grsm.com One North Wacker, Suite 1600 · Chicago, IL 60606
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SARAH DUNKLEY
AGE 38
FIRM Golan Christie Taglia
LAW SCHOOL Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Commercial, employment and arbitration
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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S arah Dunkley made headlines in 2020 when she, as an as- sociate worked one of her partners at the time to win a record legal malpractice verdict at the time against one of the largest law firms in the world. The trial, which took place in Ohio and lasted three weeks, focused on a Cleveland technology company that owns patents in the denim industry. The successful verdict was affirmed on appeal, making it one of the largest jury verdicts of 2020. And while this case made news, the result wasn't unusual for Dunkley: This commercial law specialist has earned a long string of winning verdicts and settlements for her clients, something that has made her a go-to attorney for businesses that need legal expertise. "Sarah excels at applying her litigation skills to a broad range of industries, including intellectual property, trusts and estates, contract litigation, resource litigation and insolvency and bank- ruptcy law," said Joanna Kopczyk, judicial clerk for the Northern District of Indiana. "In an age where specialization is becoming more and typical, Sarah's wide experience sets her apart from other litigators in Chicago." Dunkley is thriving in Chicago's law community despite start- ing her legal career in Australia, where she obtained a dual de- gree in law and psychology. Once she arrived in Chicago? She enjoyed quick success, reaching partner status at her firm in just three years.
Sarah's wide experience sets her apart from other litigators in Chicago. ”
Today, Dunkley manages a broad practice across several lit- igation areas, including intellectual property, trust and estates, contract law, large-scale international resource arbitration and bankruptcy law. "She is an exceptional lawyer," said Laura Hamilton, a prose- cutor who first met Dunkley while the two were in law school in Perth, Australia. "She is practical and down to earth as well as being exceptionally hard-working and client focused. She is also a wonderful human being with solid ethics.” Dunkley makes time, too, to serve others. She has counseled law students through the Lawyers Assistance Program, and mentors students at Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She can also be found volunteering at local soup kitchens and participating in neighborhood clean-up days. “Sarah has set an excellent example for all international at- torneys that have the goal of practicing on substantive matters throughout state and federal courts in the United States with an LLM,” Kopczyk said.
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LAURA A. ELKAYAM
AGE 39
FIRM Much Shelist
LAW SCHOOL Chicago-Kent College of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Commercial litigation
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I ntellect and creativity. Those are two key traits upon which Laura Elkayam has relied to become one of the most trust- worthy and respected commercial litigators in Chicago's legal community. But Elkayam has another key skill: She knows how to relate to people, clients and opponents alike. And this human touch has also played a role in Elkayam's steady rise in her profession. Scott Carman, partner with Boston-based law firm Krems, Jackowitz & Carman, worked alongside Elkayam for years. He praised Elkayam for helping him land his first institutional client. "As expected, Laura charmed and impressed them," Carman said. "They remain my largest client today. Although Laura is no longer with my firm or in Massachusetts, there is no one I would trust more to service my clients' needs or meet with perspective new clients." One of Elkayam’s clients, the principal of a woman-owned business in Chicago, relies on Elkayam for legal strategy. She said that Elkayam is conscientious, patient when explaining legal issues and always focused on the best interests of her company. "Her detailed knowledge of the ever-changing legal landscape relating to employment practices is extremely impressive,”
There is no one I would trust more to service my clients' needs or meet with perspective new clients. ”
she said. “Laura has a straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is style that is both refreshing and efficient." Harvey Barnett, an attorney with Chicago's Sperling & Slat- er, has worked as a trial and appellate lawyer for more than 58 years and has tried cases across the country. He first worked with Elkayam when he sat on an arbitration panel adjudicating a dispute for one of her clients in 2021. Her work impressed Barnett. "Her writing skills are exceptional," Barnett said. "Her pre- sentation of witnesses and cross-examination were top-notch, direct and concise. It set the stage for a very convincing closing brief that she wrote." Commenting on one of Elkayam’s recent high-profile filings, Barnett said, “I do not engage in hyperbole, but I would rank Laura’s complaint as one of the finest I have seen.”
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NICHOLAS EMERSON
AGE 31
FIRM Levin & Perconti
LAW SCHOOL John Marshall Law School
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Personal injury, medical malpractice
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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N icholas Emerson's legal skills, courtroom presence, work ethic and honesty have all helped him build a busy career in the personal injury and medical malpractice arena. But it is the empathy he has for his clients that sets him apart. Chicago attorney Johanna Tracy said that Emerson has a sense of community and understands how an injury or death can affect not only injured parties but those who surround them and cared for them. Emerson, then, does whatever it takes to earn the best results for his clients. "He has a fighting voice, one that is true, pure and honest," Tracy said. "He knows how to tell an understandable story, the key to winning a jury trial. He is also very creative and has se- cured many significant settlements and jury verdicts." An example of Emerson's legal skills? One nominator point- ed to Emerson's successful cross-examination of nurses and a nurse practitioner, all represented by another law firm, in which he obtained admissions that they potentially violated the stan- dard of care, a rare occurrence. Such a result isn't unusual for Emerson, said Lynn Geerdes with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. "He is natural and at ease during his questioning and in the courtroom," Geerdes said. "Nick is a hard worker and very re- sponsive on cases at all hours. He is a natural leader with a very strong presence and knowledge in the courtroom." During his career, Emerson has earned many significant victo- ries for his clients. This includes a settlement of more than $2.8 million against a hospital and nursing home for failing to prevent multiple injuries to a quadriplegic patient and a settlement of
He knows how to tell an understandable story, the key to winning a jury trial. ”
more than $1.4 million for the estate of a 50-year-old develop- mentally disabled resident of a Community Integrated Living Arrangement who choked and died after the facility served him lunch that did not meet the requirements of his diet. "I am always impressed with his acumen of matter details and his willingness to debate a matter while at the same time listen- ing to our opposing position on the matter," said Adam Guetzow with Chicago's Hinshaw and Culbertson. "I know that Nick will be prepared to not only convey his position but also truly listen to the defense perspective and try to understand where our cli- ents may be coming from on particular issues. The latter is a skill set not always learned so early in an attorney's career, and Nick has grasped that quite successfully." During his career, Emerson has earned many significant victo- ries for his clients. This includes a settlement of more than $2.8 million against a hospital and nursing home for failing to prevent multiple pressure ulcer/bed sores to a quadriplegic patient and a settlement of more than $1.4 million for the estate of a 50-year- old developmentally disabled resident of a Community Integrat- ed Living Arrangement who choked and died after the facility served him lunch that did not meet the requirements of his diet.
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