40 Under Forty 2023

Illinois Attorneys to Watch

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

It’s Affirmed! Our 5th, 40 Under Forty Honoree for Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, Ltd!

Claudia Castro 2012

Matt Byrne 2017

Elizabeth Shine 2016

Ross Secler 2020

Lauren DaValle 2023

SALVI SCHOSTOK & PRITCHARD CONGRATULATES ALL THE HONOREES AND David J. Rashid FOR BEING NAMED TO LAW BULLETIN MEDIA’S LIST OF FORTY ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS UNDER 40 TO WATCH.

David J. Rashid (drashid@salvilaw.com)

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Much congratulates

for being named to Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Under Forty List of Illinois Attorneys in 2023. Peter Shepard

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— RUBIN & MACHADO, LTD. — CONGRATULATES

STEPHANIE RUBIN

on being selected as one of the 2023 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer.

LEVIN & PERCONTI CONGRATULATES DANIEL BRODERICK for being named to the 2023 40 Under Forty list LEVIN & PERCONTI CONGRATULATES DANIEL BRODERICK for being named to the 2023 40 Under Forty list

You Join a Prestigious List of Levin & Perconti Honorees You Join a Prestigious List of Levin & Perconti Honorees

Jaime Koziol Delaney 2016

Margaret Battersby Black 2011

Andrew J. Thut 2017

Cari Silverman 2014

Michael Bonamarte 2010

Jaime Koziol Delaney 2016

Margaret Battersby Black 2011

Andrew J. Thut 2017

Cari Silverman 2014

Michael Bonamarte 2010

Daniel Goldfaden 2019

Michael Shanahan 2020

Kelly Sabo Gaden 2021

Megan O'Connor 2022

Daniel Goldfaden 2019

Michael Shanahan 2020

Kelly Sabo Gaden 2021

(312) 332 - 2872 www.LevinPerconti.com Questions@LevinPerconti.com (312) 332 - 2872 www.LevinPerconti.com Questions@LevinPerconti.com Megan O'Connor 2022

ROPES & GRAY CONGRATULATES Brendan Hanifin Partner, Litigation & Enforcement and all of this year’s 40 Under Forty honorees.

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Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat. This is exactly what the 40 young attorneys featured in this publication have done. For the last 24 years, the 40 Under Forty Committee at Law Bulletin Publishing Company sift through over piles of nomination forms to select 40 of the most talented young attorneys working in Illinois. This publica- tion is the result of this work. Despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, the competition to be featured in these pages has remained intense. We received more 1000 nominations for attorneys throughout Illinois. Choosing who to include was just as challenging the previous 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 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.

OUR TEAM Peter Mierzwa President & Publisher pmierzwa@lawbulletinmedia.com Adam Hrejsa Director, 40 Under Forty ahrejsa@lawbulletinmedia.com Julie Leuck Design Manager jleuck@lawbulletinmedia.com Susan Englund Production Designer senglund@lawbulletinmedia.com Amanda Monto Marketing Manager amonto@lawbulletinmedia.com OTHER LEGAL PUBLICATIONS Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Chicago Lawyer Magazine Women In Law Lawyers Handbook Jury Verdict Reporter

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40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

CONGRATULATES MACKENZIE J. MAHONY

ON BEING SELECTED TO 40 UNDER FORTY

Congrats to Mac on joining the other 40 Under 40 Alumni from Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman

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Honorees Table of Contents

24 Andrew Albright 25 Elizabeth Babbitt 26 Avanti Bakane 27 Staci Balbirer 30 Kenyatta Beverly

38 Brendan Hanifin Ropes & Gray 39 James Hartmann 40 Caroline Hecht Buckley Fine, LLC 41 Aaron Hersh 42 Eleni Katsoulis 43 Loren Legorreta 46 Mackenzie Mahony

Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP

Office of the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Gordon, Rees, Scully, Mansukhani LLP

Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa

Willkie Farr & Gallagher

The Davey Tree Expert Company

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

31 Daniel Broderick Levin & Perconti 32 Melissa Caballero Dunn

Tomasik Kotin Kasserman LLC

Law Offices of Jonathan Merel

Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman

33 Lauren DaValle

47 Bruno Marasso

Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, Ltd.

Romanucci & Blandin

34 Matthew Gannon

48 Nico Martinez Bartlit Beck LLP 49 Christina Mermigas Chuhak & Tecson, P.C.

Healy Scanlon Veugeler Gannon, LLC

35 Andrew Gilbert

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

50 Nicole Mueller K&L Gates LLP 51 Benton Page Beermann Law

63 Justin Seigler BatesCarey 64 Peter Shepard Much Shelist, P.C. 65 John Skakun Sidley Austin LLP 68 Jacqueline Stephens Breisch Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, LLP 69 John Travis Hall Prangle & Schoonveld, LLC 70 Matthew Tully Tully & Associates 71 Christopher Wells

54 Elin Park

Jenner & Block

55 Greta Powell 56 Sarah Quinn Husch Blackwell 57 David Rashid 58 Brian Raterman 60 Stephanie Rubin

Smith Blake Hill, LLC

Salvi, Shostok & Pritchard

Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C.

Office of the Illinois Attorney General

73 Tina Wills

Rubin & Machado, Ltd.

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

Anthony Sam Cunningham, Meyer & Vedrine, P.C.

74 Collette Woghiren 75 Julia Zousmer King & Spalding

Neal Gerber & Eisenberg

62 Ryan Schermerhorn

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

Representing clients in property tax, real estate, and litigation matters for over 40 years. Matthew D. Tully ̵ Ͷ ͲʹͲʹ͵ Ͷ Ͳ

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR ALUMNI SPONSORS

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Congratulations to our Litigation Partner

for her exceptional achievements as a young leader within the Illinois Legal Community. COLLETTE WOGHIREN

At Neal Gerber Eisenberg, we cultivate an environment where our attorneys can truly thrive. We proudly share Collette's well-deserved inclusion among the esteemed "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch." Her selection is a testament to her legal acumen, thoughtful counsel and unwavering commitment to serving the community. Collette joins the distinguished ranks of the firm's talented attorneys, who have garnered this recognition for over a decade.

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ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

Aronberg Goldgehn congratulates Staci Balbirer on being named one of this year’s 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch. We join her clients, colleagues and opposing counsel in lauding her dedication to her family law practice and her outstanding ability to resolve even the most contentious issues. Staci joins past Aronberg Goldgehn 40 Under 40 honorees Amy M. Gibson (2021) and John C. Sciaccotta (2000, 2014 Hall of Fame).

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A lways prepared. Aggressive. Intelligent. A commanding presence in the courtroom. This is how Andrew Albright’s peers describe this young liability defense attorney. His combination of a sharp legal mind, relentless work ethic and commitment to his clients is the reason why Albright has managed to build such a strong legal career at such a young age. Albright’s clients turn to him when they face high-exposure claims of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and property loss. He has successfully defended negligence claims against physicians, attor- neys, manufacturers, engineers, construction firms and transportation companies. Albright also boasts experience representing professionals in licensure proceedings, hearings and investigations before government agencies. James Ozog, partner with Goldberg Segalla, is working with Albright on a large catastrophic injury case against public utilities and other de- fendants. The case, in which Albright has taken the role as lead defense counsel, has been a showcase for Albright’s legal skills, Ozog said. “I have observed and admired Andrew’s skills,” Ozog said. “He is al- ways prepared, aggressive but always civil and polite and respected by opponents. He excels in both written and oral argument. He is definitely one of the most accomplished young lawyers I have engaged with over the last few years.” Stephen Goins, associate general counsel with Metra, has worked closely with Albright, too. Albright has served as outside counsel for Metra, and has never failed to impress in his dealings with the rail ser- vice, Goins said. Goins points to a case that he and Albright tried together. In it, the plaintiff asked for $16.5 million. Thanks largely to Albright’s advocacy, the jury returned a verdict of only 10% of that amount. “Andrew performed an excellent cross-examination of the plaintiff and the plaintiff’s expert witnesses, as well as the closing argument,” Goins said. “He was brought into the case at the very late stages and performed excellently.” The Judge presiding over the case agreed with Goins, “Last year I presided over a trial in which Mr. Albright was the defense attorney. The client sent in Mr. Albright. He took over and performed exceedingly well.” The judge continued, “The field of law needs lawyers with his civili- ty and diligence as it always makes a difference. “ That result isn’t unusual. Albright is often brought in at the 11th hour to try cases. The reason? He has crafted a reputation as an expert trial practitioner. Albright is also an active member of the Defense Research Institute and never hesitates to mentor young attorneys. “I can say that first- hand, Andrew has been instrumental in me improving in my brief writing and my deposition strategy,” said Patrick Russell, general attorney at the Union Pacific Railroad Company. “He has a complete understanding of key issues, damages models and case evaluation. He is instrumental in mentoring young associates at his firm as well as helping friends like me who have since gone on to other places.”

ANDREW ALBRIGHT

AGE 39

FIRM Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP

LAW SCHOOL Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis

AREA OF PRACTICE General and professional liability defense

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

The field of law needs lawyers with his civility and diligence as it always makes a difference.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

E lizabeth Babbitt’s peers routinely praise this business litigation specialist as one of the most talented, dedicated and ethical trial attorneys in the Chicago area. This isn’t surprising. During her relatively short career, Babbitt has already established herself as a go-to advisor for companies and munici- palities that face complex class-action litigation and employment issues. An example of Babbitt’s legal skills? She recently proved to a federal judge that the plaintiff had engaged in the intentional spoliation of evi- dence, recommending dismissal with prejudice as a result. This is a rare sanction in federal court. Another example? Babbitt recently served as post-trial and appellate counsel in securing a toxic tort plaintiff’s $ 3 8 3 million jury award, the largest single-plaintiff award in Illinois history. Babbitt also has provided litigation support to one of the country’s largest transit agencies. In a recent matter for that client, Babbitt partici- pated in a contested evidentiary hearing that demonstrated that certain claims made by the plaintiff lacked credibility. The case settled with the plaintiff paying to get out of the lawsuit. “Elizabeth is smart, articulate and appropriately aggressive on behalf of her clients,” said Allison Czerniak, an attorney with Chicago’s Vedder Price. Her peers cite Babbitt’s dedication to securing the best outcomes for clients as a main reason for her successful career. Babbitt, they say, often earns unique and exceptional results for her clients in cut- ting-edge, high-profile litigation. “Elizabeth’s clients rely on her counsel for their most difficult issues, and she prides herself on providing impactful, creative and forward-looking advice,” said Monique Bhargava, an attorney in the Chicago office of law firm Reed Smith LLP. Babbitt is also a leader at Taft Stettinius & Hollister. In 2023, she com- pleted a two-year term on the law firm’s Executive Committee. She also chairs the Women of Taft Chicago affinity group and the Taft Chicago Associate Advancement and Recruitment Committee. While serving on these committees, Babbitt led the way in Taft’s adoption of a gender-neutral 16-week parental leave policy for all attor- neys and paralegals at the firm. Babbitt is active, too, in the Chicago Bar Association, where she has participated as a lead investigator of the Judicial Evaluations Committee, assisting the bar in making recommendations for judicial candidates. Scott Spears, assistant general counsel at the Chicago Police Depart- ment, said that Babbitt has become a trusted counsel. She has earned the respect of not only her clients and fellow attorneys, but of her opponents, too, Spears said. “I rely upon Elizabeth’s counsel for some of the most difficult issues facing the Chicago Police Department,” Spears said. “I appreciate her impactful, creative and forward-looking advice. Particularly exceptional is how Elizabeth expeditiously approaches challenges, addressing even the most hostile of opponents without passion and professionally ad- dressing difficult issues solely on their merits.”.

ELIZABETH BABBITT

AGE 39

FIRM Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois College of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Business litigation, employment litigation

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

I appreciate her impactful, creative and forward-looking advice.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

S ince the onset of her career, Avanti Bakane has taken a pragmatic approach to problem solving, a lawyer’s primary role day in and day out. Joshua Vincent, attorney with Chicago’s Hinshaw & Culbertson, points to a case Bakane took on as a first-year associate. She argued a difficult criminal appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Bakane, Vincent said, did an amazing job on the briefs and at oral argument. “From that point on, Avanti distinguished herself as a highly capable and effective courtroom advocate in the consumer finance class-action space,” Vincent said. “Avanti has great ‘field vision.’ She sees the big pic- ture better than many lawyers and is able to think strategically, often staying a step ahead of her adversaries. She is highly articulate and a very effective oral advocate. She is also a person of the utmost integrity and professionalism.” Bakane didn’t stop there. Still a young lawyer, Bakane sharpened her appellate briefing skills and obtained favorable ruling in the Eighth Cir- cuit Court of Appeals, convincing the court not to disturb a sophisticat- ed financial industry client’s summary judgment win in the lower court. Bakane went on to serve as second chair in her first jury trial and there, earned a favorable result involving claims brought under consumer pro- tection statutes. Bakane has since continued to sharpen her trial skills and widen her areas of expertise, obtaining her CIPP-US data privacy certification and a complete victory in a week-long arbitration brought against a software developer client with multi-million dollar liability at stake. “Avanti has achieved so much in her career at a young age,” said William Yu, associ- ate judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County. A Fortune 50 client of Bakane’s is complimentary of her relationship building, an invaluable skill in cultivating clients and building legal teams. Melinda Fuller, corporate counsel State Farm expressed, “You will not find a person who nurtures relationships better than Avanti Bakane. She meets people, pulls them in, connects them with each other, and con- tinually builds a network that supports success for all. Through Avanti, our defense team was strengthened not only by her own creative and firm litigation strategies, but was able to grow and create consistency across jurisdictions through the expansion of her team and an integrat- ed leadership style.” At the core of Bakane’s legal drive is her commitment to serve her community and further DEI efforts. Avanti is a natural leader, serving as co-chair of the firm’s South Asian Affinity Group, advisory board mem- ber for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and a past board member of various Asian Pacific American and women’s organi- zations both within and outside of Chicago. In her free time, Bakane volunteers with several non-profit organiza- tions to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth, curb gender violence, and find homes for rescue dogs.

AVANTI BAKANE

AGE 3 8

FIRM Gordon, Rees, Scully, Mansukhani LLP

LAW SCHOOL DePaul University College of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Class action, data privacy, commercial litigation

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

She sees the big picture better than many lawyers.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN 40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

26 26

S taci Balbirer has an uncanny ability to help both sides in marital disputes find common ground. It’s an essential trait for family law attorneys to have. A recent example comes from a nominator who was an associate judge at the 19th Judicial Court in Lake County, Illinois and is now a Jus- tice on the Illinois Supreme Court. This divorce case involved an unusual debate over the custody and visitation of the divorcing couple's pets. "The parties in the case were highly emotional and committed to their positions and animals," the Justice said. "Staci demonstrated a great ability to find reasonable common ground and resolutions, even with the difficult and uncommon circumstances." This didn't come as a surprise to the Justice who says that Balbirer has always been a proactive advocate for her clients. Balbirer, she said, has a knack for helping parties find resolution in even the most conten- tious of cases. "She is extremely capable, very dedicated to her clients and commit- ted to the profession," the Justice said. "But she is also balanced. She has the ability to help people find balanced, fair, reasonable resolutions under very difficult circumstances, which is what sets her apart." Marny Kravenas, an attorney with Chicago’s Bielski Chapman, Ltd., has also seen Balbirer’s legal abilities up close. Balbirer represented a mutual client of Kravenas’ in two matters re- lating to the visitation of a minor by the minor’s paternal grandmother. Both matters were extremely contentious because the minor’s father was in prison, charged with a felony in connection with the death of the minor’s twin sister. Balbirer was able to fashion an agreed order with a gradual step-up schedule to help rebuild a relationship with the paternal grandmother. And this agreement accomplished this without compromising the mi- nor’s mental health. Another example? Balbirer took on an international Hague Conven- tion case involving the rights of a father in Ecuador who alleged that his children were smuggled by their mother into the United States. This case involved litigation in both federal and state courts and required Balbirer to navigate international laws in the United States and Ecuador. “Staci’s dedication to researching and constantly learning allows her to grow as a lawyer with every case she pursues,” Kravenas said. “She understands that family is everything, and that at the heart of her repre- sentation is someone’s everything.” Marcy Newman, attorney with Chicago’s Newman & Lum P.C., has worked closely with Balbirer, most notably when Balbirer served as Newman’s opposing counsel on a dissolution of marriage case. “We were able to engage in amicable conference calls and court appearances in an attempt to move toward resolution,” Newman said. “I’ve always been impressed by her no-nonsense attitude. Not only is she easy to work with and someone who gets things done timely, but she’s forthright in her dealings with clients and collaborators. This is a surprisingly uncommon trait in attorneys now.”

STACI BALBIRER

AGE 39

FIRM Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Family law

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

She has the ability to help people find balanced, fair, reasonable resolutions under very difficult circumstances.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINA M. MERMIGAS 40 UNDER 40 TO WATCH HONOREE

Christina Mermigas, estate planning and asset protection attorney, is passionate about empowering her clients with her comforting and confident approach to explaining complex concepts that span tax, personal finance and retirement planning. Her high level of knowledge, experience and compassion provide immeasurable assistance to clients during difficult times.

• Probate administration & litigation • Trust administration & litigation • Guardianships • Estate and gift tax planning • Revocable living trusts • Powers of attorney • Advanced directives • Asset protection • Business succession planning • Charitable planning

Christina M. Mermigas cmermigas@chuhak.com | 312 855 4354 Licensed in Illinois and Florida

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Congratulations to Elizabeth Babbitt, recognized in Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch.

Elizabeth Babbitt Partner

Taftlaw.com

I t didn’t take Araceli De La Cruz long to realize that Kenyatta Beverly was the perfect fit to serve as Director of Labor Relations for a net- work of 15 elementary and high school campuses. At that time, De La Cruz, who is now a judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County, was General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for Acero Charter Schools, Inc., which served almost 7,000 students. She was searching for a new Director of Labor Relations and was on the hunt for someone with labor and employment experience, strong verbal and written communication skills, a dynamic personality and a genuine appreciation of Acero’s educational mission. Beverly, she said, met all those requirements and more. “Ms. Beverly joined the Acero legal team and hit the ground running,” De La Cruz said. “We worked together for a little over a year and during that time she learned and accomplished so much. Ms. Beverly was ef- fective and respected in her role as the main conduit between Acero management and union leadership from the Chicago Teachers Union.” That praise isn’t rare for Beverly, who now serves as Labor and Em- ployment Counsel for the Davey Tree Expert Company, one of the larg- est employee-owned companies in the United States. She has been recognized as one of the sharpest legal minds in the labor and employment law arena, receiving such honors as the 2021 Top 100 Under 50 Executive Leader Award from Diversity MBA Magazine, the 2022 Salute! Top Women in Law Award from Law Bulletin Media, and the 2023 Next Generation Award from the Cook County Bar Asso- ciation. In 2023, she was also selected as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. Count Kathryn Conway, an attorney with Chicago’s Power Rogers, as another local lawyer impressed with Beverly’s abilities. Conway point- ed to Beverly’s time at the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, where she maintained an impressive record of successfully representing State of Illinois agencies in complex grievance arbitration hearings. Conway also noted Beverly’s experience as an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Labor Relations Board where she presided over multi-day hearings in complex representation and unfair labor practice cases.”Kenyatta is a leader in the law and in our profession,” Conway said. “Few lawyers at the age of 39 have this depth of experience and proven success in their practice.” Beverly prioritizes consistently giving back to her community, espe- cially serving as a mentor to many, from children to young attorneys. She served as President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, is a founding member of The Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment (FLASH), serves on Girls Inc. of Chicago’s Board of Directors, and is a member of several other prominent boards and organizations. “Kenyatta Beverly is not only an exceptional and accomplished at- torney in Illinois, but also a dedicated philanthropist who consistently donates her time, money, experience, skills and talents to help better her community,” said Christian Conway, attorney with Chicago’s Neal and Leroy.

KENYATTA BEVERLY

AGE 39

FIRM The Davey Tree Expert Company

LAW SCHOOL University of Wisconsin Law School

AREA OF PRACTICE Labor and employment law

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

Few lawyers at the age of 39 have this depth of experience and proven success in their practice.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

H is peers call attorney Daniel Broderick an outstanding litigator and fierce advocate for his clients. They also point to his strong sense of ethics, tireless work ethic and long list of positive results as proof that Broderick ranks among the top medical malpractice/personal injury attorneys in the city. One nominator, a retired judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, says that Broderick appeared before him when he served as a trial judge. Broderick represented a client in a jury trial on a medical malpractice matter, securing a defense verdict. The nominator said that Broderick’s skills and arguments greatly contributed to the successful result. “Dan was very comfortable with both connecting to the jury and the handling of the complex medical issues he confronted during trial,” the nominator said. “He is a very bright and tireless attorney who operates at the highest professional level. At the same time, I have known Dan to be a very ethical and respectful attorney. He is an outstanding represen- tative of attorneys in the Illinois bar.” Erin Davis, an attorney with Chicago’s Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth, pointed to the fact that Broderick has already first-chaired cases even at his young age while achieving successful outcomes for his clients as proof that this young attorney is a rising star in his field. Broderick has also achieved the impressive task of switching from the defense side of medical malpractice/personal injury litigation to the plaintiff’s side, all without showing any signs of slowdown to his stream of notable victories for his clients. “Now that he has changed sides to the plaintiff’s side, Dan is still a pleasure to work with,” Davis said. “That change can be difficult for some, but Dan has handled it with grace. I have witnessed Dan success- fully argue substantive, dispositive motions for his clients with civility, confidence and legal expertise.” Broderick’s peers also cite his keen legal mind as a reason for his suc- cess. As they say, he sometimes understands the medical aspects of a case better than the physicians involved. Broderick is also considered a strong writer who his peers say has au- thored some of the finest motions and briefs that they have read. This young attorney has a talent for taking complicated issues and explaining them in a way that is understandable to a lay person, an important talent in medical malpractice actions. “Dan Broderick exemplifies what this award means,” said Sean Houlihan, an attorney with Power Rogers, LLP in Chicago. “Dan is a law- yer’s lawyer. Whether he is analyzing a legal issue; writing a legal brief, taking or defending a deposition, arguing a motion or giving an opening statement at trial, Dan is a true professional and the best at what he does. Dan’s various talents were evident to me when he was a law clerk 15 years ago and his skills have only grown over the years. He is a true professional.”

DANIEL BRODERICK

AGE 39

FIRM Levin & Perconti

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Medical malpractice, personal injury

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

He is a very bright and tireless attorney who operates at the highest professional level.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

P ragmatic, reasonable, diligent and compassionate. That’s how Melissa Caballero Dunn’s peers describe this family law attorney. It’s an approach that pays off. Dunn focuses on maximizing the pos- itive outcomes for her clients while minimizing their litigation costs. Families going through divorce and child-custody disputes face enough stresses. Dunn works to make sure that they spend as little time in court as possible. Jennifer Lavin, a family law attorney in Chicago, points to the key role that Dunn played in resolving two recent highly contested matters that without her approach would have gone to trial and inefficiently drained funds that the parties did not have. The narrow issues at the heart of these matters were eventually resolved by agreement, a far more cost-effective approach, Lavin said. “It is refreshing to work with Melissa because she is realistic and candid about the issues involved in her cases while being sensitive to both parties’ positions, no matter which party she represents,” Lavin said. “This ability to analyze her cases at a meta level sets Melissa apart from many other family law attorneys who often become enmeshed with their clients’ positions rather than being able to detach and focus on the resolution of their matters in the ways that make sense both in terms of the law and the parties’ resources, which are almost always better used anywhere else other than at trial.” Ashley Orler, an attorney with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, said that few attorneys can match the dedication that Dunn has to her clients. Orler said that Dunn takes a firm but empathetic approach to her cases. She is able to guide her clients through difficult situations by understanding their goals and accurately informing them of the legal system’s capabilities. “In short, vulnerable clients trust Melissa to help them, and she hon- ors that trust,” Orler said. “She dedicates herself to her clients, making herself available almost 24/7. She is compassionate for the emotional toll these disputes take on not only her own clients, but the other family members.” Dunn is also dedicated to her profession. Not only is she managing partner at her firm, but she is a guardian ad litem, which requires extra training and approval from the county. She is also a certified mediator, which requires 40 hours of training. “Melissa exhibits constant professionalism and patience when deal- ing with clients and colleagues in our industry, an extremely important skill in the area of family law, where emotions are high,” said Alexandra Perraud with Chicago’s Davis Friedman LLP. “She constantly strives to gain more knowledge, education or training in the area of family law and beyond. She does not discriminate with the types of cases that she takes and provides her services for people of all backgrounds and income and works to serve them to the best of her ability.”

MELISSA CABALLERO DUNN

AGE 3 8

FIRM Law Offices of Jonathan Merel

LAW SCHOOL Chicago-Kent College of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Family law

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

This ability to analyze her cases at a meta level sets Melissa apart from many other family law attorneys.”

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L auren DaValle has excelled in both the criminal and civil practice areas, making a seamless transition from serving as a prosecutor to thriving in the private sector. How has DaValle made this jump? While handling a busy private prac- tice, DaValle has built upon the same skills that made her a successful prosecutor: a deep knowledge of the law, an unwavering commitment to those she represents, no hesitation to put in the long hours neces- sary and an ability to craft the best possible solutions for the people she represents. Laura Leahy, assistant general counsel with Teamsters Local 700, said that DaValle’s success in both the criminal and private arenas is no sur- prise to anyone who has followed this young attorney’s career. “When Lauren was a prosecutor, she excelled at successfully manag- ing an extremely high case volume, while giving each and every victim the time and attention of which they were so deserving,” Leahy said. “She has been able to maintain this skill set in the private sector where her clients are oftentimes local politicians and municipalities that re- quire her undivided attention, too.” DaValle’s peers cite this young attorney’s combination of top legal skills and calm demeanor as one of the secrets to her success. Deborah Chessick, with Chicago’s The Chessick Law Group, met DaValle when the pair worked together in the Traffic Division of the office of the Cook County State’s Attorney. There, Chessick saw first- hand how talented DaValle is. “She has perhaps has the very best dis- position I’ve ever seen in a litigator,” Chessick said. “She’s intelligent, sharp, hard-working and prepared, but is simultaneously calm, kind and even-keeled.” When she was 16, DaValle had a heart transplant. Her peers, though, say that DaValle has never let this slow her down. Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta of the Village of Bolingbrook had this to say about DaValle, “I can attest to her diligence and thoroughness in reviewing contracts, preparing legislation, and handling various litigation matters.” DaValle has represented Village of Lyon’s for about ten years, Christo- pher Getty Mayor, of the Village of Lyons Supervisor, Township of Lyons, “Lauren’s representation in our litigation cases helps us save valuable dollars that must be spent on vital Village services such as police and fire protection. Recently, she won a case for the Village where its decision to demolish an unsafe and hazardous property was upheld.” Getty con- tinued, “Her talents and aggressive representation have allowed me the luxury of concentrating my efforts in other municipal areas.” When not representing her clients, DaValle donates her time to her community and profession. She sits on the Judicial Evaluation Commit- tee for the Chicago Bar Association and is a member of the Justinian Society. She is a volunteer with Lurie Children’s Hospital and mentors fellow heart transplant patients.

LAUREN DAVALLE

AGE 3 8

FIRM Odelson, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, Ltd.

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Civil litigation and municipal law

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

Lauren’s representation in our litigation cases helps us save valuable dollars.”

40 Under Forty 2023 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN

M atthew Gannon has repeatedly earned top results for his clients. His long record of winning verdicts and settlements has secured him a reputation as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the Chicago market. As an example, Gannon represented a 20-year-old college athlete at Grinnell College who was injured during a pole vault event at a confer- ence tournament: After a jump, the plaintiff slid off the landing pad and hit his head on artificial turf. After a three-week jury trial that Gannon first chaired, the jury returned a verdict of $2.5 million. This is the largest verdict ever in Morgan County Illinois, beating the prior record by over $2 million dollars. In addition, Gannon earned a verdict of $4.6 million in a complex medical malpractice trial against a local interventional cardiologist. His client was 76 years old at the time and the verdict exceeded the Defen- dant’s $1 million policy limit. Thomas Kilbride (Illinois Supreme Court Justice 2000-2020), said that Gannon has earned results that would be the envy of lawyers with many more years of experience. “In his first decade, he not only has taken on several cases to success- ful results, but he has become an equity partner,” Kilbride said. “In his first decade at his firm, he has successfully achieved results in at least eight recent settlements and verdicts ranging from half-a-million dollars to a $4.6 million verdict.” Dan Alexander, attorney with Chicago’s Maron Marvel, said that Gannon’s detail-oriented and technically sound approach to the law give him and his clients an advantage. He has earned his reputation as a high- ly effective adversary, Alexander said. “I’ve personally witnessed Matt turn bad facts into great results for his clients,” Alexander said, pointing to a case in which he opposed this young attorney. Gannon minimized information that was damaging to his client and effectively highlighted the client’s strongest points. “He is an effective adversary who can turn a plaintiff’s case into a higher value than it otherwise would be,” Alexander said. “I know that it’s tough sledding ahead when I see Matt’s name on a complaint.” Recently, Gannon represented the family of a Local 150 Operating Engineer who passed away before the trial from unrelated causes to the accident. Prior to trial, the insurance carrier made an offer of $200,000 to settle the case, Gannon rejected that offer and after his opening statement and one day of trial testimony, the case settled for $1.4 million. “Simply stated Matt Gannon is an extremely talented lawyers’ lawyer who gives 110% to his practice, the Bar and to the public,” said Shawn Kasserman, attorney with Chicago’s Tomasik Kotin Kasserman. “He should be recognized for these wonderful contributions.”

MATTHEW GANNON

AGE 39

FIRM Healy Scanlon Veugeler Gannon LLC

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Personal injury

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

He is an effective adversary who can turn a plaintiff’s case into a higher value than it otherwise would be.”

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A ndrew (“Andy”) Gilbert has had little trouble attracting new clients. Those who have observed his career say that this isn’t surprising: Gilbert has built a reputation as one of the hardest-working attorneys in Chicago, and as one who is especially dedicated to his clients and deliv- ering stellar representation throughout client engagements. This mergers-and-acquisitions, venture capital and general corporate law attorney has impressed his fellow attorneys, too. He made partner at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres at the young age of 32 and has since been named co-chair of the firm’s corporate group where he has taken on an ever expanding administrative and technical role at the firm. This isn’t surprising, either, considering that Gilbert regularly closes transac- tions ranging from tens of millions of dollars to tens of billions of dollars, and across industries ranging from high-tech, food service, aerospace, medical device, SaaS, insurance, oil and gas, and many others. “Andy has an innate sense of complex transactions, structures and issues, and is able to break them down so that his clients easily un- derstand the deal points,” said Mark Plandowski, general counsel with Agman Partners. “His writing is excellent and has made him a popular choice for journals and news outlets looking for legal content. He’s also an excellent mentor, and even as an associate was quick to help more junior associates understand a concept or develop their careers.” Delilah Jenkins, vice president and chief counsel at Trustmark, worked closely with Gilbert when the two were colleagues at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. Jenkins said that she quickly identified Gilbert as an attorney to watch. Gilbert stepped in several times to help Jenkins with many of her clients. Thanks to Gilbert’s lawyering skills, Jenkins said, she was able to close a deal that was initially brought to her as a partner buyout but quickly turned into a stock purchase agreement with lots of twists and turns throughout the transaction. Recently, Hilary Lee, a senior software engineer at CityBase, needed a referral for outside counsel to represent a close friend and her exec- utive team in evaluating a series of potential transactions. Her friend confided in Lee that the executive team was evaluating several potential future options and needed a fierce advocate to ensure that her team was appropriately represented and protected. Lee said that she immediately thought of Gilbert. “I knew he would be the right choice for my friend given his extensive experience with complex transactions in the venture capital space,” Lee said. Lee was right. Her friend, who is the CEO of a healthcare-based technology company, has raved to Lee that she has been thrilled with Gilbert's representation ever since. Gilbert’s extensive knowledge of both the business and legal issues that arise during corporate transactions has earned him the position of a trusted advisor and thought partner to many clients. His clients praise his comprehensive support across the life cycle of deals, and often pay the ultimate compliment by referring other friends and family to Gilbert for their most sensitive legal and practical needs.

ANDREW GILBERT

AGE 34

FIRM Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres

LAW SCHOOL Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE Mergers & acquisitions, venture capital and business counseling

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

Andy has an innate sense of complex transactions, structures and issues, and is able to break them down so that his clients easily understand the deal points.”

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ANDREW J. ALBRIGHT SWANSON, MARTIN & BELL, LLP

40 UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2023

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP congratulates our partner, Andrew J. Albright, on being named one of the 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch. Andrew’s civil litigation, medical malpractice and commercial litigation practice leads him to regularly defend clients in complex, high-stakes matters across the country. We are proud of Andrew’s commitment and contributions to our clients, firm, and community.

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From all of us at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, Congratulations to Ryan J. Schermerhorn! Partner, Law Bulletin ’s 2023 “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” Honoree, and all-around great guy. We think the world of you, and so do your clients: “[Ryan offers] prompt responses and [is a] dedicated relationship manager who always delivers extra value. [He is a] high quality attorney with proactive advice, always put[ting] the client needs on top of the agenda.” - Client quote

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B rendan Hanifin is a deeply respected member of Ropes & Gray’s litigation and enforcement group. And it’s easy to see why: He pos- sesses deep legal knowledge on a range of complex regulatory issues, from the regulations governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), to sanctions and export controls, to an- ti-money laundering and anti-corruption issues. But that’s not the extent of Hanifin’s skill set. He’s also a regulato- ry attorney with uncommon transactional experience and proficiency, making him an invaluable resource for his clients across industries. “It’s rare to find a litigator who understands special-purpose vehicles and carried interest, can digest a very complicated transaction struc- ture chart and concisely synthesize the risks from a regulatory aspect,” said Lindsey Sullivan, director of legal affairs and financial operations at 57 Stars LLC. “Brendan uses that acumen to advise his clients on ex- traordinarily complex regulatory issues and, while at Ropes & Gray, I regularly sought his advice and valued his insights.” Hanifin’s peers say he routinely delivers exceptional results for his clients. He takes a pivotal role in guiding clients through CFIUS reviews, advises global asset managers on money laundering and sanctions is- sues during fundraisers, manages hundreds of client transactions a year requiring international risk diligence and performs global diagnos- tic reviews of sanctions and export compliance programs for leading global companies. Brian Coate, general counsel with Hyperion Materials & Technolo- gies, said that Hanifin played a key role when Hyperion was acquired by a leading private equity firm. “From the start, Brendan exhibited ex- cellence and an in-depth understanding at every level, be it for gover- nance, compliance, and assistance preparing new corporate policies,” Coate said. This was no easy task, as Hyperion operates 16 manufac- turing sites across the globe, employs more than 2,000 personnel and ships its products throughout the world. Coate added, “His exceptional knowledge of corporate risks and cross-border regulatory controls has been a key factor in the company’s success.” Hanifin is also a devoted mentor, always looking for opportunities to give junior attorneys visibility and recognition, both within and outside his practice group. Described by his colleagues as incredibly approach- able and supportive, he impresses upon his mentees that success is about doing good work, getting good training, and seeking out oppor- tunities and mentors who can take your career to the next level. Hanifin is that kind of mentor. Despite his busy schedule, Hanifin regularly finds time for pro bono work. Over the last several years, he has represented a pro bono client in asylum proceedings before a U.S. Immigration Court in Chicago, as well as numerous clients in post-conviction relief proceedings.

BRENDAN HANIFIN

AGE 3 6

FIRM Ropes & Gray LLP

LAW SCHOOL Fordham University School of Law

AREA OF PRACTICE International trade and national security

2023 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

Can digest a very complicated transaction structure chart and concisely synthesize the risks from a regulatory aspect.”

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