Top best State Lawyers in Chicago | 2113 available

My practice focuses on probate and trust administration, probate litigation, trust litigation, fiduciary litigation, and estate/asset protection planning. I advise individuals and families in contested matters with an emphasis on will, trust, and guardianship proceedings. I counsel executors and trustees during the probate/trust administration process and assist them in the preparation of estate and fiduciary tax returns. I also help individuals and families meet their estate and asset protection planning needs.

My legal practice focuses on tax and estate planning for individuals and families. I represent executives, physicians, lawyers, traders, farmers, business owners as well as family offices. My experience ranges from addressing routine estate planning matters to the most sophisticated estate tax and asset protection concerns for wealthy individuals including family limited partnerships, charitable remainder trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, sales to grantor trusts, private annuities, domestic asset protection trusts and other irrevocable trusts. I am a Certified Public Accountant and LL.M. in taxation graduate. As such, I focus a substantial portion of my practice helping clients navigate complex income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues. I have received the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating of "AV Preeminent" for professional expertise in estate planning and taxation. I am also the leader of the Chicago Iowa Club (). Please feel free to let me know if you ever have any estate questions or would like more information about the club.

My journey to becoming a lawyer and advocate for families was anything but straightforward. It began with a deep desire to help others, leading me to a career in social work where I spent nearly a decade immersed in the complexities of the human experience. I witnessed firsthand the struggles individuals and families faced, and I knew I wanted to do more to empower them.. That calling led me to law school and then to a career as a legal aid attorney. I represented countless people in emotionally charged divorce, family, and order of protection cases. The weight of those experiences, particularly the prevalence of domestic violence, stayed with me.. Then, life took an unexpected turn. I went through my own divorce, a process that shook me to my core. Despite my legal training, I found myself trapped in a contentious battle that left my family wounded and my co-parent and me unable to effectively work together. The adversarial system, designed to protect, had instead caused immense harm.. That's when I made a promise to myself – to help others avoid the same trauma and outcome. I sought extensive training in mediation and collaborative divorce, determined to offer a different path. These approaches, focused on cooperation and mutual respect, resonated deeply with my values.. Today, I find immense fulfillment in guiding families through separation and divorce with compassion and understanding. Whether it's through mediation, collaborative law, or when necessary, litigation, my priority is to empower my clients to make informed decisions that protect their well-being and their future.. My commitment to helping others extends beyond family law. My experience with disability issues fuels my passion for creating comprehensive estate plans, particularly for families with special needs. This work is deeply personal to me. Having witnessed the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families, I understand the importance of careful planning to ensure their security and well-being. I'm dedicated to crafting estate plans that provide for their unique needs and protect their future.

My focus has always been that an attorney should help and improve the lives of their clients. I will focus on your needs. After practicing law for over 15 years we've found that our clients truly appreciate the time and effort we put into every aspect of their transaction. We're here to help you succeed and that's something we don't take lightly.

My extensive experience in the areas of estate planning, estate litigation and taxation provide a unique background that enables me to anticipate client needs, minimize costs and thereby maximizing value.  Earned a C.P.A. in 1995, graduated from Loyola Law School in 1996 and worked in private practice including the Estate and Trust department of a large Chicago law firm prior to opeing my own practice in mid-2002.

Ms. Saichang Xu is the principal attorney at Law Offices of Saichang Xu. Her practice areas include real estate law, business and corporate law, estate planning, trade remedy litigation and import/export compliance.. Ms. Xu handles both residential and commercial real estate transactions and closes hundreds deals every year. Ms. Xu also represents developers in all aspects, including setting up companies, drafting shareholder or operating agreement, land acquisition, property division, legal due diligence, property division, home owner association declaration, necessary reports, closing, post-closing tax escrow and smooth transfer of Home Owner Association affairs.. Ms. Xu represents importers, exporters and foreign exporters in Customs matters and antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations, reviews and scope ruling proceedings before various government agencies and in subsequent court litigation. She advises clients on a broad range of customs and international trade compliance matters. Ms. Xu also represents clients in selling and purchasing residential and commercial real estates, business assets, corporate shares and LLC member interests. Ms. Xu and helps young families, business owners, people approaching retirement and people with special needs make estate planning. Her clients include homeowners, real estate investors, business owners in various industries in the greater Chicago area, importers and exporters around the nation and Chinese companies involved in U.S.-China trade and investment.. With legal education and experience in the U.S., China and Singapore, Ms. Xu offers valuable skills to provide effective service to the Chinese American community in the greater Chicagoland and U.S.-China importer and exporter. Ms. Xu works as part time general counsel for a few small to mid-sized companies and serves as director of board or legal counsel for several non-for-profit organizations in the Chinese American community. To give back to the community, Ms. Xu also actively volunteer and sponsor in various events in the Chinese American community to promote Chinese culture and cross-culture understanding, to improve Chinese language education, to encourage Chinese American’s participation in politics and to help the poor.

Mr. Mohip's practice consists primarily of real estate and civil matters.  His academic and professional credentials are impressive--he is one of the few attorneys in the country with a LLM in real estate.  Additionally, Mr. Mohip is a real estate developer and instructor.

Mr. Berek is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates group at Horwood Marcus & Berk. He focuses his practice on Family Office Structuring and Administration, Wealth Transfer Planning, Income Tax Planning, and Trusts & Estates.. Prior to joining Handler Thayer, LLP, Mr. Berek was a Director at Credit Suisse, acting as a Family CFO in their family office group (formerly Frye Louis ) and ran their wealth planning group for the US Central Region advising clients of the private bank on family office and wealth transfer techniques. Prior experience includes practicing law in trusts and estates most recently with McGuireWoods LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP; tax and trust planning with Arthur Andersen LLP and Coopers & Lybrand LLP; and estate administration with The Northern Trust Company.. Mr. Berek is currently the editor of the two-volume treatise “Illinois Estate Planning, Will Drafting and Estate Administration Forms with Practical Commentary” published by LexisNexis. Mr. Berek is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University where he teaches Estate Planning, Estate, Gift and GST Tax, Income Taxation of Decedents, Estates and Trusts, and Tax Research in the Masters of Science in Taxation program; and at The John Marshall Law School where he teaches Advanced Income Tax, and Fiduciary Income Tax, in the LL.M Graduate Tax program.. Mr. Berek earned a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from DePaul University, a Juris Doctorate, cum laude (Law Review, Moot Court), and an LL.M. in Employee Benefits, with honors, from The John Marshall Law School.. He is a John S. Nolan Tax Law Fellow of the American Bar Association, Tax Section, a former chair of the Tax Practice Management Subcommittee, and a former Current Developments reporter of the Estate and Gift Tax Subcommittee.  He is past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates Section Council, and a past co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association Estate Planning Committee, Young Lawyers Section.. Mr. Berek is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Florida and is awarded an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell for both legal abilities and ethical standards.  Mr. Berek is also a Certified Public Accountant (Illinois), and a Certified Financial Planner™.

Mr. Asif graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2010 with a Juris Doctorate. He holds a BSBA from St. Louis University where he double majored in finance and economics and graduated magna cum laude.Prior to law school, Mr. Asif was a financial analyst in the utilities industry andlearned the many nuances of regulatory law. As an analyst, he created complex rate case model exhibits and responded to numerous data requests from various state commission boards that were essential for the approval and passage of rate increases in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois.In law school, Mr. Asif was a member of The Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal, and served as its Chief Symposium Editor for the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. Asif participated in the Civil Law Clinic and the Prosecution Clinic. In addition, he successfully competed in The Colley Trial Competition as a semifinalist in 2009.Currently, Mr Asif is the owner and principal attorney at Asif Law, located inChicago, IL. The firm specializes in the areas of commercial law, real estate, physician employment, estate planning and Islamic finance. Mr. Asif is licensed in Illinois and Missouri and serves clients in both jurisdictions. He is also fluent in urdu.

Michael focuses his practice on estate planning and business matters.  Prior to joining Regan Law, Michael was a Post-Graduate Fellow in the Finance and Economic Development division of the City of Chicago’s legal department.  While working for the City, Michael represented the Department of Planning and Development in their issuances of loans, municipal bonds, tax increment financing funds, and tax credits for the financing of low-income housing developments and other development projects throughout Chicago.. Michael received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. from Clemson University.  While in law school, he was an associate editor of the Michigan Journal of Private Equity and Venture Capital Law and a student lawyer in the University of Michigan Entrepreneurship Clinic.  As a student lawyer, Michael counseled and provided legal services to student start-ups on various issues, including entity formation, employment matters, and intellectual property matters.

Max Elliott, Managing Attorney and Founder of The Law Offices of Max Elliott, Ltd., is a nationally recognized estate planning, probate, and business planning attorney. Her firm, with offices in Chicago and New York City, focuses on unique families, the LGBTQ community, and women small business owners, and services include estate planning for taxable and non-taxable estates, estate administration, and advising small businesses in start-up, growth, restructuring, and succession planning phases.. Ms. Elliott routinely speaks to lawyers, students, and community groups on the intersection of estate and retirement planning; small business essentials, including legal entity selection, succession planning, generational wealth transfers, and cybersecurity program planning; and fiduciary selection and other protective measures for seniors and the LGBTQ community.. Her recognitions and memberships include but are not limited to:. In addition to her legal experience, Ms. Elliott has more than 20 years of non-legal experience, including several years’ employment in the American Bar Association’s International Liaison Office and several years with Fortune 500 companies, including a former “Big 8 Accounting Firm” and a leading international management consulting firm.. Throughout her career, she has also assisted entrepreneurs in creating viable business planning solutions, such as creating and implementing marketing plans, strategic operation plans, securing capital, and business succession. She has worked with start-ups in the personal care, healthcare, small manufacturing, and nonprofit sectors. This experience provides a solid foundation for the business advisory services she provides to small business owners.. Starting in law school and continuing through her legal career, Ms. Elliott has received numerous awards for her commitment and dedication to advocating for and supporting the rights and needs of marginalized individuals and communities.

Marques A. Eason is an attorney serving clients on the South Side of Chicago and throughout the South Suburbs in matters involving real estate property and a range of other legal issues. His areas of concentration include residential and commercial real estate, probate, and estate planning.. In one recent case, Eason worked with a client for over a year including discussions with three different lenders before ultimately helping her successfully close on a home. Eason extends this level of commitment to all of his clients, and enjoys helping them celebrate a closing after a hard-fought process with his signature refrain, "It's Closing Day, baby!". Eason has 10 years of legal experience, including three years as a licensed practicing attorney in the State of Illinois where he founded his own practice, The Marques Eason Law Group, in 2017. He also worked for seven years as a paralegal on cases involving real estate, contract, and family law, including with the Law Offices of Aaron Resnick, P.A., in Miami, Florida.. Prior to his legal career, Eason has a diverse background working in technology, business, and athletics for organizations including Coca-Cola, Deloitte, General Electric, the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago White Sox, the University of Illinois, the University of Miami, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and North Carolina A&T State University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School and his Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.. Eason is also a proud father of two daughters, Amber and Vivian, and a proud grandfather to his granddaughter, Blake. His commitment to his family is reflected in his drive to help other Chicago families work through family law challenges and protect the interests of their children.. Eason is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Black Bar Association of Will County, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the Gate City Bar Association in Atlanta, Georgia, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association.. For assistance with real estate, probate law, or estate planning, contact Marques Eason at to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in Beverly, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Blue Island, and throughout the South Suburbs and the South Side of Chicago.

Louis Levinson has focused his practice on residential and commercial real estate transactions.  He has also been engaged in the general practice of law including business transactions, residential and commercial leases, probate, wills, and trusts.  His objective is to ensure that his clients receive personal representation of the highest quality and integrity.. While representing and advising his clients throughout a real estate purchase or sale, Louis does not lose sight of his client's primary goal—closing the transaction.  To that end, Louis stays in constant communication with his client, his client's real estate broker, mortgage lender, and the attorney for the other party to the transaction to make sure every detail is addressed and agreement is reached between the parties in a timely fashion.. Louis is highly regarded in the real estate community.  As a result, many of his clients are referred from the top producing real estate agents in the Chicagoland area.  For the past 34 years Louis has built his successful practice on the repeat business and referrals from his satisfied clients, their families, friends, and co-workers.

Lou began his practice of law in New York in 1984 prior to moving to Chicago, where he became an equity partner at Gould & Ratner in 1992. He also held the same position at Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg and Much Shelist, prior to forming Bernstein Law Firm in 2009. During those formative years, Lou garnered experience representing clients throughout the United States, in complex civil litigation matters before trial courts, arbitration panels, mediators, and numerous state and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Lou also served as chairman of the litigation department and governing bodies of several of those firms. However, large firm politics and adherence to the bottom line took its toll. As Lou liked to joke, “I could not wait to get out of the office and into court for some peace and quiet.” Lou then decided to build upon his experience and open his own law firm to better represent his clients and provide a work environment more conducive to relationship building and fostering collegiality among the attorneys and staff of the firm.. Over the years Lou has primarily focused his area of expertise on complex civil litigation matters. The breadth of these representations has run from a multitude of real estate developers in the Chicagoland area, the Crown family, class action defense for Bumble Bee Foods and JPMorgan Chase, franchise litigation on behalf of Pepperidge Farm and in the fashion industry, most prominently, Tom Ford, AG Jeans and Carine Roitfeld. Some highlights include:. Lou is Chairman Emeritus of The Mankind Project International and a member of The Executives' Club of Chicago.  He is a featured speaker and regular panelist on timely issues of business, banking, real estate, and finance law at legal and business conferences around the country and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Northwestern University School of Law.

Lindsey Paige Markus assists business owners and families plan their estates, protect assets, transfer wealth, and minimize taxation.  Lindsey works closely with clients to formulate succession plans, advise on business formation, wealth preservation and gift and estate taxation.An associate with the law firm of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. since 2006, Lindsey received her J.D. degree from Loyola University of Chicago.  Lindsey was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006 and the Florida Bar in 2007.  Founded in 1987, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. has over sixty attorneys who concentrate in a variety of areas which include estate planning, asset protection corporate transactions, secured lending, as well as civil and commercial litigation.Lindsey’s early career in business and finance and clinically applied neuroscience and neuroeconomics gives her a unique perspective.  She is comfortable with numbers and understands how her client’s needs are most effectively secured in our dynamic economic environment.  Lindsey assesses how the law affects her clients, generates creative solutions to their complex situations, and carefully communicates these options.In 1998, Lindsey earned her M.A. in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University. Upon receiving her Masters Degree, Lindsey worked in the areas of finance and business development, where she structured joint ventures with domestic and international media conglomerates.  Lindsey leverages her international studies and work experience with her work on the “Welcome to the United States” program – a comprehensive program of services for Chinese corporations and high net worth individuals.Prior to attending law school, Lindsey studied cognitive restructuring training to maximize intelligence, a part of the evolving science of teachable intelligence.  She participated in NASA's Critical Thinking Project from 2001-2004.  Lindsey also co-authored Retrain Your Business Brain: Outsmart the Corporate Competition, published by Dearborn Press in 2003.  Retrain Your Business Brain has also been published in China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.  She also co-authored The Road Trip: A Parable About Where to Lead, When to Follow, and How to Get Out of the Way, published in 2008.Lindsey graduated with honors from Brandeis University in 1997 with a B.A., cum laude, in Economics and minors in Spanish and Managerial Business.  As part of her M.A. program, Lindsey studied abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. She speaks Spanish and conversational Italian.

Like most law firms, we offer full representation to clients upon payment of an up-front retainer. But unlike most law firms, we don't believe that clients unable to afford an initial retainer should be denied access to high-quality legal services. This is why we also offer unbundled "pay-as-you-go" legal services at an affordable flat-fee.. With unbundled legal services, a/k/a “limited scope representation,” an attorney and client agree that the attorney will handle some, but not all, aspects of a client’s legal matter. The client is responsible for handling all other aspects of his or her own case for which the attorney has not been retained. This allows the client to choose the level and scope of representation he or she desires, and provides predictable control over the cost of various legal services. Most significantly, with unbundled legal services, instead of charging an up-front retainer for full legal representation, clients can pay for individual services as they are needed at a reasonable flat-fee rate.. Whether you desire one of our many unbundled legal service options, or full representation, we have an option for you. Please contact our office to learn more about the full list of legal services we provide, and to discover our current flat-fee rates.

Legal Experience. Jeffrey Marks is one of the leading real estate attorneys in the Chicago area with more than a decade of experience. His practice stretches throughout the Chicagoland area including Cook, Will, DuPage, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties and focuses on representing buyers and sellers of residential and commercial real estate including sophisticated real estate investors and developers. Mr. Marks has given over 150 presentations to realtors throughout Chicago and its suburbs and is one of the most sought-after speakers in his field.. Jeffrey and his dedicated team of three real estate paralegals are prepared to help in any aspect of a real estate transaction including but not limited to buying and selling homes, drafting and negotiating leases, homeowner association issues, commercial transactions and title claims.. Education. Jeffrey graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois in 2006, making law his second career after spending 10 years as a video game designer and producer.. Awards and Honors. Jeffrey was named a rising star by his peers in the area of real estate law and was named a SuperLawyer by his peers in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Mr. Marks has garnered excellent online reviews by both realtors and clients. Jeffrey Marks has a perfect 10/10 rating on AVVO.. Please call Jeffrey Marks anytime to set up a meeting for a free consulation. Jeffrey will meet you at his offices in Chicago or the suburbs. Remember, Jeffrey Marks never charges for a consultation.

Kocinski Law Offices, LLC is an Illinois law firm serving clients predominantly in Cook, Du Page, Will, Lake and Kane counties. The firm provides legal services for individuals and businesses with emphasis on real estate, transactional law, as well as estate planning, bankruptcy, divorce, criminal and business transactions. We also represent injured individuals in tort cases.. At Kocinski Law Offices, we place quality and customer’s satisfaction in a first place. Kocinski Law Offices, LLC provides its clients with reliable services, effectively resolves legal issues and settles transactions in a professional and efficient manner. Our clients’ interests are paramount. They are the reason we exist as a firm, and within the bounds of professional ethics, we pursue their interests relentlessly. Our clients are entitled to professionalism from us. We ascribe to the highest professional ethics, and protect their confidences from improper disclosure. Their secrets are safe with us.  We recognize that we are in the service business. Our attorneys and support staff are sensitive to the needs and concerns of our clients, they are responsible and accessible. Our motto is “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Our attorneys speak Polish and English for our clients’ convenience.. Please call our office and for a free consultation.

Kenneth M. Bloom is a partner at Latimer LeVay Fyock, LLC. Mr. Bloom, a CPA as well as an attorney, is rated among the top six percent of Illinois estate planning attorneys, as selected by his peers and the American Research Corporation, and has received the highest rating of distinction by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. Ken is listed in the Who’s Who in American Law as well as the National Register of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals. In addition, Ken was named to the exclusive roll of 2007-2015 Illinois Super Lawyers. Ken lectures extensively and is regularly published in several journals including those published by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Chicago Bar Association, as well as the Chicago Tribune. In addition, Ken has attended the Stetson University Law School’s Special Needs Trust Symposium for many years and is active with the Special Needs Alliance, an invitation-only national group of attorneys dedicated to meeting the estate planning needs of the disabled.

Joseph is known for his ability to make sophisticated legal issues and tax planning understandable and is highly regarded for his devotion and commitment to the diverse needs of business clients. Joseph represents corporations, partnerships and tax-exempt entities, as well as family-owned and other closely-held businesses, and their owners. He also represents high net worth individuals, lottery winners and professionals, including doctors, lawyers, accountants and wealth management advisors.. Joseph advises his corporate and business clients on critical financial, tax and business matters, including entity structure and formation, and asset ownership for asset protection and tax savings. He also assists closely-held and family-owned businesses and their owners with business succession planning for wealth preservation and to transition the business/ownership to younger generations and key employees. Joseph offers his individual clients a full range of estate, trust and tax planning services, from the drafting of wills, complex trust agreements and advanced wealth-preservation plans, to the formation of family foundations and other philanthropic entities to accomplish charitable objectives.. In addition to income and estate tax planning, a significant portion of Joseph's tax practice involves representing individual, business and corporate clients in administrative tax-controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Joseph is frequently asked by banks and financial consultants in the Chicago area to speak on wealth preservation, tax and estate planning, and business succession.. When not finding solutions to meet his clients' needs, Joseph enjoys spending time with his wife Karen and children Dominic, Gianna, Mia, Isabella and Vincent.

Joe Haffner understands the challenges that you may be facing when working through any legal matters. His practice is focused on Workers Comp, Personal Injury, Real Estate and Business law. Attorney Haffner is always willing to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve. Attorney Haffner takes pride in prioritizing his availability for his clients.

Jennifer A. Blanc established her practice in 1999. Attorney Blanc possesses impeccable credentials and skills acquired through diverse practical work experiences in real estate, finance, property management, rehabbing properties, and legal practice.. She was born to Haitian immigrants who claimed Chicago home in 1968. She is gifted in the arts public speaking, writing, and project management. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Ms. Blanc’s career commenced as a real estate appraiser at Real Estate Analysis Corporation where her written valuation reports scored big tax savings for major corporations owning commercial property in the midwest companies like Target and Walmart. Her appraisal reports supported many tax appeals. She worked during the day and started law school as a night student with many other professionals.. After completing law school and under the mentorship of a senior attorney, she commenced her law practice in Oak Park, IL. She ran a small office that grew over a decade with two associates and she trained many legal assistants and one trustworthy paralegal. In 2013 she ran for judge in the 8th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County amongst three other female candidates with the support of her community and several bar associations including the Illinois Women's Bar Association, the Chicago Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Council of Chicago Lawyers.. In 2014 she began a hybrid virtual law practice model which proved successful with the pandemic. Assurance Legal was available to consumers when some other law firms were not even picking up their phones. Throughout her 25 plus years as a lawyer, she has helped many people and businesses during the most challenging period of their existence. She has been a game changer and problem solver for the thousands of consumer and commercial clients that she has served. Today, her practice mainly focuses on Real Estate Transactions, Property Tax Appeals, Bankruptcy, Probate, and Estate Planning. Ms. Blanc actively practices law in NJ, FL, IL, and GA and meets with clients virtually or at one of her convenient office suite locations. She has over 1,000 successful consumer bankruptcy discharges, has handled about 75 probate estates, closed over 500 real estate deals, and drafted hundreds of estate plans. Through several partnerships she handles personal injury and medical malpractice cases. You are in good hands with attorney Ms. Blanc A. Blanc representation of you in or out of court. Just checkout Assurance Legal LLC's google reviews, bar ratings, and listen to your trustworthy friend's recommendation. She's a straight shooter, exhibits compassion, and won’t waste any of your time nor money.

James Slater’s practice focuses on all aspects of residential real estate, including purchases and sales of all types of properties, civil litigation, handling short sales and foreclosure defense as well as representing the rights of tenants. Mr. Slater’s experience includes being lead counsel on over 50 jury trials in state and federal courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He is also a licensed real estate broker in the State of Illinois.

James is a successful attorney, speaker, project manager, and organizational expert with over 15 years of experience in policy and legislation, communications, organizational management, logistics, and oversight.. James served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. James also enjoyed his time as a litigation associate with a medium-size litigation firm in Chicago, Illinois where his practice was focused on general civil litigation defense.. James is actively involved in numerous non-profits and neighborhood organizations.. Since 2009, James has enjoyed working with the staff and musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to enhance audience development and outreach efforts. James served as the second President of the Overture Council (2011-2013) and currently serves on the Development Committee of the Negaunee Music Institute.. James is also actively involved in the Lincoln Park community and currently serves as a Director of Lincoln Central Association and as Secretary to the Board for the Walpole Point Owners Association.. James also served as Chair of the American Bar Association Law Student Division.  After his election, James spent significant time lobbying Congress on the issues of student loans and recent law school graduate debt, lectured at schools throughout the United States on mental health and veteran's issues, and spent significant time expanding the relevance of bar association membership among law students and within the legal community.. James' experience working in advisory and consulting roles has included time spent addressing various issues for a broad range of clients through legislation and policy at the local, state and federal levels.. In his spare time, James enjoys exploring the history and architecture of Chicago.  James is a tour guide for Walk Chicago Tours, and serves as an official Chicago Greeter for the city of Chicago.

James G. Lakerdas, senior partner and co-founder of Chadwick & Lakerdas also graduated from John Marshall Law School and has been practicing law for over 30 years in Chicago. Mr. Lakerdas specializes in personal injury law and workers’ compensation law but also excels in areas relating to medical malpractice law and product liability law.. Mr. Lakerdas’ hard work and dedication to Chadwick & Lakerdas has helped build the firm from the ground up and with the help of Sturgis E. Chadwick has made Chadwick & Lakerdas a successful business. Mr. Lakerdas’ clients can expect the same hard work and dedication when working with Mr. Lakerdas as his 30-year track record for excellence and success reflects this.. Mr. Lakerdas is licensed to practice law in Illinois state court and federal court. Mr. Lakerdas is also bilingual, fluent in both English and Greek.