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Colleen L. Sahlas was raised in Oak Park, IL. She joined The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, in Oak Brook, Illinois in 2000, and became a partner in 2006 with her father and Law Partner, David E. Hoy.She earned her B.A. in 1993 from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, and her Juris Doctor Degree in 2000 from the John Marshall Law School (n/k/a the Univ. of IL at Chicago) in Chicago, IL.Since 2000, she's focused her legal practice in estate planning, business, real estate and decedents’ estates including Illinois probate in DuPage, Cook and Kane Counties.. Mrs. Sahlas has enjoyed serving in leadership in many different capacities. She is the Incoming Chair and previously the Managing Editor of the newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section Council. In 2022, she received a 5-year service award as managing editor of the ISBA Trusts and Estates section newsletter. She was on the Board of Directors for the DuPage County Estate Planning Council from 2020-2022. She was a member of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association legislative drafting committee which amended the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act passed into law in May, 2022. She's authored numerous articles on estate planning, trust administration, probate, small estates and real estate. She has been published with the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property Magazine, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Illinois State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Newsletter and Real Property Newsletter. She has presented webinars for attorneys with the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

As the third child born to Serbian immigrants and knowing first-hand the challenges faced by working class families navigating a complicated system of laws, I seek to simplify the process and help families by minimizing the stress of the legal system.. In 2007, I went into private practice concentrating in probate administration, elder law, and estate planning.  I opened a second office location in 2008 and two years later became licensed to practice in Indiana.. I believe in working together towards a common goal and always being mindful of the client's particular needs during the course of our relationship.  I enjoy talking to my clients and taking the time necessary for clients to fully understand their options.. Creating a mindful workplace is important to me as a business owner and leader.  Within my office, my employees and I are trained to utilize technology to reduce waste where possible and everyone is encouraged to develop healthy habits for themselves and the environment.. In this industry, continuous education is essential and each year we dedicate hours in excess of the minimum legal education credits required by the state.  My office is limited to practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, and elder law because I prefer to excel in a few areas than address new issues among many different fields of law.

Adam J. Poteracki graduated from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., Management), and the University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D., cum laude).  While at Wisconsin, he received the State Bar of Wisconsin Academic Achievement Award for highest achievement in both Secured Transactions and Trademarks.  Upon graduation from Wisconsin, Adam joined Di Monte & Lizak.  He currently practices in the areas of probate and trust administration and litigation, bankruptcy, estate and trust planning, real estate, and entity formation.  Adam is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Wisconsin.

Melinda Laine Moss represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases and manages all phases of the litigation process from investigation, pleadings and discovery to pre-trial, trial, settlement and appeal. Prior to joining Mercer Island Law Group, PLLC, Melinda was a litigation associate at Baker & McKenzie, LLC in Chicago where she gained both courtroom and appellate experience across a wide range of industries. In that capacity, Melinda gained considerable experience in both oral and written advocacy. Melinda has litigated class action, commercial, securities, breach of contract, product liability, and appellate issues. Melinda has represented various clients, including individuals, small and large companies in various industries including real estate, consumer products, and insurance.. In addition, Melinda has a background in employment litigation and mediation. As a judicial extern at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Melinda assisted an Administrative Judge draft summary judgement opinions in employment discrimination claims. As a facilitative mediator, Melinda has mediated both housing and civil claims cases.. Melinda is also an active provider of pro bono legal services for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and represents both asylum and U-Visa clients.