About Us

I concentrate my practice in Business Law, Corporate Law, White Collar Criminal Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, General Litigation, RICO and Real Estate Law. I also provide other services, including estate planning and counseling.

I have 20 years of experience serving my clients' legal needs. I put this know-how to work for my clients every day, ensuring a high level of dedicated, responsive service.

I serve my clients in these areas:

    * Business Law
    * Buying/Selling  Businesses and Real Estate
    * Family and Closely Held Businesses
    * Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
    * Partnerships
    * Small Business
    * Corporations
    * Commercial Law
    * Contracts
    * Fraud and Misrepresentation
    * Business Disputes
    * Corporate Law
    * White Collar Criminal Law
    * Environmental Law
    * Family Law
    * Child Custody
    * Child Support
    * Divorce
    * Premarital Agreements
    * Probate Law
    * General Law
    * Patent infringement and protection
    * Real Estate Law
    * Commercial
    * Landlord/Tenant
    * Mortgages
    * Residential
    * Trademark infringement and protection
    * Racketeering (including RICO)
    * Trial and Appellate Practice (State and Federal)
    * Unfair and deceptive trade and business practices

I am licensed to practice law in Illinois and am admitted to practice in several Federal Courts, including the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where I am a member of the Trial Bar, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. To learn more, click Contact Us.

Biography

I am a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. I have masters' degrees in linguistics and anthropology from Michigan State University, from which I received my bachelor's degree in science in communication with honors.

I began my legal experience with the firm of Davis & Fajen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was then associated with Isham, Lincoln & Beale from May 1984 to September 1986. I then was affiliated with McDermott, Will & Emery from October 1986 to November 1989. Before I started my sole practice in January 1997, I was a member of Schwartz & Freeman, which has since merged with Michael, Best & Friedrich.

I began my career with a smaller, high quality firm which handled a range of cases, from simple disputes to complex, sophisticated litigation. I continued to develop as a commercial litigator, handling complex commercial cases. I gained forensic experience in several areas of the law from working on litigation, and I began to apply that experience in counseling and assisting my clients, which have ranged from Fortune 500 companies to individuals. At present, approximately 60% of my practice is litigation, and 40% is transactional and general counseling.

I am a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association ("CBA"). I am an active member of the Constitutional Law Committed of the CBA and have twice chaired that committee (1997-1998 and 2001-2002). I am also a member of the CBA Commercial Litigation Committee. I have also served on that Bar Association's Nominating Committee.