Brianne Straka

Jeralyn Baran is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Jeralyn, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeralyn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicholas T. Motherway is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Nicholas T., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John represents large publicly traded and privately held businesses in controversies, transactional matters and tax planning involving state and local corporate income/franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, sales and use taxes, and other business privilege taxes. He also defends clients in state tax audits and litigation before courts, administrative agencies and departments of revenue throughout the country. In addition to his state and local tax practice, John is also one of the nation&rsqu...

Ben Whiting is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Ben, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ben is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a commercial litigator and counselor with more than 20 years of experience, Matt brings a creative, pragmatic, and efficient approach to helping clients resolve complex legal and business problems. Matt is co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Group. He has significant, first-chair trial experience in a wide variety of business disputes. He regularly represents clients in matters involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, non-competes, and post-closing disputes. Matt ...

John C. Kocoras is a partner in McDermott Will & Emery LLP’s White Collar & Securities Defense practice group and is based in the Firm’s Chicago office. John focuses his practice on internal investigations, white-collar criminal defense matters including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases and complex litigation. Prior to joining McDermott Will & Emery, John served as Managing Director and Regional Counsel of the global investigations company Kroll, where he dir...

Scott Seaman Scott is a commercial litigator and trial and appellate lawyer with more than 38 years of experience. Scott is widely regarded as one of the leading attorneys in the United States representing insurers and reinsurers in property and casualty matters. He is known for employing his deep knowledge of the law and insurance and financial industries, strategic thinking, and honed trial and appellate advocacy to produce creative solutions and outstanding results for clients on a cost-ef...

Patrick D. Owens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Patrick D., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ira Bodenstein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Ira, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ira is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eleni Kouimelis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Eleni, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eleni is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.