Caitlin Barden

Mr. Leavitt is a Founding Partner with Grund & Leavitt. He has litigated a number of high profile trials and appeals in both federal and state courts.Before becoming a partner in the firm, he served as a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and as a justice on the Illinois Appellate Court. This followed 20 years in a successful private practice. The Chicago Bar Association remarked when evaluating him that "he enjoys impeccable credentials" and the Chicago Council of Lawyer...

David J. Fischer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. David J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dan Laytin is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. His practice is principally concentrated in the areas of antitrust and other complex litigation. Dan has been recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner by Chambers every year from 2006 to 2022; by The Legal 500 U.S. for antitrust in 2007, 2010, 2012–2014, 2016–2022, and for appellate: supreme court in 2017; and by The Best Lawyers in America, U.S. News and World Report, Best Lawyers® from 2013 to 2023....

James H. Whalen is the co-managing partner of Lipe Lyons Murphy Nahrstadt & Pontikis LTD, a Chicago, Illinois law firm. He practices in the areas of Litigation – Insurance, tort defense, commercial litigation, and product liability. Mr. Whalen represents clients in state and federal courts, as well as before state administrative bodies. His practice includes construction, business, commercial, product liability, employment discrimination, and premises liability litigation. Mr. Whale...

Susan is a partner in the Private Wealth Services practice group. Susan focuses her practice on sophisticated estate planning for business owners, wealthy individuals and entrepreneurs. She helps her clients transfer wealth to younger generations to achieve tax efficiencies as well as protection for beneficiaries and counsels her clients in connection with complex intrafamily issues that wealthy families often face. In addition to helping clients structure their estate plans, Susan advises cl...

Kevin represents his clients in all aspects of patent law, including due diligence investigations for mergers and acquisitions, patent counseling and prosecution, strategic management of patent portfolios, and opinion preparation, focusing his practice primarily on the biotechnological, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. Kevin’s work encompasses a broad spectrum of technologies, including therapeutics such as cellular therapies, gene therapies, vaccines, large molecules (bio...

Nancy M. Olson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Nancy M., 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 Nancy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen M. Fatum is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg. He concentrates his practice in the Healthcare Department. Stephen's focus has been on legal and strategic matters affecting physicians, physician organizations and not-for-profit corporations. Stephen routinely negotiates employment agreements, stock transfer agreements, operating agreements and affiliation agreements. He also defends physicians subject to disciplinary proceedings.Stephen is the former general cou...

Joseph E. Kolar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Joseph E., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Ratnaswamy founded his own law firm after having served as a co-founder and Partner at a nationally recognized energy boutique law firm. John has spent more than two decades counseling and representing electric and natural gas industry clients, including before utility commissions and on appeal. John has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© from 2010-2024 and was named its 2014 Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of Energy Law. John also has ...