Christopher J. "Chris" Barber

Maureen O'Brien is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Maureen's practice includes a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, and she has extensive experience with the M&A aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including strategic and private equity transactions. Maureen advises clients on the design and implementation of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, welfare plans, Section 409A matters and equity and in...

Michael J. Choate is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Michael J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Jacobson represents issuers, lenders and investors in a wide variety of commercial finance matters. He regularly assists them with senior, first-lien, second-lien, unitranche and mezzanine financings and structures. Michael frequently handles cash flow and asset-based transactions, leveraged buyouts and buildups, recapitalizations, restructurings and workouts. He has extensive experience negotiating the complex intercreditor arrangements these deals can require. He also routinely repr...

Roshan P. Shrestha Ph.D. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Roshan P., 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 Roshan P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Craig Annunziata is the managing partner of the Chicago office and a partner in the Tampa office. He represents management in employment-related disputes. The majority of his practice is before federal and state courts and alternative dispute forums throughout the United States. He also defends management against charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and related state agencies. A significant portion of his practice is devoted to counseling management, prio...

Laura Balson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Laura, 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 Laura is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter S. Coorlas is a senior associate of the Chicago law firm Peck Ritchey, LLC . Peter was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Cook County for 30 years, serving in the Special Litigation and Municipal Litigation Sections of the Civil Actions Bureau. Although Peter served in various areas while at the State’s Attorneys Office, he has primarily represented the interests of Cook County in probate matters, spending much of his time on contested litigation, including will contests, con...

Jeffrey Patt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Venture Capital Law. Jeffrey, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Recognized for his national reputation and success as a child advocate, Dov Apfel has investigated and litigated birth trauma and obstetrical malpractice claims involving children with cerebral palsy and other neurological and intellectual disabilities throughout the United States for over forty years. Those in the legal profession who have worked with Mr. Apfel consider him to be the premier “lawyer’s lawyer” in the area of birth trauma litigation. When families and lawyers...

Ross M. Kwasteniet is a partner in the Restructuring Group. His practice is centered around the representation of distressed companies in all aspects of Chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings. Ross also has considerable experience representing both buyers and sellers of distressed assets. Most recently, Ross was recognized in the 2021 edition of IFLR1000. In 2019, Ross was recognized as a Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer. Ross was also recognized in the 2018&nd...