Helena L. Trachtenberg

Timothy Cavanagh, Founder With more than 35 years of experience, nationally recognized trial attorney Timothy J. Cavanagh has championed the rights of personal injury victims across Illinois and throughout the country. Since founding Cavanagh Sorich Law Group in 1997, he has secured more than 75 verdicts and settlements totaling $900 million on behalf of his clients. Cavanagh’s cases have broken Illinois records, strengthened safety standards, and prompted policy change within city and ...

Steven (Steve) S. Scholes is the global head of McDermott’s Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on SEC investigations, shareholder litigation, including class and derivative actions, and internal investigations. Steve is an experienced trial lawyer, and he has tried civil, criminal and administrative cases in federal and state courts. He regularly represents clients before the Securities and Exchange Commission, state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations, ...

Kathryn Montgomery Moran is a Shareholder in the Chicago, Illinois office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has extensive litigation experience in individual and class action cases in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. When disputes cannot be resolved by agreement or dismissed on technical grounds, Ms. Moran tries cases before juries, judges, administrative law judges and arbitrators. She has successfully defended employers accused of the following: age, sex, race, disability and n...

Louis S. Harrison has long been recognized as one of the premier estate planning attorneys in the country. A founding partner of Harrison & Held, LLP – one of the nation’s most elite estate planning firms – Lou’s practice encompasses all aspects of trust and estate planning, including estate and business planning for closely held companies. In addition to individuals in need of sophisticated planning, Lou represents numerous family offices, public figures, CEOs of ...

Leonidas L. Bezanis II , a partner at Beermann LLP , brings extensive experience in litigation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution to help clients navigate a wide range of family law matters. Whether representing high-net-worth individuals, high-profile clients, or families facing life’s challenges, Mr. Bezanis approaches each case with the same dedication, ensuring that every client feels understood and supported. His ability to handle complex financial estates and intricate...

Larry is chair of the firm’s Private Wealth Services practice group. He facilitates successful legal strategies for entrepreneurs, tax-exempt organizations, fiduciaries and high-net worth families and individuals. This work involves estate, gift and charitable planning issues, including business succession, tax-efficient ownership structures, sophisticated tax-exempt structures, trust and estate administration, executive benefits, life insurance and international estate planning for wea...

You often hear about small-town values from big-city attorneys in commercials, but Jim McPhedran, who grew up on a farm outside Oglesby, took his small-town values to Chicago and brought back his law degree to help the people of the Illinois Valley. He remains as committed to his community today as he was as a new lawyer over three decades ago. "I learned a long time ago that you treat all clients the same," said Jim McPhedran. "Each deserves the same level of respect, consideration, and hard...

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

Maria A. Diakoumakis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Maria A., 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 Maria A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Howard has always understood that business involves risk. Howard works with his clients to understand their business, their goals, and their level of risk tolerance. That understanding enables him to craft solutions that work for his clients. It is one reason why he has represented many of his clients for decades. For more than 40 years, Howard has served as a trusted lawyer and adviser to clients ranging from some of the world’s largest and best-known real estate, tech, software, and o...