Jeffrey C. Fort

Bob Hayward – named a “Notable Gen X Leader” by Crain’s Chicago Business in 2021 and a “Trailblazer in the Midwest” by The American Lawyer in 2022 -- helps lead the team that has been awarded “Capital Markets Practice Group of the Year” numerous times by Law 360. Bob provides direct, thoughtful and practical advice to publicly-traded corporations — across all industries — and private equity funds and their portfolio companies in all ...

Mr. Kilyk practices exclusively in the field of intellectual property law, especially patent law. Mr. Kilyk specializes in patent post-grant review proceedings, inter partes reexaminations, interferences, and oppositions, as well as legal opinions, prosecution, and litigation matters, with specific concentration in the areas of biotechnology, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. Recent technologies with which he has been involved include biosimilars, new chemical compounds, nucleic acid sequences,...

Patrick J. Arnold, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Patent Law and Trademark Law. Patrick J., 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 Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Gatz is a patent attorney who concentrates his practice on patent prosecution, patent counseling and patent litigation. John has extensive experience in the life sciences and manufacturing industries. My focus Patent Prosecution/Counseling I prosecute patents and counsel clients in a number of mechanical- and chemical-related technologies including: biomechanical devices, chemical products and processes, sensor-dispensing instruments, analyte meters, test sensors, non-invasive processes,...

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

Chicago trial attorney Brian LaCien is a founding partner of Smith LaCien LLP. He has a broad range of experience in the areas of medical malpractice, professional negligence, wrongful death, class actions, trucking litigation, product liability, aviation negligence, civil rights violations and premises liability. LaCien and Todd A. Smith, also a founding partner, have a long track record of achieving exceptional results for clients, with more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements and o...

Jim Hitzeman focuses his practice on estate and trust litigation, representing a wide range of clients, including corporate fiduciaries and charities. He has handled will and trust contests, construction actions, trust reformations, citations, actions involving contracts to make a will, accounting actions, and charitable cy pres and equitable deviation matters, in addition to a host of cases involving breach of fiduciary duty. Mr. Hitzeman has extensive experience dealing with family settleme...

Sondra A. Hemeryck is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Sondra A., 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 Sondra A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Diana Z. Bowman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. Diana Z., 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 Diana Z. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.