Joan A. Akalaonu

Graham C. Grady is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Land Use and Zoning Law. Graham C., 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 Graham C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Jacqueline M. Vidmar has more than thirty five years of environmental law experience, brings wealth of knowledge to transactional and regulatory matters and disputes. She represents companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, public utilities, health care and pharmaceuticals, transportation (rail and pipeline), and real estate. Ms. Vidmar excels in real estate portfolio management, M&A due diligence, contaminated property disputes, remediation and development, defense o...

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

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...

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...

Stephen L. Ritchie is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis. Steve's practice is concentrated in the areas of complex business transactions, with a particular focus on structuring, negotiating and managing the legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, venture capital and growth equity investments, restructurings and workouts. He has also served as lead counsel in the representation of numerous portfolio companies of private equity funds. P...

An accomplished trial lawyer, Tery Gonsalves draws on his prior roles as a police detective and deputy general counsel to provide strategic guidance to clients facing investigations and complex litigation matters, including regulatory and compliance counseling. As chair of the Education Team, he regularly counsels public and private institutions through the issues they face in a highly regulated landscape. Tery is a seasoned trial lawyer who has tried more than 20 cases to verdict. He represe...

Approachable, yet candid in his counsel, Kurt Rohde provides an objective analysis of the issues tied to his clients’ intellectual property assets and best courses of action. In particular, with over 14 years focused in complex patent litigation and large patent portfolio management, Kurt regularly serves as patent trial counsel for multibillion dollar corporations. Kurt helps his clients keep the bigger picture at the forefront by advising on obtaining, evaluating, and enforcing their ...

Kim Nemirow is a partner in the Government & Internal Investigations Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Kim has nearly 20 years of experience advising multi-national organizations advising clients on highly sensitive and complex matters, including U.S. DOJ and SEC investigations, internal investigations and compliance matters. She had led countless investigations for private equity, pharmaceutical, medical device, technology and other clients into potential violation...