Joel R. Thielen

Jeffrey (Jeff) M. Holdvogt regularly counsels public and privately held companies and tax-exempt organizations on a wide range of employee benefits matters. These include the design and administration of complex pension, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, nonqualified and executive deferred compensation arrangements, fiduciary and plan investment issues under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), internal compliance reviews and voluntary correction filings, and benefit plan matters arisi...

Bill Welke focuses his practice on the tax aspects of complex business transactions and entities, including: mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts; venture capital and other private equity investments; formation of private equity funds; joint ventures and partnerships; workouts and restructurings; tax contests and controversies. Described as having “encyclopedic knowledge of tax structuring strategies” and “adept at cross-border international tax planning in the conte...

With over 30 years of experience, Bruce I. Ettelson, P.C. is widely recognized as a leading private investment funds lawyer who has been on the forefront of the industry's evolution since its early years. He is the founder of the Firm's dedicated Investment Funds Group, which was ranked in 2021 by Chambers & Partners as Tier 1 in the U.S., Asia-Pacific, United Kingdom and globally. His practice focuses on structuring and forming premier private equity funds and their management companies....

Carolyn M. Passen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trademark Law. Carolyn M., 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 Carolyn M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan E. Brice is a bold litigator, advocate, and advisor with 30 years of experience specializing in environmental law, toxic tort, and product liability defense work. After departing Big Law, where she served in leadership roles, she joined Nijman Franzetti LLP, an all-women owned business savvy boutique in 2020. Over the years, she has worked on significant matters involving at least nineteen states and the Virgin Islands. She has experience in all major aspects of environmental law, takin...

Catherine (Cate) A. Battin represents clients in state and local tax controversies at the audit, administrative and judicial levels in numerous jurisdictions. She provides national state tax strategies for clients on a full range of state tax issues, including income tax apportionment, nexus, combination and sales tax characterization of products and services. She has defended numerous internet sellers in cases brought under the Illinois False Claims Act alleging fraudulent failures to collec...

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 ...

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

Kristin is a partner in the Labor & Employment practice group. She focuses her practice on all aspects of labor and employment law and has extensive experience in the areas of labor relations, employment litigation, employment advice and counseling, and mergers and acquisitions. Kristin has particularly deep experience in the area of traditional labor law, where she has handled numerous unfair labor practice cases and litigation, strikes and injunctions, collective bargaining negotiations...

Gregory R. Meeder is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Gregory R., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregory R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.