John J. Castaneda

A highly skilled civil, criminal, and appellate litigator, Joel Bertocchi handles appeals in state and federal courts and represents clients in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations and proceedings, providing counsel on compliance policies and related issues. He has argued cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple federal Circuits and state appellate courts, and served as Illinois’ Solicitor General, the chief appellate lawyer for the State. A former federal prosecut...

Michael J. Sorich is a veteran trial attorney and partner at Cavanagh Sorich Law Group with a track record of securing outstanding results in personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. Sorich brings more than two decades of trial experience to his practice and has obtained more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements for clients in Illinois and across the country since joining the firm in 2016. He has played a key role in many of the firm’s biggest and most hig...

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

Charles R. Haskins (Chuck) concentrates his practice on medical malpractice, products liability, and premises liability litigation. Chuck has worked at Clifford Law Offices for a number of years. Starting as a clerk, his commitment to his work and dedication to the law was immediately recognized. Chuck decided to work at Clifford Law Offices because of his interest in helping the injured, those who are in their most desperate times of need, and he does so with a calm, studied manner as he app...

With a reputation for having an in-depth understanding of his client’s businesses and their technologies, Darrick Hooker is a counselor and a litigator who routinely advises clients on a variety of intellectual property issues, with a focus on patents. He also helps protect clients’ trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights and has a thriving commercial litigation and entertainment law practice. Darrick strives to help his clients identify and manage their global IP assets. He is ...

Ron Damashek recognizes that litigation is a place very few people want to be, but all too many people end up. Operating from that mindset makes Ron a practical lawyer, working to get to the bottom line quickly and enabling his clients to make educated, cost-effective decisions. Regardless of whether the path leads to settlement, arbitration, or trial, Ron stands side-by-side with each client, prepared and ready to succeed. As counsel to secured creditors, Ron regularly litigates and works ou...

Rachel Brown is a partner in the Real Estate Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice focuses on finance, venture formation, acquisitions and dispositions, and development. She advises borrowers and lenders in all types of real estate based financing transactions including first mortgage loans, construction loans, mezzanine financings, credit facilities, subscription facilities and other structured financings. Rachel also represents clients on workouts, loan sales...

Commercial real estate investors trust Kenneth Jacobson to guide them through high-dollar transactions in all kinds of economic environments. He helps capital providers like real estate investment trusts (REITs), commercial banks, insurance companies and investment funds invest in commercial real estate through a world of different product types and investment structures. Thanks to a rigorous focus on issues that matter, Ken executes deals with maximum efficiency. Ken has a well-honed ability...

Fredric P. Andes is a partner in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices of Barnes & Thornburg and the leader of the firm's water team. Fred is involved in counseling and litigation on issues arising under various federal and state environmental laws, with a special emphasis on Clean Water Act matters. Fred is also advising trade associations, industries, and municipalities on TMDLs, permits, and other water quality matters on the state and federal levels, including development of water...

James (Jay) W. Kapp, III, focuses his practice on corporate bankruptcies, reorganizations (including prepackaged and prearranged bankruptcy filings), out-of-court restructurings (including distressed financings and workouts), and creditor rights representation (with an emphasis on representing bondholders, indenture trustees and other secured creditors). Jay has significant experience representing debtors and creditors (secured and unsecured) with respect to such bankruptcy and restructuring ...