Katherine A. Gale

Maureen O'Brien is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Maureen's practice includes a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, and she has extensive experience with the M&A aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including strategic and private equity transactions. Maureen advises clients on the design and implementation of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, welfare plans, Section 409A matters and equity and in...

Kenneth A. Wexler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law. Kenneth A., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

With nearly 30 years of experience working with clients that include household brands and, in particular, mid-market businesses, John is able to remain calm and focused when encountering challenging environments. He helps clients to reduce stress in service of negotiating their desired resolution. Because copyright and trademark litigation is frequently used as a competitive tool, John works to ensure efficiency and preserve client resources throughout the litigation process, including elimin...

Melissa Caballero Dunn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Melissa Caballero, 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 Melissa Caballero is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew Olins is chair of Gould & Ratner’s Business Reorganization and Creditors’ Rights Practice and is a member of the Corporate Practice. Matt practices in the areas of business reorganization, commercial finance, creditors’ rights, restructuring and insolvency. Matt represents lenders, special servicers and various types of other creditors in loan workouts, business bankruptcy cases, commercial finance transactions, commercial foreclosures and litigation. He also rep...

Head of the Securities practice group, Mark Wood is a highly skilled, pragmatic and client-focused practitioner with extensive experience representing public companies and investment banks in a wide variety of ongoing and transactional matters. These include IPOs and other public offerings of equity and debt securities, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions. Mark is also a leading advisor to institutional investors in highly structured private investment in public ...

Matthew J. Petersen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Matthew J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A skilled negotiator and litigator, partner Michael F. Koenigsberger focuses his practice on family law- related matters. Recognized as one of Chicago’s leading lawyers in family law, he has represented hundreds of clients in complex custody and financial issues, prenuptial agreements, paternity cases and domestic relations. Particularly adept at dealing with high-asset, complex cases, Michael takes pride in working with clients through all phases of the issues they face, from litigatin...

David A. Handler is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He concentrates his practice on trust and estate planning and administration, representing owners of closely-held businesses, family offices, principals of private equity and venture capital funds, individuals and families of significant wealth, and establishing and administering private foundations and other charitable organizations. David is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estat...