Mary Tobin

Chuck is a pragmatic, solution-oriented real estate attorney whose clients rely upon to handle their most complex and high-priority transactions. He is analytical, strategic, and creative. Chuck is a skilled negotiator, with a deep understanding of his clients’ goals and the experience and business acumen necessary to help them achieve those goals. As a partner in Barack Ferrazzano’s Real Estate Group, Chuck’s practice focuses primarily on real estate finance, and the acquis...

Richard R. Winter is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Richard R. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Richard R. Winter since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Richard R. Winter is held by other lawyers.

Edward Halper is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Banking and Finance Law. Edward practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Edward Halper since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Edward Halper is held by other lawyers.

Norma Zeitler serves as outside labor and employment and litigation counsel to nonprofit, healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing clients. Norma is totally committed to helping each client focus on its mission and mitigate the potential for a dispute through proactive counseling and development of sound policies, practices and procedures. Norma represents employers in the defense of employment discrimination, retaliatory discharge, breach-of-contract, workplace torts and restrictive covenan...

Sanford E. Perl (Sandy) concentrates on the corporate, securities and tax aspects of complex business transactions, including leveraged buy-outs of public and private companies; strategic mergers, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures; venture capital and growth equity investments; divestitures; initial public offerings; private equity fund formations; executive compensation; and debt and equity restructurings and workouts. He manages transactions in a wide variety of industries, inclu...

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...

Julie Sirlin Pleshivoy advises high‑net‑worth families, family offices, and entrepreneurs on the full spectrum of wealth transfer and tax planning. Combining sophisticated tax knowledge with a background in investment management, she develops estate plans that safeguard family assets and support smooth transitions across generations. Leveraging her experience and an LL.M. in Federal Income Taxation, Julie brings a distinctive financial perspective to structuring business ventures, succession ...

Mark E. Schmidtke represents clients in ERISA and Non-ERISA employee benefits matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States for nearly 30 years. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in ERISA litigation matters pending in the courts of 49 states. He has argued appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits, as well as the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Minnesota Suprem...

Alex Cole focuses her real estate practice in the areas of real estate transactions and development, hospitality, international real estate, project finance and construction law. She is routinely involved in large real estate acquisitions (hotel, office and retail) and represents all the various parties in the construction and development process. Some of Alex's past projects include: Park Hyatt Australia, purchase and disposition of The Carlyle in transaction including sale of Rosewood Hotel...

Susan Capra, a partner at Clifford Law Offices, P.C., has spent her entire professional life serving others in times of difficulty and crisis, first as a nurse and currently as an attorney. Susan knew from an early age, through the example of her parents, that her mission in life was to serve others. After graduating from college with a nursing degree, Susan worked at Children’s Memorial Hospital, now known as Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The majority of Susan’s nur...