Melissa M. Root

Scott Mendeloff combines an 11-year tenure as a former federal prosecutor with more than 19 years of experience in private practice. He focuses his practice on commercial trials and white collar criminal litigation. Scott has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA in the area of commercial litigation and by Leading Lawyers in the areas of commercial and white collar litigation. Scott has tried to conclusion more than 50 cases in a wide array of areas in both the civil and criminal arena...

Tim Schafer, II is an experienced trial lawyer, handling cases involving personal injury or wrongful death caused by truck accidents, car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, product liability, train accidents and airplane crashes. During his career Tim has obtained two of the largest jury verdicts in the State of Indiana, $30,750,000 for brain damage and wrongful death caused in a premises liability case and $32,500,000.00 for brain damage caused to a young mother who was invo...

Jill B. Berkeley formerly chaired the firm’s Insurance Policyholder practice group and remains an active member of the group. She represents policyholders and claimants in insurance coverage disputes involving toxic torts and hazardous wastes, environmental pollution, construction, products liability, intellectual property, first-party property, business interruption and excess liability matters. In addition to her robust litigation practice, Jill provides counsel on clients’ deve...

As a real estate partner, Brett has more than 20 years of diverse experience advising clients with respect to sophisticated real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, financings, and joint ventures. Brett is a trusted strategic advisor who maintains a deal-oriented approach with a goal of understanding and achieving his client’s goals in an efficient manner. Brett is thoughtful and highly cost-effective as he concentrates on the material issues...

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 ...

James P. Navarre is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James P. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized James P. Navarre 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 James P. Navarre is held by other lawyers.

Nancy Rich provides practical guidance to clients confronting environmental legal issues, whether they arise in litigation, transactions or regulatory matters. A former environmental prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Nancy has a detailed understanding of environmental agencies and the laws they enforce. She regularly advises corporate, real estate and financial services clients. Nancy's experience as an environmental prosecutor gives her an insider's understanding of how...

For more than two decades, private debt providers and banks have turned to Derek Ladgenski to advise on their most complicated and challenging debt financing deals. Derek helps his clients close complex financings quickly and efficiently, without surprises or delays, and builds their relationships and market presence along the way. Derek counsels lead arrangers, administrative agents and lenders on cash-flow acquisition and recapitalization financings, "take private" transactions and debt fin...

Raiford Palmer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Raiford practices law in Naperville, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Raiford Palmer 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 Raiford Palmer is held by other lawyers.

Jeffrey Morof has spent his career defending aerospace clients in product liability and commercial litigation matters in federal and state courts throughout the United States and abroad, handling matters in such countries as Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Japan. He was a member of the trial team that defended the aerospace manufacturer in a 19-month jury trial in Detroit, Michigan arising out of the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 MD-80 accident. He has also litigated lawsuits ar...