Meredith S. Kirshenbaum

Biography: Todd A. Smith, Founding Partner, Smith LaCien LLP Making Access to Justice a Personal Crusade A native of Evanston, Ill., and with a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Todd A. Smith, a founding partner with Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP, has practiced law for over 40 years. He has won some of the largest multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements in serious personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases in Illinois. ...

Leslie Smith is a litigation partner and was a long-time member of the Firm’s Global Management Committee. She concentrates her practice in the areas of antitrust, class action, and consumer fraud litigation. The Legal 500 stated that Leslie has a ‘good strategic approach’, ‘demonstrates personal commitment to the company’s cause’ and ‘acquires and deploys the best firm talent appropriately’. Leslie is highlighted as “2017 Life Science Sta...

Financial institutions across the country rely on David Dlugie to handle their most critical commercial property and commercial loan matters, sometimes with extremely tight timelines. For clients that are financing or selling/buying/leasing real property, or acquiring or disposing of commercial real estate loans, he solves their financing and equity issues using negotiation skills honed through three decades of practice. As the head of Katten's Chicago Real Estate practice, David assembles te...

Alexander J. Bandza is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Alexander J., 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 Alexander J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Dolan’s clients rely on his practical, business-oriented advice pertaining to trademark and unfair competition litigation, trademark enforcement and trademark counseling matters. His dispute resolution abilities span virtually all phases of trademark and unfair competition cases in federal court, including preliminary injunction actions, bench and jury trials and appellate matters. Chris has handled dozens of complex trademark disputes before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office&r...

Kristen E. Hazel has extensive experience representing clients in US and international aspects of federal tax matters, including international acquisitions and divestitures, international joint ventures, and capital plan design and implementation, including tax planning with respect to intellectual property. Her work includes both inbound and outbound transactions. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/hazel-kristen-e/

Thomas B. Shapira’s practice is focused on transactional and regulatory health care matters and represents numerous physician groups with respect to the formation and/or consolidation of medical practices, physician practice sales and acquisitions, and the establishment of concierge/retainer practices. Tom has worked with health care providers to address numerous operational issues, including the creation of exclusive provider arrangements, hospital/physician joint ventures and preparat...

Carmen D. Caruso is a trial lawyer first, and a franchise lawyer second. Carmen has tried more than 40 cases to decision in state and federal courts in Illinois and across the country. In addition, as an Arbitrator, he has presided over nearly 20 hearings in the last five years. The Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm is quite proud of the fact that it receives most of its business by referrals from other attorneys from all over the country, from former clients and from other professionals that are fam...

Carla Colaianni is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Carla, 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 Carla is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Troy A. Groetken, Shareholder Email: tgroetken@taftlaw.com Tel. (312) 775-8259 Practice Areas: Global Intellectual Property Portfolio Analysis, Counseling & Management; Complex Chemical, Small-molecule Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnological Patent Prosecution; Intellectual Property Acquisition, Divestiture, and Licensing; Clearance, Freedom to Operate & Invalidity Opinions; Trademark Prosecution; Antitrust; Intellectual Property Landscaping Education: Drake University, College of Pharma...