Michael Brandess

John has more than 40 years of experience advising hundreds of financial institutions and their boards on mergers and acquisitions, bank regulatory issues, corporate governance, and securities law matters. John is straight-forward, a good sounding board and strategic thinker, meticulous, and personable. John is the founder and former co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano’s Financial Institutions Group and has advised hundreds of financial institutions on strategic, corporate governance and othe...

David R. Doyle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. David R., 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 David R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Arthur Yuan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Arthur, 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 Arthur is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Engle focuses her practice on employee benefits matters. She counsels clients regarding a variety of issues, including the design, drafting and operation of tax-qualified pension and profit sharing plans, health and welfare arrangements, and deferred compensation plans. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/engle-sarah/

Walt Holzer focuses on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations, divestitures, venture capital and growth equity investing, and executive compensation. He has handled numerous transactions in a wide variety of industries for private equity, family office and strategic clients. Praised by clients for his "pragmatic approach, business acumen and sector knowledge" and his "expertise…and commerciality" and "valuable understanding of the mos...

Mr. Sopuch is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United States Courts of Appeals for the 3rd, 5th and 7th Circuits. John A. Sopuch III has represented a wide variety of clients in major commercial litigation matters, both on the plaintif...

Richard “Rush” Howell is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. Recognized as a trial lawyer companies call when the issues are too important not to fight, Rush has significant experience serving as trial counsel for companies in high-profile restructuring and product liability cases and representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a wide array of business disputes. His practice spans commercial litigation, restructuring, data security an...

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

Bruce Bonjour is former co-chair of the firm's Financial Transactions & Securitization practice and is the current chair of its Public Finance practice. Bruce has three major areas of focus: structured finance concentrating in the hospitality sector, municipal finance, serving as bond counsel as well as representing underwriters and credit enhancers, and New Markets Tax Credits. Since 1996 when he served as bond counsel for the tax exempt financing of an 800 room Hyatt Hotel located at Mc...

Routinely honored as one of the country's top lawyers in M&A and private equity work, Steven advises clients on the full range of corporate finance transactions, counseling boards of directors and other key leaders on matters of governance, oversight and structure. Please read more here: https://www.winston.com/en/who-we-are/professionals/gavin-steven-j.html