Michael D. Block

Samantha Maxfield Lerner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Samantha Maxfield, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Samantha Maxfield is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Representation and counseling of substantial industrial corporations and private investment funds, primarily in connection with public and private business combinations, dispositions and similar transactions, international business transactions, private equity investments, advanced planning for unsolicited acquisition proposals, public and private securities offerings, disclosure issues and other general corporate and securities matters.

Trial lawyer Jerry Santangelo has extensive experience representing major financial institutions, securities broker-dealers, RIAs, financial advisors, and individual investors in federal and state courts and arbitration proceedings. He has won many multimillion-dollar cases in courts across the nation and personally has tried nearly 100 securities industry arbitrations to final judgment. Few lawyers have Jerry’s level of experience in handling securities industry arbitrations for invest...

Gary I. Levenstein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Venture Capital Law. Gary I., 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 Gary I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With over 200 successfully litigated disputes under his belt, and many years of industry experience representing over a dozen automotive clients, Jim brings unmatched talent in resolving the most complex and serious issues those clients face as they interact with dealers in their networks and with state regulators who oversee those business activities. Jim is the founder and former co-chair of the firm’s Motor Vehicle Group. He is also a senior partner in Barack Ferrazzano’s Litig...

Jim Gaughan is a tough, talented, and experienced commercial litigator who has used his considerable experience and equanimity to successfully represent clients in a wide range of complex and challenging class action lawsuits in jurisdictions across the country. He is relentless about preparation and tactics, constantly weighing and analyzing the respective strengths of his clients, as well as their adversaries, in order to create the most effective and efficient legal strategies.

Jamie Rubin is an advertising, technology and privacy lawyer who works with clients to bring their advertising, promotional and entertainment campaigns from concept to execution. Jamie’s practice covers the spectrum of traditional and emerging advertising and entertainment issues. He works on national and digital advertising campaigns, celebrity spokesperson agreements, sweepstakes and user-generated content promotions, social networking and viral marketing matters, claim substantiation...

Gretchen Scavo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions. Gretchen, 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 Gretchen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin Van Wart is a partner Kirkland's Chicago office, where he concentrates in complex litigation, including mass tort claims, class action lawsuits, product liability and pharmaceutical claims, and high stakes commercial disputes. Kevin has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of cases throughout the country and teaches trial advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School. The National Law Journal featured Kevin's successful trial work in naming Kirkland to its 200...

Wes is a partner in the Corporate & Securities practice group. He provides comprehensive legal services and advice to asset managers, proprietary trading firms, single-family offices, multifamily offices, and wealth management advisors. Wes counsels them on a wide range of transactional and regulatory issues, including corporate formation, structure and succession planning, operational and administrative matters, securities, futures, and derivatives matters, brokerage and derivatives docu...