Michael J. Austin

Matthew S. Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate Law. Matthew S. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew S. Brown since 2021. 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 Matthew S. Brown is held by other lawyers.

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...

Veteran attorney Michael Elam brings more than three decades of experience in environmental, energy, infrastructure and natural resource law in both the private and public sectors. He structures creative agreements and helps secure approvals and financing for complex national and international agreements involving the development, remediation and financing of environmentally challenged or controversial projects surrounding energy and sensitive water bodies or sources. Michael represents busin...

John G. Caruso is a partner in the Real Estate Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. John represents and counsels clients in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including financings/commercial lending, acquisitions, dispositions, synthetic lease and sale-leaseback transactions, commercial leases, rights-of-way and easement agreements and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions. John actively represents clients in structuring joint ventures for the acquisit...

Partner at McDermott Will & Emery -- 1991 - present Co-chairman at McDermott Will & Emery -- 2010-present Previously, head of Trial Department and head of White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group. Served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 1986-1991 focusing on the prosecution of white-collar crime.

Chair of the firm’s Environmental Department, Erika Powers’ practice is totally focused on nationwide water quality issues. Her ability to understand the most complex details of a matter without losing sight of the macro agenda and big-picture client objectives is critical when analyzing the intersection of science and law surrounding water quality regulation. Notably, Erika provides veteran legal counsel regarding regulatory matters involving state and federal environmental agenc...

John Hartmann is a partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s litigation practice group, where he focuses on shareholder, professional liability and business litigation matters, as well as regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations. John has represented leading corporations, professional services firms, private investment firms, as well as their directors, officers and partners, in numerous securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, disputes over co...

Mina Amir-Mokri practices broadly in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation. A clear, concise communicator, Mina is appreciated for her creativity, productive and balanced approach to negotiation, and practical, streamlined solutions to the often complex challenges her clients face. Mina’s clients include executives, public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations and bankruptcy constituencies. She negotiates, designs and drafts compensation arrangements, stock ...

Chad Vance is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Insurance and Reinsurance Law. Chad practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Chad Vance since 2023. 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 Chad Vance is held by other lawyers.

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...