Michael J. Maher

Bob Riley is a trial lawyer. He has tried a broad array of complex, high-stakes cases and has argued appeals in state and federal courts across the country. His practice focuses on product liability, mass torts, and environmental cases; class actions; and general commercial litigation. Bob’s appellate work has given rise to over forty reported decisions concerning trial consolidations, punitive damages, civil conspiracy, class certification, and constitutional interpretation. He litigat...

Kwabena A. Appenteng is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Kwabena A. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Kwabena A. Appenteng since 2027. 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 Kwabena A. Appenteng is held by other lawyers.

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 ...

James F. Botana is a principal in the Chicago, Illinois, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He represents management in employment cases in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies in a variety of employment and labor-related claims. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, he was a prosecutor and a senior attorney in the Employment Litigation Department of the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. He has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous civil and crimin...

Kristen Laughridge Gale is a partner in the environmental law firm of Nijman•Franzetti LLP, in Chicago. She has broad experience in litigation and enforcement-related issues, including private cost recovery, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, underground storage tanks, CERCLA, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Ms. Gale has successfully represented clients in regulatory disputes and negotiations with both state and federal agencies, including defending enforcement acti...

Jeffrey G. Mote is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Patent Law and Trademark Law. Jeffrey G. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Jeffrey G. Mote 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 Jeffrey G. Mote is held by other lawyers.

For the past two decades, Mike has been assisting clients develop and defend their patent portfolios. A former Army officer and Ford Motor Company design engineer, clients appreciate Mike’s organized approach to problems and his ability to communicate with inventors across a wide swath of technologies. Mike is a full spectrum patent attorney and is himself a patentee. On the prosecution side, Mike has procured patents in nearly every art group other than bio/pharma and has an almost per...

A highly skilled civil, criminal, and appellate litigator, Joel Bertocchi handles appeals in state and federal courts and represents clients in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations and proceedings, providing counsel on compliance policies and related issues. He has argued cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple federal Circuits and state appellate courts, and served as Illinois’ Solicitor General, the chief appellate lawyer for the State. A former federal prosecut...

Valentina Famparska concentrates her practice on the federal income tax aspects of complex business transactions and entities, including mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private equity investments, formation of private equity and real estate funds, formation of joint ventures and partnerships, and management compensation. Valentina also works with the firm's health care practice, sports and sports facilities practices, financial services practice and the trusts & estates practice...

A recognized leader in public finance law, Janet Goelz Hoffman helps nonprofit organizations find a productive balance between their missions and their margins. With decades of experience, she regularly handles financings for nonprofit organizations including hospital systems, cultural and educational institutions, and continuing care retirement communities. Janet also advises nonprofit organizations on board governance and conflict of interest issues. Janet helps nonprofit clients address fi...