Michael J. Merar

James C. Franczek, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James C., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 1989. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason R. Schulze is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Jason R., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, John grew up working in his family’s restaurant and then stayed local attending both Northwestern University (B.A.) and Notre Dame Law School (J.D.). As a first generation Greek American, John witnessed the difficulties that immigrants can experience while adapting to a new culture. He also experienced the importance of community in helping people to assimilate and understand how to become part of that new culture. He is fluent in Greek and has b...

Raymond Lyons is a partner with Lipe Lyons Murphy Nahrstadt & Pontikis Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of the firm’s product liability, construction, transportation, and tort defense practice groups. His practice focuses on the defense of product liability, construction, transportation, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and insurance-related litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. His recognized practice areas include Litigation – Insurance. Mr. Lyons s...

Scott M. Perry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Professional Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Scott M., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic an...

Neil T. Kawashima has a diverse practice, representing wealthy individuals and families on matters related to estate and gift planning, business succession and governance, and estate and trust administration. Neil’s clients include owners of privately-held businesses, beneficiaries of long-term trusts, fiduciaries and entrepreneurs. Neil has advised his clients regarding traditional and novel uses of trusts, wealth transfer strategies, business control mechanisms such as voting trusts a...

Steven L. Brenneman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Steven L., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Roshan P. Shrestha Ph.D. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Roshan P., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Roshan P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ruth A. Bahe-Jachna has more than 30 years of experience working on and managing large-scale litigation matters, including numerous MDL proceedings. She regularly defends clients in class actions and product liability and consumer fraud litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in employment-related class actions and FLSA collective actions. Her experience includes the representation of telecommunications clients, including a major U.S. trade association representing wireless manufac...

Mr. Kilyk practices exclusively in the field of intellectual property law, especially patent law. Mr. Kilyk specializes in patent post-grant review proceedings, inter partes reexaminations, interferences, and oppositions, as well as legal opinions, prosecution, and litigation matters, with specific concentration in the areas of biotechnology, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. Recent technologies with which he has been involved include biosimilars, new chemical compounds, nucleic acid sequences,...