Michael J. Small

Dan Burnham has a comprehensive intellectual property practice that encompasses a diverse range of sophisticated technologies and legal issues. He is a registered patent attorney who represents clients in federal courts and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. What do you focus on? I utilize my engineering experience to work closely with clients in the product development process, helping to avoid competitive patents and ensure commercial exploitation of new products through effe...

As a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group, Jeff focuses his work on patent litigation and strategic counseling related to pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, electrical engineering, agricultural and food products. A registered patent attorney with four decades of experience, Jeff has successfully represented both patent owners and patent challengers through all stages of federal litigation and appeals. A significant portion of Jeff’s practice includes advising pharma...

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...

William (Bill) J. Butler focuses his practice on estate planning and probate administration matters. Bill counsels family groups and individuals on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, with an emphasis on formulating estate plans that maximize and protect wealth while minimizing transfer taxes. Bill is the global head of McDermott’s Private Client Group and is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee. Bill represents many large, multigenerational family groups, and also adv...

Mercedes Badia-Tavas provides legal and business guidance to clients on a broad range of immigration law cases, with focus on Fortune 500 and small companies alike. Mercedes supports her firm’s offices and clients across various states on immigration employment transfers and up-to-date compliance. As an immigrant herself, Mercedes finds particular fulfillment in helping companies and individuals immigrate to the United States and participate in the American dream through startups and bu...

Ms. Mogul is a Partner with Grund & Leavitt. She has concentrated her practice in the field of family and matrimonial law, with a special emphasis in litigation.Ms. Mogul received her Juris Doctor, with honors, from the Chicago–Kent College of Law in 1998 with a certificate from the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution program. Ms. Mogul actively taught trial advocacy at leading law schools in Chicago and has been invited to participate in the University of Chicago Law Scho...

David Zwaska is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. David practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized David Zwaska since 2025. 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 David Zwaska is held by other lawyers.

Joel T. Cooper focuses his practice on transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, development and partnership and joint venture formation, with a special emphasis on private equity fund formation and private equity investment. As a partner in Hahn Loeser’s Chicago office, Joel is a part of the Business Practice Area, focusing in corporate and real estate law. Joel represents institutional sponsors of private equity funds, major money center banks, life insurance companies and ot...

Andrew has extensive experience in commercial real estate advising real estate investors, funds, finance companies, sponsors and operating companies on private equity capital raising, finance (including preferred equity and mezzanine), investment and development of commercial real estate. He also advises on the formation of joint ventures to own, operate, develop and finance global real estate. He regularly represents lenders with participations, modifications, originations and workouts of co...

The Honorable Henry R. Simmons (Ret.) is Managing Partner at Clifford Law Offices. He joined the firm in 2014 coming from ADR Systems of America, one of the top mediation services in the country, where he served as a Senior Mediator and Arbitrator for three years. He also worked as a Special Master and Neutral Fact Finder for ADR Systems. His experience in personal injury and multi-party disputes serves him well in running the 20+ lawyer firm at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago. He is known th...