Michael J. Waters

Kevin P. Durkin is a nationally recognized personal injury attorney and partner at Clifford Law Offices with a 45-year track record of achieving groundbreaking results. He has successfully represented clients in transportation accidents, premises liability, and medical malpractice, and is especially known for his work in international aviation litigation, as well as his involvement in nearly every major commercial airline crash over the past four decades, often serving as lead counsel. Four D...

Fran is a compassionate and resourceful attorney whose practice encompasses all areas of complex family law, including divorce, marital dissolutions, child custody, allocation of parental responsibility, maintenance and child support, relocation, and asset identification and division. Fran also has extensive experience with prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Because Harrison LLP also provides depth in multiple related practice areas, Fran’s clients benefit from sophisticated estate ...

Heidi Steele is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Heidi, 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 Heidi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Todd Rowe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance. Todd, 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 Todd is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A firm founder, visionary leader, and skilled litigator, Paul Slater handles high-stakes antitrust cases for private and public enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies. He pioneered the opt-out practice, representing companies as individual plaintiffs in industry-wide multidistrict antitrust litigation. This practice enables clients to tailor their claims and maximize their recoveries outside of class action proceedings, which often fail to meet individual client needs. Mr. Slater repres...

A registered patent attorney with decades of experience, Tom helps domestic and global businesses develop, protect, and manage complex intellectual property portfolios. He has built longstanding client relationships, often spanning 20-30 years, by prioritizing clear communication and ensuring clients feel informed and valued throughout every matter. Tom’s practice has evolved from litigation to a strong emphasis on patent prosecution and trademark protection, reflecting the growing impo...

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...

Ross Emmerman is a broad-based transactional lawyer focusing on domestic and cross-border middle- market mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and other financings and joint venture arrangements. He counsels public and private companies, family offices, and other buyers and sellers of businesses on structuring and negotiating complex business transactions, including purchases and sales of distressed businesses, executive compensation and general corporate matters. Ross also regularly rep...

Thomas Y. Mandler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Thomas Y., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas Y. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Napolitano is a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Steve represents private equity funds, family offices and public and private corporations in connection with leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, going private transactions, growth equity financings, senior and mezzanine debt financings, joint ventures, recapitalizations and restructurings. He also has substantial experience representing private equity sponsors, corporations and senior managemen...