Michael R. Houston

Former Illinois Director of Insurance Nat Shapo litigates, argues and briefs cases in federal and state appellate and district courts throughout the country for a variety of clients. He represents insurers, licensees and insurance trade associations in regulatory and public policy matters in dozens of states and with federal agencies and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). During his four years as Illinois insurance commissioner, Nat was elected to the NAIC Executive C...

Nick wins cases for clients and helps them favorably resolve disputes, including complex partnership, corporate governance, finance, and deal disputes. As a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 30 jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, when a rare business case goes to trial, other law firms and clients ask him to join or lead the trial team. Nick splits his time between Barack Ferrazzano’s Minneapolis and Chicago offices, although he regularly appears in courts across...

T. Markus Funk Ph.D. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. T. Markus, 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 T. Markus is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Augustyn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law. John, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Cramer counsels and represents employers on a wide variety of labor and employment-related legal matters. He has advised clients ranging from small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies on employment matters, negotiated cost-effective resolutions to troubling disputes, and litigated to victory. Based on peer surveys, Mr. Cramer has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating (AV), and has been named among the Best Lawyers in America, a Leading Lawyer and an Illinois Supe...

Bernard S. Kramer represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies in mergers and acquisitions, finance, executive compensation, equity incentive and general corporate matters and public corporations in public offerings and securities matters. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/kramer-bernard-s/

With nearly 30 years of experience working with clients that include household brands and, in particular, mid-market businesses, John is able to remain calm and focused when encountering challenging environments. He helps clients to reduce stress in service of negotiating their desired resolution. Because copyright and trademark litigation is frequently used as a competitive tool, John works to ensure efficiency and preserve client resources throughout the litigation process, including elimin...

For over 50 years, Bruce Sperling has been winning record-breaking and game-changing jury verdicts, court judgments, and arbitration awards for plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes litigation. Experienced in virtually every area of the law, Mr. Sperling has favorably resolved wide-ranging commercial disputes for Fortune 500 companies, privately held enterprises, and individuals. His cases have included securities, antitrust, patents, trade secrets, corporate governance, real estate develo...

Gretchen M. Wolf is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy). Gretchen M., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gretchen M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lance Zinman, global chair of Katten's Financial Markets and Funds practice, provides comprehensive legal services to asset managers, proprietary trading firms and other participants in the financial markets in need of a single advisor to assist with all aspects of their business. His unique skill set combines a deep understanding of corporate, regulatory, intellectual property and tax law with broad knowledge of the securities and derivatives markets. Using his extensive experience with thes...