Michelle A. Rakestraw

Tom represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution, intellectual property litigation, and post-grant patent challenges before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Tom has a broad base of experience in various technological and business areas, particularly in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical and medical device inventions. He drafts invalidity opinions, investigates freedom to operate, counsels on strategic portfolio management, and conducts due diligence investigations prio...

Matthew J. Cannon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Qui Tam Law. Matthew J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. del Hierro is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis and heads our bank regulatory practice. He has more than 30 years of experience in representing banks and bank holding companies, thrifts and thrift holding companies, payments and fintech companies, investment banks and institutional lenders in connection with regulatory issues relating to capital formation transactions, mergers and acquisitions and complex financings. He has significant experience representi...

Laurie S. Randolph is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction. Laurie S., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laurie S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David S. Ruskin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. David S., 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 David S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sonya counsels companies and organizations on various employee-related legal issues and needs that arise at all the stages of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of employment agreements, restrictive covenants, policies and training, performance management, internal investigations and individual and group separations. Sonya also represents employers in litigation, her experience including the successful defense of numerous administrative charges, lawsuits and appellate proc...

Elise J. McGee advises high-net-worth individuals and business owners on all aspects of wealth-transfer planning, including estate and trust administration, leveraged wealth-transfer techniques, tax matters, cryptocurrency and QSBS planning, real estate transactions and closely held business matters. Elise has extensive experience working with owners of closely held businesses to develop governance and succession plans, and on corporate, tax and compliance matters relating to those businesses...

Daniel F. Gottlieb counsels a wide range of healthcare industry clients, including healthcare providers, health plans, health information technology vendors, life sciences companies and data aggregators. He is sought out for his legal knowledge and practical approach on data protection, interoperability, and complex data and software licensing transactions, collaborations and strategic initiatives. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/gottlieb-daniel-f/

Jill B. Berkeley formerly chaired the firm’s Insurance Policyholder practice group and remains an active member of the group. She represents policyholders and claimants in insurance coverage disputes involving toxic torts and hazardous wastes, environmental pollution, construction, products liability, intellectual property, first-party property, business interruption and excess liability matters. In addition to her robust litigation practice, Jill provides counsel on clients’ deve...

Timothy S. Schafer is the founding partner of Schafer & Schafer and a seasoned trial lawyer with more than four decades of experience fighting for the injured. Over the course of his career, he’s recovered more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, including over 100 individual cases where he secured $1 million or more. Timothy has been consistently recognized as one of the top trial lawyers in Indiana and the country, earning honors like Best Lawyer of the Year by U.S. New...