Michelle B. Smit

Brian Richards is Chair of the Firm’s Global Private Equity Practice and is a partner in the Private Equity and M&A practices at Paul Hastings. Brian has 30 years of experience leading complex domestic and international transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and growth equity investments in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, distribution, and services. The volume and breadth of Brian’s experience is rela...

With more than a decade of experience, Partner Seth L. Cardeli is a skilled trial attorney representing families across the country who have suffered as a result of medical negligence and malpractice, including children who have been injured during labor and delivery. Seth is well-versed in the many complex legal and medical issues surrounding birth injury claims. He regularly conducts educational seminars for other attorneys on important aspects of litigation such as taking depositions and d...

Kelly Koss focuses her practice in domestic and international construction and commercial litigation and arbitration. She is respected by clients for her counsel regarding litigation avoidance techniques and her willingness to work collaboratively to seek early resolution to disputes. When litigation is unavoidable, Kelly is prepared to advocate zealously for her clients to achieve desired results. Kelly represents owners, developers, contractors and design professionals in disputes related t...

An accomplished trial lawyer, Tery Gonsalves draws on his prior roles as a police detective and deputy general counsel to provide strategic guidance to clients facing investigations and complex litigation matters, including regulatory and compliance counseling. As chair of the Education Team, he regularly counsels public and private institutions through the issues they face in a highly regulated landscape. Tery is a seasoned trial lawyer who has tried more than 20 cases to verdict. He represe...

Peter G. Rush is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Peter G., 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 Peter G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jonathan Amarilio is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Jonathan, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Craig Liljestrand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Craig, 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 Craig is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ashley Fischer is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. She is Partner-in-Charge of the Health Industry Advisory Practice Group in Chicago. She also co-chairs the firm’s Health Antitrust Affinity Group. Ashley represents healthcare providers on a wide range of corporate and regulatory matters, focusing on affiliations, collaborations, joint ventures, managed care contracting networks such as clinically-integrated networks (CINs) and accountable care organizations ...

As an advisor and counselor to entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and wealthy families and their family offices, Steve Gustafson draws upon multiple disciplines to provide integrated tax, business and financial advice. Steve’s practice has a substantial emphasis in the areas of tax and financial transactions, including structuring corporate, joint venture, commercial and real estate transactions, as well as assisting family businesses with tax and financial planning matters. He als...

Howard Schaffner is a senior partner in firm of Hofeld and Schaffner. The Hofeld and Schaffner law firm is been honored to be ranked as a top tier law firm by US News and World Reports and to have received the highest ranking from Martindale Hubble. As a specialist in plaintiff’ s personal injury Mr. Schaffner has achieved multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in well over 150 cases. A few examples include; $39,000,000.00 verdict in a drug product liability case $16,000,000.00 ve...