Michelle B. Smit

Valerie Montague represents a variety of health care providers, digital health companies, senior living facilities, nonprofit trade associations, life sciences companies and vendors of health care providers. Valerie is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US), the preeminent credential in the field of privacy. What do you focus on? I focus my practice on three main areas. HIPAA/Health Information Privacy and Security I assist health care providers and business asso...

Shilpi Gupta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Shilpi, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shilpi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kenneth A. Jenero is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Kenneth A., 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 Kenneth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Biography: Todd A. Smith, Founding Partner, Smith LaCien LLP Making Access to Justice a Personal Crusade A native of Evanston, Ill., and with a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Todd A. Smith, a founding partner with Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP, has practiced law for over 40 years. He has won some of the largest multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements in serious personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases in Illinois. ...

Bill has almost 40 years of experience in bankruptcy litigation. Bill is a calming and relaxed force while being a committed advocate for his clients. Bill is the senior member of Barack Ferrazzano’s Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group. In recent years Bill has focused his practice on representing secured debt holders and landlords in Chapter 11 cases and other insolvency proceedings. Bill has litigated a broad variety of cases in the bankruptcy courts, including stay relief, adequat...

Jared Staver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Jared, 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 Jared is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Holby is a strategic intellectual property advisor who focuses on the creation, development, protection and enforcement of numerous sophisticated global patent and trademark portfolios. His practice encompasses all aspects of patent and trademark development, including prosecution, licensing, opinion work, counseling and due diligence. Holby provides legal services with a full appreciation of the perspectives of in-house counsel, management and technical staff, routinely advising them regardi...

Jim Cruger, a partner in Perkins Coie’s national Private Equity practice, concentrates his practice in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, formation of private investment vehicles and joint ventures. Jim has represented numerous private equity funds and public companies in transactions during his 28 year career. Public company representation has included Deutsche Post DHL, Leggett & Platt (NYSE), Voyager Learning Company (NASDAQ) and Strategic Hotel Capital (NYSE). Fund representati...

As a partner in Barack Ferrazzano’s Real Estate group, Julie has extensive experience in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, representing both sponsors and investors in all facets of commercial real estate. She is recognized as an industry leader in matters pertaining to real estate development. Julie regularly advises clients in some of the largest and most complex projects in the U.S., from the predevelopment stage through asset stabilization and disposition. She wo...

Martin G. Durkin is a trial lawyer whose practice includes antitrust and commercial litigation. He has successfully litigated business and transactional disputes, and tried many complex commercial matters. Mr. Durkin's practice is focused on commercial matters, including breach of contract, business torts, RICO, securities fraud and consumer fraud. Mr. Durkin has also represented a number of Fortune 500 companies in the defense of class actions and mass actions. Representative Matters Class A...