Patrick Muench

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. ...

Brad protects the intellectual property rights of companies with strategic portfolio development and litigation. He is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has litigated numerous cases through trial verdict—cases involving complex patented technology, design patents, trademark rights to protect market position, as well as false advertisement and unfair competition claims. Throughout his career, he has guided companies to minimize the risk of infring...

Larry is chair of the firm’s Private Wealth Services practice group. He facilitates successful legal strategies for entrepreneurs, tax-exempt organizations, fiduciaries and high-net worth families and individuals. This work involves estate, gift and charitable planning issues, including business succession, tax-efficient ownership structures, sophisticated tax-exempt structures, trust and estate administration, executive benefits, life insurance and international estate planning for wea...

Doug Sawyer is a partner in the Intellectual Property practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Chicago office. Mr. Sawyer’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and enforcement. He has extensive litigation experience, including complex civil litigation, patent and trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, false advertising, deceptive trade practices, antitrust, and breach of contract. Mr. Sawyer has counseled clients on all aspects of intellectua...

Lorraine M. Tyson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. Lorraine M., 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 Lorraine M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph T. Murphy, partner at Clifford Law Offices, comes with a great deal of experience in the law since he was sworn in Illinois in 2012. He formerly was a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney and served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony offenses in federal court. He also previously served as chief of federal litigation for the 101 st Airborne Division while serving as an attorney...

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.

Timothy J. Ritchey is a partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC who concentrates his practice in estate and trust litigation , elder law , and guardianship . Tim has been appointed Special Assistant Attorney General in numerous matters to represent the State’s interests in actions relating to Illinois healthcare and disability law. In 2014, Tim wrote legislation and testified as an expert before the Illinois Senate on an amendment to the Illinois Probate Act regarding elder abuse and financial exp...

Rob Drobnak has significant experience in the structuring, negotiating and documentation of credit facilities for acquisitions, working capital and other general corporate purposes. Rob’s strong acumen around the entire life-cycles of finance transactions, including the negotiation, structuring and documentation of deals from inception to close, during growth and workout phases and in sale, foreclosure and other exit scenarios, helps clients to successfully navigate unexpected obstacles...

Matthew R. Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Matthew R., 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 Matthew R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.