Rebecca Stern

Described by clients as a "phenomenal practitioner and extremely bright," Michael Hartz advises on business succession planning, tax-efficient wealth transfer into trusts for future generations and strategies for fulfilling philanthropic goals. Michael is ranked among the leading lawyers for private wealth law in Chambers High Net Worth, where his practical, effective solutions to complex problems have led to consistent recognition. With 40 years of experience in trust and estate planning and...

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

Attorney – Jason Williams biography Jason Williams is a Chicago personal injury attorney at Smith LaCien LLP, concentrating in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. He joined the firm in December 2021 after eight years as a solo practitioner, litigating cases at the trial and appellate levels on complex computer matters, medical malpractice, healthcare, antitrust and commercial work, and trusts and estates. The firm regularly confronts powerful corporatio...

Howard has always understood that business involves risk. Howard works with his clients to understand their business, their goals, and their level of risk tolerance. That understanding enables him to craft solutions that work for his clients. It is one reason why he has represented many of his clients for decades. For more than 40 years, Howard has served as a trusted lawyer and adviser to clients ranging from some of the world’s largest and best-known real estate, tech, software, and o...

Leah is chair of the firm’s Real Estate practice group and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Hospitality and Leisure Practice Group. She develops legal strategies for clients, both real estate investors and clients in other industries who are heavy real estate users, in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions; mortgage and mezzanine financing transactions; commercial leases, hotel management and franchise agreements, co-living and property...

John G. Caruso is a partner in the Real Estate Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. John represents and counsels clients in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including financings/commercial lending, acquisitions, dispositions, synthetic lease and sale-leaseback transactions, commercial leases, rights-of-way and easement agreements and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions. John actively represents clients in structuring joint ventures for the acquisit...

Stephen Reynolds (CIPP/US, CISSP) advises some of the largest companies in the world on complex data security and privacy matters. A former computer programmer and IT analyst, Stephen is uniquely able to use his computer background to the advantage of his clients in matters involving data security, privacy, artificial intelligence and computer forensic investigations. He assists with responding to cybersecurity incidents, such as ransomware attacks, fund transfer fraud, data breaches and busi...

Stephen H. Weil is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Stephen H., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey A. Zaluda is a partner at Horwood Marcus & Berk and chairs the Trusts and Estates Group. He advises individuals, families, fiduciaries, closely held businesses and business owners with respect to estate planning, business planning, asset protection and preservation, estate and trust administration, tax planning, and estate and trust litigation. Jeff is a technically adept estate planner, comfortable with both the straightforward and the sophisticated. His clients value his ability...

Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney and litigator who advocates for his clients in all family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. in early 2009. Prior to starting the firm, Jonathan worked at another Chicago-based family law practice for many years. Jonathan has grown his firm to include 4 other attorneys, an excellent staff and an additional office location in the suburbs. Jonathan has a great deal of e...