Rick Stepanovic

Pat Nash is a partner in the Restructuring Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He represents a variety of clients in complex business reorganizations, troubled company M&A, debt restructurings, and financing matters. He has counseled companies experiencing financial difficulties, purchasers of and investors in distressed companies, and lenders to and creditors of such companies. Pat also has extensive cross-border insolvency experience. Described as “very commercial, very smart and v...

John F. Kennedy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law. John F., 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 John F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group, Jeff focuses his work on patent litigation and strategic counseling related to pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, electrical engineering, agricultural and food products. A registered patent attorney with four decades of experience, Jeff has successfully represented both patent owners and patent challengers through all stages of federal litigation and appeals. A significant portion of Jeff’s practice includes advising pharma...

James J. Lukas, Jr. is Co-Chair of the Chicago Intellectual Property & Technology Practice. He focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation with a particular emphasis on patent litigation and related client counseling. He has experience with complex patent litigation cases in federal district courts throughout the country, including both enforcing patent rights and defending against charges of infringement on behalf of clients. He has first-chaired trials and claim constructio...

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...

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

Raiford Palmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Raiford, who practices law in Naperville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Raiford is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Josh is a first-chair trial lawyer and counselor. Many of the world’s highest profile companies trust him to resolve disputes in ways that align with their business goals. Clients also seek Josh out before disputes arise, helping them to calibrate business strategies to reduce the risk of litigation or maximize leverage from potential claims. Many of Josh’s clients are in the retail, manufacturing, and real estate development industries. He has championed their rights in a host of...

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/

Matthew Steinmetz focuses primarily on leveraged buyouts of public and private companies, as well as recaps and joint ventures. His experience spans a wide variety of sectors, including technology, media, healthcare, industrials and retail. His principal clients include both large cap and middle cap leveraged buyout funds, located in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to his considerable transactional work, he is a trusted advisor to a number of senior PE fund managers.