Robert Friend

Neil T. Kawashima has a diverse practice, representing wealthy individuals and families on matters related to estate and gift planning, business succession and governance, and estate and trust administration. Neil’s clients include owners of privately-held businesses, beneficiaries of long-term trusts, fiduciaries and entrepreneurs. Neil has advised his clients regarding traditional and novel uses of trusts, wealth transfer strategies, business control mechanisms such as voting trusts a...

A registered patent attorney with decades of experience, Tom helps domestic and global businesses develop, protect, and manage complex intellectual property portfolios. He has built longstanding client relationships, often spanning 20-30 years, by prioritizing clear communication and ensuring clients feel informed and valued throughout every matter. Tom’s practice has evolved from litigation to a strong emphasis on patent prosecution and trademark protection, reflecting the growing impo...

Nationally known for successfully representing clients in personal injury matters, Mr. Steven M. Levin is an outstanding attorney, successful entrepreneur and, most importantly, a committed family man. his family values carry over into everything he does, from representing people seeking better care for their elderly loved ones to building a law firm that has become one of the best in the nation at winning substantial verdicts and settlements for people affected by medical malpractice, nursin...

Julie Seymour represents and counsels banks and borrowers, including hospitals, health systems, educational and cultural institutions and long-term care providers; governmental issuers; underwriters; and trustees in connection with tax-exempt and taxable financings. Since 1990, Julie has been involved in billions of dollars of tax-exempt bond financings, including fixed and variable rate structures, as well as secured and unsecured lending transactions. What do you focus on? In my finance pra...

Jason J. Keener is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Jason J. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Jason J. Keener since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jason J. Keener is held by other lawyers.

With more than two decades of experience, Paul Quinn represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in leveraged acquisitions and dispositions, corporate governance, and restructurings. Paul also represents management teams in employment and compensation arrangements, distressed-focused private equity funds in acquisitions in bankruptcy court and out-of-court processes; and private equity and venture capital funds in minority growth equity investments. Ranked by Chambers USA , ...

Ron Damashek recognizes that litigation is a place very few people want to be, but all too many people end up. Operating from that mindset makes Ron a practical lawyer, working to get to the bottom line quickly and enabling his clients to make educated, cost-effective decisions. Regardless of whether the path leads to settlement, arbitration, or trial, Ron stands side-by-side with each client, prepared and ready to succeed. As counsel to secured creditors, Ron regularly litigates and works ou...

Phillip W. Nelson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Phillip W. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Phillip W. Nelson since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Phillip W. Nelson is held by other lawyers.

Steve Napolitano is a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Steve represents private equity funds, family offices and public and private corporations in connection with leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, going private transactions, growth equity financings, senior and mezzanine debt financings, joint ventures, recapitalizations and restructurings. He also has substantial experience representing private equity sponsors, corporations and senior managemen...

Walt Holzer focuses on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations, divestitures, venture capital and growth equity investing, and executive compensation. He has handled numerous transactions in a wide variety of industries for private equity, family office and strategic clients. Praised by clients for his "pragmatic approach, business acumen and sector knowledge" and his "expertise…and commerciality" and "valuable understanding of the mos...