Stephanie M. Berardi

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...

Janet Garetto is a partner in the IP group. Her practice spans the firm’s Trademarks & Copyrights, Patents and IP Litigation practice groups. Janet counsels clients on IP issues facing their brands. In addition, she counsels clients on patent protection and litigation prevention issues with a focus on chemical and mechanical technologies. Janet also serves as the Managing Partner of Nixon Peabody’s Chicago office. What do you focus on? I focus my practice on three main areas, ...

Margaret Lomenzo Frey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law. Margaret Lomenzo, 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 Margaret Lomenzo is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gary Gassman focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage counseling and litigation and is co-chair of the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group. For more than 20 years, his practice has been concentrated on management liability including directors and officers and entity liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, and various types of professional liability and commercial general liability coverage. He also has significant reinsurance experience. G...

Ziemowit T. Smulkowski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Ziemowit T., 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 Ziemowit T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Emer Simic is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group and focuses her practice on patent litigation and counseling in the pharmaceutical and biotech space. Emer has substantial experience successfully representing pharmaceutical and biotech companies in Hatch-Waxman and patent infringement disputes before the U.S. District Court and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). A strategic advisor and compelling advocate, Emer partners with her clients to achieve their goals ...

Jonathan Amarilio is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Jonathan, 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 Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim Murphy has 20+ years of experience practicing intellectual property law, including successfully representing clients as lead counsel in jury trials across the country and proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Jim helps clients secure and maximize the value of their intellectual property. He also counsels clients on all related issues such as licensing, unfair competition, trade secrets, and copyright. Jim also represents clients with intellectual property aspects of mer...

Linda Moroney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Linda, 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 Linda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark E. Schmidtke represents clients in ERISA and Non-ERISA employee benefits matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States for nearly 30 years. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in ERISA litigation matters pending in the courts of 49 states. He has argued appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits, as well as the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Minnesota Suprem...