Todd M. Stennes

Lance Zinman, global chair of Katten's Financial Markets and Funds practice, provides comprehensive legal services to asset managers, proprietary trading firms and other participants in the financial markets in need of a single advisor to assist with all aspects of their business. His unique skill set combines a deep understanding of corporate, regulatory, intellectual property and tax law with broad knowledge of the securities and derivatives markets. Using his extensive experience with thes...

You often hear about small-town values from big-city attorneys in commercials, but Jim McPhedran, who grew up on a farm outside Oglesby, took his small-town values to Chicago and brought back his law degree to help the people of the Illinois Valley. He remains as committed to his community today as he was as a new lawyer over three decades ago. "I learned a long time ago that you treat all clients the same," said Jim McPhedran. "Each deserves the same level of respect, consideration, and hard...

Margaret H. (“Peggy”) MCCORMICK is a principal of Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C., and has been practicing exclusively in the field of immigration law for over thirty years. From 1999 until 2003, she served as national President of the American Immigration Law Foundation, and during her tenure, she established the Immigration Policy Center to increase public understanding of immigration. She is past national President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (1997-98). She curre...

Neil's practice is focused on both domestic and international transactions, including outsourcing (business process and information technology), software development, software, data, trademark, patent and technology licensing, telecommunications, commercial agreements (supply, distribution, development), joint ventures, and strategic alliances. In addition, Neil advises clients on the intellectual property and technology issues that arise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizati...

Brian Richards is Chair of the Firm’s Global Private Equity Practice and is a partner in the Private Equity and M&A practices at Paul Hastings. Brian has 30 years of experience leading complex domestic and international transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and growth equity investments in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, distribution, and services. The volume and breadth of Brian’s experience is rela...

John Ratnaswamy founded his own law firm after having served as a co-founder and Partner at a nationally recognized energy boutique law firm. John has spent over 25 years counseling and representing electric and natural gas industry clients, including before utility commissions and on appeal. John has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© from 2010-2026 and was named its 2014 Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of Energy Law. John also has been rec...

Mark Filip, a former federal judge and high-ranking Justice Department official, helps to lead Kirkland’s government enforcement defense and internal investigations group, and serves as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. As a partner in the Firm’s Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices, Mark has successfully guided numerous Fortune 100 companies and financial institutions through complex mission-critical moments, counseling leaders and Boards of Directors on high-stak...

Trial lawyer Jerry Santangelo has extensive experience representing major financial institutions, securities broker-dealers, RIAs, financial advisors, and individual investors in federal and state courts and arbitration proceedings. He has won many multimillion-dollar cases in courts across the nation and personally has tried nearly 100 securities industry arbitrations to final judgment. Few lawyers have Jerry’s level of experience in handling securities industry arbitrations for invest...

Diana Z. Bowman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Construction Law. Diana Z. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Diana Z. Bowman 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 Diana Z. Bowman is held by other lawyers.

Michael Melzer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Public Finance Law. Michael practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Michael Melzer since 2027. 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 Michael Melzer is held by other lawyers.