William J. Arendt

Sergio Acosta is Co-Chair of Akerman’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice. A former federal prosecutor and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers with over 70 jury trials to his credit, he has extensive experience defending companies and individuals in criminal and regulatory proceedings, conducting internal investigations, and counseling clients on compliance programs and related issues. Sergio represents companies and individuals in regulatory, civil, a...

Tim Stanton is an energetic advocate for and trusted advisor to inside counsel and benefits and HR executives. His clients include: retailers and wholesalers; insurance, banking and financial services firms; and food companies and manufacturers, as well as colleges and universities. Tim actively counsels clients on the roller coaster ride that is national health care reform, as well as on ERISA fiduciary duties, health information privacy and security, retiree medical age discrimination, and ...

Over the past 25 years, Brian Heidelberger has represented a multitude of the nation’s most revered brands and agencies in the marketing of their products and services. Recognized as Chicago “Lawyer of the Year” in Advertising Law by Best Lawyers and cited by Chambers USA as a “practical solutions-oriented lawyer” and an “expert in the field of advertising,” Brian is sought after by clients for his cutting-edge legal and industry knowledge, responsive...

Kenneth P. Kansa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Kenneth P., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David A. Baker serves as head of the Firm's Estate, Trust and Guardianship Controversy Practice Group. He advises clients in the areas of estate, trust and guardianship litigation; probate, estate, trust and guardianship administration; and charitable foundation and exempt organization administration and litigation. He also practices estate planning. Please visit our website for more on David's biography: https://www.mwe.com/en/team/b/baker-david-a

Robert is a highly-skilled and experienced trial and appellate litigator with an emphasis on automobile negligence, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death, professional malpractice and other personal injury and commercial matters. He has concentrated his practice solely on civil litigation, whether in the courtroom, in mediation or at arbitration. Robert has successfully tried jury cases in the state courts of Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia, and the U.S. District Court ...

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...

Stephen T. Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Stephen T., who practices law in Rockford, Illinois, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sanford E. Perl (Sandy) concentrates on the corporate, securities and tax aspects of complex business transactions, including leveraged buy-outs of public and private companies; strategic mergers, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures; venture capital and growth equity investments; divestitures; initial public offerings; private equity fund formations; executive compensation; and debt and equity restructurings and workouts. He manages transactions in a wide variety of industries, inclu...

Jeffrey Sheffield concentrates his practice in the areas of tax planning, mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs, with a particular focus on complex tax planning for publicly traded companies and consolidated groups. Jeff is past Chairman of the Planning Committee for the University of Chicago Federal Tax Institute, and has been listed as a Tier One attorney by Chambers USA. In the 2006–2017 editions of Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Jeff is recognized as a lea...