William K. Merkel

Dennis VanDerGinst Dennis VanDerGinst is a personal injury attorney, trial lawyer, and the Founder & CEO of VanDerGinst Law PC. He represents injured individuals and families throughout Illinois, Iowa, and other jurisdictions. For more than 30 years, Dennis has focused his practice on helping people navigate serious injury claims and complex litigation during challenging periods of their lives. Dennis handles a wide range of plaintiff-side personal injury matters, including car accidents,...

Bob Riley is a trial lawyer. He has tried a broad array of complex, high-stakes cases and has argued appeals in state and federal courts across the country. His practice focuses on product liability, mass torts, and environmental cases; class actions; and general commercial litigation. Bob’s appellate work has given rise to over forty reported decisions concerning trial consolidations, punitive damages, civil conspiracy, class certification, and constitutional interpretation. He litigat...

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...

Attorney – Jason Williams biography Jason Williams is a Chicago personal injury attorney at Smith LaCien LLP, concentrating in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. He joined the firm in December 2021 after eight years as a solo practitioner, litigating cases at the trial and appellate levels on complex computer matters, medical malpractice, healthcare, antitrust and commercial work, and trusts and estates. The firm regularly confronts powerful corporatio...

Michael A. Warner, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michael A., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick D. Owens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Patrick D., 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 Patrick D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Monica A. Wallace focuses her practice on complex regulatory and transactional counseling to healthcare organizations, including health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physician groups, dental providers, integrated delivery systems, academic medical centers, DMEPOS and pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers, home health agencies, and venture capital and private equity firms and their health-related portfolio companies. Monica is a practice area leader for the Healthcare Re...

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

William (Bill) J. Butler focuses his practice on estate planning and probate administration matters. Bill counsels family groups and individuals on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, with an emphasis on formulating estate plans that maximize and protect wealth while minimizing transfer taxes. Bill is the global head of McDermott’s Private Client Group and is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee. Bill represents many large, multigenerational family groups, and also adv...

Daniel G. M. Marre is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Daniel G. M., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel G. M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.