Best Lawyers Near You in Chicago, Illinois for Banking and Finance Law
Payal Patel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law. Payal, 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 ...
Michael has a deep understanding of debt financing transactions with experience representing both lenders and borrowers. He brings his extensive knowledge of the latest commercial and legal trends in the lending market to a variety of financing transactions. Michael’s practice focuses on a wide range of debt financing matters, including senior secured and unsecured term loans and working capital revolvers, second lien, subordinated and mezzanine financings, acquisition and project finan...
Sean D. Phelan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Sean 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 Sean D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Justin Alphonse Mercurio is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. Justin Alphonse, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin Alphonse is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice ...
Matthew W. Gaspari is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Transportation Law. Matthew W., 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 Matthew W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nicole Briody is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Nicole, 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 Nicole is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ashley Whelan Keating is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Ashley Whelan, 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 Ashley Whelan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Albert Ortiz helps administrative agents, private lending institutions, banks, corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors in connection with secured and unsecured cash flow and asset-based debt financings, including acquisition, leveraged buyout, recapitalization and restructuring transactions. Albert's practice spans a broad range of deal sizes and industries, including health care, sports, software and technology, franchise and manufacturing. Clients can rely on Albert to come to the t...
Charles A. Klingenberger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Charles A., 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 Charles A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Keanen Armour is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Corporate Law. Keanen, 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 Keanen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Zachary S. Fine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Zachary S., 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 Zachary S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sara N. Koniewicz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Sara N., 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 Sara N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Julia Trotta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Julia, 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 Julia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Camryn Dreyer is an attorney in our Financial Institutions Group and a member of our Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights team. She has experience advising clients on a wide array of issues in the banking and payments sectors. As part of her practice, she regularly advises clients on capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law, helping her clients navigate the complex frameworks that apply to financial institutions. As part of her work with the Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights g...
Patrick Valenti is an investment funds partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on structuring, negotiating, forming, marketing and operating private investment funds and related management companies, ranging from first-time sponsors to funds of over $5 billion across a wide range of strategies and structures. He has experience advising fund sponsors on a variety of operational and management issues, including firm governance, compensation, succession pl...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.