Best Lawyers Near You in Chicago, Illinois for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Christopher Hotaling is a member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group. After 16 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Chris focuses his practice on representing entities and individuals in all types of government investigations, criminal prosecutions, and regulatory enforcement actions. A seasoned trial attorney, clients also come to Chris for their most significant complex commercial litigation. What do you focus o...
Jonathan Marks helps clients — often large insurers — develop investigation, claims handling and litigation strategies to detect, prevent and deter fraud. As an Assistant US Attorney, Jonathan tried numerous federal jury trials and argued appeals before the US Court of Appeals. As a lawyer in private practice, Jonathan has handled hundreds of insurance fraud investigations and dozens of fraud litigation matters. At every stage of counseling, investigation, litigation and in court,...
Dennis J. Kelly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Dennis J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dennis J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mariah A. Whitner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Mariah 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 Mariah A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
When clients in highly regulated industries such as banking and health care are facing high-stakes government investigations, Adam Safer offers strategic counsel to address immediate needs and promote positive outcomes over the long term. Adam focuses his practice on defending businesses against allegations of fraud and corruption and has participated in investigations of False Claims Act (FCA) and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations. An experienced litigator with a passion for de...
Denise Vaughn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Denise, 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 Denise is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Spencer Gottlieb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Spencer, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Spencer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anna Bninski is a litigation attorney with a focus on persuasive use of precedent. Anna develops approaches with the goal of effectively advancing client goals over the course of a case and is able to distill sprawling facts and complex law into summaries that are easily understood. With judicial clerkship experience, Anna offers clients a considerable understanding of the litigation process. She is a skilled researcher and writer and uses these skills to formulate an effective litigation str...
Lucas Rael brings sharp research and organizational skills to his work on white collar criminal matters and other complex investigations. This love of digging into different areas of the law and synthesizing information from multiple sources is matched by his enthusiasm for courtroom work such as examining witnesses and making arguments. After all, he notes, it’s deep preparation that enables you to think on your feet. In his experience working on internal investigations triggered by su...
Sean Koller represents clients in a variety of industries in complex business disputes. Whether handling a pre-litigation negotiation, representing a client in a mediation, federal or state court litigation, arbitration, a government investigation or inquiry, or working out a settlement, Sean brings the experience needed to resolve matters efficiently and effectively. Sean has handled complex commercial suits, antitrust and healthcare disputes, derivative suits, tort disputes, and contractual...
A versatile litigator in the truest sense, Eli Litoff is equally adept at defending his clients against complex class actions in federal court, navigating their local matters in a county courthouse, and defending them against accusations by the government. He has tried civil and criminal cases to verdict in both state and federal court. Eli’s civil practice focuses on class actions and complex commercial litigation. He understands both sides of the “v.,” having successfully ...
Emilie O’Toole is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Emilie, 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 Emilie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Daniel Charles V. Wolf is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Daniel Charles, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel Charles is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael G. Marzano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Michael G., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Caitlyn A. Cheleden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Caitlyn 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 Caitlyn A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael J. Stern is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Securities. Michael J., 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 Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.