Best Lawyers in Illinois, United States for Commercial Litigation
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Christopher Wilson, a partner in the firm's Litigation practice and managing partner of the Chicago office, represents clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation matters. He has represented a number of Fortune 500 companies in high stakes cases, including The Boeing Company in connection with shareholder derivative actions involving the Dreamliner 787, Microsoft Corporation in trade secrets and piracy matters, Amazon.com in qui tam actions arising under the Illinois Whistleblower A...
George C. Lombardi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. George C., 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 George C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kevin Van Wart is a partner Kirkland's Chicago office, where he concentrates in complex litigation, including mass tort claims, class action lawsuits, product liability and pharmaceutical claims, and high stakes commercial disputes. Kevin has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of cases throughout the country and teaches trial advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School. The National Law Journal featured Kevin's successful trial work in naming Kirkland to its 200...
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.
Nicholas Berg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Nicholas, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Cara M. Houck is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Cara M., 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 Cara M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John F. Kennedy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law. John F., 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 John F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
As a commercial litigator and counselor with more than 20 years of experience, Matt brings a creative, pragmatic, and efficient approach to helping clients resolve complex legal and business problems. Matt is co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Group. He has significant, first-chair trial experience in a wide variety of business disputes. He regularly represents clients in matters involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, non-competes, and post-closing disputes. Matt ...
Robert B. Ellis P.C. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Robert B., 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 Robert B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anne E. Larson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Management. Anne E., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew R. Carter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Matthew R., 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 Matthew R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Hariklia (Carrie) Karis is a Kirkland trial lawyer who has extensive lead trial experience in jury and bench trials and arbitration involving personal injury in a broad range of high profile personal injury, product liability and other commercial cases throughout the country. Hariklia was recently recognized by various legal publications as a first class trial lawyer in mass tort and commercial litigation. She was awarded Law360 MVP for Trials in 2022. The American Lawyer named Hariklia &ldqu...
Robert A. Clifford is the founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, a nationally recognized Chicago-based personal injury and medical malpractice firm known for its depth of talent, extensive resources, and unrelenting determination in handling complex personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Founded in 1984, the firm is ranked nationally and locally by Best Law Firms® in several practice areas, including aviation. Under Clifford’s leadership, the firm has recovered ...
Steve Patton is of counsel to the Litigation group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Steve has extensive experience trying cases and arguing appeals in federal and state courts throughout the country in a wide variety of commercial disputes. He has also served as an advisor to senior management in a number of “bet the company” exposures and negotiated several multibillion settlements in complex disputes. Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers a...
Matt Regan is a partner in Kirkland's Chicago office. He has broad experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Matt's cases have involved claims in the areas of antitrust and trade regulation, accountant/auditor malpractice, class actions, products liability, software consulting, fraud and breach of contract, and other complex commercial disputes. The Legal 500 U.S. recognized Matt for his work in Energy Lit...
Timothy R. Farrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Timothy R., 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 Timothy R. 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.