Best Lawyers in Illinois, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar

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...

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...

Mark Schneider is a partner whose practice focuses on representing businesses, their boards and executives in complex criminal, civil, and administrative investigations, government enforcement proceedings, and related litigation, often in highly regulated industries and international contexts. Recognized by Chambers as a leading lawyer, Mark's clients include notable multinational companies in the financial services, life sciences, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, as well as private ...

Jack Carriglio represents clients in commercial disputes, including the prosecution and defense of cases relating to contracts, business torts, bankruptcy, securities, product defects, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, partnership disputes, malpractice and professional disciplinary matters, and real estate litigation. In addition, Jack has a substantial practice in representing corporations and individuals at the federal grand jury, trial, and appellate courts in various criminal matters in...

Patricia Brown Holmes is a highly respected and accomplished lawyer who focuses her practice on high-stakes, “bet-the-company” commercial disputes and litigation; class actions; investigations and white collar criminal defense; environmental, social, and governance issues (ESG) such as diversity audits; and risk, reputation, and crisis management counseling for her wide range of public and private corporate clients. She is the first Black woman to lead and have her name on the doo...

Steven A. Block is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Steven A., 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 Steven A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ronald Safer manages complex, high-stakes cases with a focus in civil litigation. Ron has successfully represented companies and individuals in federal and state court involving matters such as commercial disputes, accounting fraud, tax fraud, anti-kickback violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), environmental violations, and securities fraud. He represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Au...

Kim Nemirow is a partner in the Government & Internal Investigations Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Kim has nearly 20 years of experience advising multi-national organizations advising clients on highly sensitive and complex matters, including U.S. DOJ and SEC investigations, internal investigations and compliance matters. She had led countless investigations for private equity, pharmaceutical, medical device, technology and other clients into potential violation...

Matthew J. Cannon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Qui Tam Law. Matthew J., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 2012. 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.

Gretchen M. Wolf is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy). Gretchen M., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gretchen M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Pravin B. Rao is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Pravin B., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pravin B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

J. William Roberts is Senior Partner and serves as Special Counsel to management of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. He served as the firm's first national Managing Partner, from 1997 to 2016. Mr. Roberts maintains an active legal practice in the firm's Chicago and Springfield offices, concentrated in complex civil and criminal litigation, government relations and gaming law. Mr. Roberts’ career has been dedicated to public service through several prominent positions in various levels of g...

Nancy DePodesta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Nancy, 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 Nancy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura Hoey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Laura, 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 Laura is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Lausch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. John, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.