Stark County Lawyers

Noah Benckendorf was born and raised in Morton, Illinois. He graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN in 2018 with a degree in history and economics. Noah went on to study law at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law where he was a member of the Business Law Association. While in law school, Noah worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance as a law clerk doing insurance defense work. Noah also spent time with Protective Insurance as a law clerk in their corporate legal team. Noah went on to work at first American Title Insurance as a post-closing agent. In...

Alex was born in Galesburg, Ill., and has lived in rural western and central Illinois throughout his life. He attended Knox College in Galesburg, graduating in 2011 with a double major in History/Political Science. Prior to law school, Alex worked as a special education aide at West Central High School in Biggsville, Ill., where he coached the football and track teams.Alex earned his J.D., cum laude, in 2016 from the Saint Louis University School of Law. Alex married his wife Joni in October 2021. They live in the Groveland area along with their two dachshunds and two cats. They welcomed...

Donald J. Ramsell, author of several DUI articles and books, is the one of the few DUI defense attorneys to appear and argue on a DUI case before the United States Supreme Court in its entire 213 years of existence. In his 33 year career his firms have defended 15,000 clients.

As an Attorney, Former IRS agent and Retired CPA, I fight serious tax matters for business owners. I specialize in IRS problems with larger IRS liability – that greater than $100,000. My specific services include:

• Offer-in-Compromise Settlements
• Emergency or Hardship Stop to IRS Levy
• Release of IRS Levy on Payroll Bank Accounts
• Removal of IRS Liens on Real Estate
• Representation in IRS Special Agent Investigations
• Removal of IRS Civil Penalty
• Sensitive Innocent Spouse Cases
• Tax from Death, Divorce, Sale or Loss of Business

I serve clients across the U.S., and am licensed to practice at the U.S. Tax Court, multiple federal courts, and the State of Illinois, ...

Mazyar M. Hedayat is the principal of M. Hedayat & Associates, PC, a law firm that has represented Clients for nearly 25 years in the areas of business law and litigation, bankruptcy law and litigation, real property transactions and litigation, construction law and mechanics liens, corporate law, and more. After attending the University of Chicago and University of Michigan, Mr. Hedayat received his MBA from the U.M. Ross School of Business, and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Hedayat is a title insurance agent and operated a full-service title company for 6 years....

John S. Fotopoulos, former Cook County judge serving at the Daley Center in Chicago, established his law firm on two simple firm principals: to have competitive rates allowing everyone to afford the advice they need, and to have legal counsel that is always available for clients. John takes immense pride in his work, fulfilling a great deal of credits in continuing education seminars to ensure compliance and competency. In addition, his countless hours of legal research ensures that he stays ahead of the competition and is fully educated to take care of clients' legal needs. John's practice ensures that you are...

Sandra is a partner at Spiros Law, P.C. She devotes her legal career to representing injured persons in worker's compensation and personal injury matters throughout Central Illinois. Sandra has successfully tried cases in front of juries and has secured millions of dollars in settlements for clients throughout Illinois. Sandra is a member of the Bar Associations for Champaign and Vermilion Counties, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Illinois Bar Association. She is a past president of the East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association and currently serves on its program committee where she helps to design and facilitate continuing legal education...

Wendy M. Musielak attended DePaul University in Chicago, IL where she graduated with highest honors with a B.S. in Finance and Management. She earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 2003. Wendy is admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois. Wendy concentrates her legal practice in family law matters including child custody and visitation, child support, alimony and spousal support, collaborative law, mediation, prenuptial agreements, litigation and appeals and complex litigation. Prior to being a partner with Andrew Cores Family Law Group, Wendy was a Staff Attorney for the...

Expert Advocacy in Employment Law: Attorney Cynthia Pietrucha ========================================================== I champion the rights of employees and guide employers through the legal intricacies of the workplace. With a decade of dedicated legal service, I am a seasoned employment attorney with expertise in drafting and negotiating separation agreements, litigating medical leave and ADA employment cases, and negotiating remote work terms, even prior to COVID-19! **Your Advocate for Fair Severance and Medical Leave Rights** Navigating the end of an employment relationship or grappling with medical leave can be daunting. As an expert in separation negotiations, I ensure that my clients—whether employees or employers—receive the most favorable terms...

Todd is the Senior Partner of Kanoski Bresney. He is also the Senior Trial Attorney who manages the complex litigation division of the law firm. Kanoski Bresney was established over 40 years ago and is a full service personal injury law firm that has 8 central Illinois office locations and a litigation practice that spans throughout the State of Illinois.

He has worked at the Federal Trade Commission and the States Attorney for Cook County. However, he spent the majority of his early career in Chicago representing and defending some of the largest insurers and corporations in the country.

Since 2002,...

Miranda became a partner at Spiros Law, P.C in 2010. Since then, she has established herself as a fierce and caring advocate for her clients wellbeing, showing empathy to their unique situations. Miranda's legal focus includes a variety of personal injury cases including automobile, birth and workplace injuries. She is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Florida. Miranda earned her J.D. at the University of Illinois College of Law. When she is awarded free time, Miranda prefers to spend it volunteering internationally with Meet Malawi, perfecting her many hobbies, or with her husband, Chris, and their three pets.

To seek out and maintain justice is Russell Haugen's goal as an Illinois personal injury attorney. Russell Haugen attended Illinois State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Throughout his undergraduate degree, Russ worked as a paralegal for Woodruff Johnson & Evans Law Offices. As a paralegal, he was able to learn a great deal about the many intricacies of both workers' compensation and personal injury law. This further convinced him to pursue a law degree. Russell Haugen attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. There, he was a volunteer for the Lansing Teen Court, working...

I am an experienced Personal Injury attorney dedicated to fighting for the rights of my clients through every stage of their case. I represent clients who have been injured due to car accidents, animal attacks, sports injuries, defective products and nursing home abuse. I am a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the DuPage County Bar Association. I have been included in the Illinois list of Super Lawyers. I have a 10.0 rating on Avvo and a 10.0 rating on Justia. Let me fight for the justice you deserve. Call today for a free...

Rachel received her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with double minors in Philosophy and History. In 2014, Rachel received the History Department’s James R. Shirley Essay Prize for her research paper on the Soviet Union’s gulag system.

After graduation, Rachel enrolled in Northern Illinois University’s College of Law, where she served as the Symposium Editor for the Northern Illinois University Law Review and as Clerk for Phi Alpha Delta’s Dooley Chapter. Her Law Review article, Battle for Baby: Proposed Legislation for Custody Battles over Frozen Pre-Embryos, was published in the...

At the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and achieving the best outcome on your case, quickly and efficiently. As a former Will County prosecutor, I have the courtroom trial experience you can count on. I have tried criminal cases ranging from a speeding ticket to first degree murder, and if you have been charged with a criminal offense, you want an attorney who knows your case from the prosecutor perspective. I know their strategy and the techniques to counter them. Don't delay. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, contact the...

An outstanding trial attorney, Shawn Collins is at his best in a courtroom. Shawn has extensive experience handling “high stakes” litigation in environmental contamination, toxic tort, personal injury, and commercial cases. Most recently, Shawn served as co-counsel in a case resulting in a $363 million jury verdict for a woman who contracted breast cancer after decades of exposure to ethylene oxide. He has also been instrumental in acquiring clean water and contamination-free homes for thousands of families. Shawn has recovered millions for clients, including: $34.5 million for a neighborhood contaminated with toxic vapors; $8.5 million for the family of a...

I am a father of 3 daughters, husband to a Naperville school teacher, and a personal injury attorney. I grew up in Naperville, went to high school at NNHS. Jason Marker, the other owner of the firm went to NCHS. Regardless of which side of the rivalry you fall on, our firm is Naperville through and through.

I represent people injured in auto accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, nursing home cases, medical malpractice cases, or any other case where our client was injured by someone else's negligence. I love my job and I care about my cases and clients as...

Benedict Schwarz, II has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law for over 40 years. He is a past director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is also a trained divorce mediator; Mr. Schwarz has taught numerous 40-hour divorce mediation training and conflict resolution seminars and has also co-authored chapters on the subject in the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education publications.

In 1992, Mr. Schwarz was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Commissioner of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). In 2001, Mr. Schwarz was appointed the Chairperson of the Commission from January...

Principal of a 6 attorney law firm that concentrates its practice in all aspects of Civil Trial Practice and Appeals in all State and Federal Courts in the Northeastern Illinois geographical area with a focus on catastrophic bodily injury and death claims concentrating in the representation of clients in their nursing home neglect, motor vehicle negligence and premises liability claims. The firm also represents clients in their Workers Compensation Act claims and their commercial and residential real estate transactions and associated litigation.

Sean Robertson is an experienced business law and real estate attorney with more than 14 years of experience. He graduated from DePaul University College of Law and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he gained a strong background in taxation law during his time in law school. Sean Robertson's legal experience has been varied and has involved issues surrounding business litigation, wealth management, estate planning, divorce, and family law.

During the last recession, Sean worked to litigate a wide variety of cases involving loan disputes, business interests, creditor/debtor contracts, and post-judgment law. This background gives him the understanding needed to...

Larry joined the Springfield office of Kanoski Bresney in 1989 and opened the firm's Bloomington office in 1995. Along with his staff of dedicated legal assistants in Bloomington and Champaign, Larry has successfully represented thousands of personal injury and workers’ compensation clients throughout central Illinois for more than 30 years.

Larry was born in Freeport, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area with three brothers. After graduating from Illinois State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree focusing on business administration and accounting, he attended the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign, earning his Juris Doctor degree...

Known for promoting innovative litigation alternatives in family-related legal disputes, Rachel Nicole Hernandez is a collaborative family lawyer & the founder of Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC, a collaborative law & family law firm with offices in St. Charles & Sycamore, Illinois.

Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, LLC helps families resolve legal issues without going to court, whether it be through mediation, collaborative process, uncontested divorce, pre-divorce legal counseling, or limited scope representation. Rachel Nicole Hernandez provides advice to clients regarding their rights with respect to marital/non-marital assets & debts, maintenance, & child custody issues. Rachel Nicole Hernandez solicits the expertise of...

Lauren Jackson focuses her practice primarily in the areas of real estate and estate planning, although her background includes probate, contracts, corporate formation and business succession planning. Lauren’s unintimidating, caring approach has garnered her a respectable reputation all over Northern Illinois. With her dedication for efficient cost effective services, you will learn that with Lauren on your side you have a reachable attorney with your best intentions in mind. Lauren prides herself on quality work over quantity and it has proved she is a success based on past customer positive reviews. Lauren eagerly represents...

Jonathan T. Nessler began his legal career with Nessler & Associates in 2007. His practice is focused on personal injury claims, including catastrophic automobile accidents, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. Mr. Nessler has dedicated his entire legal career to helping injured people recover for their loss. He is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer in Illinois. He is also recognized by The Law Bulletin Publishing Company Leading Lawyers as an Emerging Lawyer. - Education Bachelor of Science...

Respect for working men and women is the driving force behind Jay Johnson's commitment to workers' compensation law. It is a respect that runs deep. One of Jay's grandfathers was a Kentucky coal miner; the other, a member of the United Rubber Workers. Because both his grandfathers worked extremely hard in less-than-ideal environments, Jay has great empathy for those who get hurt on the job. Over the years, Jay Johnson has recovered millions of dollars for people suffering from a variety of work-related injuries. He prides himself on thoroughly preparing for each case and staying in close, personal contact with clients....

Ms. Bartik has extensive experience in all aspects of family law, including, divorce, parentage, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, complex and high asset marital estates, business valuations, relocation, appeals, and post-decree matters. Ms. Bartik recognizes that family law matters are complex and that every family’s situation is different and unique. Ms. Bartik strives to communicate effectively with her clients and develop strategies and goals to meet the individual needs of her clients.

Ms. Bartik practices in DuPage, Kane, Will, Cook and Kendall Counties and is a member of the DuPage County and Illinois State Bar Associations.

Ms. Bartik earned her J.D. from...

Christina ("Chrissie") Martell is an experienced family law attorney in Warrenville, Illinois. She represents clients in the areas of divorce, parentage, adoption, and real estate. Chrissie's even-tempered nature serves her well in difficult arguments with opposing parties, in and out of court. Chrissie knows that her clients come to her during times of great difficulty or high stress in their families, and she competently and fairly represents their important needs in court. An effective negotiator, she is able to find creative solutions to her clients' problems, and she works to ensure that opposing parties consider all options before escalating issues...

John, a trial lawyer at The Collins Law Firm P.C., has dedicated his career to fighting those responsible for injuring his clients. He spends the majority of his practice representing victims of catastrophic injury as a result of other’s negligence. John works tirelessly to get the best outcome for his clients. He has tried cases to verdict in Illinois and handled cases throughout the country. Prior to joining The Collins Law Firm, John defended large multi-national corporations in multi-million dollar litigation, giving him a unique insight into how cases are handled by the companies and individuals responsible for...

Robert Motta II is the Managing Partner at Motta & Motta LLC. He concentrates his law practice in criminal defense, DUI, divorce & family law. Robert was named 2014 Top 100 National Trial Lawyer and is known in the legal community for his unparalleled pre-trial and trial strategies.

Following in his father’s footsteps as a legal advocate, Springfield personal injury lawyer James Ackerman established his practice in 1989.

Our approach to the law and to meeting our clients' needs comes from Jim Ackerman's belief that clients are best served when they are fully informed and engaged in every aspect of their case. Jim is a former prosecutor who handles injury claims and who coaches other attorneys on the finer points of case preparation, taking a case to trial, and the art of handling juries. Jim brings years of legal and courtroom experience to bear on every case.

Jim Ackerman...

I have been practicing law since 2001. I graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in May of 2001 and from DePaul University in June of 1996. My main area of concentration is family law, i.e., divorce, paternity, child support, allocation of parental responsibilities (formerly known as custody) and adoption. As a family law attorney, I understand that my clients have to make difficult decisions while dealing with complex issues and emotions. As such, I believe that the key to successful representation depends not only in understanding the underlying issues, but, also in experience and expertise in the law...

I was raised in Channahon, Illinois. I graduated from Minooka High School. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State University in 2010, where I majored in Politics and Government and minored in Legal Studies. I was actively involved in the ISU Mock Trial program, competing in many tournaments throughout different states. Throughout college I had various legal internships, most notably with the McLean County State's Attorney Drug and Gang Unit, where I first found my interest for criminal law.

I earned my Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University School of Law in 2013. While at NIU, I also participated in...