Peoria County Real Estate Lawyers

John is a former Assistant State's Attorney in the counties of Will and Peoria, Illinois. He has been practicing in the field of family law for 20 years. He is also an accredited mediator in family law, and acts as a guardian ad litem, representing children in family law matters. In addition to family law, he is also an experienced probate lawyer, representing decedent's estates and their families. He has prepared countless Wills and Powers of Attorneys for individuals. In addition, he is a skilled adoption attorney, representing families in both related and unrelated adoptions.

Originally from the south suburbs of...

Ward F. McDonald brings a wealth of experience in real estate, banking and commercial law to the clients of Meyer Capel. His background includes 13 years as CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., a title insurer with multi-state operations, and 25 years as an attorney in private practice. Over the course of his career, Ward has handled numerous transactions in the $1-100 million range for commercial and residential real estate developments, including sales, acquisitions, refinancing and consolidations. Ward holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Land Economics from the University of Illinois as well as his Juris...

Since joining the firm in 1970, Francis J. (Jerry) Jahn has been responsible for building and expanding the business practice of Meyer Capel. He served as President of the firm from January 1999 until December 2010. A 1967 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Jerry was winner of the Frederick M. Green Moot Court Competition and the Horner Cup and Waterman Prize for Excellence in Moot Court Competition as a law student. He was also recipient of the Harno Scholarship. Jerry is a member of the Illinois State and Champaign County Bar Associations. He served on CCBA's board of...

A graduate from the Drake University School of Law, Mr. Vacco's practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate and estate planning. Mr. Vacco is also a licensed Illinois Real Estate Managing Broker and a member of the Illinois Association of Realtors®. He is an active member with the IL and Will County Bar Associations, where he serves on both the Will County Real Estate Law Committee and the Illinois State Bar Real Estate Section Committee. He is also a Member of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. As a member of the Will County...

Warren Benning is the owner of Law Office of Warren Benning in Springfield, IL. The focus of my practice is on Elder law and probate planning. Also, I handle consumer bankruptcies. I offer free consultations as to estate planning and Elder law matters.
My passion is to help my clients understand their options as to advance directives and estate planning.

Randy Green is a shareholder in Meyer Capel’s Business and Real Estate Practice Groups. His unique experience allows him to serve not only as legal counsel, but as a trusted business advisor to his clients. Experience Mr. Green has represented both public and private companies ranging from top U.S. financial institutions to single-member LLCs in a variety of transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity investments, financing, entity formation, franchising, and leasing. He has also helped organizational and individual clients sell, purchase and lease various types of real estate across the U.S. Before he began his legal career, Mr....

Jenny Park always knew what she wanted from a career. She wanted to help people. But it was not until a few years after earning her undergraduate degree that she decided the field of law would offer her the best opportunities to do just that. When Jenny first entered the University of Illinois as an undergrad, it was with the intention of becoming a medical doctor. In 1993, she graduated from the U of I with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Then, she took some time off from school to reassess her career goals. While working as a paralegal during...

Planning and Estate

John H. Elder brings a special degree of experience to the clients of Meyer Capel. John works with his clients to deal with the tax issues of estate planning, but has always realized that this is only one component of the planning process. It is very important that an attorney work with the family members to learn about the needs and personalities of the various individuals and to develop a plan that meets the family goals and objectives. Some of the greatest qualities of an estate planning attorney are compassion, trust, and communication skills and it is only...

For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest single investment they will ever make, and naturally, they're nervous about it. They want someone trustworthy to lean on, someone knowledgeable to handle the paperwork, someone well-versed in legal matters to represent them at the closing. They want someone like Harold Adams. With his dual background in finance and law, Harold brings a unique combination of skills to the table. In addition to a solid foundation in residential and commercial real estate transactions, Harold is well-grounded in general business matters, including the foundation of new corporations and partnerships and the...

Large corporations and small companies alike need sound legal advice from attorneys who understand the demands and dynamics of the business environment. Clients of Meyer Capel will find these skills in Matt C. Deering. A native of Champaign-Urbana and a graduate of Champaign Central High School, Mr. Deering holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Kentucky and a juris doctorate from Ohio Northern University. He joined the firm in 1994 as a law clerk and became a full-time associate in 1996 and a shareholder on January 1, 2003. In addition to handling general corporate and business law concerns,...

David B. Sholem joined Meyer Capel in 1978 and was named as a shareholder of the firm in 1982. He graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Mr. Sholem attended the University of Illinois College of Law and Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1978. He was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1978. Mr. Sholem’s professional affiliations include Champaign County (Illinois) Bar Association (former President), Illinois State Bar Association (Real Estate Section) and American Bar Association. David Sholem has represented a number of real estate developers and...

Patrick Fitzgerald begin his legal career with Meyer Capel in 1987 as a law clerk. Now, as a shareholder with the firm, he concentrates in real estate. Mr. Fitzgerald is a 1989 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law where he earned a spot on the Dean's List. In 1986, he received a bachelor of arts in economics, also from the University of Illinois. Mr. Fitzgerald is a member of the Champaign County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Further, he is actively involved with the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Champaign...

Forrest Heyman joined the firm as a summer associate in 2011 and became an associate attorney following his admission to the Illinois Bar in 2012. His areas of practice include business planning, corporate transactions, real estate, and estate planning and administration. Forrest is a locally-raised attorney with an international perspective. Hailing from Paxton, Illinois, Forrest attended Butler University from 2005 to 2008, where he earned a bachelor of science in economics, with honors. Following a semester in Hong Kong, Forrest was named Sigma Nu National Man of the Year and joined The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, where he...

EXPERIENCE Mr. Davis’ experience ranges from helping clients with all issues surrounding their start-up venture to assisting clients with the purchase or sale of multi-million dollar businesses. Mr. Davis concentrates his legal practice in the following areas: •representing corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships in connection with the legal matters these entities may face, including initial incorporation/organization, corporate governance issues, drafting and review of contracts and leases, licensing issues, securities issuances and debt financing transactions •representing clients with the sale or purchase of a business, including due diligence matters and the negotiation and documentation of the transaction •representing clients, both lenders and borrowers, in debt...

Ted P. Hammel is a Senior Partner at Hammel Law Offices, P.C. In 1985, Mr. Hammel earned his Bachelors of Science degree from the College of Business at Marquette University. After graduation, he was employed at the Continental National Bank of Chicago. In 1986, he enrolled in The John Marshall Law School of Chicago. During law school, he clerked for the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Office VII Corp, Munich, Germany. While in Germany, he assisted soldiers with consumer purchasing issues, estate, & contract matters. In 1989, he graduated and received his...

SK Walker Law, LLC in Marion, IL, is a Marine Corps Combat Veteran owned law firm with SIU School of Law Alum, attorney Scott Walker, who focuses his practice to the area of Personal Injury, Probate, Wills, Trust, Estates, Contract, Real Estate, Business and Mass Tort law. I use my military and mechanic background and training to troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve our issues. I listen and relate to my clients through my real-world experience, which includes 14 years of military service, with combat tours during Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom, and over twenty years of managerial experience in the maintenance, mining, and...

Robert A. Shipley is the founding partner of Shipley Law Group, Ltd. For decades he has maintained long-standing client relationships while engaged in an active litigation and trial practice, along with general business counseling.

Mr. Shipley focuses his practice in civil litigation involving complex commercial, construction, construction defect, insurance, professional liability and tort litigation and general business counseling, as well as Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. An experienced trial attorney, he has in excess of 100 cases to verdict and has successfully argued cases in the Illinois Appellate Court.

Mr. Shipley has been awarded the AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating™...

I enjoy working on a variety of legal matters for our firm.

Some of the more regular tasks include representation of clients in an array of tax disputes before the IRS and the Illinois Department of Revenue. These cases often work there way through the administrative level, up through appeals, and often to the United States Tax Court. My clients have scored significant victories in Audit Defense, Offer in Compromise and Innocent Spouse cases.

I am also experienced in drafting employment contracts such as employment and separation and termination agreements as well as restrictive covenants.

I represent buyers and sellers in residential real...

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....

Atlas Consumer Law is a Debtor's Rights Law Firm with a primary focus on foreclosure litigation defense, consumer bankruptcy and loan workout agreements. The Firm is dedicated to defending borrowers against Lenders and Collection Companies. The Firm has become the industry standard for an effective, results oriented foreclosure defense law firm.

Khalid Hasan, managing attorney of Kasan Law, graduated from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, the Northern District of Illinois, and State of Arizona. He represents clients in personal injury cases, including vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, premises liability, wrongful death, and various other personal injury matters. In addition, we provide legal services to businesses and individuals regarding real estate transaction and real estate sales and purchases. Khalid has lectured and written multiple publications about the use of social media evidence in the courtroom and its...

Peter S. Lubin Firm has been practicing law for over 35 years. Peter brings a rich range of courtroom experience to assist his commercial and class-action litigation clients. Peter has been lead defense counsel in a number of "bet the company" class actions that he has successfully defended. He has also been lead plaintiff's class counsel on numerous multi-million dollar class national and statewide class action. Peter has represented many corporations or businesses in a wide variety of complex business disputes including corporate freeze-outs, copyright infringement, trade secret theft, non-compete agreement and libel and defamation cases. Peter obtained an AB...

For almost two decades, Mario Iveljic has represented a wide variety of clients in cases all around the country. Since founding Mag Mile Law with his law partners, Mario has focused his law practice on insurance claims and litigation, real estate transactions and litigation, and sports law. He personally handles all of his matters without any paralegals and his clients appreciate the personal attention they receive. He is extremely detail oriented, able to explain complicated legal matters to clients in a way that they can understand, and someone who will not shy away from a fight. Mario is also a...

John Lynch became interested in debt relief and bankruptcy before he went to Law School. John was employed at Eastern Airlines in Miami, Florida, which at that time was the second largest airline in the US. Eastern Airlines filed for bankruptcy in 1990 and by 1991 it had closed its doors. John knew so many people that could not find work, had cars repossessed and faced mounting debt. Then, in 1992 Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida and Pan Am airlines also closed its doors. By that time John was a Paralegal and owner of a Title Company. He worked as...

Steven Fagan is an Chicago area attorney with over 25 years experience helping clients with matters ranging from DUI, criminal, and traffic law, clearing criminal records and buying and selling residential real estate. Along with the Fagan, Fagan & Davis team,aAttorney Fagan’s dedication to his clients’ rights and interests has allowed him to successfully defend countless individuals against a variety of charges, and protect clients rights. He has been recognized by a number of notable professional organizations. Steven H Fagan is absolutely dedicated to providing every client with the attentive legal counsel and aggressive courtroom advocacy needed to help protect...

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...

Daniel Lauber has been handling the most challenging land-use cases for decades. The skills developed in over 25 years of winning zoning approval for such LULUs (Locally Unwanted Land Uses) as group homes, sober homes, halfway houses, and recovery communities have translated well to winning zoning approval for commercial uses adjacent to residential areas and multi-family housing in communities known for their resistance.

Mr. Lauber's background as a city planner enables him to better understand and anticipate neighborhood objections -- and devise ways to prevent neighborhood opposition from arising.

Mr. Lauber also practices Fair Housing law, especially for sober homes, group homes,...

Ariel Weissberg is the managing partner of Weissberg and Associates, Ltd., 401 South LaSalle Street, Suite 403, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. Weissberg and Associates, Ltd. concentrates in the areas of business and commercial litigation, transactional matters and all aspects of insolvency and financial distress, including bankruptcy, loan work-outs and foreclosures. Mr. Weissberg founded Weissberg and Associates in July, 1984. Since then, he has built a varied and loyal clientele, comprised of small to medium-sized to publicly traded businesses, and individuals. He is sought out for complex business and financial planning, especially relating to credit facilities and crisis-management, and high-risk litigation....

Philip M. Fornaro is the managing attorney at Fornaro Law. Adopting a “never give up” attitude, Philip has become known for his ability to succeed where others fail for the last 20 years. His decision to diversify his practice in 2004 has resulted in the creation of a full service law firm which provides quality representation in a variety of legal areas. Philip follows the rule that positive energy will yield positive results. This energy is the driving force behind the success of Fornaro Law. He has become adept at creating a network and team between clients,...

I focus my practice on business transactions and disputes. Love working with international clients. In 2017-2019 I spent two years living and working as the senior counsel in the Middle East, advising C-suite executives on quarter-billion-dollar PPP projects. My clients either live in the US and do business abroad, or they are foreign nationals investing in the US. I have experience in international business transactions in Canada, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. I also represent clients in federal court, having been admitted to several federal courts and a federal trial bar in the US.  Our law firm...