Essex Business Lawyers

Jonathan David Herpy, Sr. has been named one of the top private equity and corporate attorneys in Illinois under the age of 40 by Chicago Magazine in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Jonathan has represented investors, sponsors, and managers of public and private pension plans, broker-dealers, investment advisers, custodians, and other financial industry service providers throughout the entire range of the investment spectrum and routinely provides market-leading advice on public/private offerings of equity and debt along with capital raising strategy.
In addition to the above, Jonathan has been touted as an industry leader for his sophisticated and efficient approach to structuring...

David F. Rolewick graduated from Loyola University School of Law in 1971. He worked as a clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Daniel Ward, then as Assistant Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts. He has been in private practice since 1979.

He has served in numerous positions in the Illinois State Bar Association and has served as Chairman of the Hearing Board, Review Board and Vice Chair of Commission for Attorney Registration and Discipline of the Illinois Supreme Court. In 2001, he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as Chairman of the Special Supreme Court Committee...

Jennifer is a Partner who focuses her practice in commercial and business litigation and appellate practice. She has successfully tried both bench and jury trials. Jennifer has also written and argued appeals before the Appellate Courts of Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is currently the Chair of the Appellate Law Committee of the DuPage County Bar Association. Jennifer is a Kentucky native and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2001. In 2006, she graduated from Tulane University Law School. While in law school, she earned an Environmental Law Certificate and was...

Rob is a Partner at The Collins Law Firm, chairing its Banking & Financial Department. Rob focuses his practice on the representation of financial institutions and corporate clients in commercial banking and real estate litigation and transactions. Rob also serves as special counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Rob is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He has also litigated in the federal and state courts of Virginia, Texas, California, Indiana and Wisconsin. Rob's representative clients include:...

John A. Sopuch III, a trial lawyer with a history of winning some of the nation’s biggest verdicts, has joined The Collins Law Firm as Of Counsel.

In 2002, the National Law Journal recognized John’s nearly $43 million verdict (in Miami Cigar v. UST, et al., a business fraud case) as among the top 100 verdicts in the nation that year. In 2004, John did it again, with his $30 million verdict in a breach of contract case, Basic Capital Management Inc. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc.

Hailing from St. Louis, MO, John was born on March 21, 1965. Attending prep school at...

Mark Varboncouer is the founder of Varboncouer Law. Mr. Varboncouer is an experienced trial attorney who previously spent 10-plus years with Kirkland & Ellis LLP (“one of the nation's largest and most prestigious law firms”/ “known for its world-class litigation practice”/ “one of the ‘Fearsome Foursome’ — the four firms most likely to strike fear in opposing counsel”); and 4-plus years with another highly-prestigious 1,000-plus attorney law firm, McGuireWoods LLP, where he litigated a variety of issues: contracts, non-competes, tortious interference, unfair competition, fraud, licenses and complex intellectual property issues (e.g., patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, false advertising etc.)....

I previously owned and operated a carpentry sub-contracting company. Because I worked on job sites and managed the company, I understand the construction industry in a way that any other attorney that has never worked in the industry can. I specialize in construction law, mechanic's lien law, and construction litigation, representing clients in disputes involving payment, performance, defects, delays, and contracts. I also help clients with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction contracts and agreements. I have successfully handled cases in state courts, arbitration, and mediation, achieving favorable outcomes for my clients. I am passionate about advocating for the quality,...

John Botti is honored to help clients through challenging times in their lives. John Botti guides clients through difficult and complex legal matters with honesty, compassion, knowledge, and dedication to their cause. As a felony prosecutor, John worked closely with victims of crimes and fought to protect their rights and obtain justice in the courtroom. He uses this perspective to create exceptional attorney-client relationships. This serves him extremely well when he represents divorce clients as well as those people seriously injured as a result of someone else’s misconduct. John has tried hundreds of cases before judges and juries and...

James J. Laraia is an energetic, well-rounded attorney with knowledge and experience in family law, civil, and criminal matters. He routinely practices in DuPage, Kane, Will, DeKalb, and Kendall counties. After obtaining his B.A. from Illinois Benedictine College in 1997, Mr. Laraia went on to earn his Juris Doctor Degree from Northern Illinois University in 2001. He served as an Assistant State's Attorney and then went into private practice in 2003.

Mr. Laraia focuses his practice in family law and civil litigation and has experience handling matrimonial law, child custody and child support issues, post-decree petitions, adoptions, and parentage cases. He...

With 25 years’ experience, Vince provides his clients with a diverse skill set for advising on and resolving most legal issues. As an experienced trial attorney, Vince advises his clients on how to resolve conflicts before litigation; yet, when a lawsuit is filed, Vince transitions to the role as staunch advocate, having been involved in a diverse array of cases related to business disputes, non-compete/non-solicitation claims, business dissolution and accountings, construction defect, mechanic’s lien and breach of contract claims, estate planning and probate matters, and municipal and pension hearings. Vince has conducted more than 100 jury and bench trials, involving...

Makedonka Baloski earned a B.A. from Indiana University in 1996 with a double
major in History and Anthropology with a concentration in Eastern
European studies. In 2000, she received a J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law. She served as an Article Editor for the Valparaiso University Law Review.

Upon admission to the Illinois bar, Makedonka worked in Chicago
mainly focused in civil defense. She is also admitted to practice in Indiana.

I am Thomas Eric Ost. As a former Assistant Public Defender in DuPage County, I handled hundreds of criminal, mental health, and juvenile cases. Those cases ranged from DUIs, Domestic Batteries, and Retail Thefts to Aggravated Batteries and Murder. The police and the prosecutors seem to do their best to dehumanize defendants to everyone including to the defendants themselves. Yet in 23 years of practice, I’ve learned that most people with legal problems are not bad people. They are people who are caught up in a problem a lot bigger than they...

Ethan White is a cum laude graduate of Northwestern University School of Law with more than a decade of pure litigation experience. Ethan’s practice focuses on counseling clients and litigating commercial and employment-related matters, with near daily courtroom experience in both state and federal courts. In addition, he frequently appears before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Humans Rights, the Illinois Department of Labor, and various mediation forums. Ethan has tried cases in DuPage County, Cook County, and the Northern District of Illinois and has litigated matters in nearly every other county in the Chicagoland area.

In addition...

Attorney Kelly Karczmar graduated from the University of Chicago with honors in 1994. She graduated from the John Marshall Law School in 2005, where she served in the Fair Housing Legal Clinic. Ms. Karczmar served for six years as a Human Resources Director in a Fortune 100 company. She was responsible for union negotiations, employee relations and legal compliance. Ms. Karczmar is an attorney admitted to practice in the state bar of Illinois, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She has practiced law since 2005. She is a member of...

Attorney Shekar Jayaraman, Esq., LL.M has a multi-faceted background of both public and private sector experience. He is passionate, zealous, and detail oriented.

Notably, Attorney Jayaraman was a Judicial Clerk for a United States Magistrate, with a heavy focus on violent crimes. He earned an LL.M. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in Business and Corporate Governance, and has served under the Ohio Secretary of State as a Regional Liaison, handling Business Services and Elections.

While in law school, Attorney Jayaraman was selected as an Extern for a United States Magistrate for the summer after his first year, and...

Mark D. Manetti has been a partner in the law firm of Manetti & Griffith, Ltd. since 1986. His practice is focused in commercial litigation and real estate law. His commercial litigation practice involves business breakups, injunctions, contract interpretation and probate disputes. Mr. Manetti's real estate litigation practice involves title defense for major title insurers, mechanic's lien prosecution and defense, and construction disputes. Mr. Manetti received his J.D. Degree from DePaul University in 1973. He has frequently participated as a lecturer at various Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and Illinois Land Title...

Jeffrey S. Keller founded his law firm in 1994. Mr. Keller concentrates his practice in the following main areas: Litigation, Divorce/Family Law, Real Estate, and Business Law.

Fred is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel, an honor bestowed upon very few attorneys. He focuses in the areas of estate and tax planning, trust, estate and probate administration, and business structuring and counseling. Fred enjoys helping people accomplish their personal goals. He has an extensive background assisting clients in the transfer of small businesses and farms during their lifetime or at death while minimizing taxes and expenses. Many of his estate plans are sophisticated and involve using wills, trusts, limited liability companies, family limited partnerships and other closely held entities. He has...

Ted Donner (Attorney) started his legal studies at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1987 after a ten-year stint as the box office manager of The Second City in Chicago. His professional experience since then includes work as a law clerk for Corboy & Demetrio, P.C., a summer internship at Welsh & Katz, Ltd., and work as an associate with Rock, Fusco, Reynolds & Garvey, Ltd. Before opening Donner & Company Law Offices LLC, he was an Associate and then Of Counsel to the litigation practice group at Altheimer & Gray, where his practice was concentrated in insurance...

Steve is an active trial attorney and is admitted to practice in Illinois and several Federal Courts. Steve has represented clients in a variety of state and federal courts in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Steve’s practice areas include Catastrophic Loss Litigation involving Subrogation and Defense, Insurance Coverage Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Real Estate Development and Property Leasing, Defending Complex Class Action Claims under the Truth In Lending Act and Consumer Fraud Statutes, as well as some Appellate Practice in these areas. In addition, Steve is...

Since 2003, Harry Bradley has been helping clients find effective solutions to legal issues both in and out of the courtroom. He began his career as a litigator in Indiana and Illinois courtrooms, having presented over 25 cases to jury, but now also frequently recommends alternative dispute resolution when this represents the most efficient means of resolving a client's dispute. Harry is admitted to practice before the Supreme Courts of Illinois and Indiana, as well as the federal district courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. He has also presented difficult cases...

Julie has been an attorney with The Collins Law Firm, P.C. since 2006, and concentrates her practice on the Firm’s litigation work as well as acting as outside general counsel to non-profit associations. Julie was admitted to the Bar of the State of Illinois in 2006, and earned her juris doctor degree from Northern Illinois University’s College of Law in May 2006, where she graduated summa cum laude. Prior to law school, Julie attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, receiving her B.A. in Business Administration in 2002. Julie is an active member of the American Society of...

Education:
Harvard College, AB
Vanderbilt University Law School, JD
Cambridge University, LLM in International Law and Diploma in International Law

Other biographical information, please review website at:
www.stephenbcohenlaw.com

About Attorney Douglas Boodt I received my law degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and have been practicing law since 1999. Prior to attending law school, I built and managed a small business for ten years. I established my law practice in 1999 to provide professional and committed legal representation in the legal fields of Estate Planning and Business Law. I have assisted hundreds of clients in reaching their goals and giving them peace of mind by handling their legal affairs with integrity, respect and intelligence. I will listen to you and assist you in building a...

Dallas was raised in Charleston, Illinois where he was close to his Alma Mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There he received his Bachelor of Science in Finance in 2007 and his Juris Doctor in 2011. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 2011. He was later admitted to the United States District Courts for both the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois. He formerly practiced as a public interest attorney in Rockford, Illinois, and as an insurance defense attorney in Joliet, Illinois. He now specializes in estate planning, trust and estate administration,...

Margaret Galka joined the Collins Law Firm in 2018 as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice in environmental litigation and personal injury.

Margaret graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vermont Law School, where she concentrated on environmental and energy law. While attending law school, Margaret worked as a clinician in the Environment and Natural Resources Law Clinic and clerked for a prominent law firm in Burlington, Vermont. Margaret also served as a Co-Chair of the Women's Law Group and as an editor of the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.

Prior to law school, Margaret graduated from the University of Vermont with a...

Don has been representing businesses and entrepeneurs in the Chicago metropolitan area since beginning his practice in 1975. He has experience advising individuals on the formation of their businesses, and the legal issues involved in operation of their businesses. This includes the drafting of corporate business formation documents, buy-sell agreements, LLC operating agreements, partnership agreements, independent contractor agreements, employment contracts, and business agreements in a variety of contexts. He has served as general outside counsel to businesses in the travel industry, construction industry, manufacturing industry, medical industry, and many other types of service industries. He is a great resource...

Tyler's practice emphasizes business organization and planning (including business formation and corporate maintenance); municipal law; creditors' rights (including foreclosures and collections); commercial law; real estate (including land use and zoning law); and estate planning.

An Illinois licensed attorney since 2003, fighting for my individual client as well as their families and businesses.