Peoria County Business Lawyers

Since obtaining my license in 2008, I have dedicated my career to representing numerous financial institutions, focusing on enforcing their security interests. Over the last decade, I have supported community banks through complex commercial workouts, dealing with sophisticated financial products. My litigation experience extends to contested contract cases based on various legal theories. I have been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers since 2015. My practice primarily involves representing secured creditors in all facets of commercial loan enforcement, from initiating commercial workouts to enforcing judgments. I frequently write on these subjects and...

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...

Jim Finegan attended the University of Illinois for undergraduate school and Northwestern University for Law School. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois after graduating law school and he has over 40 years experience. He specializes in bankruptcy, real estate, and civil litigation.

Andrewe W. Johnson was born in 1970, in Canton, Illinois. Andrewe graduated from Lewistown Community High School in Lewistown, Illinois. He attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, from 1988 to 1990, before transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Rhetoric. Andrewe attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving his Juris Doctor degree with Honors in 1995. During law school, Andrewe served on the staff of the North Carolina Law Review and worked with the University of...

Jacob J. Frost practices in the areas of estate/trust administration, residential and commercial real estate purchases and sales, business organizations, governmental law, and wills and trusts. Attorney Frost has served and represented clients in the Illinois Valley area for several years. Frost earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, with high honors in Legal Research and Writing. He received his Associate of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Illinois Valley Community College and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was admitted to both Phi Beta Kappa...

Grant Gulovsen, Esq. has been advising and representing technology startups since late 2017. The work he regularly performs in this role includes the following: • Managing clients’ day-to-day legal operations (e.g., corporate filings, SEC filings, USPTO filings, drafting and negotiating employment agreements, software license agreements, NDAs, etc.) • Handling compliance and regulatory questions/issues as they arise, including communicating with U.S. regulators (and occasionally regulators in other jurisdictions such as the FCA in the U.K. as appropriate); • Managing relationships with outside counsel for issues that are outside his wheelhouse (especially in non-U.S. jurisdictions); and • Constantly researching laws and regulations in the U.S. and...

Cari is a licensed attorney in the States of New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut while being licensed in the District of Columbia. Cari is a general practitioner with concentrations in food/agriculture law, family/matrimonial law, civil litigation, estate planning and mediation. Rincker Law, PLLC has offices in New York City and Champaign, Illinois. Cari is a member of the Association for the Bar in the City of New York's Matrimonial Law Committee. Before starting Rincker Law, PLLC, Cari was an associate at Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC in Cheyenne, Wyoming where her broad practice...

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...

Ryan Bradley has extensive legal and business experience across a wide array of practice areas and business sectors. Based in the firm's Champaign office, he focuses his practice on business and financial litigation, commercial transactions, real estate, and agricultural law. Ryan also works with individuals and businesses on estate, wealth, and succession planning. As a pragmatic counselor to business and individual entrepreneurs, Ryan has played a pivotal role in multi-million-dollar transactions. He has also served as a trusted advisor to businesses throughout their journeys, from formation to exit. As a litigator, Ryan has represented both individual plaintiffs and corporations. While he...

Andrew P. Cores is a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. Andrew earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Northwestern University School of Law in 1993. He is admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois. Andrew concentrates his family law practice in divorce, alimony and spousal support, child support, collaborative law, custody, prenuptial agreements, litigation and appeals, complex litigation, federal trial practice, state appellate practice, state trial practice, business law and mediation. Andrew has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2012. He is a member of the DuPage County...

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...

Mary Ludwig received her J.D. and M.B.A., along with a Certificate in Food and Agricultural Law from Drake University in 2005. Prior to that she received a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Economics from the University of Illinois. Mary concentrates her practice in agricultural law, estate planning, real estate transactions and probate. Her agricultural law experience includes organization and representation of production agricultural farm operations, agricultural cooperatives, grain elevators, agricultural input suppliers, ethanol and bio-diesel plants, and specialty farm product companies, wind tower and cell tower leases and easements, pipeline, gas, public utility and fiber optic easements,...

As an attorney licensed in Illinois and Indiana, my practice involves working with individuals and businesses to address their legal questions. In my practice, I typically assist and address legal issues regarding business formation, corporate issues, and general business. I work directly with my clients to address their legal matters. My goal is to become a trusted advisor to assist clients in addressing their legal needs.

David Stejkowski is a seasoned estate planning and commercial real estate attorney with over three decades of experience. Based in Illinois, David is dedicated to helping clients secure their financial futures through comprehensive and integrated planning strategies. His practice, The Stejkowski Law Firm, LLC, focuses on commercial real estate transactions, estate planning, and business formation. David's approach is deeply client-centered. As an experienced real estate investor himself, David brings a sophisticated understanding of the market to his practice. He is committed to guiding clients through the intricacies of commercial real estate law, ensuring their investments are secure and profitable. He...

I was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, where I attended Christ the King Grade School followed by Sacred Heart Griffin High School. I pursued higher education at the University of Missouri, earning a degree in Political Science with minors in American Constitutional Democracy and Leadership and Public Service. During my undergraduate years, I gained valuable experience working in the Missouri House of Representatives in Jefferson City, MO, and the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC. Before embarking on my legal studies, I served as a committee clerk in the Illinois House of Representatives. I attended St. Louis University...

John L. GreenLeaf, Jr. has been in practice over 37 years representing consumers and businesses in Central Illinois. The firm concentrates in all forms of Bankruptcy, Business formation, and the preparation of Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning and administration of Probate Estates and Guardianships.

I help clients protect their most valuable business assets: their ideas and inventions, their purpose, and their products. I help clients protect themselves and their assets through a combination of intellectual property management, business planning, and estate planning. I help business owners start and run their businesses successfully. I help clients keep their focus on the core parts of the business, the things that made them want to do it in the first place, by making sure their foundations and legal strategies are strong and tailored to their unique needs. My focus on clients’ legal issues takes that off their list...

Estate Planning: James has conducted estate planning matters including creation of wills (last will and testament), trusts, special needs trusts, irrevocable creditor protection trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, beneficiary planning and beneficiary designation, corporate succession planning, tax planning, and transfer on death instruments. Litigation: James has litigated matters including probate disputes, elder abuse claims, debt collection issues, contract disputes, and conducted other litigation as required by his clients. James has practiced across Iowa and Illinois.

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...

Dave White is a partner with Kopec, White & Spooner Attorneys at Law (telephone 217-726-7540) and has over 25 years experience helping small business owners, families and individuals in Springfield, Illinois and throughout Sangamon County and Central Illinois. Kopec, White & Spooner is a full-service law firm providing cost-conscious representation and legal solutions for its clients.

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,...

Joseph D. Murphy is currently the president of Meyer Capel. Following law school and a two-year clerkship with a federal district court judge, Mr. Murphy began his practice with a Wall Street law firm, gaining substantial experience in trademark licensing and intellectual property litigation. Subsequently, he moved to a Washington, D.C.-based firm, where his practice concentrated in franchise litigation and counseling. Since returning to Champaign-Urbana in 1994 to join Meyer Capel, he has focused his practice on a combination of intellectual property (including franchise licensing) and telecommunications.

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...