Blackstone Lawyers

High-Stakes Litigation - Business Disputes - Franchise Litigation

I represent individuals and companies in high-stakes lawsuits, business and investment disputes, and franchise matters. I trained at a top global law firm where I practiced complex commercial litigation for a decade. I practice now at a boutique law firm where I help entrepreneurs and small businesses with their most important "bet the company" matters.

My practice includes:
- Contract disputes
- Fraud cases
- Franchising and dealer terminations and regulatory compliance
- Securities & commodities litigation / enforcement and...

Timothy was born and raised in the southwest side of Chicago. He attended St. Laurence High School, and graduated from Northern Illinois University.

Before going to law school, Timothy was working as an Illinois Certified Public Accountant (CPA), having received his certification in 1989. He spent four and a half years working for Arthur Andersen & CO., Chase Manhattan Bank and Shand Morahan & Company.

Timothy went to John Marshall Law School, graduating and being admitted to the Bar in May 1994 (Cum Laude) and was a staff member of the Journal of Computer and Information Law. He opened his own law...

Michael J. Brennan has been a practicing Personal Injury and Criminal Defense trial lawyer since 1985. He graduated from John Marshall Law School with his Juris Doctorate and was an assistant state’s attorney on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He has had over 30 years of trial experience handling State and Federal Criminal Defense Matters and Personal Injury cases from motor vehicle accidents to workplace injuries. In 1996, he formed his own law firm, Michael J. Brennan Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.C. Michael’s aggressive dedication...

With more than 15 years of experience in bankruptcy, Jessica Holguin provides advice and counsel to clients seeking debt relief. Mrs. Holguin has assisted clients with foreclosures, debt negotiations, adversaries, tax issues, short sales, real estate transactions with a particular emphasis on liquidations, and reorganizations. During her legal career, Mrs. Holguin litigated hundreds of cases and participated in a reported case, in which the Supreme Court of Florida affirmed an award for social security benefits Mrs. Holguin obtained for her dependent client. Mrs. Holguin has years of complex litigation experience. She has tried contested matters – involving issues such as IRS...

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.)....

Alison has been named 2014 Top 100 National Trial Lawyer and is known in the legal community as an aggressive and passionate litigator who fights rigorously to protect the rights of her clients. Call today for a free, no obligation case evaluation.

LEANDRO A. ALHAMBRA
Respect, Compassion and Zealous Advocacy
Mr. Alhambra prides himself in providing each client with respect, compassion and zealous advocacy. Prior to pursuing his ambition of becoming a lawyer, Mr. Alhambra spent two years administering UAW disability benefits for a major insurance company. Seeing first hand some of the injustices done to working men and women, Mr. Alhambra made the decision to focus his talents representing the injured worker. His thorough knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry’s policies and procedures have proven to be a tremendous asset in obtaining maximum recovery for his clients. Since joining the firm...

Bill was born and raised in Peoria, IL. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. degree in Government. He received his law degree (JD) at the University of Iowa graduating with honors. He has been practicing law in Central Illinois since his graduation and admission into the Illinois Bar. Legal ability and ethical standards ratings are published each year by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.Bill has the highest possible rating of AV. The legal ability rating is "A" which means he is rated as very high to preeminent. The "V" rating means that he embraces faithful adherence...

I help people across Illinois in personal injury, worker's compensation, and bankruptcy matters. I am licensed to practice in Illinois, am a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and am admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, and the Eastern District of Missouri. I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Eureka College where I also minored in Spanish. I then received my law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law....

Dan is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications and minors in Mathematics and Political Science.

Dan is a 1979 graduate of IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law earning a Juris Doctor degree and a Bar and Gavel Award. Dan was admitted to the bar in 1979 and has been a practicing attorney in Naperville ever since.

Dan is a member of the Illinois and Dupage County Bar associations. He is a current member of the DuPage County Real Estate Law Committee and the Trusts and Estate Planning Committee. His practice...

A gifted personal injury lawyer, Ed excels in understanding the facts and law concerning how a client was injured, and in developing a legal strategy to win just compensation. He is passionate about representing injured people who are at a low point in their lives and need legal help. A lawyer since 1992, Ed has won numerous verdicts and favorable settlements for his clients. In the past fifteen years, he has recovered over $100 million dollars. He has represented clients in the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Appellate Court, Illinois state courts and federal courts throughout the country.

Ed has...

I previously owned and operated a carpentry sub-contracting company. Having worked on job sites and managed the company, I have a deep understanding of the construction industry that is unique compared to attorneys who have never been directly involved in the field. I focus on construction law, mechanic's lien law, and construction litigation, representing clients in disputes related to payment, performance, defects, delays, and contracts. Additionally, I assist clients with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction contracts and agreements. I have successfully handled cases in state courts, arbitration, and mediation, securing favorable outcomes for my clients. I am passionate about advocating for...

I am a third generation lawyer who is committed to helping people injured in a personal injury or workers' compensation matter, including those injured in a motor vehicle accident. Based in Chicago, Illinois, our firm of more than 75 people represent injured victims throughout the state of Illinois. We rank among the largest personal injury and workers' compensation firms in Illinois. Our clients come to us seeking help in all types of personal injury and workers' compensation matters, including workplace injuries, medical malpractice, motor vehicle collisions, mass torts, social security disability claims, premises liability, and civil rights violations, including police misconduct. There's...

RICHARD W. WARNER is the Founder and Managing Partner of the WARNER LAW GROUP. He concentrates his practice on Real Estate Law & Transactions, Estate Planning, and Personal Injury. He's handled thousands of files, matters, and transactions, and has tried and/or settled hundreds of cases in Administrative Hearings, Arbitration, Mediation and the State and Federal Courts in Chicago and the surrounding communities in Illinois. He is a native of Kane County, Illinois, where he graduated from the college preparatory school, Marmion Military Academy. Mr. Warner attended Illinois State University, graduating with a bachelor's of science degree in...

My grandfather was the first Jewish Prosecutor in our city of Mogilev, Belarus. He is the reason I am an Attorney in America. Growing up in Belarus and immigrating to the United States at 6 years old as a refugee taught me the importance of working hard for what you believe in. I take the values instilled in me from childhood and apply them to how I practice law. I believe in my clients and I work hard for them. Other Reasons to Consider Me as Your Tax Lawyer 1) I am 5+ year, multilingual Attorney, former law review contributor, and legal...

Olivia N. Schwartz has worked at Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz since 2015, first as a law clerk, and currently as an associate attorney. She represents victims for injuries arising from medical malpractice, premises liability, motor vehicle negligence, products liability, and other personal injury claims.

Olivia received her J. D., cum laude, from Chicago-Kent College of Law. During law school, Olivia interned at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and for the Honorable Justice T. Lavin at the Illinois Appellate Court, First District. She also competed on Chicago-Kent’s nationally ranked Trial Team. Olivia was honored as a three-time CALI award recipient for...

Amanda concentrates her practice in the areas of trusts and estates. She prosecutes and defends trustees, executors, and administrators, relating to will contest, undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, business wind-up, estate accounting, and trust accounting disputes through initial filings, discovery, trial, and post-trial issues such as appeals. Amanda also provides services in trust administration, probate administration, and general litigation. Amanda is an experienced litigator, having represented clients in appeals, estate and trust contests, business disputes, commercial disputes, elder abuse issues, and guardianships. She is known for building and maintaining relationships with clients through trust and collaboration.

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:...

William ("Bill") F. Bochte is a graduate of Fenwick High School, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's University (formerly Saint Mary's College) in Winona, Minnesota in 1965. Bill went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1969 and has been in the private practice of law serving his client's needs ever since. Mr. Bochte practiced in the city of Chicago for approximately 10 years before relocating to Kane County and the Fox Valley area. Mr. Bochte has received a United States of America Presidential Commendation in "recognition of exceptional...

I serve as of counsel to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC and have been practicing as a personal injury litigation and trial attorney in Illinois since 2004. My practice areas cover a wide range of incidents including automobile accidents, premises liability, slip and fall, products liability, construction accidents, work accidents/injuries, and accidents involving motorcycles, trucks, boats, and other vehicles. I have honed my skills in representing clients with injuries varying from whiplash and fractured bones to more severe cases involving concussions, ligament and muscular injuries, severe spinal injuries, disfigurement, permanent conditions, mental trauma, and even death. I am well-versed in negotiating and...

A former Cook County criminal and DUI prosecutor, Attorney Uche is a nationally recognized criminal and DUI defense attorney. Attorney Uche has successfully defended and won acquittals for his clients in hundreds of cases that span broad areas of criminal law including but not limited to: DUI charges, murder charges, gun/weapons charges, drug charges and financial crimes amongst others

For instance, Attorney Uche has successfully argued and persuaded the Illinois Appellate Court in People v. Litiwn 2015 IL App (3d) 140429, to throw out his client’s conviction and 12-year sentence for drug trafficking; a case now often cited as legal precedent....

Since 1999, Lawrence Maya has focused his practice on representing injury victims in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Licensed in both state and federal courts, he has successfully prosecuted a wide array of cases, including medical malpractice, automobile accidents, food poisoning, products liability and toxic mold exposure. Mr. Maya also remains active in the community. He has served as a member of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. He has also written a legal column for a local area newspaper. In 2017, Mr. Maya was asked to appear in and recorded a videotaped discussion on the Concealed...

Aggressive, pragmatic, energetic, zealous representation of clients' interests, both in court and out of court, is a succinct summary of my experience and what I bring to the representation of all my clients.

My trial experience and ability is my biggest professional strength. I have been fortunate to try scores of cases, before judges and juries, representing multinational corporations, family owned businesses and individuals in a wide variety of matters. I have particular expertise and experience in prosecuting and defending emergent litigation matters such as temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

Nancy M. Vizer founded her law firm in 2001 in Chicago, IL, to provide an outlet for immigration clients to receive personalized service. The firm almost always charges a flat fee, so that clients can know exactly what to expect. Ms. Vizer works directly with each of her clients, rather than delegating work to a team that the client may never meet. The staff remains fully familiar with each of Ms. Vizer's immigration cases, and is able to answer questions when Ms. Vizer is occupied with other matters, but clients always have access to Ms. Vizer for their substantive concerns.

I am a Chicago and Miami lawyer practicing family- and employment-based immigration law, and removal and deportation defense and appeals. I also work with criminal and family law issues as they arise in the context of immigration cases.

Lindsey Paige Markus assists business owners and families plan their estates, protect assets, transfer wealth, and minimize taxation. Lindsey works closely with clients to formulate succession plans, advise on business formation, wealth preservation and gift and estate taxation. A Principal at the law firm of Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. since 2006, Lindsey received her J.D. degree from Loyola University of Chicago. Lindsey was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2006 and the Florida Bar in 2007. Founded in 1987, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. has over sixty attorneys who concentrate in a variety of areas which include estate planning,...

Mr. Bartolic advises executives and other professionals regarding executive compensation and benefits, and represents them in all ERISA litigation. His practice is devoted exclusively to representing individuals such as executives and directors, managers, brokers, traders, investment advisors, attorneys, physicians, and educators. He helps the professionals obtain and protect the compensation and benefits they have earned through initial negotiation of compensation and benefits, internal administrative claims and appeals, and federal litigation if necessary. Mr. Bartolic also consults other attorneys on matters involving the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). His practice includes advising: personal injury and workers compensation lawyers regarding rights of...

Charles Lee Mudd Jr. is the founder and principal of Mudd Law, located in Chicago, Illinois, Park City, Utah, and Houston, Texas. He focuses his practice on a wide range of business legal issues, including transactional and litigation matters involving intellectual property, Internet law, and emerging technology. Mr. Mudd and his firm serve a diverse group of clients, including local, national, and international individuals and businesses. Mr. Mudd received a B.A. in philosophy and a Master of Arts in political science from Purdue University and then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the Quinnipiac University School of Law....

For more than twenty-five years, attorney Mark A. Brown, of respected Chicago personal injury law firm, Lane & Lane, LLC, has dedicated his legal career and skills as a litigator to helping countless individuals and families who have been injured, harmed, and abused at the hands of another. Attorney Brown majored in Economics and minored in Business while attending the University of Illinois — Champaign-Urbana. He graduated in 1989 and went on to attend the Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology and graduate in 1993. He joined Lane & Lane, LLC in 2002 after starting off his...

Attorney Eugene K Hollander has been helping injured victims in Chicago for over 20 years. He is aggressive in pursuing the best outcome for his clients and has a proven track record of success in obtaining significant settlements or verdicts for them. Mr. Hollander has extensive experience handling personal injury cases and has tried approximately 100 cases in state and federal court.

Scott Nyman started Nyman IP as a registered patent attorney that understands the need for efficiency in evaluating and protecting intellectual property. With a degree in electrical and computer engineering from The Ohio State University, where he specialized in digital hardware design, power systems, semiconductors, and microprocessor architecture, Scott competently works at a high level with pioneers of today's digital society. Scott has worked with inventors seeking patent protection in many technologies, including semiconductors, energy transformation, software and related systems, power generation, digital devices, communications, artificial intelligence, and network technologies. Scott also works closely with start-up and established businesses to...

Chicago Attorney Kristen E. Prinz is the Founder and Managing Partner at The Prinz Law Firm, a premier firm representing clients in complex business and employment matters. Over the last decade, Ms. Prinz has litigated employment issues in both state and federal courts, and has handled cases at both the trial and appellate levels. Her successful experience with administrative agencies and arbitration panels allows her to handle these cases with confidence, and has litigated numerous cases which helped clarify and advance the law. To learn more about how Kristen Prinz can help you, call her firm today at (312) 212-4450.

David J. Winthers is a lifelong resident of DuPage County having graduated from Wheaton Central High School in 1974 and Wheaton College in 1977.

Ian M. Barney is a founding partner of Barney & Hourihane, LLP and is licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois. He has successfully represented clients both at trial and on appeal and has extensive experience representing individuals in a variety of cases. He focuses his practice on criminal appeals and civil rights lawsuits.

He has participated in many cases of note and has argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate Court. Ian was named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. No...

"Whiting Law Group focuses on personal injury law and litigation. Our successful team of proven personal injury lawyers in Chicago and Wisconsin represent victims involving personal injury, trucking accidents, automobile accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death and medical malpractice actions. Whiting Law Group understands how the harm caused by the negligent conduct of others affects our clients and their loved ones. We strive to reduce the stress, trauma and hassles of seeking justice so that our clients may focus on their health and their families in their time of hardship. Our expertise, experience and aggressive approach extend to every...

Ed Fox received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1976 and obtained his law degree from Southwestern University in 1985. For the past 20 years, the first 10 in Los Angeles and the second 10 in Chicago, Ed has worked for those whose rights were violated by those in a position of trust or authority, such as nursing homes, police officers and employers.

In 1996, Ed came to Chicago, his original hometown, and began practicing here. In 1999, he started his firm, Ed Fox & Associates, Ltd. with one other lawyer.

Ed's work philosophy is to litigate his cases...

Izabela concentrates her practice in estate and trust planning, probate, and estate and trust administration and litigation. Izabela also assists clients in planning for disability and special needs. Izabela also handles guardianship proceedings and serves as a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for the Cook County Circuit Court. Additionally, Izabela has experience with domestic and international income tax and business planning, and corporate and individual tax controversies. She also advises clients on business succession matters, wealth transfer and preservation, and corporate, partnership and limited liability company transactions, including drafting various business arrangements and agreements. Izabela was named as an Illinois Super...

Michael A. Otte concentrates his practice on estate planning, trust administration, and contested and litigated estates and trusts. Additionally, Michael's particular area of focus is in elder law matters, including Medicaid planning, Medicaid appeals, guardianship, contested guardianships, nursing home contract review, general elder law matters requiring litigation or other court involvement, and other issues affecting the legal needs of older people. Michael has given dozens of both public and private seminars on his areas of experience in order to educate the public and fellow attorneys on important estate planning and elder law concepts. Michael is a member of the Chicago...