Deer Creek Lawyers

I am a proactive and results-driven attorney at Bellas & Wachowski, where I represent businesses and consumers in a variety of legal matters. My background in civil litigation is extensive, and I am committed to delivering favorable outcomes through innovative legal strategies that protect my clients' interests and foster their success. My practice covers medical negligence defense, personal injury defense, and professional liability defense, providing me with a comprehensive view of complex legal challenges. I am also adept at offering compliance counsel and representing clients in regulatory hearings. My sharp negotiation skills and meticulous preparation position me as a formidable ally...

Nathan Hakimi grew up in Skokie, Illinois, influenced by his attorney grandfather and psychologist parents, leading him to pursue a career in law. After earning his J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2017, he practiced at prominent firms like Sax Law LLC and HeplerBroom LLC, specializing in medical malpractice defense. He later worked at JPMorgan, handling complex corporate financing. In 2022, he founded a solo legal practice that eventually merged into the partnership of Kulek, Hakimi, & Katz in 2024. Nathan is known for his strategic and tactical approach in commercial litigation, business transactions, and negotiation. He is respected...

Nancy Shepard has spent almost her entire legal career protecting the rights of injured workers before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. She has won won numerous appeals at the Commission, Circuit Courts and the Illinois Appellate Courts and prides herself on providing expert guidance for her clients. Nancy works tirelessly to fight for maximum compensation for her clients.

Katherine Levine graduated from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and was admitted into the Illinois Bar in 2008. Prior to becoming an attorney, she served four years active duty as a United States Marine and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2001. After law school, Katherine worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney until August 2015 where she successfully tried hundreds of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Today, she is in private practice defending individuals accused of serious state and federal crimes. Her experience as a prosecutor provides her insight into the strategies and...

Jason Wapiennik was in the field of Customs law even prior to his graduation from Ave Maria School of Law in 2008. From January 2007 until September 2009, he clerked for Edmund Maciorowski, P.C., a customs law firm and since leaving there, has been in private practice at Great Lakes Customs Law. Before attending law school, Jason began his undergraduate education at Purdue University and later transferred to Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science graduating magna cum laude, and with departmental honors in political science. He is a member of Alpha Sigma...

I have been a practicing attorney since 1973. I used to handle a wide variety of legal matters for individuals and families. At present, my practice is concentrated in consumer bankruptcy. In addition to our main office in Chicago, we also have offices in Skokie, Schaumburg, Naperville, Joliet and Gurnee, Illinois. I am married with one son who is married, living in California, and who is a practicing attorney working for the State of California. I am a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Committee of the Chicago Bar Association....

We have had several thousand satisfied clients from throughout the Chicagoland area who we've provided top-quality legal services for over the past 35 years, since 1988, and our clients have given us a rating of 4.53 stars based on over 55 online reviews (on Avvo.com, Google and Lawyers.com).

Attorney Scott D. Lane is a managing partner of the reputable Chicago personal injury law firm, Lane & Lane, LLC. This boutique family-managed law firm specializes in medical and professional negligence, advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, promises and product liability, motor vehicle accidents, and other related practice areas that involve catastrophic injury and wrongful death. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude; from Southern Methodist University, Mr. Lane earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 1988. In 2002, Attorney Lane was selected as a 40 Under 40 Attorney to Watch in Illinois....

Nicole Sommerfeld has focused her law practice on workers’ compensation and personal injury law ever since passing the Illinois bar exam and getting licensed in 1994, so she now has over 25 years of experience on the job. Nicole grew up in the Chicago area, attending Highland Park High School. She went to college at University of Wisconsin - Madison and earned her juris doctorate from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. When she first started practicing law it was a family affair, going to work at her father and brother’s law firm where she focused on helping workers...

Vicki Hathaway Gonzalez is an experienced facilitator of real estate transactions. Vicki is known for her style of representation that insists that her clients are fully informed of their rights and obligations under their real estate contract, as well as the real consequences of their decisions regarding those rights and obligations.

Vicki's interest in real estate started long before her graduation from John Marshall Law School in 1992. She started investing in real estate in the 1970's, then became a licensed real estate agent, and also taught real estate licensing for the Century 21 Real Estate Academy. As an attorney, she...

Marc Whipple grew up in Iowa and has a degree in Physics and Math from Drake University. After receiving his J.D. from John Marshall, he became the General Counsel for Meyer/Glass Design, a Chicago invention studio descended from legendary innovation firm Marvin Glass & Associates. When Meyer/Glass started an interactive division, he helped set up, grow, and eventually spin off the software studio, in the meantime negotiating development agreements with companies like Hasbro Interactive and Microsoft for PC and console titles.

After his work at Meyer/Glass, he became the General Counsel of Incredible Technologies, Inc., and helped it take its first...

Ann Leone is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She then attended The John Marshall Law School and received her Juris Doctorate. She has worked in various government agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services and The Cook County Office of The Public Guardian as a Guardian ad litem. Through these agencies, she gained invaluable experience working on various complex juvenile immigration cases and handling many domestic relations cases, including custody disputes and divorces. Additionally, she has worked with numerous non-profits, specializing in...

Mr. Gountanis joined Therman Law Offices, LTD. directly upon completing his summer externship and graduating law school in November, 2010. Gountanis became one of Mr. Therman’s quick understudies, learning the art of aggressive negotiation, arbitration as well as trying cases to favorable verdict.

Mr. Gountanis received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Keller Graduate School of Management - Lincolnshire, and his Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School at Grand Rapids, MI. He is admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and...

Mr. Garcia recently completed his externship with Therman Law Offices and transitioned into the role of associate attorney. He passed the bar in August 2017. He was a law clerk with the firm for 2 years prior to becoming an attorney. Garcia focuses his practice in personal injury and workers’ compensation. Trained personally on the ‘ins and outs’ by Mr. Therman, he continues to grow and learn how to aggressively represent those in need.

Mr. Garcia received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Anthropology, at the The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctorate...

Ms. Mule joined Therman Law Offices, LTD., in July, 2010. She concentrates her legal practice on cases concerning both personal injury and workers’ compensation. During her time at Therman Law, she has developed and strengthened her experience negotiating and settling cases at mediation and arbitration as well as trying cases to favorable verdict.

Mrs. Mulé received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School– Chicago. She is admitted to the Illinois State Bar.

Liz has presented seminars to divorce recovery groups, counselors, lawyers, hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies and was an instructor for several years for a personal injury trial practice course presented by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and classes for medical practitioners to area hospitals and staff regarding how to respond to legal inquiries and how to avoid malpractice. She has also presented seminars for the Illinois State Bar Association including a recent basic family law seminar.

Liz tried several cases to juries including a case that was decisiv with respect to the use accident reconstruction experts, evidence of...

In private practice, Scott has handled both civil and criminal matters. Since 2002, he has handled criminal defense matters exclusively. He practices in Cook, Lake, McHenry and DuPage counties. He has successfully defended numerous matters ranging from traffic, misdemeanors and DUIs, to the most serious felonies, including property crimes, drug offenses, violent crimes and homicides.

Since entering private practice, Attorney Smith has maintained a general practice with a concentration in family law. He has been a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and Winnebago County Bar Association for over forty years each. Attorney Smith is currently a member of the family law section of each of these associations. He is currently on an advisory panel for the American Bar Association. He has been a presenter to other attorneys locally on family law and child related topics.

For over forty years Attorney Michael J. Smith has provided experienced family law representation. Family law...

Intellectual Property & Government Transparency | FOIA & Media Law | Small Business Attorney

Mark Connolly is an experienced trial attorney in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation. He focuses his practices in motor vehicle accidents, construction negligence, slip and falls, work accidents, medical malpractice, and product liability, among others. He has handled cases in numerous counties of the Circuit Courts of Illinois, the Northern District of Illinois Federal Court and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He has also litigated and argued before the Illinois Appellate Court. Mark has always dedicated himself to his clients’ cases and provides the same devotion and intensity regardless of the case size. Mark...

I am an Associate at Richards Patent Law where my primary areas of practice are Patent Prosecution and IP Strategy. I am admitted to practice in Illinois as well as a registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Prior to joining RPL, I earned my J.D. from DePaul University while also clerking at the Global IP Law Group, a patent litigation firm where I worked on numerous patent monetization projects. Additionally, during my time at DePaul, I was named a National Semi-Finalist at the National IP LawMeet, awarded both the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award...

Garrett W. Browne has been with Ed Fox & Associates, Ltd. since the firm's inception in 1999. While attending law school in New York City, Garrett concentrated his academic studies in labor and employment law while working as an intern for the U.S. Department of Labor, and law clerk for the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations for the City of New York. After graduating from law school, Garrett moved to Chicago to pursue his interest in litigating the claims of individuals who have had their dignity and basic rights violated by government, law enforcement, employers, and nursing homes.

While Garrett has...

Throughout much of Pat's career, he has worked defending insurance companies against personal injury, wrongful death, and healthcare negligence cases. This experience gives Pat a unique perspective, since he knows the "tricks of the trade" which insurance companies use as they value a personal injury claim and defend against a case. With this knowledge and understanding, Pat will ensure you are not taken advantage of in these situations, allowing you to achieve maximum compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Pat has been a trial lawyer for more than a decade and has tried numerous cases to verdict. Pat first developed...

James Goodnow is Fennemore’s President and CEO. Nearly two decades after starting his career at our firm as a file clerk, he became the youngest known chief executive of a major law firm in U.S. history. He holds his JD from Harvard Law School and dual management certificates from MIT, where he was an enrolled MBA student before pivoting to the University of Cambridge Business School (U.K.). He earned a BS at Santa Clara University, where he graduated first in his class. James is known for his thought leadership at the intersection of law and business. He has been featured on...

Attorney James J. Morici, Jr. is a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney who has gained a reputation for excellence since he started practicing law in 1979. His areas of focus include, but are not limited to, premises liability, product liability, and construction site negligence. Attorney Morici is sincerely dedicated to helping his clients obtain the compensation they are entitled to, no matter the challenges or difficulties standing in their way. Not only is he passionate about relentlessly pursuing justice on his clients’ behalf, he is endlessly devoted to exploring all possible strategies and solutions to any concerns his clients are...

Patrick A. Salvi II joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in 2007. He concentrates his legal practice on cases concerning personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability. During his first trial as lead attorney, Mr. Salvi secured a $1.28 million verdict on behalf of a teen who had her leg and knee cap broken in an accident. Mr. Salvi also achieved a record breaking jury verdict on behalf of one of his clients in excess of $33 million. The case involved a teenager who was paralyzed in a motor vehicle collision. Additionally, he has secured a $29.1 million medical malpractice...

Attorney Melvin L. Sims III is a Commercial and Residential Landlord-Tenant & Real Estate Attorney, a Realtor and a Title Agent with 18 years of experience in the practice of law. Mr. Sims' Landlord-Tenant practice focuses on defending and prosecuting Commercial and Residential Landlord-Tenant actions, including Evictions, Lease Terminations, Lease Arbitrage, as well as pre-litigation Commercial and Residential Lease Dispute Resolution throughout Northern Illinois. Attorney Sims' General Real Estate Practice includes representing both Sellers and Buyers in Commercial and Residential Conveyances through Closing, with an emphasis on Multi-Family assets of 10 units or more. Attorney Sims also provides Title...

Stacy founded Bardo Law, P.C. in 2015 to provide effective, zealous legal representation to consumers, while maintaining empathy and compassion for her clients. Prior to Bardo Law, P.C.’s inception, Stacy was an attorney at the Consumer Advocacy Center, P.C., where she exclusively practiced consumer law. Stacy has been principally involved in more than 275 cases for the victims of harassing debt collection practices, consumer fraud, bait and switch advertising, predatory lending, automobile financing and odometer fraud, wrongful repossessions, unfair mortgage foreclosures, incorrect credit reporting, and violations of the federal Truth in Lending, Telephone Consumer Protection, Fair Debt Collection...

Joseph D. Parente is a Chicago personal injury attorney with extensive litigation experience. He has represented injured persons in the Chicago area for many years, including injured members of the Cook County Forest Preserve, the Fraternal Order of the Police, Electrician’s Union, Carpenter’s Union, Plumber’s Union, and Pipefitter’s Union.

Personal injury attorney Joseph Parente earned his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Attorney Parente was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from the Loyola University in Chicago.

He has represented injured persons in the Chicago area for many years, including injured members of the...

Mr. Keiser is an Illinois personal injury attorney at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC. Timothy is dedicated to fighting for the rights of his clients and focuses his practice in the areas of automotive accidents, construction negligence, product liability and also premises liability. If you or someone that you love has been injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence of another person or defective product, contact Timothy today at (312) 464-1234.

Mr. Thacker is an attorney at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC. With more than 30 years of experience and a proven track record of success, Stephen is a valued asset to our law firm. If you require comprehensive legal counsel in Illinois, contact Mr. Thacker today at (312) 464-1234 or toll free at (800) 464-4772.

As a native of Chicago, Mr. Nawrocki was distinguished as the top U.S Navy criminal defense counsel from 1989 to 1990. He joined the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC in 1995 and regularly represents injury victims and their families throughout Illinois. Attention to detail and persistence are hallmarks of Jim's character, which has resulted in numerous successes in the courtroom. If you or a loved one has been injured at work and requires the assistance of a highly skilled lawyer, contact Mr. Nawrocki today at (312) 464-1234.

Mr. David Caplan is a partner at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC and focuses his practice in the area of workers' compensation. With more than 30 years of experience helping to represent injury victims throughout Illinois, David co-manages the workers' compensation section of our law firm and provides comprehensive legal solutions to his clients. If you or someone that you love has been injured at work, contact Mr. Caplan today by calling (312) 464-1234 or toll free at (800) 464-4772.

Laureen Anderson-Stepanek has concentrated her practice in complex immigration matters since 2002. A graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in History and Political Science, Ms. Anderson-Stepanek did post graduate work in International Relations at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside and eventually obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University Of Iowa College Of Law. Ms. Anderson-Stepanek practices all areas of immigration law; she started her career on the corporate side where she advised internal and external clients on matters related to non-immigrant employment based visas, PERM, international relocation as well as general employment matters related to foreign...