Esmond Lawyers

Bonita B. Hwang Cho is a principal at Cho Immigration Law, where she specializes in immigration and nationality law. Her practice includes employment-based immigration, national interest waivers and extraordinary ability visas. She also handles family-based immigration, citizenship matters, asylum, and deportation defense. The firm is woman and minority-owned.

Ankur Shah is the Managing Partner of Shah Legal Representation ("SLR"). Mr. Shah went to Madison, obtained degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, and graduated from the law school at the University of Minnesota.

After working on presidential, Illinois state office, and congressional races, Mr. Shah worked for a preeminent Judge presiding over an individual commercial calendar in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Mr. Shah is the author of Increase Access to the Appellate Courts: A Critical Look At Modernizing the Final Judgment Rule published in the Seton Hall...

A founding partner at Fichera & Miller, P.C. Mr. Fichera began the practice in 1962. Mr. Fichera's practice is dedicated and focused on personal injury matters, and medical malpractice and has tried hundreds of cases, approximately one hundred jury trials to verdict.

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.

Defending client for 26 years in State and Federal Courts. Member of National College for DUI Defense and Graduate of DUI Harvard Session. Certified Field Sobriety Expert. Certified Breath Machine Operator for Datamaster and Intoxillyzer. Advanced Blood and Urine seminar graduate. Suppression of more than 3000 lbs of contraband as Henry County Drug Trafficing Defense Attorney. Success defense of hundreds of DUI and OWI cases in Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Whiteside, Scott, Muscatine, Johnson, and Clinton Counties in Iowa and Illinois. Successful defense in Federal Court where possession and trafficking of...

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...

If you have been injured due to someone’s negligence, please call us for a free consultation. We pride ourselves on being available to answer your questions and concerns. We listen to you, we thoroughly explain your rights and legal options, and we utilize our knowledge, experience and skill to obtain the best results for you. Some insurance companies attempt to discourage accident victims from hiring an attorney. They try to obtain recorded statements while an accident victim is without counsel or they try to tempt accident victims with small and quick settlement offers. These tactics are designed to prevent accident victims from...

David C. Brezina is of Counsel in the Chicago office of Ladas & Parry LLP. As an Intellectual Property law practitioner he has developed well-balanced experience handling patent, trademark and copyright matters. His litigation experience includes multifaceted cases having issues of patent, trademark, trade dress, copyright, trade secret, advertising and competition, especially where those issues intersect and overlap. He has appeared in more than 100 lawsuits, and settled others without appearing. He has also taught graduate and undergraduate law courses and delivered continuing education presentations covering these topics. With this experience in prosecuting and litigating intellectual property matters as well...

We help inventors, patent owners, and other businesses protect and exploit their Intellectual Property in a variety of ways, including obtaining federal rights, contacting businesses seeking to use (or already using) your Intellectual Property, and taking enforcement steps where necessary. We also keep the playing field free for good ideas, by defending attacks against your business lines.

Sagar Sharma is the Owner of Sagsharma LLC, a multi-jurisdictional law practice offering comprehensive corporate and transactional law services. Sharma is a 2019 graduate of the University of Miami where he pursued a double major and double minor. In 2023, Sharma graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with his Juris Doctor. Sharma is a versatile legal practitioner and offers innovative legal strategies to support your company's success.

Rob Muriel has been litigating and resolving business disputes in state and federal courts in the Chicago area since 1993. Rob's experiences include a prestigious judicial clerkship in the Appellate Court of Illinois for the late Justice Allen Hartman and almost eight years in two of the largest and most well known law firms in the Chicago area. Rob received the coveted 40 Under 40 Award from Chicago Lawyer magazine in 2000. In addition to having well-honed legal skills, Rob takes great pride in spending the time listening to his client's concerns, providing responsive service, and delivering direct, frequent communications. Rob...

I have litigated and tried business disputes before judges, juries, and arbitrators all over the United States. Those experiences have prepared me for handling any courtroom challenge I encounter. My experience, attention to detail, and high energy will be brought to bear on my client’s problems. Our clients have looked to us for advice over the decades because they trust us. If you need advice and guidance with a legal problem, we are here to help.

I have served as trial and appellate counsel in intellectual property lawsuits across the country for corporate and individual clients. As a professional engineer with significant work experience prior to my legal career, I combine my advocacy skills with an engineer’s analytical aptitude and problem-solving skills as trusted counsel for my clients. I have patent trial experience through verdict, and have prepared numerous patent cases for trial on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants resulting in favorable settlements. My practice further includes patent prosecution and post-issuance proceedings, including inter partes review and covered business method review proceedings before the Patent...

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...

Douglas M. Werman is the founder and principal of Werman Salas P.C. in Chicago, Illinois. His practice is heavily concentrated in labor and employment litigation.

A nationally known and recognized trial lawyer, Doug has won or settled more than 700 individual, collective and class action lawsuits throughout the United States resulting in more than $250,000,000 being paid to working people and their families. In a published decision, one federal court recently described Doug and Werman Salas P.C. as “national leaders in advocating the rights of working people in wage and hour litigation.” In another published decision, a different court called him...

As a an attorney with over 20 years of expereince, I can provide quality legal services in a cost effective manner in the areas of Probate, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Health Care and business matters. Every matter is unique and I take the time to find solutions that work for each client's situation and goals.

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...

Thomas Hansen was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up on the South Side of Chicago and Park Ridge, Illinois. Thomas lives in Park Ridge, with his wife and three children. Thomas received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University, a Certified Public Accountant Certificate from the University of Illinois, a Master of Science in Taxation from DePaul University, a Juris Doctor with Distinction from John Marshal Law School. Thomas is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants, Illinois Society of Certified Public...

Gene received his Juris Doctorate Degree from DePaul University College of Law.

He is admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, U.S. Federal District Court For The Northern District of Illinois, Federal Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and to practice Immigration Law in all jurisdictions of the United States.

Mr. Meltser is also licensed in the U.K. as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.

Gene is a co-founder of Immigrant Legal Defense Committee. Mr. Meltser is a member of the American...

I have been practicing law since 1992. My practice has been devoted to helping individuals and families through the areas of criminal defense, DUI, and immigration. I have dealt with individuals and families from all walks of life. I have represented doctors, lawyers, union workers, factory workers, corporate business personnel, immigrants, mothers, fathers, children, students, grandparents, athletes, musicians, members of organized street gangs, nurses, sales people, and truckers. I strive to give honest and hard-working legal representation to all clients.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: I have represented clients charged with drug cases, gun cases, domestic battery,...

Michael is a licensed attorney in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota who founded the Virtual Attorney to bring estate planning and business law into the 21st century. Through the use of technology and the internet he offers estate planning to young families, co-habitating couples, homosexual couples, and everyone in between. The Virtual Attorney is also the one-stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Starting out is tough and you don't have money to throw away on an in-house lawyer. With the Virtual Attorney's flat-fee based Essential In-House Counsel arrangements you'll get exactly what you need and you won't pay unexpected hourly...

U.S. Air Force Veteran Michael S. Hopkins has been practicing law in Will and surrounding counties for more than a decade. He is a former prosecutor experienced in both the prosecution and defense of traffic and ordinance offenses, including misdemeanors. He is also well-versed in municipal law and has represented numerous clients in municipal matters, including liquor control, video gaming, planning and zoning, code enforcement, and boards of fire and police commissioners. Currently, Mr. Hopkins is accepting new clients in traffic, municipal, and general practice matters, including evictions.

In his free time, Michael is an avid motorcyclist and runner. ...

Tom practices primarily in the area of personal injury, representing the seriously injured in state and federal trial courts. He also represents clients in general administrative litigation. Tom has litigation experience before trial and appellate courts in Missouri and Illinois, including arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court. He has represented clients and tried cases in U.S. Federal Courts in the Illinois Central and Northern Districts.

Tom was an academic All-American football player at Washington University in St. Louis and is married to a former national champion volleyball player. He maintains a strong interest in all sports and counts riding his bicycle,...

Lauren's practice focuses on real estate transactions, estate planning and representing small businesses. Lauren has a diverse real estate practice and has helped hundreds of clients buy and sell personal residences, investment properties, and commercial properties. She understands how complex and time consuming buying and selling real property is and she assists clients in every aspect of the process. Lauren prides herself on her attention to detail, responsiveness, and knowledge of the ever changing real estate market. She maintains relationships with the area’s top realtors, builders, home inspectors, lenders, surveyors and title companies so that she can...

As a dedicated attorney in Chicago, I provide strategic legal solutions across a broad range of practice areas. With a keen eye for detail, efficiency, and results, I approach each case with a practical mindset—cutting through complexity to deliver real, actionable solutions for my clients. I pride myself on being approachable yet relentless, ensuring my clients feel informed and empowered while I aggressively advocate on their behalf. Whether handling intricate financial matters, navigating litigation, or tackling complex negotiations, I bring a blend of sharp legal acumen and creative problem-solving to the table. Beyond the courtroom, I’m committed to staying ahead of the...

Attorney Robert Schaller has practiced law for more than 35 years. He is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois. Attorney Schaller is the founder of the Schaller Law Firm, P.C. and concentrates his legal practice on clients who need relief from IRS back-taxes. Schaller directs the National Offer in Compromise Academy, which offers online educational courses. Robert Schaller received his B.S. in Accountancy in 1982 from the University of Illinois at Champaign – Urbana. He earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1985 and served on the College’s Law Review. He studied for an...

Ms. Cornelison is a certified mediator; collaborative and cooperative divorce lawyer; and divorce trial lawyer with over 13 years of courtroom experience.

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...

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...