Gardner Lawyers

After almost a decade of working for midsize and large law firms in Chicago, I decided to open my own office. I now focus on the legal needs of individuals in and around my community. My goal is to provide practical legal services in understandable language at reasonable rates.

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...

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...

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

Kevin P. Bolger & Associates is a criminal defense law firm that provides legal services to those charged with State and Federal crimes in Chicago, IL. This law firm can provide dedicated and aggressive defense for their clients charged with major criminal offenses in Chicago, IL.

Brent practices in the areas of estate planning and probate administration, probate and estate litigation, business succession planning, asset protection, commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. He is a member of Wealth Counsel Trust an Estate Practice. In his practice, Brent represents individuals, families and corporate clients on estate planning matters in the formulation and implementation of strategies to reduce taxation, protect and preserve assets, and facilitate the transfer of assets among family members and other charities. Brent advises clients in connection with the establishment of both simple and highly customized estate...

Experienced trial lawyer with multiple $1,000,000+ first chair jury verdicts and numerous $1,000,000+ settlements. I treat every case as if it's the most important case I have - because it is the most important case you have.

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.

For over 20 years, Amy Wells has protected the interests of consumers in state and federal courts across the country. She has obtained millions of dollars of relief for her clients. The focus of her practice is consumer protection litigation, including assisting clients with credit report or background report issues, stopping unwanted robocalls, and abusive debt collections. Ms. Wells also actively pursues consumer-friendly legislation on the state and federal level. She has served in various leadership and board positions in consumer advocacy groups. Ms. Wells has written numerous articles about issues affecting consumers, and also speaks to a variety of...

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...

Manish C. Bhatia has focused his education and practice on Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning since the first year of law school. He has also added Asset Protection, Elder Law and Nonprofit Organizations/ Charitable Giving to his fields of practice. Manish is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago and the Indian American Bar Association. To arrange an initial meeting, please visit www.mcb-law.com/contact. Several convenient locations are available to meet, including locations in Chicago, Schaumburg, Northbrook, Deerfield, Niles and other suburbs.

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.

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.

Lillian Walanka is the Principal Attorney of Crick Walanka Law Group in Chicago, Illinois. Since 1992, Ms. Walanka has successfully represented licensed professionals in disciplinary matters, petitions for restoration, initial licensing matters, and various other credentialing disputes. She continues the legacy of the firm established by Glen D. Crick, now deceased, that licensed professionals deserve the highest standards of representation.

Ms. Walanka has dedicated herself to zealously and compassionately protecting the rights and interests of licensed professionals by providing the highest quality of service to her clients through her years of experience before numerous state licensing boards such as the Illinois...

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...

Throughout his career, Attorney Kevin M. Collopy has helped clients recover tens of millions of dollars for injury and workers’ compensation cases. Representing injured individuals throughout Chicago, he prides himself on delivering reliable, trustworthy, and effective counsel in all legal matters. He has dedicated his more than 15 years of legal practice to advocating for injury victims.

Lori Ecker provides knowledgeable representation to clients who have been subjected to sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, discrimination because of race, religion, age, gender, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or who have suffered retaliatory or wrongful termination. She has the experience and resources to represent employees in disputes involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, whistleblower retaliation, Workers’ Compensation retaliatory discharge claims, and unemployment compensation, among others. Ms. Ecker is particularly skilled in all matters relating to employment contracts, including severance agreements, executive compensation contracts and non-compete agreements.

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...

Charles H. Gardner serves as Special Counsel in the Intellectual Property & Technology group and head of the firm's social media practice. With extensive experience as a media executive, in-house counsel and litigator, Charles represents a broad range of clients on technology, social media, business and intellectual property matters, with a particular eye toward navigating the legal challenges and opportunities arising from the intersection of new media technology with traditional business issues.
In addition to a focus on traditional business law and intellectual property protection, Charles works with clients to develop and document policies, create and implement procedures and programs,...

My practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration. I represent clients in high-stakes, high-dollar disputes involving breach of contract, employment law, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, insurance coverage, securities disputes, class actions, and whistleblower claims. I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants before state and federal courts, and in domestic and international arbitration proceedings.

Eric joined Abels & Annes as an associate attorney in 2017. He specializes in representing victims of injuries arising from auto accidents and premises liability. Eric is a staunch advocate on behalf of his clients and works tirelessly to make sure every injury victim receives the maximum award possible in their case.

Prior to joining the firm, Eric practiced in a small general practice firm in Chicago where he handled a variety of litigation matters and counselled clients in corporate and administrative law. He worked directly with clients to advance their interests and protect their rights. Before starting in private practice,...

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...

Professional Career Senior tax accountant and manager at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Partner at a boutique law firm Founded Anthony J. Madonia & Associates, Ltd. (AJM&A) in 1995. Practice areas include estate planning & administration, business strategy & planning, corporate law, and taxation Anthony J. Madonia & Associates, Ltd. came from the vision of a service-oriented, hands-on practice where clients receive comprehensive support and expedient attention. Early in my career, I recognized the value of providing multi- dimensional insight when guiding clients through complex transactions. We are a law firm that prides itself on being a resource for helping privately held firms,...

Bob Ross has practiced in Illinois in areas of wills and trusts, business law, acquisitions, succession planning and related commercial real estate matters since 1980.

Daniel Rubinow is a veteran in the field of regulation and litigation relating to business licensing matters. Prior to founding the License Law Group, the majority of Daniel's legal career was spent prosecuting business licensees before the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the City’s License Appeal Commission, and the Cook County Circuit Court. His experience with the City exposed him to countless complex and unique licensing issues which he now draws upon to help business owners in their endeavors. Prior to forming the License Law Group, Daniel also joined the Casino Law Group, focusing...

Ilya focuses his practice on helping creatives, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses capitalize on their ideas. He has represented clients in a variety of corporate transactions throughout the United States and abroad. In particular, Ilya has leveraged his Belarusian roots, work experience in St. Petersburg, and Russian-language skills to facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and investments related to Eurasian markets.

Within the entertainment industry, Ilya has worked with companies and individuals operating in media ranging from film and television to music and radio. He has counseled clients in matters related to acquiring rights, raising capital, and commercializing intellectual property. He is on...

David T. Arena joined Di Monte & Lizak in 1996. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Loyola University of Chicago in 1993, where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society and recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. David received his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law with honors in 1996. In 1995, David took first place in the Cleveland Marshall College of Law Moot Court Competition, where he received the Dean’s Moot Court Award for Outstanding Advocate and the Hugo Black Award for Outstanding Oralist. David participated in the 1995 ABA...

John F. Kinney is an attorney at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse. Mr. Kinney's practice areas include Real Estate Law, Business Law, Personal Injury, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, General Civil, and Litigation. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University in 1973. Mr. Kinney is dedicated to providing skilled and knowledgeable representation for your legal needs.