Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers

01.23.17

Staci L. Balbirer, Amy M. Gibson, Julie A. Johnson, Amber O. LaFevers and Timothy R. Nelson and have been named Rising Stars by Illinois Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Illinois are named to Rising Stars

About Aronberg Goldgehn’s Rising Stars

Staci L. Balbirer, Associate, was named a Rising Star in Family Law. She concentrates her practice in the area of divorce and family law with a special focus on assisting families with special needs children. She has lectured on and authored about family law matters, including most recently before the Northwest Suburban Bar Association on the topic of "How to Calculate Support for Adult Children with Special Needs." She also co-authored “The Difficulty in Understanding and Applying Section 5/513(a)(1) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act,” which was published in the Illinois State Bar Journal Family Law Newsletter. Staci joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in November 2014.

Amy M. Gibson, Member, was named a Rising Star in Business Litigation. She is Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. She focuses her practice on shareholder disputes, employment litigation and real estate litigation. Shareholder disputes she handles include, without limitation, claims for violation of the Business Corporation Act, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. In the area of employment litigation, Amy defends clients in claims for discrimination, breach of noncompetition agreements and trade secret misappropriation, among others. In her real estate litigation practice, she handles claims for trespass and nuisance as well as general business litigation. Amy joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in 2007 and was named a Member in January 2015.

Julie A. Johnson (formerly Neubauer), Member, was named a Rising Star in Family Law. She dedicates her practice to issues of matrimonial and family law, including divorce, child custody, domestic violence/orders of protection, child support, post-judgment litigation, adoption, parentage and all other related matters. She is engaged in all aspects of the practice, including preparing prenuptial agreements, drafting pleadings, handling pre-trial motions, engaging in settlement negotiations, conducting discovery analysis, and handling trials and appeals. Julie was named a Member of Aronberg Goldgehn in January 2017. When she joined the firm’s Family Law group in July 2009, she brought a decade of experience, both from her prior career as an advocate and counselor for survivors of domestic violence and as a practicing attorney. She regularly speaks and writes on a variety of topics relating to divorce, family law and domestic violence.

Amber O. LaFevers, Associate, was named a Rising Star in Insurance Coverage. She is a commercial litigator who focuses her practice on analyzing and litigating complex business disputes involving insurance coverage, corporate control and general corporate matters. She is regularly engaged in protecting client’s interests and effectively litigating and resolving high-stakes claims involving a wide variety of insurance coverage and complex commercial disputes. Amber also provides strategic counseling to clients in connection with underlying exposures presented by corporate scandals and derivative litigation. She has handled numerous matters arising out of professional liability, errors and omissions, director and officer, fidelity, commercial general liability and environmental claims. In addition, Amber represents corporate clients in commercial disputes and corporate governance matters involving derivative liability claims, complex contract disputes and breach of fiduciary duty issues. Amber joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in October 2010.

Timothy R. Nelson, Member, was named a Rising Star in Business/Corporate Law. He is Co-Chair of the Business Law & Transactions Group at Aronberg Goldgehn. He represents businesses, lenders and real estate clients in a broad range of matters and transactions. Tim often serves as outside general counsel for middle market and privately held businesses in a variety of industries, providing counsel on a broad range of legal, business and strategic matters. He frequently represents clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; business formation and governance matters; corporate structure and business planning matters; private debt and equity offerings; shareholder disputes; commercial finance transactions; as well as real estate, leasing and licensing transactions. Tim regularly negotiates and drafts business governance and purchase and sale documentation, and a variety of other documents, agreements, policies and contracts. He also assists clients with a range of technology and intellectual property matters. Tim joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in November 2010 and was named a Member in January 2015.



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