Twenty-Three Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers in Illinois

03.20.19

Twenty-three Aronberg Goldgehn attorneys have been named Leading Lawyers for 2019 by Illinois Leading Lawyers. Leading Lawyers have been recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in their areas of practice. Less than 5 percent of all lawyers licensed in Illinois have received the distinction of Leading Lawyer.

Aronberg Goldgehn’s Leading Lawyers are:

About Aronberg Goldgehn's Leading Lawyers

Mark D. Anderson was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Taxation and Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law. He represents real estate developers, privately held corporations, limited liability companies, and family enterprises consisting of various corporations, LLCs and trusts in a wide range of tax and general business law matters. He also maintains an estate planning practice, which is a value-added service to business owners and their families.

Christopher J. Bannon was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Insurance Coverage and Commercial Litigation. He focuses his practice on helping clients resolve commercial disputes through litigation, mediation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution methods. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Insurance Coverage Group, he devotes the majority of his practice to representing insurance companies in resolving complex coverage disputes arising out of various types of insurance policies and relationships.

Lisa J. Brodsky was named a Leading Lawyer in Insurance Coverage. She represents insurance companies in coverage litigation and analysis, representing and counseling them in connection with complex, high exposure claims involving professional liability and CGL policies. She also provides third party administrator services, overseeing investigation, defense and resolution of claims for businesses with significant self-insured retentions. In addition, Lisa represents businesses and individuals in commercial litigation and appeals.

James A. Christman was named a Leading Lawyer in Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Commercial Litigation and Healthcare Law. He counsels clients and litigates on their behalf in matters related to contracts, commercial disputes, fiduciary duty, professional liability, director liability and officer liability. He also works extensively with physicians and physician groups on healthcare and regulatory matters. In particular, he represents physicians in medical staff proceedings and PHO’s and IPA’s in corporate and regulatory and managed care contracting.

Jay A. Frank was named a Leading Lawyer in Family Law. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Family Law Group, Jay is a senior matrimonial attorney with more than 40 years of experience. In his practice, he has successfully pursued, traced and valued valuable assets. He also has successfully litigated or negotiated premarital agreements, property distributions, support awards and custody and visitation arrangements.

William J. Garmisa was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law and Banking & Financial Institutions Law. He is a seasoned general business counsel to individual entrepreneurs, closely held corporations and mid-sized companies. He has a wealth of experience in the formation of business enterprises, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies; mergers and acquisitions; and succession planning.

Paul A. Gilman was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Securities & Venture Finance Law. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Business Law & Transactions Group, he concentrates his practice in corporate, healthcare, tax, estate planning and real estate matters. Paul advises clients on corporate formation and structure; contract preparation and negotiation; capital financing; and mergers and acquisitions. He serves as outside general counsel to a number of privately held businesses and has significant experience representing healthcare clients in regulatory matters and the structuring of transactions.

Thomas K. Hanekamp was named a Leading Lawyer in Insurance Coverage. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Insurance Coverage Group, he focuses his practice on major commercial litigation primarily on behalf of insurers in coverage matters involving management and professional liability. In addition, he counsels clients with respect to insurance coverage issues associated with D&O, E&O, EPL and professional liability claims. Tom has also handled coverage matters involving environmental, asbestos and other long tail exposures.

Michael J. Hayes, Sr., was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Federal Regulatory Law, Gaming & Casino Law, and Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law. A litigator and regulatory attorney, he represents clients in a myriad of state, federal and local regulatory matters involving consumer, public utility and antitrust issues. He represents clients in suits for injunctive and declaratory relief; civil rights actions; contract actions; construction litigation; constitutional and statutory challenges to state of Illinois statutes, rules and regulations; purchasing disputes; labor disputes and personnel matters; judicial review of administrative decisions; and matters related to state appropriations, regulation of healthcare and nonprofit entities.

Jerry Holisky was named a Leading Lawyer in Closely & Privately Held Business Law. He is a business lawyer who concentrates his practice on the legal concerns of closely held companies and their owners, functioning as outside general counsel for many businesses. He has extensive experience in business formations, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate finance, and a wide range of commercial agreements. He also advises clients on structuring complex business relationships, including joint ventures. In addition, Jerry’s practice includes a concentration in ownership and management disputes – sometimes called “corporate divorce.”

Julie A. Johnson was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Family and Appellate 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.

Elizabeth O. Lazzara was named a Leading Lawyer in Family Law. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Family Law Group, she has extensive experience representing clients in all financial phases of divorce or family law conflict, including antenuptial and postnuptial agreements; trial practice and procedure; child support and maintenance; property distributions; valuations; and tax analysis of complex income scenarios. She devotes a substantial portion of her time representing clients on children’s issues.

Nathan H. Lichtenstein was named a Leading Lawyer in Commercial Litigation. A Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Commercial Litigation Group, he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including Uniform Commercial Code matters, breach of contract claims, fraud and consumer fraud actions, trademark and copyright infringement cases, shareholder derivative suits, federal tax litigation, employment matters and unfair competition claims. He has extensive experience in banking, insurance, real estate, employment, viaticals and life settlements, as well as corporate matters.

Mitchell J. Melamed was named a Leading Lawyer in Closely & Privately Held Business Law. He represents and counsels entrepreneurs and businesses in the acquisition and sale of businesses and business assets. He represents self-funded health plans, wealth managers, physicians and physician groups. He also devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing third party administrators, consultants, self-funded health benefit plans, managed group underwriters, physicians, and medical and dental practices.

Henry M. Morris was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law and Commercial Real Estate. He concentrates his practice in real estate and real estate financing, counseling a wide variety of clients in the acquisition, sale, development, leasing and financing of commercial, residential and industrial real estate. He is experienced in representing developers and owners of regional shopping centers throughout the United States as well as representing members of the health care profession with real estate development.

Ned S. Robertson was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Banking & Financial Institutions Law, Closely & Privately Held Business Law and Creditors Rights. He advises clients on a multitude of business matters, including shareholder agreements, employment contracts, covenants not to compete, and agreements relating to the purchase and sale of corporate assets. A Co-Chair of the Banking Law Group at Aronberg Goldgehn, he represents banks and corporate borrowers in asset based, construction and real estate financing, including the preparation and negotiation of loan documents. He also represents clients in real estate transactions, including purchasers and sellers of vacant land, and industrial, commercial, multi-family and office buildings.

Bernard A. Schlifke was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Banking & Financial Institutions Law and Secured Transactions. He focuses his practice on banking, corporate transactional and real estate matters. He represents lenders in commercial/business lending and real estate-related lending loans and also has extensive experience in bank regulatory matters. His corporate work includes the structuring and implementation of both the acquisition and sale of businesses, and the representation of privately owned businesses. He acts as outside general counsel to many businesses, providing a wide range of advice and counsel to these entities. In addition, Bernie represents buyers and sellers of real estate properties of all types.

Steven M. Scholl was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law and Taxation. He is a corporate/transactional lawyer who represents a range of closely held and middle market businesses, often serving as their outside general counsel. Steve is experienced in handling mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations. He also has experience in real estate and leasing transactions, ownership and succession entity planning, employment and employee incentive compensation plans, supply and distribution relations, as well as counseling, consulting, structuring and implementing business, tax, financial and equity strategies and plans.

John C. Sciaccotta was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business Law and Commercial Litigation. He focuses his practice on litigation, arbitration and business counseling matters with a special emphasis on complex civil trial and appellate cases brought in federal and state courts throughout the United States. John has also been appointed by the American Arbitration Association as an Arbitrator and Lawyer Neutral to adjudicate various claims and disputes in arbitration.

Robert N. Sodikoff was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Banking & Financial Institutions Law and Closely & Privately Held Business Law. He represents banks and corporate borrowers in connection with asset-based and real estate financing, including the negotiation and preparation of loan documents. He serves as outside general counsel for several clients, advising them on general corporate matters, including shareholder agreements, consulting arrangements, asset and stock sales and purchase agreements. A Co-Chair of the Real Estate Group at Aronberg Goldgehn, Bob represents both buyers and sellers of real estate. Also, as part of his broad-based practice, Bob represents management in collective bargaining, union grievances, and Title VII and employment litigation.

Blooma Stark was named a Leading Lawyer in Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law. She focuses her practice on estate planning and probate with particular emphasis in the areas of tax planning, asset protection planning and elder care planning. She helps clients to meet their goals with respect to their estates and providing for their families in the most tax efficient way.

Sharon S. Zaban was named a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Commercial Real Estate Law and Real Estate Financing. A Co-Chair of the Banking Law Group at Aronberg Goldgehn as well as Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Group, Sheri concentrates her practice in all aspects of real estate law with an emphasis on real estate financing. She represents banks, life insurance companies and other financial institutions in secured real estate loan transactions, including construction loans, bridge loans and term loans. Sheri also handles transactions involving loan workouts, restructurings, modifications, forbearance documentation, note sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions. She represents real estate owners and developers in the development, acquisition and disposition of all types of real estate in transactions involving construction and leasing.

Michael A. Zaslavsky was named a Leading Lawyer in Family Law. He represents clients in divorce and family law matters. He seeks practical solutions for resolving disputes with minimal conflict whenever possible, while also being an aggressive and experienced litigator. When conditions have prevented amicable resolution, he has produced successful results in the trial of complex issues involving financial matters, real estate disputes, contract disputes and child custody issues. Judges throughout Cook County have frequently appointed Michael as Guardian ad Litem in contested custody cases.

Leading Lawyers also named seven Aronberg Goldgehn attorneys Emerging Lawyers. They are Staci Balbirer, Amy M. Gibson, Benjamin Haskin, David A. Johnson, Jr., Amber O. LaFevers, Lindsay P. Lollio and Timothy R. Nelson. Emerging Lawyers have been identified by their peers to be among the top lawyers who are age 40 or younger (unless they have practiced for no more than 10 years). Less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in Illinois have received the distinction of Emerging Lawyer.

About Leading Lawyers

Leading Lawyers is a division of Law Bulletin Publishing Company, a diversified print and electronic information company that has been serving the Chicago legal and business communities since 1854. Flagship of the privately held corporation is the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the oldest daily courts newspaper in the country. Leading Lawyers has grown out of the extensive legal experience Law Bulletin Publishing provides, and is the most trusted and respected resource to locate reputable, experienced lawyers. Leading Lawyers surveys lawyers, asking them which of their peers, indeed their competitors, they would recommend to a family member or friend if they could not take a case within their area of law or geographic region. To maintain the quality and credibility of the survey, lawyers cannot nominate themselves or anyone at their own law firm. Based upon survey nominations and approval by its Advisory Board, only the top lawyers are nominated and eligible for membership in Leading Lawyers.



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