Contributors

Justin Assouad is a litigator who defends attorneys and law firms in malpractice actions and related proceedings. He has also successfully defended educational, religious, and youth-serving organizations in tort claims brought ...

Alemayehu (Ali) Ayanaw specializes in complex business litigation, with a focus on asbestos, talc, and mass toxic tort matters as well as premises, retailer, and product liabilities cases. He has a proven track record of ...

Tammy Banasek is a dedicated litigator who has developed a special focus in defending medical and dental professionals, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She also counsels physicians and dentists in professional ...

Whether representing Fortune 50 companies in high-stakes class or mass actions or a local non-profit needing help, Beth A. Bauer balances creative, tenacious advocacy with a calm, commanding demeanor. Clients benefit from her ...

Alex Belotserkovsky focuses his practice on trials involving complex litigation matters, including asbestos cases and toxic tort issues. He has decades of civil litigation experience.

Mr. Belotserkovsky is fluent in Russian.

Making the complex simple and understandable drives the way LaDonna L. Boeckman works with medical professionals and other clients in the healthcare industry. It’s also how she explains complex medical concepts to juries of lay ...

Patrick A. Bousquet is an experienced litigator and go-to appellate attorney for clients in must-win cases. His nearly 20 years of experience in complex litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith matters, and appellate work give ...

Colleagues, clients, and judges in both state and federal courts comment on Emilee M. Bramstedt’s dedication, commitment, work ethic, and zealous advocacy, appreciating the attention to detail she puts into each case. She’s ...

Since 2014, Melissa S. Brown has developed a robust environmental law practice in which she assists businesses on a wide variety of environmental issues. Clients regularly rely on her to provide counsel on complying with federal and ...

Growing up with a father who ran hospitals and a large multi-specialty medical group in Memphis, Whitney L. Burkett continues her family’s healthcare legacy by defending healthcare providers and hospitals against medical and ...

The cornerstone of Christine D. Bushnell’s practice is defending clients in mass torts and civil litigation. She has successfully defended clients in a broad array of matters including medical malpractice, personal injury ...

Chelsea L. Caldwell defends professional liability cases, including individual healthcare practitioners and institutions. She has extensive litigation and trial experience, including first and second chair verdicts in Cook ...

With over 20 years of litigation experience, Matthew B. Champlin emphasizes pragmatism, cost-effectiveness, and innovative problem-solving to secure the best possible outcomes for his clients in complex litigation matters. 

He ...

Michael J. Chessler defends a diverse range of companies—from small family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies. His goal is to reduce clients’ financial exposure by obtaining dismissals or favorable resolution of ...

As a trusted advisor to businesses of all sizes, Timothy P. Collins helps clients navigate all aspects of operating a business, including formation, structuring, and governance. 

He takes a proactive approach to counseling his ...

Experience matters. For over 40 years, Glenn Davis’ unwavering commitment to clients has been the delivery of creative and efficient results in dynamic business disputes and cybersecurity challenges. His mission is to provide ...

Irina Y. Dmitrieva is a highly experienced appellate litigator with more than 20 years of success at the federal and state appellate court levels. She has represented both private clients and governmental entities. Clients and ...

Christin E. Doyle’s legal practice involves defending medical malpractice lawsuits and assisting clients with their estate planning needs. Her goal is to offer effective and compassionate representation tailored to each ...

James P. DuChateau concentrates his practice exclusively on insurance coverage, with an emphasis on first-party property for both commercial and personal lines. For the last 15 years, he has counseled carriers throughout the ...

Humility and compassion drive Joseph A. Fay’s practice in the defense of insurance coverage, fraud, bad faith, commercial and general liability, and catastrophic injury matters.

He prides himself on taking a holistic approach ...

Insurance companies rely on M. Brendhan Flynn’s command of the law before making coverage determinations in first- and third-party insurance claims. His legal acumen helps them minimize their exposure to coverage or bad faith ...

Meg L. Fowler focuses her practice on trials involving multiple issues, including:

• General personal injury
• Professional liability
• Product liability
• Insurance coverage issues
• Transportation

She has authored, argued, and ...

Carl J. Geraci defends a variety of clients in toxic tort litigation ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies. For 20 years, he has represented manufacturers, premises owners, suppliers, and contractors in ...

Eleni Gyparakis is a dedicated litigator who defends medical, dental, and other healthcare providers against claims of medical negligence. She is particularly interested in claims involving neuroanatomy and neuralgia. Her ...

Peyton A. Hagerman defends corporate clients and insurers in product and premises liability cases, as well as other toxic tort matters. He relies upon his outstanding writing and analytical skills to examine key witnesses, prepare ...

Inspiration and service. This is what drives Kathleen Schlef Hamilton’s work with her clients. As an attorney focused on general trial and appellate litigation, Ms. Hamilton’s successes have always been guided by her ability ...

John C. Hanson's litigation practice centers largely around the defense of personal injury, commercial and residential property taxation, insurance law, election law, and governmental matters.

He brings the detail-oriented ...

Linda J. Hay has an unwavering commitment to the defense of professionals from claims of malpractice. Her experience and success defending clients in healthcare, dental, and legal malpractice cases provide an exceptional ...

Peter A. Houser focuses his practice on the defense of civil litigation matters, including personal injury, automobile accidents, and premises liability.

Prior to joining HeplerBroom, Mr. Houser was an Assistant Attorney ...

Charles N. Insler is an accomplished writer who helps spearhead the firm’s appellate practice. He has briefed more than 15 appeals over the last five years, covering a variety of procedural and substantive legal issues. Mr ...

Sarah B. Jansen is an experienced litigator. For almost 20 years, she’s successfully defended municipal and corporate clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She’s passionate about delving into complicated ...

Lance T. Jones is a trial attorney with a primary emphasis in litigation, including:

• Civil Rights
• Construction
• Employment
• Environmental
• Fraud
• General tort liability
• Labor
• Personal Injury

He has tried numerous jury and non-jury ...

George A. Kiser represents clients who have been sued for toxic tort exposures—including asbestos—in high-profile, high-volume jurisdictions. He has represented hundreds of clients with asbestos cases pending in Madison ...

Anna C. Kister’s critical thinking skills and attention to detail make her an effective storyteller and advocate for her clients. She focuses her practice on the defense of premises and products liability, insurance law, and ...

Julieta A. Kosiba is a talented and versatile litigator who has focused her career on advocating for businesses in state and federal courts. Her experience spans a broad range of matters, including personal injury, property damage ...

Tara W. Kuchar maintains a diverse law practice. She regularly defends nursing homes and assisted living facilities, premises and manufacturers in products liability claims, and employers confronting allegations of wrongful ...

M. Colleen LaVelle defends product manufacturers, suppliers, employers, and premises owners in toxic tort cases. Her clients depend on her to gather factual information, then determine and executive effective defensive ...

Kelly M. Libbra defends a diverse range of companies—from Fortune 500 companies to small, local businesses—against premises and product litigation claims. She uses her excellent oral and written advocacy skills to assist ...

With nearly two decades of experience, Daniel C. Lytle has established a distinguished career as an attorney. He’s earned a reputation for his thoroughness, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to achieving favorable ...

Adam S. McGonigle is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice on defending individuals, businesses, and insurers in cases involving automobile and truck accidents, products and premises liability, insurance ...

Gary A. Meadows is an experienced litigator who in 30+ years has handled a wide variety of complex litigation matters and appeals, including cases of

• professional liability (including medical and legal malpractice)
• insurance ...

Isaac R. Melton is a distinguished trial attorney with over 15 years of experience specializing in fraud and bad faith litigation. Known for a relentless commitment to defending his individual and corporate clients, he has ...

Alec Messina spearheads the firm’s Government Affairs practice group. He also works with clients in HeplerBroom’s Environmental Practice Group.

As head of the Government Affairs Practice Group, Messina:

• advises clients on ...

Eric W. Moch focuses his practice on the defense of claims involving insurance fraud, including medical provider fraud, organized activity and staged and caused losses, as well as first- and third-party coverage and bad faith ...

Amanda Mueller’s goal as an attorney is to assist people and businesses in protecting themselves during the litigation process by helping them navigate what can sometimes be stressful and unfamiliar territory. Clients are ...

Michael P. Murphy is an experienced litigator who focuses on helping clients with environmental issues, both before and after a lawsuit is filed.

He often initially assists clients in their interactions with regulators (such as ...

Anne M. Oldenburg is a highly successful malpractice defense lawyer with extensive trial experience. The depth and breadth of her success at trial (mostly in Cook County, Illinois) is what her clients want and need. Her involvement ...

Fiona Phillips is committed to delivering exceptional legal services and fostering strong client relationships. She anticipates potential issues to minimize client exposure and works toward achieving favorable outcomes in an ...

Benjamin W. Powell specializes in the defense of a variety of claims, including: 

• product liability
• personal injury/wrongful death
• breach of contract
• professional liability
• insurance
• trucking and transportation

As counsel for ...

As the head of HeplerBroom’s 24-hour Emergency Response Team, Michael Reda knows what it takes to defend commercial trucking companies and their drivers. His calm presence helps diffuse the adrenaline that can be present at ...

For more than 20 years, Jamie M. Rein has provided legal services throughout the Illinois counties of McHenry, Lake, DuPage, and Cook. She often collaborates with in-house counsel, national counsel, insurers and insured, and other ...

Emily D. Roman is a skilled researcher and writer who routinely handles all motion practice from the inception of a case through trial, as well as appellate briefing. She's briefed numerous appeals involving various substantive and ...

Eric D. Rosser is an experienced litigator who defends clients in toxic tort liability claims in some of the most contentious venues in the United States. His clients range from some of the largest corporations in the country to small ...

Sean P. Sheehan defends clients in high-value personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits related to asbestos exposure and other toxic torts. These cases can involve manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors ...

Brittany D. Shoaff focuses her practice on trials involving complex business litigation matters, including toxic torts.

Andrew B. Symns helps clients navigate through all stages of civil litigation, insurance coverage, and bad faith litigation matters. His no-nonsense approach ensures his clients and colleagues know the strengths, weaknesses ...

Katie Fulara Vinge defends clients in civil litigation, with a focus on construction injury and defect and professional liability. Her clients appreciate both her advocacy and her pragmatic approach in order to best frame a defense ...

Susan A. Wagener focuses her practice on the defense of medical malpractice, nursing home litigation, personal injury, and health care professional licensure cases. She is also experienced in insurance defense litigation. In ...

Stephanie W. Weiner defends personal injury cases. These are primarily in construction, premises, municipal and §1983 claims, and contractual matters, including risk transfer.

She also defends school districts and school bus ...

Since changing his career from medicine to law, Christian R. Willenborg has made it his mission to defend healthcare providers against malpractice. With his unique background, he understands the challenges providers face in ...

Thomas H. Wilson is a trial attorney with a primary emphasis in the defense of:

• medical malpractice cases on behalf of physicians, hospitals, EMS, and other health care providers
• employers and government officers/employees in ...

Audra L. Zobrist defends clients in asbestos and toxic tort products and premises liability cases. Although she represents defendants from a broad range of industries, she understands that every client is unique and has distinct ...

Dede J. Zupanci is a seasoned healthcare attorney who has exclusively practiced medical malpractice defense for over 20 years.

Her strategic thinking and strong understanding of the medicine involved in each case has earned her ...