Alexander County Lawyers

b 1952, Graduate Northern Illinois University, 1980

Going through a divorce or family law issue in Springfield, Illinois, can be incredibly challenging. Having a knowledgeable and committed attorney by your side can bring clarity and confidence during a difficult time. Chi Anyanwu is a compassionate Junior Associate Attorney with Stange Law Firm. Based in our Springfield, IL office, she assists clients across Sangamon County and surrounding areas. Chi earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign in May 2024, where she also served as the College of Law Representative on the University Librarians Student Advisory Committee. Before pursuing her LL.M.,...

Attorney Lauren A. Anaya has over 20 years' experience in the practice of law and is ready to put her experience to work for you. Dr. Anaya began her legal career with the United States Department of Justice after being hired pursuant to the Attorney General's Honors Program, the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level attorney hiring program of its kind. She served with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and subsequently went to work for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the Office of the General Counsel. She knows immigration law and can assist...

Dave Carlson is a seasoned attorney based in Illinois, with practice areas encompassing Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2001 and subsequently admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 2002 and the Northern District of Indiana in 2003. Dave's educational journey reflects his deep dedication to the legal field. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1993, where he majored in Political Science and was an active member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Demonstrating a strong work ethic from the outset, Dave paid for...

My academic interests encompass both information technology and law. I am a Professor and H. Ross & Helen Workman Research Scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law. I have a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a JD summa cum laude from Georgetown University. I have served as a technical expert in numerous patent lawsuits in the communication and computer areas, especially wireless communication, RF, e-commerce, software applications, integrated circuits, microelectronics and semiconductors. I am an inventor and hold 20 U.S. patents and serve on the boards of directors/advisors...

I founded The Holder Law Group, LLP after eleven years of practicing privately in the personal injury field. My career began as an associate attorney at Phebus & Koester, LLP, which is now known as Koester & Bradley, LLP. Subsequently, I served as a contract attorney leading the personal injury litigation department at Steigmann Law, PC. A significant portion of my practice is devoted to cases involving car accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and trucking accidents. My primary goal is to assist my clients in obtaining the highest possible compensation for their injuries. I possess a deep understanding and considerable experience in...

I joined Spiros Law, P.C. in August 2024 after completing my education and gaining unique work experience. I earned my B.A. in History from The College of New Jersey in 2015 and later pursued my J.D. at the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2024. Before my legal studies, I was a professional winemaker in New Jersey, which provided me with a diverse background and a unique perspective that I bring to my legal practice. While attending law school, I worked at the University of Illinois’s Family Advocacy Clinic. This legal aid clinic focuses on representing...

Jason Spangehl is the Principal Attorney at the Law Office of Jason Spangehl in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. For nine years this practice has exclusively addressed immigration law in one of the fastest growing immigrant academic communities in the United States.

Jason brings nineteen years of experience in education at every level from elementary through post-secondary to his practice, including broad experience as an instructor at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, as a college administrator. He also works as executive consultant to senior administrators and governing boards at Universities across the country through his separate consulting practice, Spangehl Higher Education Associates.

The Law...

G. Edward Murphy is the Managing Partner of Murphy & Dunn, P.C. and has been one of the best divorce, custody and family law attorneys and lawyers in Peoria, Bloomington and Central Illinois for the past 36 years. He knows how to litigate your case when necessary, negotiate favorably if possible, and win your case for you and your children in court. He is a skilled trial attorney, but also a capable mediator and problem solver. He has been lead counsel running Murphy & Dunn, P.C. for the past 35 years since he was 26 years old and has been winning...

From Speeding to Murder, we fight for our clients every day, and are known for aggressive criminal defense. Unlike many, we don't stop fighting after that. We work on getting them their driver's license back after the State has taken it, and on expunging or sealing criminal arrests and/or convictions, including obtaining pardons for our clients.

After attending the University of Illinois for Undergraduate school I attended Northern Illinois University School of Law. I was a Prosecutor for the McLean County State's Attorney's office before leaving the office to practice with my father Jim Finegan. I specialize in Criminal Defense, including DUIs, felony cases, drug cases, orders of protection and expungements and will use my background as a Prosecutor to help you defend your case.

Jim Finegan attended the University of Illinois for undergraduate school and Northwestern University for Law School. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois after graduating law school and he has over 40 years experience. He specializes in bankruptcy, real estate, and civil litigation.

Clarissa Rietveld was born in Iowa and raised in Rushville, Indiana. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2009 and worked as a registered nurse in operating rooms across the Midwest and on the East Coast. While working as a nurse, Ms. Rietveld had a patient whose medical history documented that he did not have regular access to food and was starving. Ms. Rietveld spent the afternoon working with hospital social services to arrange for her patient to gain access to regular meals and was shocked to learn that he didn’t qualify for any of the available programs. She...

Athena Farmakis was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, graduated with a B.A. from Northwestern University, and received her law degree from DePaul University College of law. With over 25 years of litigation experience, Athena has tried 67 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials in complex and media-sensitive cases. Athena currently practices in all areas of personal injury including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, animal attacks, negligent security, wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice.

As a former prosecutor, Athena dedicated much of her legal career to serving the public for over 20 years...

Eric J. Blatti was born in the Joliet area and has since remained closely connected with the local community. After graduating from Joliet Township High School, he received his Associate’s Degree in Arts from Joliet Junior College. He continued his education and graduated cum laude from Lewis University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Eric then attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI., where he earned his way onto the Dean’s List and was awarded his Juris Doctor in January of 2008. Eric began interning for the Will County Public Defender’s Office in April of 2007....

Mr. Reeder fights for his clients bringing over 15 years of defending persons charged with violating the law to serve his clients. Mr. Reeder is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy. Mr. Reeder coached youth football for five years, participated in the American Pool Association, and founded a charity softball games between attorneys and the police department in Joliet which helped raise almost $3000.00 to help feed children in Will County.

Mr. Reeder served five years as an Assistant Public Defender in Will County at the felony,...

Since joining The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. in 2006, Mr. Williamson has worked exclusively in the field of matrimonial law. Mr. Williamson is dedicated to providing his clients, no matter the issue, with the experience and knowledge necessary to bring their case to a positive resolution. Mr. Williamson has successfully negotiated settlements and/or litigated issues involving complex financial matters, custody, support, and division of property. Mr. Williamson has also successfully negotiated custody/financial settlements as they relate to paternity actions.

Mr. Williamson is also the general counsel and associate board president of Griffith Tutoring. Griffith Tutoring is a non-profit organization preparing at-risk...

Attorney Kezy is a compassionate attorney who understands the emotions involved in divorce and family law matters. Mark L. Kezy, who is no stranger to the courtroom focuses on providing straight forward, common senses solutions as an alternative to expensive, protracted litigation, while promising aggressive, uncompromising representation in Court when compromise is no longer an option.

Mr. Estes, partner at Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. is a trial attorney who has successfully tried several custody cases in parentage and dissolution proceedings that ultimately resulted in the award of sole custody of minors to the parent which Mr. Estes represented. He has successfully vacated several Judgments for Dissolution of Marriage due to fraud, unconscionability, and coercion. Mr. Estes vigorously advocates the position of his clients in complicated custody and visitation cases. Mr. Estes also adeptly untangles complex financial facts to maximize the benefits for his clients both at trial and in settlement negotiations. Mr. Estes has tried successfully...

Justin G. Randolph has been an attorney since 2001. He studied immigration law at DePaul University College of Law in the late 1990s, where he was taught by experts in the field. A clinical asylum course at DePaul gave him his first hands-on experience with highly sensitive and personal cases. Justin worked for boutique law firms after law school, where he handled a wide range of immigration and employment discrimination cases. He established the Law Office of Justin G. Randolph in 2004. In the Chicago area, the firm handled immigration and deportation/removal cases, as well as employment discrimination and harassment...

Cameron knows no single approach works for every situation, so in addition to extensive experience as a litigator and trial lawyer, he has training in divorce mediator and in collaborative law. Cameron works with his clients to find the most appropriate approach. He looks for opportunities to utilize the elements of each process if he believes it will move a case toward a favorable resolution.

Cameron’s educational background includes a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He also holds a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from Chicago-Kent College of Law and...

Criminal Appeals Attorney Omer Jaleel started Jaleel Law and focused his practice on criminal appeals because he realized as an appellate prosecutor that most people were not receiving the quality of legal representation that they deserved. So many times he saw arguments that should never have been made or arguments that should have been made that weren’t. It has been said that being an attorney is more art than science and that is even truer in appellate litigation. Appealing a criminal case is like a game of chess between yourself and the prosecutor where before each move critical analysis must...

Over twenty eight years of legal experience working with businesses on the issues they face daily during their business cycles. I act in the capacity of an outside general counsel assisting business owners to make smarter decisions, build stronger relationships and make and save money. I stress the importance of recognizing that correct legal answers alone do not necessarily translate into the correct best business decisions. I represent all types of businesses in every stage of their business cycles from start up through eventual sale. Specialties: The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialities in the...

Axel R. Cerny grew up in the DuPage County community, attending Wheaton Academy in West Chicago. Following graduation in 2006, Axel attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications/ Journalism studies in 2010. From there, Axel returned to the area to study at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 2013, and after passing the bar exam was promptly hired to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney. There he worked for two years under DuPage County State’s Attorney, Bob Berlin, prosecuting...

We have had several thousand satisfied clients from throughout the Chicagoland area who we've provided top-quality legal services for over the past 35 years, since 1988, and our clients have given us a rating of 4.53 stars based on over 55 online reviews (on Avvo.com, Google and Lawyers.com).

Inspired at a young age by family members practicing criminal defense law, John has had a lifelong passion for legal defense. John attended Indiana State University graduating Magnum Cum Laude in 2012 with a degree in criminology, criminal justice and political science. While attending Indiana State, John pursued his interest in flight by becoming a pilot. John then attended Indiana University Robert McKinney School of Law. While in law school, John was admitted to the Dean’s Tutorial Society and tutored other law students. John also participated in moot court, trial team and was awarded two scholarships for his extensive knowledge...

Shahina grew up in Skokie, Illinois and has lived in the Chicagoland area most of her life. She graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2018 with Juris Doctorate. Before coming to Driver Defense Team, she was a staff attorney for numerous judges at the Cook County Criminal Division for over two years. While in law school, Shahina clerked for one of the largest and most respected prosecutor’s offices in the United States – Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. As a 711 law clerk, she successfully litigated several bench trials and gained a wealth of experience in advocacy. She also clerked at...

Kyle D. Sellett is a Partner at Weiss-Kunz & Oliver, LLC, where he practices matters in Divorce & Family Law. Mr. Sellett’s legal career began as a Creditor’s Rights attorney and eventually acting as a Supervisor at one of his previous law firms. During his time practicing in Collection Law, he routinely handled trials, hearings, and other contested matters. His experience in this field makes him an ideal option to handle any case where there are delinquent debts involved. Additionally, he is an experienced negotiator who has a history of settling cases with favorable terms for his clients. Mr. Sellett joined...

Ann Leone is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She then attended The John Marshall Law School and received her Juris Doctorate. She has worked in various government agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services and The Cook County Office of The Public Guardian as a Guardian ad litem. Through these agencies, she gained invaluable experience working on various complex juvenile immigration cases and handling many domestic relations cases, including custody disputes and divorces. Additionally, she has worked with numerous non-profits, specializing in...

Aaron J. Lytle is one of the firm's suburban Chicago attorneys who practices in several key areas: estate planning and wealth protection, wills and trusts, probate administration, trust administration, business planning, taxation, real estate and special needs planning for children with disabilities. Mr. Lytle has spent several years working in the business sector on corporate issues relating to succession planning, valuation, acquisitions and generating capital. Before joining AHR, he worked for companies such as American Express and Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase).

Mr. Lytle also previously served on the Board of Trustees for DayOne Reliance, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that...

Karrsten Goettel concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, leasing, zoning and land use, business, merger and acquisition transactions (sales and purchases of assets and/or stock), corporate and business law and estate planning and administration. He has practiced among our firm's attorneys since 1997 and as a partner since 2002.

Mr. Goettel currently serves on the Board of Commissioners of the St. Charles Park District (where he is President), as a member of the St. Charles Housing Commission and as a Board Member of the Celtic Sports Foundation. From 2000 to 2002, he...

James Goodnow is Fennemore’s President and CEO. Nearly two decades after starting his career at our firm as a file clerk, he became the youngest known chief executive of a major law firm in U.S. history. He holds his JD from Harvard Law School and dual management certificates from MIT, where he was an enrolled MBA student before pivoting to the University of Cambridge Business School (U.K.). He earned a BS at Santa Clara University, where he graduated first in his class. James is known for his thought leadership at the intersection of law and business. He has been featured on...

Andrew Hughes represents railroad workers and other tradespeople diagnosed with cancer and leukemia following exposures to toxins such as diesel exhaust, asbestos and benzene-containing products. Before starting Hughes Law Offices LLC, Andrew defended railroads and asbestos manufacturers in FELA and product liability cases. His prior defense work makes him uniquely qualified to bring railroad cancer, mesothelioma, and benzene product liability claims on behalf of his clients. In proving up his cases, Andrew consults with top experts in industrial hygiene, epidemiology and occupational medicine. These experts help establish links between exposures to herbicides, diesel exhaust, asbestos, benzene, welding...

Lee A. Marinaccio is a partner in the law firm of Botti Marinaccio, LTD., an established litigation law firm that specializes in the practice of family law.

In Mr. Marinaccio's early career as an attorney, he concentrated his practice in the area of criminal trial prosecutions. As a special assistant attorney with the United States Department of Justice; an assistant United States Attorney; a first assistant State's Attorney in Kane County, Illinois; and an assistant DuPage County State's Attorney, Lee obtained extensive and valuable experience as a trial lawyer. Since leaving his commitment to public service, Lee has concentrated his legal...

I am an Associate at Richards Patent Law where my primary areas of practice are Patent Prosecution and IP Strategy. I am admitted to practice in Illinois as well as a registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Prior to joining RPL, I earned my J.D. from DePaul University while also clerking at the Global IP Law Group, a patent litigation firm where I worked on numerous patent monetization projects. Additionally, during my time at DePaul, I was named a National Semi-Finalist at the National IP LawMeet, awarded both the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award...

Jason Wapiennik was in the field of Customs law even prior to his graduation from Ave Maria School of Law in 2008. From January 2007 until September 2009, he clerked for Edmund Maciorowski, P.C., a customs law firm and since leaving there, has been in private practice at Great Lakes Customs Law. Before attending law school, Jason began his undergraduate education at Purdue University and later transferred to Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science graduating magna cum laude, and with departmental honors in political science. He is a member of Alpha Sigma...