Kewanee Lawyers

Chris Gramm was born and raised in McLean County. After graduating from University High School in Normal, he received his BA from Illinois State University(ISU) and MA from the University of Illinois (U of I) prior to attending law school at Northern Illinois University(NIU). Before opening a law practice in Bloomington, he was formerly a lawyer with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted misdemeanors, DUI and traffic cases. Chris is a member of the McLean County and Illinois State Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Chris is now a partner with the law...

Employment: • Former Felony Assistant State’s Attorney, Peoria County • Former Special Assistant to the Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C. • Former Judicial Law Clerk, United States District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division • Former law clerk, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Washington, DC • Former Vice President of United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 881, Oak Brook, Illinois. School: • Graduated 2nd out of 159 students at John Marshall Law School. • Author: Picket Line Misconduct; Is Forfeiture of Reinstatement Rights for Purely Verbal Threats Sound? 18. J. Mar. L Rev. 445, 1985. • Team Member, Wagner Labor Law National Moot Court Competition, Spring, 1985. Rank 2nd place...

Mr. Krentz practices in the areas of personal injury & wrongful death and general & commercial litigation. He has been recognized by his peers as among the top five percent of all Illinois lawyers by Leading Lawyers. He has received the highest rating for skill and integrity by his peers. He has been a leader among Illinois lawyers in representing the victims of sexual abuse. He also has extensive experience in eminent domain litigation on behalf of property owners and commercial litigation.

Kevin is a dedicated attorney and advocate for his clients. He began his career in law as a prosecutor and prosecuted offenses ranging from DUI to Homicide, Sexual Assault, Fraud, and Domestic Violence. As a private attorney he has brought his incredible skill and knowledge to bear for his clients in similar cases. He fights and he wins.

Ms. Thomason began practicing law in 2015 and has focused her entire career in the practice of Family Law. She is an experienced trial advocate who has practiced across Central Illinois. Ms. Thomason also serves as a Guardian Ad Litem for the Eleventh and Tenth Judicial Circuits. She is a member of the Peoria County Bar Association, McLean County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. Ms. Thomason is the daughter of a military service member and grew up traveling the country. She earned her Bachelors of Science and Bachelors of Art from Chestnut Hill College in May...

I am a general practice attorney who serves DeKalb, and Kane Counties.

Richard Schmack was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Berwyn, Illinois. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1977 with double majors in Political Science and History. In 1980 he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Upon graduation from law school in 1980, Richard was admitted to the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Richard has made DeKalb County his home since1985. He, his wife, Jackie, who is his office manager, and...

The majority of my practice revolves around fighting for those injured in major and catastrophic motor vehicle accidents and defending those accused of DUI, Misdemeanor, Felony, and Traffic offenses. I have NEVER worked for, or taken on an insurance company as a client, and I've NEVER prosecuted anyone on behalf of a state or federal agency. When you hire me, if you e-mail, call, or text message the office, I'm the one that answers, when we go to court, I'll be the one there with you, NOT an associate. Feel free to read some reviews from former clients...

I have been practicing law for over 25 years and believe that I am one of the best litigators out there. I listen to my clients and put their requests into legal pleadings. I advocate for my clients zealously. I spend most of my time working and not much time with my family, that includes several very large dogs. I volunteer at a local school when I can as I believe that children need our patience and help to grow up to healthy and happy adults. It is my goal to make the world a better place for everyone. ...

Mark D. Brent is a native of Aurora. He graduated with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Illinois in 1988, and the University of Illinois College Of Law in 1991. Mark spent several years doing major tort and insurance litigation with Williams and Montgomery in Chicago. He began his focus on Domestic Relations and Family Law in 1997 in Aurora. Mark is well-versed in all areas of family law, and family law is Mark's primary focus. Mark is an aggressive advocate for family law clients, handling all types of cases, with a focus on high-conflict issues, custody...

Mitchell Horwitz has devoted his entire working career to workers’ compensation matters, including arbitrations and settlement. As the head of the workers’ compensation practice at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Mitch has handled thousands of cases from arbitration through the appellate courts. Over the course of his career he has obtained many scores of millions of dollars for his clients.

My entire practice has been dedicated to injury litigation. I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants in fender benders with minor soft tissue injuries all the way up to multi-million dollar cases involving catastrophic injury and death. Let me put my experience to work for you.

Kristine Honiotes is a trial lawyer with over 12 years of experience. As a former Will County Assistant Public Defender, she defended all types of felony and misdemeanor cases including murder, domestic violence, DUI, drug offenses and other serious felony offenses. She was assigned as one of two Assistant Public Defenders in the Will County Drug Court Program for 9 years. Through this assignment, Ms. Honiotes helped develop the Heroin Relapse and Prevention Protocol through collaboration with the Will County State’s Attorney and the Court. Ms. Honiotes was a developing team member for the Will County Veteran’s and Servicemember Court...

Ms. Niedermeyer was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2005. She has over nine and half years of experience working as a family law attorney. Ms. Niedermeyer is also a certified family law mediator. Ms. Niedermeyer is very empathetic to her clients and understands the need to communicate regularly and effectively with them during a difficult time in their lives. She often receives referrals from local domestic violence shelters as she is well respected for her legal knowledge and ability to effectively handle all aspects of family law matters, including domestic violence cases.

Ms. Niedermeyer grew up in Cary, Illinois and...

Since his first days of law school, Jordan R. Byhring has been dedicated to making a difference in his community by counseling individuals and corporations in need of an experienced litigator in their corner. As an attorney who has practiced in state courts, federal courts, and administrative agencies on matters related to civil litigation, he exhibits honesty, thoughtfulness, and tenacity at every stage of a family law matter. Previously, Jordan has provided legal assistance to not only large corporations to defend their interests in complex tort cases, but also to individuals, including on cases related to food poisoning, automobile accident,...

Craig S. Mielke is a founding partner at Foote, Mielke, Chavez and O'Neil, LLC and limits his practice to workers' compensation, personal injury, eminent domain, law enforcement, and complex litigation.

Kane County lawyer, Susan D. Shivers, has been practicing law for over 27 years. Susan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University (with a double major in Psychology and English) and her Law degree, with Honors, from The John Marshall Law School. Susan is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Mr. Jordan W. Emmert is an accomplished attorney and the owner of Small Business Legal Solutions LLC, a virtual business and employment law firm serving small and medium sized business clients throughout Illinois.  Mr. Emmert solves business problems, and is often hired to act as outside general counsel and handle the legal side of his clients' business operations.  Mr. Emmert has extensive experience in business and employment law, assisting clients from start up through exit. His practice encompasses choice of business entities, commercial transactions, contracts, corporate governance, employment compliance, and dispute resolution. 

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Tabor was first employed as a criminal prosecutor and subsequently as an assistant public defender where he conducted numerous hearings and trials, both bench and jury. Practicing on both sides of criminal law gave Mr. Tabor a unique perspective on analyzing factual scenarios in an objective manner. In 2000, he began practicing Family Law on a full time basis and has remained doing so ever since. In 2003 he founded Tabor Law Offices, and since that time he has become an experienced family law practitioner and mediator. Mr. Tabor...

Dallas was raised in Charleston, Illinois where he was close to his Alma Mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There he received his Bachelor of Science in Finance in 2007 and his Juris Doctor in 2011. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 2011. He was later admitted to the United States District Courts for both the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois. He formerly practiced as a public interest attorney in Rockford, Illinois, and as an insurance defense attorney in Joliet, Illinois. He now specializes in estate planning, trust and estate administration,...

Van A. Larson is the President of and principal/sole attorney at the Law Office of Van A. Larson, P.C. in downtown Batavia, Illinois. Van received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and later received his Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Van A. Larson was admitted to the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois in 1978. Since then, he has gained more than 35 years of litigation experience in nearly all courts throughout Kane, Kendall, DuPage and DeKalb counties. Van’s career began...

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., have significant experience defending people charged with crimes. Sandi Byrd entered private practice in October 2002 following nearly six years working as an attorney in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. Since entering private practice Sandi has represented clients in Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, and Cook Counties. Sandi graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to practice law in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois the same year. Since the beginning of her career Sandi has focused her...

Ralph Elliott has been engaged in the practice of law in Freeport, Illinois since 1981. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Summa Cum Laude, earning Phi Beta Kappa recognition in 1978.He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1981. Ralph is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Illinois, the federal courts for the Northern District of Illinois (including the Trial Bar), the Central District of Illinois, and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Mr. Masur practices in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and workers’ compensation. He has been recognized by his peers as among the top five percent of all Illinois lawyers in personal injury and workers’ compensation litigation (“Super Lawyers” and “Leading Lawyers”) and has received the highest rating for integrity by his peers. He is recognized as a leader in the field of work injuries and is widely respected for his knowledge and skill.

A graduate from the Drake University School of Law, Mr. Vacco's practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate and estate planning. Mr. Vacco is also a licensed Illinois Real Estate Managing Broker and a member of the Illinois Association of Realtors®. He is an active member with the IL and Will County Bar Associations, where he serves on both the Will County Real Estate Law Committee and the Illinois State Bar Real Estate Section Committee. He is also a Member of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. As a member of the Will County...

The Ivec Law firm was founded in 2004 by JohnPaul Ivec with the purpose of providing superior legal representation. JohnPaul Ivec successfully represents clients, from petty offenses to super-X felonies, with an innovative, client-centered advocacy which is focused on results. JohnPaul gained extensive trial experience from his work as a prosecutor with the Will County State's Attorney and as a clerk with the Illinois State Appellate Public Defender. A distinct advantage for his clients, JohnPaul is able to draw from his legal training the University of Michigan, one of the nation's elite law...

Thomas A. Kelliher is an expert litigator who has first-chaired 30 trials during the course of his profession. When involved in defense work for the city of Chicago, Tom won 90 percent of the 29 cases he tried to jury verdict. And since Tom started representing injured plaintiffs, he has won many jury verdicts in excess of $1 million for his clients. Born in Santa Monica, Calif., Tom graduated from high school in Arlington, Va., before going to the University of Virginia and The John Marshall Law School. He now resides in Westchester and enjoys golf, barbecuing and spending time with...

Dan DeBias started with Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates in 2007. He finished his Juris Doctor degree at The John Marshall Law School, and received his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dan was published in the John Marshall Law Review in 2017 for a Comment he authored about protecting injured workers in Illinois. He also was an editor for The John Marshall Law Review. Dan now devotes 100% of his legal practice to assisting injured workers.

A creative and dynamic attorney, Jordan has recently returned to Illinois to join the litigation practice of Higgins & Burke after several years of practicing in Colorado. We are happy to have him aboard and pleased to announce this new addition to our practice. Prior to joining Higgins & Burke, P.C., Jordan was the lead associate attorney with the litigation practice of Goulart & Associates, P.C. in Boulder, Colorado. During that time, Jordan secured multiple favorable judgments and settlements for his clients in a wide array of legal matters including construction defect, real estate, life/viatical settlements, securities and commercial litigation. Leading up...

John is an aggressive personal injury attorney from Chicago. If you or a loved one has been hurt, visit his website to learn more about your case and to begin your free consultation.

Tyler's practice emphasizes business organization and planning (including business formation and corporate maintenance); municipal law; creditors' rights (including foreclosures and collections); commercial law; real estate (including land use and zoning law); and estate planning.