Smithshire Lawyers

For the past 25 years, my practice has focused on helping individuals, families, and small businesses to overcome financial setbacks and obtain a Fresh Start. Sometimes this means fighting foreclosures or defending against credit card suits. Very often, it involves filing bankruptcy to eliminate multiple debts or to consolidate several debts into one smaller monthly payment that my clients can actually afford. I treat my clients with dignity and respect and am proud to have served more than 10,000 people in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois.

Joseph A. Cervantez is a Graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law. Joseph had the privilege of beginning his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office where he gained valuable court room experience prosecuting offenses ranging from traffic violations to class X felonies. He continued his work with the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney handling the busy Juvenile Docket.

Since Joseph went into private practice he’s handled a variety of cases throughout the 1st and 2nd judicial Circuit of Illinois. Joseph handles a variety of cases including Divorce, Custody,...

I am currently an Attorney in Harrisburg, IL at The Smithpeters Law Firm LLC serving the Southern Illinois community. Please contact me for all of your legal needs.

Ms. Deanna Cairo is a personal injury attorney at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC that it based out of our Chicago office. As the daughter of senior GWC partner Louis Cairo, Deanna is a highly skilled litigator that is dedicated to the pursuit of justice for her clients. If you or someone that you love requires the services of reputable, trusted personal injury attorney in Chicago, contact Deanna today at (312) 464-1234 or call toll free at (800) 464-4772.

Ms. Dunne is an appellate lawyer at the law offices of GWC Injury Lawyers LLC and is based out of our Chicago location. An accomplished lawyer, Kirsten's legal ability it an asset to our law firm and the clients that she helps to protect. If you or someone that you love requires the assistance of a proven, experienced personal injury attorney, contact Ms. Dunne today at (312) 464-1234 or toll free at (800) 464-4772.

Kristen M. Stoicescu is an attorney at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, joining the firm in 2024. She focuses her practice on mass torts, medical malpractice, personal injury, and products liability cases. Prior to her role at the firm, she clerked for Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and worked as a litigation associate at leading defense firms, where she represented corporate clients in complex mass torts, intellectual property litigation, and other high-stakes legal matters. Ms. Stoicescu earned her Juris Doctor with honors from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in 2020. During law...

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...

Rob L. Kohen joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in 2014 and was promoted to Partner in 2023. He focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, construction negligence, and medical malpractice. Mr. Kohen has obtained a number of noteworthy verdicts and settlements in his time with the firm. In 2021, Mr. Kohen was part of a trial team that obtained a $21.05 million jury verdict on behalf of a woman who suffered a thoracic spine injury in a Maywood, Ill. car crash. In 2020, Mr. Kohen obtained a $20.5 million settlement...

I joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. as an associate attorney in 2024 after serving as a law clerk at the same firm since 2022. My practice areas include personal injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death cases. During my time as a law clerk, I was involved in several high-profile cases, including a birth injury case that led to a $75.9 million jury verdict. I also played a crucial role in hazing lawsuits involving Northwestern University athletes. I received my law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where I was an active member of the Moot Court Honor Society and received...

Chris is a savvy litigator and negotiator who specializes in workers’ compensation law and social security disability law. Over the course of his career, he has represented thousands of clients from all walks of life: from teachers to truck drivers and from factory workers to nurses, and union members from the UAW, IEA, INA, SEIU, Teamsters, and various building trades. He is a tireless fighter on behalf of his clients and will do whatever it takes to make sure his clients receive their benefits. He has obtained awards for disability benefits and penalties against employers for not paying disability benefits...

Bridgette A. Kolb joined Katz Friedman in 2014. Her practice is focused on protecting the rights of workers in Workers’ Compensation, Labor, and Employment law.

Bridgette represents clients in Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease cases. She is a zealous advocate who is dedicated to obtaining the compensation that injured workers and their families deserve. Bridgette has successfully represented clients with a wide variety of injuries, including injuries to the back, neck, and shoulders as well as burns, infections, and significant injuries to eyes. She has represented injured workers’ in claims against United Continental Holdings, American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, DHL,...

Jeff is Consumer Law, Securities Law, Stockbroker & Investment Fraud, and Arbitration & Mediation. He has unique experience with a background in law, as well as econometrics, mathematics, and computer programming. Jeff holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Michigan and an LL.D. in Antitrust from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Additionally, he received a M.S. (ABD) in Industrial Organization and Econometrics from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jeff's academic and professional training have facilitated many successful outcomes in complex litigation cases. With more than 40 years of experience, Jeff is committed to providing exceptional legal...

Frank G. Cortese is a Graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. He has successfully represented over 7,000 clients in Bankruptcy throughout the Chicagoland area. With over 23 Years experience, you can be confident that he will successfully guide you through the Bankruptcy process. Mr. Cortese concentrates in Bankruptcy Law and will represent you in filing your Bankruptcy. At The Cortese Law Offices, P.C. you will be represented by an experienced attorney and not an inexperienced associate.

Chicago Bankruptcy Attorney Frank G. Cortese has been helping individuals and families facing financial crises throughout the Chicagoland area including Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will...

Tracy Robb joined Curcio Law Offices in 2001 and was named managing partner in 2016. She concentrates her practice predominantly on appellate law. Tracy has also established herself as a strategist for brainstorming with the trial team at the firm. She provides support at the trial court level with her research and writing skills which has served as the foundation for victory on many dispositive motions including motions in limine successfully barring defendants’ key evidence and experts from the trial. Ms. Robb has successfully defended the firm’s verdicts appealed by the defense firms and insurance companies both at the appellate...

Laura Canulli joined the Cogan & Power, P.C. the summer of 2023. Laura handles matters involving motor vehicle collisions, premises liability and medical malpractice. Laura is a 2012 graduate of Seton Hall University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She went on to earn her law degree from the John Marshall Law School, now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, in 2017. While attending law school, she received academic honors and was a finalist in the Dean Fred F. Herzog Moot Court Competition. After passing the Illinois bar examination, Laura obtained her license to practice law...

Joshua E. Stern, Esq. is the managing partner of Stern Mendez. As a dedicated family law practitioner, his goal is to help families through difficult transitions and act as a source of stability throughout the legal process. Whether you are preparing to marry or are leaving your marriage behind, Joshua provides the legal expertise you need while lending an empathetic ear and remaining sensitive to the individual needs of each and every one of his clients. Because every matter is unique, Joshua takes the time to listen to what his clients want and outline their options, so they know what to...

Christopher S. Livas joined Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz after being admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2015. Mr. Livas focuses his practice on medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, and personal injury to help those who have been wrongfully harmed. Because the field of injuries is always changing, Attorney Livas has expanded his practice to Livas Law Group, A Division of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz, to help those suffering from e-scooter injuries.

Christopher received his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2015. While at Chicago-Kent, he was a Dean's List student, a member of multiple law societies,...

Mr. Fisher is a personal injury lawyer and partner at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC. With a proven track record of success including having obtained more than $90 MILLION in successful recoveries on behalf of his clients, Michael is a highly skilled lawyer and a valued asset at our law firm. If you have been injured in an accident, contact Mr. Fisher today at (312) 464-1234 or toll free at (800) 464-4772.

Unique to Ms. Taraska’s chosen career in personal injury law, she was the victim of a propane gas explosion, in which a commercial building collapsed on her, her mother, brother and a close family friend. The explosion left Taraska with extensive second and third degree burns early in her life. She was hospitalized for 3 months, during which she underwent skin grafting of her arms, legs, hands, and chest. Incredibly, a year prior to the explosion, Ms. Taraska’s father and a reconstructive surgeon opened the only downstate burn unit in Peoria where she was successfully treated despite the severity of...

For more than 25 years, Marty Preiser has strived to protect working people who have been seriously injured by the negligence of others.

Mr. Preiser’s practice areas include injuries received from car, truck, train and motorcycle accidents, defective products, medical negligence, construction accidents, animal bites, slip and falls, defective premises, nursing home neglect, work-related accidents and injuries resulting in wrongful death. Mr. Preiser also represents people in complex litigation matters.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Preiser has successfully settled or tried many complex injury cases recovering millions of dollars in compensation for his clients.

Mr. Preiser began his career as a...

Dedicated to the needs of all of his friends and clients, Joseph is willing to lend his assistance on any law related matter. Joseph relishes the opportunity to work with and learn from the other talented lawyers at Goldberg & Goldberg. Joseph appreciates the firm’s devotion to their clients, their comprehensive commitment to preparation, and their unrelenting fearlessness in the courtroom.

Mr. Munninghoff graduated cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2011 after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame in 2007. While at Chicago-Kent, Mark was repeatedly named to the Dean’s Honor List. In addition, Mark was a member of Chicago-Kent’s Moot Court Competition Team and competed in several Moot Court competitions. In addition, Mark received multiple CALI Excellence for the Future Awards.

Since being admitted to practice law in Illinois, Mark has practiced in many areas of personal injury litigation including medical malpractice, premises liability and automobile and trucking negligence cases. Mark has successfully represented injured...

Milla & Associates, LLC is a full-service immigration law firm, experienced at providing personal and professional legal services for family, employment, federal litigation, and removal defense cases. We can help keep your family united, bring your loved ones here, fight for your rights in court, and pursue employment in the United States. ROBERT C. MILLA has been an immigration attorney since 2006, dedicating his career to helping clients fulfill their family and employment goals in the United States. Mr. Milla’s approach has always been to invest the head and heart to provide 100% effort. Mr. Milla’s personal background has...

C. Dean Matsas [known as "Dean"], is the owner of "C. Dean Matsas & Assoc., PC," also known as: MakeItBetterLaw. Born and raised in Chicagoland, to Greek immigrants, Dean understands and appreciates the day-to-day struggles people and their families face. He is a licensed attorney for over 30 years and has extensive experience and knowledge of the law, concentrating in the areas of injury law and debt relief or bankruptcy, helping 100's of clients and their families over the years, to either receive compensation or to get rid of debt. He focuses on giving his clients personal and individualized...

Donna J. Pugh is a zoning and land use attorney in the Chicago office of Foley & Lardner LLP where she focuses her practice on obtaining governmental approvals related to land use and zoning on behalf of her retail, health care and corporate clients. With her approach of bridging the gap between client, civic and municipal needs, Ms. Pugh has an exceptionally high success rate of securing necessary entitlements for land development projects in the Chicago area. Ms. Pugh served as 2009-2010 Chair of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of State and Local Government Law. A consensus builder, Ms. Pugh works...

As a senior attorney for Gordon Law Group, Michael Brandwein has years of experience representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue. With his knack for drafting complex financial statements, Michael has helped innumerable clients secure repayment plans and submit favorable settlement offers. His work has saved clients millions of dollars in taxes, interest, and penalties. Michael also guides individuals and businesses through IRS audits, drafts penalty abatement requests, solves complex tax-related issues, prepares delinquent FBAR submissions, and assists clients with IRS compliance and disclosure filings. Additionally, Michael has substantial experience establishing new business enterprises on behalf of...

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My practice is focused exclusively on the representation of the victims of accidents and their families in complex personal injury and wrongful death litigation with a special emphasis on nursing home abuse and neglect cases. We have not and will not represent insurance companies. I believe that my job is to equip clients to make decisions about their case which are consistent with their goals and values. In order for clients to be able to do this, it is my job to provide clients with a good understanding of the law applicable to their case and regular...

Ms. Kaplan graduated from Boston University in 1996 having received her bachelors degree in political science, and attended the John Marshall Law School.

Ms. Kaplan graduated from law school with a 3.5 GPA and after passing the bar in 2001, began practicing law with her father, Melvin J. Kaplan, renown bankruptcy lawyer for over 58 years and author of two books including, Chapter 13 How To Get Your Creditors Off Your Back Without Losing Your Shirt.

Ms. Kaplan has helped thousands of Chicago families save their homes, cars, and get a fresh start for over 15 years.

Ms. Kaplan is a member of...

Attorney David R. Drwencke brings an aggressive, nuanced approach to every file that he works on and will do his best to find creative solutions to resolve clients’ legal matters. When you work with Attorney Drwencke, you will be working with an experienced professional who prioritizes his client-attorney relationship. He seeks to be an approachable and communicative advocate for his clients going through a tough time. As a “Rising Star” according to Super Lawyers Magazine in both 2019 and 2020, Attorney Drwencke has the skill and experience to defend you. He is licensed with the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State...

My practice is focused on helping the individual. I represent individuals hurt at work or hurt by the fault of someone else who has been negligent. I help them navigate the often puzzling path against the mammoth insurance companies of the world and keep the bill collectors at bay while the client recovers from their injuries. I have tried numerous cases and am a Federal Trial Bar member. I also help individuals affected by an arrest or traffic ticket to get their life back to normal and assist them to retain their license. Last, I help individuals who have been affected by...

Cary M. Stein is the co-managing partner of Stein & Shulman, LLC and specializes in representing individuals who have sustained serious personal injuries. Recently he has been concentrating in representing individuals who have sustained injuries after accidents with uninsured and underinsured motorists. Cary has collected multiple millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients over his 28 plus years of practicing law. He has tried 25 jury cases to verdict and has arbitrated over 500 mandatory and uninsured motorist cases. His practice areas include auto accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, medical and nursing home negligence, and work related...

Brian Nigohosian is known as a skilled litigator who is able to direct his clients towards a successful resolution of their cases. He works hard to establish trust based relationships with each client, and provides the guidance necessary to get them to their goal. He employs an approach that provides his clients with the maximum amount of information with which to make an informed decision. While the majority of cases result in a settlement, he has found that the best approach is to prepare each case thoroughly, thereby placing his clients in a strong position to settle, or if necessary,...

Although I have been in practice since 1987, I actually began my legal career as a clerk in a small Chicago law firm at the age of 15. I worked at this firm through high school, college, and law school and eventually as an associate attorney once I passed the bar. My position as an associate gave me much litigation and negotiation experience which I used in my next position as house counsel for an insurance company. This position increased my litigation skills and also improved my negotiation and client relationship skills. After several years, I left this...

I have dedicated my practice to family law matters since 2007. I am a certified mediator and a fellow of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois. I help people who want to work through their uncontested divorce with the guidance of legal counsel so they get it right the first time. I work diligently and efficiently to help my clients obtain the best possible outcome in their cases.