Fifty-three Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Leading Lawyers, published by Law Bulletin Media. This honor highlights their outstanding skill and leadership in the legal field. Attorneys selected were nominated by their peers as among the top in Illinois. Leading Lawyers recognizes the most qualified and trusted attorneys within their respective practice areas and geographical regions.
Complete list of award recipients below:
Leading Lawyers
John P. Arranz– Data Privacy, Environmental Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Ross W. Bartolotta– Commercial Litigation, Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections Law
Jeffery S. Becker– Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law, Intellectual Property Law
Brian W. Bell– Commercial Litigation, Products Liability Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Kevin V. Boyle– Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Elizabeth A. Bruer– Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Products Liability Defense Law
Margaret O’Sullivan Byrne– Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
David J. Cahill– Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law, Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Personal Injury Defense Law: General
Patrick G. Cooke– Commercial Litigation
Steven E. Danekas– Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Products Liability Defense Law
Adam H. Doeringer– Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Michael W. Drumke– Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
John. J Duffy– Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Robert E. Elworth– Civil Appellate Law, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law
P. Stephen Fardy– Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law, Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law
George F. Fitzpatrick, Jr.– Commercial Litigation, Products Liability Defense Law, Real Estate Law: Commercial, Toxic Torts Defense Law
David S. Goles– Commercial Litigation, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law
John Gollwitzer– Toxic Torts Defense Law
James R. Grabowski – Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
William P. Gruebel, III– Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Class Action/ Mass Tort Defense Law, Medical Malpractice Defense Law
Derrick L. Haddox– Commercial Litigation, Creditor’s Rights/ Commercial Collections Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
James S. Harkness– Commercial Litigation
Elizabeth S. Harvey– Environmental Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
McRay, Judge, II– Toxic Torts Defense Law
David A. Kanter– Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
David E. Kawala– Products Liability Defense Law, Transportation Defense Law: Including Aviation/FELA/Maritime, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Joseph P. Kincaid– Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law, Commercial Litigation, Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections Law, Real Estate Law: Commercial
A. Jay Koehler– Construction Law, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Andrew A. Lothson – Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law, Commercial Litigation
Michael A. McCaskey – Commercial Litigation, Products Liability Defense Law
Anthony J. Monaco– Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law
David F. Pardys– Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law
William D. Patterson– Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law, Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law Commercial Litigation, Copyright & Trademark Law, Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law
Gary C. Pinter– Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Arthur J. Reliford, Jr.– Civil Rights/Constitutional Law, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Defense Law: General
Kristine C. Reveille– Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Stephanie Rifkind– Toxic Torts Defense Law
William J. Rogers– Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Drew M. Schilling– Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Christopher T. Sheean– Commercial Litigation, Copyright & Trademark Law
Allison K. Sonneveld– Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Charles S. Stahl, Jr.– Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial, Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections Law
Susan E. Sullivan– Civil Rights/Constitutional Law, Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law, Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Richard P. Tauras– Toxic Torts Defense Law
Aiju C. Thevatheril– Medical Malpractice Defense Law, Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Bernard J. Toussaint, III– Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law: Commercial, Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law
James B. Vogts– Commercial Litigation, Products Liability Defense Law, Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law
Michelle M. Wahl– Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law, Copyright & Trademark Law, Toxic Torts Defense Law
Shera D. Wiegler– Medical Malpractice Defense Law
Dale G. Wills– Products Liability Defense Law
Emerging Lawyers
Jessica Levitt Acuna – Medical Malpractice Defense Law
Daniel J. Cozzi –Professional Malpractice Defense Law: Including Legal/Technical/Financial
Nicolette A. Ward –Personal Injury Defense Law: General, Products Liability Defense Law
Recognition by the Leading Lawyers Network is based on an extensive statewide survey of Illinois attorneys, which includes an ethics review and final approval from the advisory board of more than 400 members. Only those lawyers who receive the highest number of recommendations from their peers in nearly 100 areas of law achieve the distinction of being named a “Leading Lawyer.” This honor is awarded to less than 5% of attorneys in Illinois.
Additionally, the “Emerging Lawyers” distinction is awarded to less than 2% of all licensed lawyers in Illinois. To qualify for this recognition, lawyers must be under the age of 40 or have been practicing for less than 10 years.
Original source can be found here.