Ranking tables
Corporate/M&A | USA
Illinois
Rankings overview for Lawyers
Brian J Fahrney Sidley Austin LLP10 Years Ranked
Brian W Duwe Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates15 Years Ranked
Marc F Sperber Mayer Brown LLP16 Years Ranked
Neal Aizenstein Cooley LLP23 Years Ranked
Olivia Tyrrell Baker McKenzie11 Years Ranked
Richard C Witzel Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates12 Years Ranked
Shilpi Gupta Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates4 Years Ranked
William Kucera Mayer Brown LLP16 Years Ranked
Andrew Gilbert Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC1 Years Ranked
Beth Berg Sidley Austin LLP1 Years Ranked
Brent Williams K&L Gates1 Years Ranked
Christopher Drewry Latham & Watkins LLP1 Years Ranked
Craig A Roeder Baker McKenzie15 Years Ranked
David J Malliband Baker McKenzie1 Years Ranked
James R. Whitney Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP1 Years Ranked
Jennifer L Keating Mayer Brown LLP9 Years Ranked
Jessica Fairchild Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC1 Years Ranked
Jodi A Simala Mayer Brown LLP14 Years Ranked
Max Schleusener Latham & Watkins LLP1 Years Ranked
Michael DeFranco Baker McKenzie5 Years Ranked
Paul W Theiss Mayer Brown LLP22 Years Ranked
Ross Emmerman Loeb & Loeb LLP10 Years Ranked
Steven J Gavin Winston & Strawn LLP12 Years Ranked
Thomas E. Keim, Jr. Venable LLP17 Years Ranked
All Lawyers profiles
Senior Statespeople

S Charles W Mulaney Jr
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Corporate/M&A2025 | Senior Statespeople | 23 Years RankedCharles Mulaney is a standout name in the market and is active on some of the largest transactions in the space. He regularly advises on multibillion-dollar acquisitions.
S Frederick B Thomas
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Senior Statespeople | 23 Years RankedFrederick Thomas has extensive expertise acting for clients in the food and beverage sector. He is highly respected for the depth of his experience on transactions such as M&A.
S Michael A Pucker
Latham & Watkins LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Senior Statespeople | 16 Years RankedMichael Pucker acts on substantial transactional mandates in sectors including hospitality and real estate. His practice covers deals such as M&A.
Eminent Practitioners

E Joseph P Gromacki
Jenner & Block LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Eminent Practitioners | 22 Years RankedJoseph Gromacki cochairs the corporate team at Jenner & Block LLP. He assists clients acquiring and selling businesses, including multibillion-dollar transactions.
Band 1

1 Bradley Faris
Latham & Watkins LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 1 | 13 Years RankedBradley Faris undertakes matters such as acquisitions and joint ventures in the upper echelons of the marketplace. His client base includes those in the healthcare and aviation sectors.
1 Paul L Choi
Sidley Austin LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 1 | 23 Years RankedPaul Choi enjoys a top reputation for his distinguished corporate practice. He possesses experience in complex takeover defense, securities matters and M&A. He serves as cochair of Sidley Austin LLP's global M&A practice.
Band 2

2 Andrew L Weil
DLA Piper LLP (US) | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 2 | 18 Years RankedAndrew Weil acts for clients selling and acquiring businesses. He frequently advises public and private companies on cross-border mandates. Additional expertise includes private equity and finance.
Band 3

3 Brian J Fahrney
Sidley Austin LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 10 Years RankedBrian Fahrney acts on high value M&A. He regularly represents clients in sectors such as finance, insurance and energy.

3 Brian W Duwe
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedBrian Duwe is active in the private equity space and possesses experience relating to IPOs, corporate governance and joint ventures. He demonstrates enviable cross-border capabilities.

3 Marc F Sperber
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 16 Years RankedMarc Sperber acts for clients in sectors including energy and food and beverages. He often handles cross-border M&A.
3 Neal Aizenstein
Cooley LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 23 Years RankedNeal Aizenstein of Cooley LLP boasts considerable international experience. He acts on corporate venture investments and divestitures.
3 Olivia Tyrrell
Baker McKenzie | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedOlivia Tyrrell is involved in high value transactions on behalf of a range of clients. She frequently handles cross-border matters.

3 Richard C Witzel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 12 Years RankedRichard Witzel is active on high-value acquisitions. He notably serves clients in the life sciences sector.
3 Shilpi Gupta
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedShilpi Gupta is experienced across both domestic and international M&A, covering industries including aerospace, beverages and automation.
3 William Kucera
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 16 Years RankedWilliam Kucera is an established name in the M&A market. He acts on deals in sectors such as technology and insurance.
Band 4

4 Andrew Gilbert
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedAndrew Gilbert maintains a thriving M&A practice, advising a broad roster of clients. He has experience in the insurance, energy and technology industries, among others.

4 Beth Berg
Sidley Austin LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedBeth Berg is an experienced attorney who offers excellent advise in M&A, corporate governance and SEC-related matters. She is additionally experienced in issues concerning shareholder activism.

4 Brent Williams
K&L Gates | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedBrent Williams has experience assisting with transactions across a wide range of industries, including healthcare and financial services. His expertise includes advising in complex M&A, venture capital transactions and private equity buyouts.

4 Christopher Drewry
Latham & Watkins LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedChristopher Drewry is a talent in the shareholder activism space. In addition to his activism defense practice, he also advises on high value M&A transactions.

4 Craig A Roeder
Baker McKenzie | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 15 Years RankedCraig Roeder's experience includes advising on multibillion-dollar acquisitions. He also handles securities transactions.
4 David J Malliband
Baker McKenzie | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedDavid Malliband has built a strong reputation for his expertise in significant multi-jurisdictional transactions. He currently serves as the managing partner of Baker McKenzie's Chicago office.

4 James R. Whitney
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedJames Whitney is widely acknowledged to be a foremost corporate lawyer in the market. He is able to advise on a broad range of matters, and serves as chair of the firm's corporate and securities group.

4 Jennifer L Keating
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 9 Years RankedJennifer Keating is noted for her experience in advising on M&A and divestitures.
4 Jessica Fairchild
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedFirm co-founder Jessica Fairchild offers superb advice on M&A, matters of corporate governance and venture capital transactions.

4 Jodi A Simala
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedJodi Simala's clients include manufacturers and food and beverage companies. She handles a range of deals including M&A and joint ventures.
4 Max Schleusener
Latham & Watkins LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedMax Schleusener maintains a high quality transactional practice. He offer strong counsel to public and private companies and private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

4 Michael DeFranco
Baker McKenzie | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedMichael DeFranco advises clients on high-value M&A and securities matters. His client base includes public and private companies from across a broad range of industries.
4 Paul W Theiss
Mayer Brown LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 22 Years RankedPaul Theiss advises clients in sectors such as telecommunications on the full spectrum of deals.
4 Ross Emmerman
Loeb & Loeb LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 10 Years RankedRoss Emmerman of Loeb & Loeb LLP is a notable figure in mid-market M&A. He regularly undertakes work in the family office and private equity space.

4 Steven J Gavin
Winston & Strawn LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 12 Years RankedSteven Gavin has a notable presence in the financial sector. He acts on substantial acquisitions and provides advice on corporate governance.
4 Thomas E. Keim, Jr.Venable LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 17 Years RankedThomas Keim of Venable LLP is a respected practitioner who acts on M&A and investments. He represents various clients in the financial sector.
Up and Coming

U Faisal Delawalla
Jones Day | Corporate/M&A2025 | Up and Coming | 1 Years RankedFaisal Delawalla is recognized as an emerging M&A practitioner. He advises public and private companies on transactions across various industries.

U Kait E Kelly
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP | Corporate/M&A2025 | Up and Coming | 3 Years RankedKait Kelly is an up-and-coming talent in the market. She is particularly experienced in matters concerning luxury consumer products, and serves as cochair of the firm's luxury group.

U Kyle Shires
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC | Corporate/M&A2025 | Up and Coming | 1 Years RankedKyle Shires is a rising star who recognized for his representation of public companies and private clients in complex M&A transactions.

U Piotr Korzynski
Baker McKenzie | Corporate/M&A2025 | Up and Coming | 1 Years RankedPiotr Korzynski is an up-and-coming talent. He has experience handling domestic and cross-border transactions for a range of top multinational clients, and is broad in his sector expertise.