A look at our 2021 honorees

Levin & Perconti — Nursing home abuse, medical malpractice and personal injury
Kelly Sabo Gaden, a partner at the law firm Levin & Perconti, is a powerful advocate for the rights of patients and nursing home residents. She brings passion and dedication to her role. She has litigated over $50 million in jury awards and settlements for victims of nursing home abuse, neglect, and medical malpractice, including a $1…

Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC — Plaintiff's personal injury
Julie Pustilnik is a force among the top trial attorneys in Chicago. Julie has devoted her career to fighting for victims of catastrophic  injury, and with a sophisticated knowledge of the law and a persuasive presence in the courtroom, has already amassed an impressive list of accomplishments in her young career.  An…

Internal Revenue Service — Taxation
Few attorneys are as knowledgeable or passionate about tax law as is Evan Schanerberger. After 9 years working in local government starting with the City of Chicago, then moving on to Cook County and to the State of Illinois. Today, Schanerberger is an international tax law specialist with the Internal Revenue Service, where he administers…

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP — Product liability and mass torts
Raymond Rushing has managed to build a successful practice in a complex and competitive area of law while also serving his community and inspiring others. As remarkable as this might be, he wouldn’t dream of doing one thing without the other. For Rushing, success means lifting others as you climb. Rushing clearly has the…

Neal Gerber Eisenberg — Intellectual property
Tanvi Patel didn't take the shortest path to a career in law. Before building a successful practice in the field of intellectual property law, Patel worked at Caterpillar, Inc., in the company's electric power generation group.  This experience has helped Patel, her electrical engineering education and technical…

Laner Muchin, Ltd. — Labor and employment law
Only the most senior of lawyers tend to tackle labor law. This isn't surprising: It takes decades of experience to master this field.  That's what sets Laner Muchin's Jeremy Edelson apart from his competitors. At just 39, he is known as one of the top labor lawyers in the city.  His numbers tell the story…

Ropes & Gray LLP — Private equity
When ambitious private equity funds in Chicago and the world take on complex investments and challenging transactions, they call on Martin Ruhaak, a partner in Ropes & Gray’s highly ranked global private equity practice.  From Chicagoland to China, Ruhaak’s work is well known and well respected. Clients halfway…

Parente & Norem, P.C. — Personal injury, workers' compensation
Dennis Lynch is the lawyer’s lawyer.  He began his legal career at the age of nineteen when he joined a Chicago based personal injury and workers compensation firm as a clerk.  Since then, he has developed his craft and become proficient in every facet and variation of an injury case.  Lynch has a genuine love for…