Dirk Bromberek
Dirk Bromberek
Dirk Bromberek is an attorney with Generation Law Ltd., in Elmhurst, where he focuses on guardianship investigation and litigation. Mr. Bromberek received his B.S. from Illinois State University and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Kathryn C. Casey
Kathryn C. Casey
Kathryn C. Casey is a Partner at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, P.C., in Chicago, and is one of only a few Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois. She has practiced exclusively in elder law since 2004. Her practice focuses on long term care planning, estate planning, special needs planning, Medicaid planning and applications, and probate and trust administration. Casey is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with the National Elder Law Foundation. She has been listed as an Illinois Super Lawyer and an Illinois Leading Lawyer. She received her B.A. from Virginia Tech, her M.A. from DePaul University, and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Lorraine K. Cavataio
Lorraine K. Cavataio
Lorraine K. Cavataio is a Shareholder at Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., in its O’Fallon office. She focuses her practice on business law, estate planning, estate and trust administration, litigation, and real estate. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. She has been chosen as a Super Lawyer (2015 – 2022) and is listed as part of the Estate Planning and Probate Division for Illinois. Ms. Cavataio received her B.S. from the University of Kansas and her J.D. from the Washington University School of Law.
Patricia Cline
Patricia Cline
Patricia Cline is President of Values Forward for Health LLC and focuses on life care planning and care management. Cline is a Midwest Chapter Board Member of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals and a member of the Illinois Guardianship Association and the Association for Bioethics and Humanities. She received her bachelor’s from DePaul University, her MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and both her master’s and doctorate from DePaul University.
Heidi E. Dodd
Heidi E. Dodd
Heidi E. Doddis an Owner of Dodd & Wambold in O’Fallon, where she practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, probate, and trust administration. Dodd is a member of the National and Illinois Chapters of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Illinois State and St. Clair County Bar Associations. She received her B.S. from Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville, her M.A. from the University of Illinois — Springfield, and her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law.
Janna S. Dutton
Janna S. Dutton
Janna S. Dutton is a Principal at Dutton & Casey, P.C., in Chicago, where she concentrates in estate planning, probate, and elder law issues, including guardianship and financial exploitation matters, trusts and estate planning, Medicaid planning and applications, and probate and estate administration. She is certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as an elder law attorney and has held this certification since 1995. Prior to opening her private practice in 1989, Ms. Dutton was the Project Director of Senior Citizens Legal Services with the Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. Ms. Dutton is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter; the Chicago Bar Association, Elder Law Committee, Trust Law Committee; and the Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP) of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The CAP is an invitation-only membership for experienced Certified Elder Law Attorneys with an AV rating. Ms. Dutton completed her undergraduate education at Wheaton College and received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Michael H. Erde
Michael H. Erde
Michael H. Erde is Principal at Michael H. Erde, P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice on estate planning, elder law, and probate. Mr. Erde is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and its Chicago Chapter. He is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. Mr. Erde is Former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Elder Law Committee and the Founder and Former Chair of the CBA’s Asset Protection Planning Committee. He received his B.S. from Washington University and his J.D. from the University of Illinois and has graduate credits in taxation from The John Marshall Law School.
Joshua B. Hutkins
Joshua B. Hutkins
Joshua B. Hutkins is a Shareholder at Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., in O’Fallon, and concentrates his practice on estates and trusts. He received his B.A. from Lindenwood University and his J.D. from the University of Missouri — Kansas City School of Law, where he was held memberships in Delta Theta Phi, the Kansas City Tax Clinic, and the Estate Planning and Drafting Clinic.
Shay Jacobson
Shay Jacobson
Shay Jacobson of Jacobsen Consulting in Homer Glen practices nurse life care planning. She is a Certified Nurse Life Care Planner and a National Master Guardian. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners, the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, and the National Guardianship Association. Ms. Jacobson, a Registered Nurse in Illinois, received her B.S.N. and M.A. in nursing from the University of Iowa.
Helen Mesoloras
Helen Mesoloras
Helen Mesoloras is Principal at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses her practice in the area of elder law. Mesoloras is a member of both the National and Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Chicago Bar Association and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She received her B.A. with honors from DePaul University and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Ben A. Neiburger
Ben A. Neiburger
Ben A. Neiburger is an attorney at Generation Law, Ltd., in Elmhurst, where he focuses on elder law. He is a past member of the IICLE^® Board of Directors. He is a member of the Illinois State and DuPage County Bar Associations and of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Neiburger received his B.A. from the University of Illinois, passed the Illinois CPA exam, and received his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Bhavik R. Patel
Bhavik R. Patel
Bhavik R. Patel is CEO and Chair of the Executive Committee of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., in St. Louis, where he concentrates in wealth and tax planning and administration business and corporate planning, special needs planning, probate and trust litigation, FINRA litigation, and trademarks. Patel is adjunct faculty at Washington University School of Law. He received his B.B.A. magna cum laude from Georgia State University, M.B.A. with high honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology-Stuart College of Business, LL.M. from Washington University School of Law, and J.D. with honors from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock School of Law.
Cary R. Rosenthal
Cary R. Rosenthal
Cary R. Rosenthal is Principal at Rosenthal & Associates P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in estate planning, business succession planning, and taxation. He has practiced in the Chicago area since being admitted to the Illinois bar and the federal bar. He began his career litigating business matters, including contract claims, shareholder disputes, and fraud litigation, and later began representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue. He concentrates on helping clients avoid the perils of lawsuits, income taxation, and transfer taxes by using forms of entities that maximize benefits and minimize potential problems; using a variety of vehicles to ensure that a family business, often a family’s largest asset, succeeds to the next generation; engaging in comprehensive tax planning; providing probate and guardianship representation; and, as a last resort, using bankruptcy and other insolvency vehicles. Mr. Rosenthal graduated from Washington University School of Law.
Brian N. Rubin
Brian N. Rubin
Brian N. Rubin is Founder of Rubin Law, A Professional Corporation, in Buffalo Grove, where he focuses his practice on special needs planning. Rubin is on the Board of Directors of Clearbrook, which serves over 8,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; Past President of the Special Needs Alliance, a national nonprofit association of special needs planning attorneys; and a member of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and his J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology Kent College of Law.
Benjamin A. Rubin
Benjamin A. Rubin
Benjamin A. Rubin is the President of Rubin Law, A Professional Corporation, in Buffalo Grove. Rubin is the current Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Group, Past Chair of the American Bar Association Special Needs Planning Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Special Needs Alliance, Past President of SIBS (Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters), and a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and the Special Needs Alliance. He also served for nine years on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Illinois, including as Treasurer; on the Board of Directors of DayOne PACT; on the Board of Directors of The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association; and on the Foundation of The Special Education District of Lake County. Rubin received both his undergraduate degree and his LL.M. from Northwestern University and his law degree magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Bryan J. Schrempf
Bryan J. Schrempf
Bryan J. Schrempf is a Senior Counsel at Danna McKitrick, P.C., in St. Louis, where he works in trusts and estates, closely held business, and civil litigation. Mr. Schrempf is licensed to practice in Illinois, Missouri, and the U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri and Southern and Central Districts of Illinois. He received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law.
Lauren Sherman
Lauren Sherman
Lauren Sherman is President of Lifecare Innovations, an Arosa Company, and Lifecare Guardianship, in Burr Ridge. Ms. Sherman is a National Master Guardian and a certified case manager. She is member of the Advisory Counsel for Age Guide (Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging), the National Guardianship Association, and the Aging Life Care Association. Ms. Sherman received her both B.A. and her MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Nancy M. Spain
Nancy M. Spain
Nancy M. Spain is a Partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, in Chicago, and concentrates her practice on estate planning and settlement and trusts. Spain is a Chicago Volunteer Legal Services pro bono legal services volunteer, a charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and a member of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. She received her B.A. from Connecticut College and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Linda M. Strohschein
Linda M. Strohschein
Linda M. Strohschein is the Principal of Strohschein Law Group, LLC, a boutique estate planning and elder law firm in St. Charles. She concentrates her practice on estate and long-term care planning, guardianship, estate and trust administration, and probate litigation. Ms. Strohschein is certified as an elder law attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation. Although CELA is not required by the State of Illinois, this title is earned through a multifaceted process and the attorney must successfully pass a comprehensive certification exam to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of elder law. She is a frequent speaker on a variety of estate planning and disability topics. Ms. Strohschein is a current member of the Kane County Bar Association. In addition, she is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and serves as the Treasurer of the Executive Board for the Illinois chapter. Ms. Strohschein received her B.A. from George Mason University and her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Theresa Medeiros Varnet
Theresa Medeiros Varnet
Theresa Medeiros Varnet is Of Counsel for Spain, Spain & Varnet P.C. in Chicago, and Of Counsel for Fletcher Tilton PC, Worcester, Massachusetts, and concentrates her practice in the areas of probate, guardianship, and special-needs planning. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Cochair of its Special Needs Law Section. She is also a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners. She received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, her MSW from the University of Connecticut, and her J.D. from DePaul University.
Heather E. Voorn
Heather E. Voorn
Heather E. Voorn is a Partner at Voorn, Jaworski & Preston, PLLC, located in Chicago and New Lenox, where she devotes her legal practice to elder law. She is a member and a Director on the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is a member of the Illinois State and Will County Bar Associations and serves on the Board of Directors of IICLE^®. Ms. Voorn received her B.A. from Florida State University and her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. She is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, May 17, 2012. (The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law, and the recognition is not required to practice law in Illinois.)

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Special-Needs Trusts (ARCHIVED 2020 EDITION)

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Dirk Bromberek

Kathryn C. Casey

Lorraine K. Cavataio

Patricia Cline

Heidi E. Dodd

Janna S. Dutton

Michael H. Erde

Joshua B. Hutkins

Shay Jacobson

Helen Mesoloras

Ben A. Neiburger

Bhavik R. Patel

Cary R. Rosenthal

Brian N. Rubin

Benjamin A. Rubin

Bryan J. Schrempf

Lauren Sherman

Nancy M. Spain

Linda M. Strohschein

Theresa Medeiros Varnet

Heather E. Voorn

Special-Needs Trusts (ARCHIVED 2020 EDITION)