Overview

It's been 35 years since a couple of Northwestern University law professors and big-law attorneys came together with a vision to create Barack Ferrazzano — a premier law firm alternative to that of the standard large firm model — that focused on a clients-first approach to delivering the highest quality legal services. And what started out as a boutique real estate and corporate law firm has flourished into a full-service, mid-sized powerhouse with a global footprint that hasn't compromised its clients-first approach.

"This Firm has always been about bringing in talented lawyers and providing an environment and culture that foster hands-on experience from the moment you enter the door. I continue to be impressed by my colleagues as we uphold the values Barack Ferrazzano was founded upon."
Roger H. Stetson, Co-Chair, Litigation Group

Our commitment to the continued success of the Firm is reflected in our persistence of bringing our next generation of young lawyers into meaningful leadership roles. Last year, three women were elected to the Management and Compensation Committees — a milestone for Barack Ferrazzano. And as we look to our next generation of leaders, we're pleased to announce the following additions to our practice leadership:

  • Nathan Q. Rugg, Co-Chair, Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group
  • Lynne D. Mapes-Riordan and Andrew K. Strimaitis, Co-Chairs, Compensation & Employment Group
  • Scott J. Slavick, Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Group
  • Michael J. Towne, Co-Chair, Tax & Business Planning Group

"Peter Barack, Dennis Ferrazzano and I started this Firm 35 years ago, and we’re just as involved with our clients now as we were then. It’s satisfying to see our vision come to fruition, to see the talented attorneys who have joined us along the way step into leadership positions, and to know that we’re taking the steps to help the Firm continue to prosper into the future." — Howard J. Kirschbaum, Managing Partner


Nathan Q. Rugg, Co-Chair, Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group
Nate joined Barack Ferrazzano just over a year ago from a Chicago-based boutique bankruptcy firm. He has 16 years of extensive knowledge and first-hand experience in many areas of business restructuring, including chapters 11 and 7 bankruptcies, distressed lending, out-of-court workouts, refinancings, foreclosures, claim and preference litigation, and distressed sales inside and outside of bankruptcy.

Lynne D. Mapes-Riordan, Co-Chair, Compensation & Employment Group
One of Barack Ferrazzano's home grown women partners, for 25+ years Lynne has concentrated her practice in employment and labor law, employee benefits and executive compensation. Lynne's practice has provided her with a breadth of experience in all aspects of a company's relationships with its executives and other employees, including executive employment, compensation and severance agreements and all aspects of employment law compliance and dispute resolution.

Andrew K. Strimaitis, Co-Chair, Compensation & Employment Group
Andy has been with Barack Ferrazzano for more than a decade, after starting his career as a tax consultant with one of the "Big Five" accounting firms and spending his early years practicing law as an associate for a global law firm. With 20+ years of experience, Andy regularly advises private and public companies, boards of directors and senior executives in connection with executive compensation and employee benefits in complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, and ERISA’s fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction rules.

Scott J. Slavick, Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Group
In 2016, Scott left a prominent U.S. intellectual property firm to join Barack Ferrazzano, bringing with him 17+ years of experience representing high-profile clients in trademark law. His practice focuses on U.S. and international trademark prosecution and litigation, and includes advising clients on the maintenance, protection and growth of their trademark portfolios, filing strategies, brand clearance, and other IP issues.

Michael J. Towne, Co-Chair, Tax & Business Planning Group
A former partner at an international law firm, Michael has been with Barack Ferrazzano for more than a decade and focuses his 20+ years of in-depth experience on a vast array of federal tax issues. Michael advises publicly traded and private real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) on business formations, initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, public and private debt/equity offerings, joint ventures and various UPREIT partnership transactions, and a variety of complex tax issues at the examination, appeals and litigation stages.


Highlighted by Cook County Record (2/11/19): https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/511771015-barack-ferrazzano-barack-ferrazzano-adds-new-practice-leaders

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