Barack Ferrazzano Recognized in Six Practice Areas With 14 Attorneys Honored in 2026 Chambers USA Guide

Barack Ferrazzano is proud to announce its recognition in the 2026 Chambers USA guide, one of the most respected rankings of law firms and attorneys in the United States. The firm earned recognition in six practice areas, with fourteen attorneys receiving individual band or star rankings.

This year brought notable advancements across the firm. In nationwide rankings, the firm's Transportation: Road (Automotive) practice group climbed from Band 3 to Band 2. Individually, Nathan Q. Rugg advanced from Band 5 to Band 4 in Bankruptcy/Restructuring in Illinois. The firm also welcomed three first-time individual honorees: Matthew A. Bills in Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder and Andrew R. Grossmann in Private Equity: Buyouts, both in Illinois, and Owen H. Smith in Transportation: Road (Automotive) nationwide.

See below for Barack Ferrazzano's 2026 Chambers USA practice area recognition, both in Illinois and nationwide:

Illinois

• Corporate/M&A & Private Equity – Band 5
• Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets – Band 2
• Litigation: General Commercial – Band 4
• Real Estate – Band 1

USA – Nationwide

• Financial Services Regulation: Financial Institutions M&A – Band 3
• Transportation: Road (Automotive) – Band 2

For the first time, Chambers USA individually recognized the following attorneys:

• Matthew A. Bills (Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Policyholder – Band 3) – Illinois
  Matt is a trial attorney and co-chair of the firm's Litigation Group, bringing almost 25 years of experience to complex business disputes and high-stakes insurance coverage matters. He also serves as Chair of the firm's Insurance Coverage Group, helping policyholders across a wide range of industries understand their coverage and develop strategies to maximize insurance recovery through the claims process, negotiation, arbitration, or litigation. As one source noted about Matt, "I always appreciate his sharp legal knowledge and pragmatic counsel."
  
  
• Andrew R. Grossmann (Private Equity: Buyouts – Band 4) – Illinois
  

  For more than 25 years, Andrew has served as a trusted advisor to private equity sponsors, large and middle market companies and high-net-worth families, with an emphasis on strategic transactions, private equity transactions and growth investments. His deep client relationships — many of which span decades — reflect the trust clients place in him, turning to him first on everything from complex transactional matters to key commercial arrangements, employment and IP issues and general business planning.  Andrew’s work spans a broad range of industries, including consumer products and services, luxury, technology, hospitality, financial services and real estate.
  
  

• Owen H. Smith (Transportation: Road (Automotive) – Band 3) – USA Nationwide
  Owen is a trial attorney and co-chair of both the firm's Motor Vehicle Group and Antitrust & Commercial Competition Group, representing manufacturers and distributors, fashion and luxury retail brands, and financial institutions in individual and class actions across the country. His dual focus makes him uniquely positioned to advise clients in heavily regulated industries — particularly automotive — on distribution and franchise matters, dealer network development, and complex antitrust and competition issues arising under federal and state law. As one source noted, "Owen is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive and a true partner in our business. He helps find solutions to complex issues and situations, and is very balanced in his approach."

Chambers USA also individually recognized the following attorneys nationwide and in Illinois, many of whom have been named for several years:

USA – Nationwide

• Sarah M. Bernstein (Transportation: Road (Automotive) – Band 3)
  Sarah is co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Motor Vehicle Group and leads the group's transactional practice. With over a decade of experience, she counsels motor vehicle manufacturers on the full range of sale and distribution matters, including franchise and dealer network issues, commercial relationships, regulatory concerns, and brand launches in the U.S. market. She also advises clients on emerging areas including EV sales, manufacturer direct sales, motor vehicle e-commerce, and new mobility platforms. As one source put it, "There's no one I trust to advise on car dealer transactions and business organization matters more than Sarah Bernstein."

Illinois

• William J. Barrett (Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Band 5)
  Bill is the senior member of Barack Ferrazzano's Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group, with nearly 40 years of experience representing secured creditors, debt holders, and landlords in Chapter 11 cases, insolvency proceedings, and distressed M&A transactions. His deep experience in the real estate sphere sets him apart, with clients turning to him for counsel on the full range of bankruptcy court matters including stay relief, adequate protection, cash collateral, plan confirmation, and DIP financing. This is Bill's 14^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source describing him as "the full package."
  
  
• Suzanne Bessette-Smith (Real Estate – Band 3)
  Suzanne is co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Real Estate Group and brings more than 40 years of experience to her practice, which concentrates on the sale, acquisition, and financing of real estate assets — with notable work involving multifamily and office buildings — as well as REITs, joint venture arrangements, and long-term ground-leased properties. Her national reach and deep transactional experience make her a go-to adviser for institutional partners and developers alike. This is Suzanne's 24^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source noting she is "extremely knowledgeable and is able to operate all over the country."
  
  
• Dennis A. Ferrazzano (Real Estate – Senior Statesperson)
  Dennis is a founding partner of Barack Ferrazzano with decades of experience advising national and international clients across the full commercial real estate landscape, including transactions, leasing, and financing. He serves as the primary North American real estate counsel for Bernard Arnault, Groupe Arnault, LVMH, and the LVMH brands in the Americas. This is Dennis' 24^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source describing him as "a legend in Chicago real estate."
  
  
• Brett A. Feinberg (Real Estate – Band 4)
  Brett brings more than 20 years of experience advising REITs, private equity sponsors, commercial lenders, and institutional investors on a wide range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, leasing, development, and joint ventures. Widely praised for his deep understanding of market customs and practices, Brett is known for bringing both precision and practicality to even the most complex transactions. As one source put it, "It's his ability to get to the heart of the matter and come up with a solution that makes him stand out."
  
  
• Kait E. Kelly (Corporate/M&A – Up and Coming)
  Kait is a co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Luxury Group, and an Up-and-Coming talent recognized by Chambers USA for her work in the luxury consumer products space. Her broad corporate practice spans M&A, joint ventures, growth and venture capital investments, and general corporate counseling for both domestic and international clients, with a particular focus on the fashion, luxury, and retail industries. She also has extensive experience negotiating endorsement deals, licensing arrangements, collaborations, and sponsorships with celebrities, athletes, and other brands. As one source noted, "Kait understands our business priorities, anticipates potential challenges, and provides guidance that is both practical and strategically aligned. She is truly excellent."
  
  
• Howard J. Kirschbaum (Real Estate – Senior Statesperson)
  Howard is a founding partner of Barack Ferrazzano and served as managing partner of the firm for 25 years, building one of Chicago's most respected real estate practices over the course of his career. He advises clients on the full spectrum of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, financings, restructurings, and joint ventures across office, retail, multi-family, industrial, and mixed-use properties. This is Howard's 24^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source describing him as "a dean of the Chicago real estate world."
  
  
• Nathan Q. Rugg (Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Band 4)
  Nate is chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Group, bringing extensive experience to business reorganizations, workouts, and restructurings both inside and outside of court. He represents creditors (inclusive of lenders, landlords, suppliers, and asset purchasers) across the real estate, manufacturing, luxury, and retail sectors in Chapter 7 and 11 proceedings and receiverships, as well as out-of-court situations such as assignments for the benefit of creditors and forbearance arrangements. This is Nate’s 4^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source noting he has "a superior understanding of the law and uses it to carefully craft strategies for your needs. He takes the time needed to make you feel like a partner instead of a client.”
  
  
• Scott J. Slavick (Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets – Band 3)
  Scott is co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Intellectual Property Group and brings more than 25 years of experience advising some of the world's most iconic luxury brands — including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Lamborghini, and Tiffany — on trademark and copyright matters. He is particularly adept at portfolio management, overseeing complex worldwide search projects, guiding new product launches, and resolving high-profile disputes with discretion before they reach litigation. This is Scott's 6^th year being recognized by Chambers USA, with one source describing him as "wonderful to work with. He is very knowledgeable, responsive, and comprehensive in his legal support."
  
  
• Maile Hitomi Solís (Litigation: General Commercial – Band 4)
  Maile is a co-chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Litigation Group with 30 years of experience representing fashion, luxury, cosmetics, and automotive clients in commercial litigation across the country, including employment disputes, trademark infringement, BIPA, contract disputes, and consumer class actions. She has secured notable class action victories for Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Loro Piana and is a trusted advisor and advocate for multiple high-profile luxury brands in the fashion, beauty and automotive spaces.  As one source noted, "What distinguishes Maile from her peers is her unique ability to combine technical mastery with clear, patient guidance, making complex and unfamiliar processes accessible."
  
  
• James R. Whitney (Corporate/M&A – Band 4)
  Jim is chair of Barack Ferrazzano's Corporate & Securities Group and is widely acknowledged as a foremost corporate lawyer in the market. He advises clients on a broad range of matters — from M&A, joint ventures, and capital markets transactions to general corporate counseling — and has served as trusted outside general counsel to a number of clients for nearly 20 years. Jim also dedicates a significant portion of his practice to real estate matters, assisting owners and landlords of industrial, senior housing, and cannabis facilities with acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, joint ventures, and REIT-related matters. As one source noted, he is "extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and just an all-around great attorney."

To view Barack Ferrazzano's 2026 Chambers USA results or visit the firm profile, visit: https://chambers.com/law-firm/barack-ferrazzano-kirschbaum-nagelberg-llp-usa-5:66923

About Chambers USA

Chambers and Partners is the leading independent legal research company, delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers and law firms across more than 200 jurisdictions. Since its founding in 1990, Chambers has remained dedicated to maintaining the highest research standards, conducting thousands of in-depth interviews with clients and peers each year to assess lawyers and law firms on their capabilities, achievements, and sector presence. Chambers USA reflects that rigorous, independent research process, connecting buyers of legal services with the top legal talent across the United States. To learn more about the Chambers USA methodology, click here.

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