Overview

BFKN is proud to congratulate the 60 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers in 2025. This year represents a significant milestone for the firm, as the number of attorneys recognized has reached a new high. A total of 60 attorneys were honored, an increase from 46 attorneys in 2024. Among them, 32 partners were featured in the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, while 28 attorneys—comprising 10 partners and 18 associates—were recognized in the 5th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. The Ones to Watch list highlights associates and early-career lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has earned a reputation as the ultimate authority on legal excellence. The lists are meticulously compiled through an extensive peer-review process. The 31st publication spotlights the top 6% of practicing lawyers in the United States, selected from over 13 million evaluations. It recognizes just over 158,000 lawyers across 150 practice areas in 76 countries worldwide.

We extend our congratulations to the following BFKN lawyers who have earned this distinguished recognition from their peers:

2025 Best Lawyers - Chicago, IL

  • Peter J. Barack (Corporate Law)
  • William J. Barrett (Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law)
  • Mark J. Beaubien (Real Estate Law)
  • Sarah M. Bernstein (Corporate Law; Franchise Law)
  • Suzanne Bessette-Smith (Real Estate Law)
  • Matthew A. Bills (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law)
  • Jeremy T. Bunnow (Real Estate Law)
  • Joseph T. Ceithaml (Financial Services Regulation Law)
  • Louis S. Chronowski (Franchise Law)
  • Brett A. Feinberg (Real Estate Law)
  • Dennis A. Ferrazzano (Real Estate Law)
  • Robert M. Fleetwood (Banking and Finance Law; Financial Services Regulation Law)
  • John E. Freechack (Banking & Finance Law; Financial Services Regulation Law)
  • Howard J. Kirschbaum (Real Estate Law)
  • Amy L. Koenig (Real Estate Law)
  • Alexander Lourie (Corporate Law)
  • Joshua W. Mahoney (Commercial Litigation)
  • Brent McCauley (Securities Regulation)
  • Richard S. Nikchevich (Real Estate Law)
  • Donald L. Norman, Jr. (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law)
  • Charles E. Picton (Real Estate Law)
  • Brandon C. Prosansky (Franchise Law)
  • Julie K. Rademaker (Real Estate Law)
  • Nathan Q. Rugg (Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy)
  • Scott J. Slavick (Trademark Law)
  • Maile Hitomi Solís (Commercial Litigation; Franchise Law)
  • James R. Vogler (Franchise Law)
  • Dennis R. Wendte (Banking & Finance Law)
  • Thomas M. Williams (Advertising Law)
  • Steven J. Yatvin (Franchise Law)

2025 Best Lawyers - Austin, TX

  • Lloyd "Buddy" Ferguson (Commercial Litigation; Franchise Law)

2025 Best Lawyers - Wayzata, MN

  • Nicholas H. Callahan (Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate)

2025 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch - Chicago, IL 

  • Josh Bashioum (Real Estate Law)
  • Rachel Bender (Intellectual Property Law)
  • Alexander F. Berk (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
  • Jonathan P. Byron (Real Estate Law)
  • Corwin J. Carr (Litigation - Labor & Employment)
  • Elizabeth J. Cooper (Real Estate Law)
  • Zoe Brumfield-Meyers Cross (Commercial Litigation)
  • Kyle J. Davis (Commercial Litigation)
  • Carmel I. Dooling (Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property)
  • Michael Educate (Commercial Litigation)
  • Connor T. Gants (Commercial Litigation)
  • Katherine Fritzi Getz (Corporate Law; Securities Regulation)
  • M. Olivia Glass (Commercial Litigation)
  • Kait E. Kelly (Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
  • Maxwell F. Maharry (Real Estate Law)
  • David A. Martin (Real Estate Law)
  • Joseph F. Mintz (Commercial Litigation)
  • Jim S. Montelongo (Corporate Law)
  • Ethan Munsill (Real Estate Law)
  • Puja O. Narain (Corporate Law)
  • Megan Ratia (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)
  • Lauren E. Roman (Real Estate Law)
  • Carrie Sear Rummans (Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants)
  • Audra K. Siliunas (Real Estate Law)
  • Ryan V. Smith (Real Estate Law)
  • Audrey Springer-Wilson (Commercial Litigation)
  • Megan E. Toal (Tax Law)
  • Zoe Xiuha Uvin (Mergers & Acquisitions Law)

To learn more about BFKN's The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch rankings, click here. 

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers has become the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession, universally regarded as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere. The annual Best Lawyers in America list is a guide to the country’s top lawyers and represents those most nominated and voted on by their peers in specialty areas of law. Rankings are rated based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading lawyers in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Best Lawyers peer-reviewed listings are now published in more than 75 countries around the world.

To learn about Best Lawyers® and their methodology, visit the links below:

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