Kathryn Ann Gallanis is a personal injury defense attorney located in Chicago, IL. Understanding that every case and every client is unique, Attorney Gallanis utilizes teamwork and communication to help her clients achieve legal success. In her previous role as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Felony Trial Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Attorney Kathryn Ann Gallanis worked diligently to validate the arrest of any individual charged with a crime. Active in the legal community, Attorney Kathryn Ann Gallanis previously served as president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. For legal help, contact Attorney Gallanis at 312-683-1058.

Bradley Skafish has been practicing law, specifically in the realm of personal injury and civil litigation, since 2002. He is admitted to practice in Illinois (2002), the Northern District of Illinois (2002), Indiana (2004), the Northern District of Indiana (2004), the Southern District of Indiana (2004), the Southern District of Illinois (2012), and the Central District of Illinois (2014). Brad became a partner at Deutschman & Skafish in January 2019. He was admitted to the seventh circuit court of appeals in 2018. Brad is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Prior to joining Deutschman & Skafish, Brad operated the Law Offices of Bradley A. Skafish from 2003-2007, focusing primarily on personal injury litigation. Brad has tried more than 50 jury trials. He received his law degree (J.D.) as well as a B.S. in Marketing from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and remains an avid Indiana Hoosiers fan. Brad is married with two daughters, and devotes much of his free time to attending his girls’ activities, including gymnastics and dance. Brad is also the author of the Bad Cats children’s book series. Additionally, Brad sings, writes music, and plays guitar for local rock band, the Figbeats. Author: “Smut on the Small Screen: The Future of Cable-Based Adult Entertainment Following United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group,” 54 Federal Communications Law Journal 319, 2002.

Eric W. Cracken joined TorHoerman Law in 2019, to work in our Chicago office. At TorHoerman Law, Eric works in our Chicago office as a member of our trial team that focuses in nationwide, complex litigations representing clients who have been injured by the actions of large corporations and organizations.

Since joining TorHoerman Law in 2009, Jacob Plattenberger has taken hundreds of depositions, argued in countless hearings, and tried over thirty-five (35) cases to a jury. His experience in and out of the courtroom has made him a passionate advocate for those injured due to the negligence of others. Jake started his career trying cases at one of the busiest civil courthouses in the country – the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago. He started out doing insurance defense because he knew that afforded him the best opportunity to get courtroom experience. This type of real trial experience is exceedingly rare in complex civil litigation and having seen it from the defense side gives Jake an added advantage.

Darren VanPuymbrouck is a trial lawyer with an active nationwide trial practice. As first-chair, he has successfully tried dozens of high-profile, bet-the-company cases involving myriad issues before juries in state and federal courts around the country. Most of his cases involve complex engineering, science, medical, and financial issues and he has successfully deposed and cross-examined thousands of expert witnesses. Recently, he successfully completed a month-long jury trial as first-chair in Ocean County, New Jersey involving construction defect and professional liability issues resulting in one of the largest verdicts in that county. In the fall of 2014, he successfully tried a high-profile product-liability case that resulted in a $22 Million jury verdict, among the top 100 verdicts nationally. Mr. VanPuymbrouck recently won the dismissal of a RICO class action in the Northern District of Illinois that has been the subject of national press coverage. Mr. VanPuymbrouck has also successfully briefed and argued appeals in state and federal courts around the country, including in the Missouri Supreme Court and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. VanPuymbrouck has litigated and tried cases for well-known companies in the consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical supply, financial services, construction, professional services, electronics, food, gas and electric public utilities, chemical, and many other industries. In addition to trials, those cases have included the defense of nationwide class actions, including MDL proceedings, national litigation strategy, and the trial of bell weather case, arbitrations, and mediations. Utilizing his trial experience, Mr. VanPuymbrouck also advises and conducts investigations for domestic and international clients on risk avoidance, regulatory compliance, and litigation strategy. Mr. VanPuymbrouck is also an internationally recognized leader in the investigation and litigation of catastrophic fire and explosion matters about which he is a frequent nation-wide speaker. He also conducts emergency response exercises for clients in the petroleum, natural gas, electric generation and transmission, and transportation industries. He has specialized expertise in the defense of claims involving lithium-ion and polymer batteries.

Elizabeth A. Kaveny is a Chicago trial attorney who has achieved great success in plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice for the past 
25 years. She is well-known and respected in the legal community for her hard work and the outstanding recoveries she obtains for her clients, both in settlements and jury verdicts. Elizabeth was a principal in the law firms of Propes & Kaveny and Burke, Wise, Morrissey & Kaveny. Taking the best from great mentors and trial attorneys that came before her, Elizabeth established the law firm of Kaveny Sarmas in 2019, where she continues her high-quality representation of victims of medical negligence, motor vehicle and trucking accidents, workplace injuries, and general personal injury. Elizabeth is proud to have been recognized as one of the 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Illinois in 2020 and one of the top 5 Women Attorneys in her field for each of the past 5 years. Elizabeth has been accepted into one of the country’s most prestigious national organizations, the American 
College of Trial Lawyers, and last year became a barrister with the International Society of Barristers. In 2019, Elizabeth was named to the MOVE OVER
Task Force by John J. Cullerton, Senate President for the State of Illinois. In 2021, the Illinois State Bar Association appointed Elizabeth to serve as a member of the ISBA Tort Law Section Council. Elizabeth is an often-requested teacher and lecturer on trial advocacy, having taught at Northwestern University’s School of Law, Loyola University School of Law, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and lectured for numerous bar associations and organizations in their continuing legal education programs throughout the country. Elizabeth is now serving as Chicago’s Ambassador to The Patient Safety Movement. The Patient Safety Movement is an organization of hospitals, physicians, and other professionals who share the mission of focusing on eliminating preventable harm and death in healthcare across the world by creating a sense of urgency and unifying humanity.

Ava Gehringer is a trial attorney at Kaveny Sarmas Injury Lawyers who represents individuals and families devastated by medical negligence and catastrophic injury. She practices in all areas of personal injury, with a particular focus on complex medical malpractice, wrongful death, and serious injury cases. Ava works relentlessly to uncover critical failures in care, expose systemic breakdowns, and secure meaningful justice for her clients. Ava earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she received three CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for legal writing and litigation. A Chicago-area native, Ava grew up in Evanston and spent her young adult years traveling the globe as a rhythmic gymnast, representing the United States. She retired as a National Champion and member of the U.S. World Team, later serving as an athlete representative to the USA National Team, where she acted as a liaison between youth athletes and national leadership. “Serving as a voice between young athletes and those in positions of authority taught me the importance of speaking up when others cannot,” Ava says. “That experience ignited my passion for advocacy and ultimately led me to the law.” Ava prepares every case as though it will be tried before a jury. Her background as a former elite athlete shapes her approach to litigation—disciplined, strategic, and unyielding in high-pressure environments—and her background as an athlete representative shapes her commitment to consistent and open communication with her clients at every step. She understands that behind every case is a family whose life has been permanently changed, and she treats that responsibility with the seriousness it demands.

David Copp is a native of Midland Michigan. He has practiced with several Chicago law firms. He has experience with Real Estate transactions, condominium associations and zoning and housing code enforcement.

Sean’s career is characterized by his dedication to legal excellence, his strategic acumen in criminal defense, and his commitment and loyalty to both his clients and his community. Sean O’Brien is an accomplished attorney with a robust background in criminal defense and extensive trial experience. His strategic approach involves an aggressive and meticulous analysis of discovery, thorough legal research, and the development of comprehensive strategies to mitigate client risks and secure favorable outcomes. Sean is adept at negotiating with prosecutors and leveraging his reputation and extensive courtroom experience to highlight weaknesses in prosecutions, often achieving beneficial settlements. He also focuses on 4th Amendment litigation, where he has developed a reputation for his aggressive motion practice and consistent litigation success, achieving acquittals in cases ranging from large drug cases, weapons charges, to attempt murder. Prior to going into private practice, Sean served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. In addition to his practical legal experience, Sean has contributed to legal education as a Trial Advocacy Professor and Trial Team Coach at The John Marshall Law School. Sean has taught courses in trial advocacy and evidence and coached several trial teams to success in competitive rounds. His academic contributions demonstrate his commitment to fostering the next generation of legal professionals. Sean holds a Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School, where he graduated with honors. He was actively involved in the Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Honors Board, serving as Vice Barrister and Chief Barrister. He was also selected as class representative for the Chicago Inn of Court honor and made the trial team every semester of eligibility. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Public Relations, from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he was a Dean’s List student and recipient of the UW-W Student Involvement Award. In his spare time, Sean can be found spending time with his wife and two children, and is an avid cinephile, music lover, sports obsessive, and barbecue enthusiast.

Olivia Sarmas-Ford is a passionate and relentless senior trial attorney at Kaveny Sarmas, focusing on personal injury law. Her background includes medical malpractice and product liability, making her a standout advocate in these areas. Olivia is known for her dedication to her clients and her significant achievements in the field. One of her most notable successes is a medical malpractice case she handled in Lake County, Illinois. Olivia secured a $1.4 million recovery for her client, showcasing her skill and commitment to achieving justice. She believes every client’s story deserves to be told with accuracy and care, which drives her to build close relationships with those she represents. This personal approach helps her navigate the complexities of each case and support her clients through difficult times. Olivia also plays an active role in the legal community. She is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. In addition, she provides pro bono services through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Olivia was co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association Tort Litigation Committee for the 2019-2020 term, further demonstrating her leadership and influence in the field. She earned her law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent School of Law, where she received three CALI Excellence awards, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois. Outside of her professional life, Olivia enjoys spending time with her husband, who is also a Chicago attorney, and their families. She also loves exploring new travel destinations whenever possible.