Darryl A. Goldberg is an aggressive criminal defense lawyer who represents those accused of the most serious criminal offenses in both federal and state courts. Based in Chicago, he regularly travels to other state and federal district and appellate courts to represent his clients, often in high profile cases. In the course of his criminal defense practice, his clients have included professional athletes, celebrities, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and law enforcement officers. His relentless efforts as a trial lawyer have resulted in jury verdicts acquitting his clients of everything from first-degree murder to large scale drug conspiracy charges. He chairs many committees for the American and Chicago Bar Associations, including the Criminal Law and Criminal Trial Evidence Committees.

Say Nothing, Call Me. ®

Donald J. Ramsell holds the distinguished position of being the sole Illinois DUI defense attorney to have ever argued an Illinois DUI case before the United States Supreme Court, a historic moment in the court's 213-year history. In a landmark initiative in 2008, Ramsell spearheaded hearings demanded by the Illinois Supreme Court to scrutinize the reliability of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test utilized by police during field sobriety assessments. This pivotal issue continues to capture the attention of legal professionals nationwide. The year 2007 saw Ramsell being honored as a Sustaining Member of the National College for DUI Defense, recognizing his substantial contributions to this specialized field of law. His advocacy skills were on display in 2006 when Ramsell successfully secured orders mandating the Illinois State Police Breath Testing Section to extract and disclose the internal data from breath testing devices. This action uncovered widespread inaccuracies in the devices used throughout Illinois. Donald Ramsell's legal expertise was acknowledged by Chicago Magazine in 2005 when he was designated as an "Illinois Super Lawyer," a title he has been awarded several times, most recently in 2025. Further elevating his professional credentials, in 2005 Ramsell became the first attorney in Illinois to achieve Board Certification in DUI Defense, as per the American Bar Association’s standards, through the National College for DUI Defense. Previously, in 2004, Ramsell was recognized by the Chicago Sun Times as one of the top five DUI Defense Attorneys in Illinois, affirming his rank among the elite in his field. In 1999, Ramsell uncovered that the Department of Public Health had neglected essential accuracy tests on breath testing equipment. This discovery led to the suppression of flawed test results statewide and prompted a significant regulatory overhaul, transferring control of the program to the State Police. This was preceded by a critical finding in 1998, where Ramsell exposed software manipulation in the Intoxilyzer 5000 (Series 6400 and 6600), which compromised the validity of numerous breathalyzer results across Illinois and led to a statewide inadmissibility of the flawed results. In 1988, Ramsell brought to light falsifications in the statewide breath testing program's documentation, casting doubt on thousands of tests and instigating an immediate reassessment of the program's integrity. Earlier, in 1986, his investigative efforts revealed that the same statewide program was employing dubious methods in certifying breathalyzers. His findings disputed thousands of test results and mandated immediate revisions to the program, marking the beginning of his long-standing commitment to ensuring fairness and accuracy in DUI enforcement.

18 years as a college instructor for criminal law, paralegal studies, and other legal topics. Tried over 150 jury trials to a verdict. Formerly: a prosecutor, a public defender, over 21 years as a judge, Put knowledge on your side.

I began my practice over 11 years ago with the determination to make things better for my clients and my community. That continues to be the focus of my practice, and I look forward to many years of future service to my neighbors and friends. I grew up in Libertyville, graduating from Copeland Manor, Highland Jr. High, and eventually Libertyville High School in 1997. I attended college at Miami University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business, Majoring in Marketing. During college, I was president and judicial board chairman of my college fraternity, and was involved with Associated Student Government, various volunteer, and civic groups, and volunteered as a tutor. I attended law school at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where I was active in Student Court, Moot Court Honor Board, the Tenant Information Project, the Human Rights Quarterly, and was a member of the Dean’s list. During this time I also volunteered as a youth mentor for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, taught a High School class curriculum in civics called StreetLaw, and worked part-time for Kaplan tutoring and preparing students for the Law School Admissions Test. I continue to be actively involved in the community. Currently, I sit on the Board of Directors of the Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County, a non-profit tasked with improving housing options throughout Lake County. I am also currently exploring the formation of a non-profit to rehabilitate abandoned, nuisance homes to stabilize housing values and rid neighborhoods of dangerous and often unsanitary hazards. I am regularly appointed by judges to serve as guardian ad litem in guardianship matters. I currently live in Mundelein with my wife, Dr. Amanda R. Johnston, DVM (veterinarian), our son Merritt, and our dog and cat. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, keeping aquariums, bicycling, hiking, canoeing, golf, coaching youth lacrosse, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs. Effective, knowledgeable, and ethical criminal defense. Call for a free consultation. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. A homeowners association recently tried to enforce long-dormant deed restrictions (ignored for 30 years against) my client, in a discriminatory manner. The association followed none of its own rules, and was ostensibly re-formed solely to discriminate against my client by forcing the costly removal of valuable improvements on his land. A neighbor filed suit, arguing the dormant deed restrictions against my client, who is a person of color and substantially younger than others in the neighborhood, while ignoring blatant violations on their own property and at nearly every other property in the neighborhood. At the close of discovery, we successfully moved the court for summary judgment on the grounds that there was no way the suing neighbor could possibly prevail. My client’s property rights were maintained and the discriminatory action was thwarted. How did you build a successful practice? Mutual respect. I am proud of the fact that my firm offers free initial case consultations. This stems from a recognition that, while my time is valuable, so it the time of my clients. I strongly believe that initial case consultations, even if valuable to clients, should be free, because I do not believe it is fair to charge for time spent evaluating whether my firm can help a certain client, and in developing the plan of action. Once we come up with a plan of action, we communicate that proposed scope of work to the client so they can accept or reject our proposal for representation. Only after a client has agreed to hire us, based on the agreed plan, are legal fees assessed. This approach, based on mutual respect, has been crucial to our firm’s success. What should clients look for in a lawyer? It’s a personal relationship as well as a professional one. Clients must be comfortable with their attorney on both these levels. Clients should be sure that they can communicate well with their attorney. A knowledgeable professional in any field should be able to explain even the most difficult contexts in terms a layperson can readily understand. If you cannot understand your attorney, its probably not a good fit. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? The saying goes “A good attorney knows the law, a great attorney knows the judge.” This is true because the practice of the law is not only theoretical, but also practical and pragmatic. An experienced local attorney will typically know the courts, judges, clerks and local procedures better than an attorney who does not practice in the county on a regular basis. Thus, clients represented by local attorneys will reap numerous advantages in the course of a case. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? Typically, after learning enough about the case for a proper evaluation, I explain how the law works in the area, how I expect the law will be applied to their situation, and how my firm can potentially be of service to the person (and how we would charge for our services). Often, in order to properly conduct an initial consultation, I will need to review relevant paperwork, but with smart phones, scanners and teleconference software, it is increasingly easy to share documents electronically. What information do you need in a free phone consultation? Every case is different, but in general, I will need to know the parties involved in a case (so that I can make sure there is no conflict of interest), I will need to know the location of the case, and often it is very helpful to review relevant documents. Every case is different, and many of the documents I would need to review may be available online (like court records), so a potential client should not be dissuaded from calling to schedule a free consultation. If we need more information, we will let you know. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? I do my best to build a strong professional network both within and outside of the legal community. If a potential client comes to my firm and, for whatever reason(s), the case is not a good fit for my firm, we do our best to match the client with the right attorney. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Helping people. This is how attorneys help ensure equal justice under law. That’s why good attorneys enter the practice. What are your other interests in addition to law? My hobbies include: canoeing, hiking, bicycling, golf, fishing, disc golf, and keeping aquariums. Causes that I support include Affordable and Just Housing, Medical Research, and community efforts to foster local, small businesses. Are you involved in your community? Yes, I am active in my local and state bar associations, the GLMV, and business networking groups. I am regularly appointed by judges in Lake County to serve as a Guardian ad Litem. I serve on the Lake County Chamber of Commerce as a Board Member. Additionally, I serve as President of the Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County (AHC), which works closely with Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) to serve the joint mission of fostering safe, affordable housing in our area.

Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt is the founder and president of the Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. Located in Buffalo Grove, IL, Attorney Gebhardt focuses his practice on criminal defense and real estate law. Understanding that the legal system can be frightening, Attorney Gebhardt works with his clients in order to help them achieve their legal goals. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney Gebhardt, visit his website or call 847-239-4703.

Attorney Eric J. Blatti was born in the state of Illinois, specifically the Joliet area. He has since remained a part of the local community. Eric graduated from Joliet Township High School and attended Joliet Junior College where he received his Associate's Degree in Arts. After junior college, he continued his education and graduated from Lewis University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (Cum Laude). Eric then attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He earned his Juris Doctor agree in January of 2008 (Dean's List). While in law school, Eric interned for the Will County Public Defender's office. In 2008, he passed the Illinois State Bar and was hired as a full-time-attorney. As an Assistant Public Defender, Eric earned the respect of fellow attorneys and judges. He had a reputation as a fearless litigator and persuasive negotiator. He gained valuable experience by trying over 50 cases, including both jury trials and bench trials. Utilizing his extensive legal knowledge and effective trial skills, Eric now operates his own practice and serves Chicagoland in the areas of criminal defense, traffic crimes, DUI, expungement, driver's license reinstatement, and divorce and family law. He maintains active memberships in the Will County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. Attorney Eric J. Blatti and our law firm can assist you with your Will County, Kendall County, or Grundy County case. Call 815-666-2740 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation at our Plainfield law office.

The Law Offices of Scott F. Anderson provides criminal defense representation throughout Cook County, Lake County, McHenry County and DuPage County. With over 23 years of experience practicing criminal law both as a prosecutor and now as a criminal defense attorney, Scott Anderson knows what most people are up against when they are charged and arrested for a crime. Scott F. Anderson practices experienced criminal defense in the follow matters: DUI Felony DUI Multiple DUI Violent Crimes Sex Crimes Theft Crimes Drug Crimes All Felonies and Misdemeanors All Traffic Violations Suspended Driver’s License Driver’s License Reinstatement Expungement

As a longtime resident in Chicago, IL, Attorney Gregory R. LaPapa is proud of the roots he has in the community and honored to use his skills to help families and individuals facing tough legal challenges. Attorney LaPapa has been prosecuting and defending complex legal matters in Chicago for decades, and his lengthy experience and tough negotiation tactics make him an attorney you will want to have on your side. Navigating the court system can be very intimidating, even when you are confident of the facts in your case. Attorney LaPapa is a graduate of DePaul University School of Law. After passing the Illinois State Bar Exam, he began his legal career working with the Illinois Attorney General’s office as an Assistant Attorney General. Since then, he has spent over 30 years helping Illinois residents resolve a wide range of legal matters, including criminal defense and domestic violence cases, DUI charges, and serious traffic violations. As an animal rights advocate, Attorney LaPapa’s passion for justice extends to all creatures. His philosophy of “have law, will travel” sums up his straightforward approach to helping others. At LaPapa Law Group, no case is too big or too small for us to handle. We are dedicated to providing a high caliber of legal services and passionate legal representation.

Ms. Levine is a former Assistant State’s Attorney (prosecutor) and a United States Marine. Ms. Levine’s practice is limited to representing individuals accused of serious federal and state crimes, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI),White Collar Crimes and all collateral administrative proceedings. Katherine is passionate about the work she does and is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards. She is a partner at FisherLevine Law Group LLP located downtown Chicago.