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.

James Siwek is a practicing lawyer in the state of Illinois who handles Family and Estate cases.

John J. Corbett, the founding partner of Law Offices of John J. Corbett concentrates his legal practice substantially in personal injury litigation, and insurance disputes on behalf of businesses and individuals and has done so throughout his entire career. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident or are unable to work as a result of an injury or illness, you likely have many questions that require direct , honest answers from an experienced lawyer. The Law Offices of John J. Corbett has four decades of legal experience handling all types of accident and injury cases. Our firm strives to provide outstanding legal representation to individuals who have been injured. We are prepared to be your trusted guide and aggressive advocate through the process. Even a minor accident can have disastrous effects on the human body. At the end of the day, it does not take a fall from a significant height or a collision at high speed to cause serious injury. Even seemingly minor accidents can have life-altering consequences. If you find yourself or a loved one in this position, it is important you hire an experienced and reputable personal injury attorney. Although he works diligently on behalf of all his clients no matter how small or how large their case is, he has successfully tried and settled multi-million dollar cases including a $41 million dollar verdict, one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Illinois. Mr. Corbett has represented a broad range of clients in the areas of medical malpractice, automobile, premises liability, construction, toxic tort, and insurance coverage. The Law Offices of John J. Corbett works hard to assertively negotiate optimal settlements for our clients and are prepared to aggressively litigate cases in order to protect client interests. We are dedicated to understanding the specific needs and concerns of our clients and successfully utilize our legal prowess to see our cases to completion.

Family law attorney David Silberman is the founding attorney of Silberman Law Group in Northbrook, Illinois. Mr. Silberman has a long track record of success handling all types of family law matters. He provides clients with honest, reliable legal advice, protecting their best interests and helping to ensure successful, sustainable outcomes. With over 15 years of experience exclusively handling family legal matters, David is known among his clients and peers for his ability to negotiate favorable results outside the courtroom. In cases that don’t reach a settlement, David undertakes meticulous legal analysis to craft strategies to secure favorable outcomes in court. David views litigation as a form of science. He delivers top-tier legal counsel by delving into the intricacies of each case, paying attention to details, and staying updated on evolving laws. David collaborates closely with each client to safeguard their legal rights amid uncertain and trying circumstances. While divorce ranks among life’s most stressful experiences, David effortlessly connects with clients, fostering constructive dialogue with involved parties and legal representatives for the resolution of intricate parenting and financial matters. David’s measured, resolute advocacy and thorough preparation have earned him the admiration of legal professionals and judges throughout the Chicagoland area. While many attorneys claim to be “aggressive,” David distinguishes himself as a highly focused advocate who provides invaluable guidance and legal advice during emotionally taxing periods.

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.

Teri Robins is an experienced Illinois assisted reproductive technology lawyer who can provide excellent representation across multiple states, whether you are an intended parent, surrogate, or gamete donor. Schedule a meeting to discuss your legal needs concerning ART contracts. Teri received her BBA from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, her MBA from Columbia Business School, in New York, and her law degree from University of Cincinnati in 2001. She is licensed to practice in IL, MA, MI, OH, and RI. When she’s not working, she likes to spend time with her family, including her husband, 2 almost grown and flown kids, and her dogs, reading, and needle pointing.

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.

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.

Mark M. Berardi is an attorney licensed in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida. He advises business owners, investors, and property owners on asset-focused legal strategy, including estate and wealth planning, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, and entity and ownership structuring. His work is also informed by experience in securities regulation, including an internship with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement. Mark’s practice is built around protecting ownership, value, and privacy. He helps clients lawfully reduce public visibility into asset ownership, protect identity, and safeguard reputation through discreet planning and transaction design, including for high-net-worth and public individuals. He also represents Florida property owners in major-loss insurance recovery matters, including claims arising from Hurricane Ian, and he works with co-counsel on automotive defect and warranty litigation against major manufacturers, including actions involving FCA-branded vehicles. In Illinois, Mark and his firm regularly represent condominium and homeowners associations on governance, enforcement, and property-related matters, offering practical, full-spectrum counsel for owners and operators of residential, commercial, and investment assets. Under Mark’s leadership, his firm has developed one of Illinois’s most prominent real estate practices, providing comprehensive counsel that blends precision, discretion, and practical judgment.