Jonathan Merel | Chicago Family Law Lawyer

Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded Merel Family Law in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Through his hard work and unwavering dedication to his clients, Jonathan has quickly grown the firm to become one of the premier divorce and family law firms in the Chicagoland area.

Jonathan has a great deal of experience in obtaining favorable outcomes for his clients in multi-million dollar marital estates and contested custody suits (custody is now known as the allocation of parental responsibilities in the State of Illinois). His ability to settle heated divorces and custody disputes has gained him a great deal of respect from fellow attorneys and judges within the Chicagoland legal community. When settlement is not a viable or reasonable option, Jonathan’s experience as a zealous litigator in the courtroom has produced outstanding results for his clients.

Always committed to his clients and their causes, Jonathan’s philosophy is to build strong, trusting relationships with his clients, founded on compassion, sound legal strategy, and open and frequent communication. Known as a skillful and aggressive negotiator with strong tenacity, Jonathan has an impressive track record of protecting his client’s best interests and helping them meet their legal goals.

Jonathan is seen as a thought leader in family law throughout the nation after appearances on the Today show, coverage by the Wall Street Journal and Crain’s Chicago Business. He was listed as one of the Top 5 Lawyers to Seek in 2025 by MSN. He is also a frequent guest on many top-rated podcasts. Over the years, he has built up a wealth of intimate knowledge of family law, and he relishes any opportunity to share it with those who need it.