Carol Sales concentrates her practice in bankruptcy, insolvency matters, and commercial litigation. She has approximately 20 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in all stages of litigation. Carol has also represented debtors, creditors, and parties in interest in numerous Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases for individuals and businesses. She takes a personalized approach to counseling clients to achieve their goals in a cost-effective manner. Carol has been recognized as a Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyer from 2021 to the present and Emerging Lawyer from 2018 to 2020 in the practices of Bankruptcy/Workouts and Business Litigation across the Chicagoland area. She co-authored the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s (IICLE) chapters on the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019; Representing Clients in Bankruptcy Cases; Chapter 11 Cases for Individuals and Small Business Debtors; Mechanics Liens in Bankruptcy; and Filing a Chapter 7 Petition and Exemptions. She obtained her J.D. cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. During law school, Carol was a lead articles editor for the John Marshall Law Review and a Distinguished Scholar Award recipient. She worked as an extern in the Circuit Court of Cook County for various judges hearing foreclosure cases and received an LL.M. in real estate law, with honors. Carol has been recognized as a 2026 honoree for Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® List. This is Attorney Sale’s third year receiving this honor. She also was selected as a honoree for Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 Notable Women of Law.

Lee Poteracki concentrates his practice on transactional matters such as business acquisition and sale, entity choice and formation, and commercial real estate transactions as well as leasing of commercial premises. He also counsels on estate planning and administration of trusts and estates, including not only straightforward distributions but also the disposition or succession to ownership of family business interests owned by the trusts or estates of entrepreneurs.

Since 1985, Riccardo A. DiMonte has been our most active trial lawyer. He concentrates in commercial law matters, contract disputes, construction law, mechanic’s liens, mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy, civil rights cases and corporate and partnership dissolutions. He has tried multi-million-dollar lender liability and lottery prize cases to verdict, handled numerous state and federal court appeals and regularly practices before the American Arbitration Association. Riccardo is a current member of RD’s Executive Committee. Riccardo has lectured at continuing legal education seminars on commercial law and bankruptcy topics.

Robert E. Harig is an accomplished transactional attorney with extensive experience in general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, secured lending and commercial real estate. Bob has represented and advised many businesses in a variety of ways, including organizing new business ventures; structuring, negotiating and closing merger and acquisition transactions; advising clients on buy-sell agreements; and developing equipment purchase, distribution and supply agreements. Bob also has significant experience in representing banks and financial institutions on commercial loan transactions. He has successfully structured, negotiated and closed a substantial number of lending transactions, including revolving and term loan credit facilities, real estate mortgage loans, construction loans and asset-based loans. He has advised banks on restructuring and workout transactions and he counsels lenders on UCC, collateralization and other matters pertinent to their loan structures. In addition, Bob also has extensive experience in all kinds of commercial real estate transactions, including purchases, sales and leases. He has negotiated and drafted commercial real estate purchase agreements and ancillary agreements with respect to single and multi-tenant properties. He represents commercial landlords in the drafting and negotiation of office, industrial, and retail leases, including complex provisions related to tenant improvements, landlord work, rights of first offer and term extensions. Bob’s background in public accounting (CPA, 1992) adds value to his clients. Bob is also co-founder and president of Rosewood Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation which helps schools educate children with special needs.

Adam J. Poteracki practices in the areas of trusts and estates, business transactions, and real estate. He represents fiduciaries, businesses, families and individuals in trust and estate planning and administration, including litigation of disputed probate and trust matters. Adam has extensive experience in all areas of probate practice, including decedents’ estates, minor guardianship, and disabled adult guardianship. He is a director and past president of the Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council, an organization of attorneys, accountants, trust officers, and other financial professionals dedicated to promoting excellence in estate planning. Adam also represents clients in business transactions and real estate matters. He advises clients on business structuring and governance, the purchase and sale of commercial and residential real estate, tax-deferred exchanges, commercial loan transactions, and mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on closely held business growth and succession planning. Adam is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and in Wisconsin and frequently advises clients regarding cross-border legal issues in his areas of practice. Adam is Chair of the Firm’s Business & Real Estate Transactions Group.

Jeffrey S. McDonald brings to Robbins DiMonte his background not only as a lawyer, but as a CPA with a masters in Taxation. Early in his career, he was a prosecutor assigned to the Financial and Government Fraud Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office in Chicago. Jeff was responsible for prosecuting many high profile cases involving embezzlement, insurance fraud, conspiracy, high technology computer crimes. Jeff currently concentrates his practice in the areas of closely held businesses, real estate, tax, estate planning and probate. Jeff is a former chair and current member of the Illinois Institute of Business Law, a successor to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Business Laws Committee. This group has been instrumental in writing the Illinois corporations and limited liability acts as well as modifying other Illinois business statutes. Jeff was the chair of the subcommittee that drafted the Illinois Entities Omnibus Act which allows company conversions and domestications in Illinois. Jeff also is a member of the MultiBoard Real Estate contract drafting committee. The committee periodically updates the standard real estate contract used by residential buyers and sellers in Northern Illinois and has been adopted by a majority of the local bar associations. Jeff serves on the Board of Directors of Versiti, a not-for-profit blood center and blood research organization with facilities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Jeff is an adjunct faculty member at Harper College where he combines his training as a professional chef with the practice of law, teaching hospitality students.

James J. Riebandt concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, real estate, trusts & estates, and labor and employment. Early in his career, he handled a variety of civil litigation cases before developing a transactional practice which now includes business sale and acquisition, formation and representation, residential and commercial real estate sale, purchase and leasing, drafting and review of a variety of financial documents and estate and trust planning and administration. He served as a member of the Palatine Zoning Boarding of Appeals and for twenty-one years he was a Director of the Oakton Community College Educational Foundation including two terms as President. Jim was a founding member of the Holy Cross High School Alumni Education Endowment Fund, serving as President as well. He began his practice with Daley, Reilly and Daley in 1975 and joined Palmer, Blackman and Mancini in 1978 which became Riebandt and DeWald in 1990, where he served as President and Managing Partner until his affiliation with Di Monte & Lizak on January 1, 2013. He is also the long-time public address announcer for the Chicago Bears and the DePaul Blue Demons Men’s Basketball Team.

Jeffrey Rabin has been representing individuals with disabilities and medical/legal issues since 1980. He began this law firm in 1988 to focus his practice in the representation of disabled persons seeking Social Security disability benefits. He and his associates have successfully represented Claimants nationally at all levels of the Social Security Administration's administrative process, in the United States District Court and in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.Despite his law practice and family, Jeff has remained active in the community. He has served as a member of the Executive Council of the American Trial Lawyers Association's (ATLA) Social Security Disability committee, is a former chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association Social Security Disability committee and is a frequent lecturer nationwide on Social Security disability law issues. On a number of occasions he has spoken at national conferences for both the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR), and for ATLA.Jeff was appointed by Secretary of HHS Donna Shalala as a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Coordinating Committee for 2000-2001. He is a member of the Board of Directors of both the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of Illinois, and the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia & Chemical Sensitivities Coalition of Chicago (CFCCC). Jeff has also volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Northern Illinois as a member of both the Government/Advocacy Committee and the Professional Advisory Committee. Finally he has been elected twice as a member of the local School Board in Deerfield, IL.Jeff has monitored message boards on the Internet to provide general information for people struggling with the Social Security disability programs and does a monthly chat for the American Pain Foundation on their Pain Aide web site. He has also been asked to serve as a guest expert at other live Internet sites.Jeff graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 1980 and from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1977 with a Bachelor of Journalism degree.

Alexander Gruzmark immigrated to the United States in 1978 from Lvov, Ukraine. After earning his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University School of Law, Alexander established Gruzmark Law, Ltd. in 2001. Concentrating on personal injury representation, Attorney Gruzmark is dedicated to helping injury victims receive justified financial compensation. Having more than 20 years of legal experience, Attorney Gruzmark also practices in medical malpractice, workers' compensation, criminal defense, and business transactions. Located in Glenview, IL, Alexander Gruzmark serves clients throughout Cook County, Lake County, and DuPage County. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney Gruzmark, visit his website or call 847-729-7660.

Herb Elesh is a Immigration Lawyer Practicing in all of Chicagoland. He is active and in good standing within the Illinois State Bar Association. Questionnaire: Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. On a Provisional Waiver case I-601 we were able to have USCIS Chicago District Office approve the extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse which led to an approval for the greencard for a husband who entered on a false passport. His name was misrepresented on his passport and USCIS demanded a waiver of the misrepresentation. Based on the wifes medical records and detailed affidavits from myself and my paralegal and affifavits from the Petitioner and beneficiary he was approved for the I-601 and greencard. How did you build a successful practice? mostly word of mouth from satisfied families and clients; What should clients look for in a lawyer? honest, experienced and professional. should be updating himself/herself on laws/regulations/ changes to courts and USCIS and embassies How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? not as important as new laws and regulations at embassies and USCIS and NVC What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What information do you need in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? value-driven law office with almost 20 years of experience but fees as more affordable given the same level of experience and professionalism of the more expensive downtown law offices What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? having approvals which reunite families here in the US and enable them to build their lives here without fear of deportation. What are your other interests in addition to law? social justice for immigrants in USA including voting and participating in our democracy and helping those new citizens learn English and vote Are you involved in your community? offering pro bono help in the community for U.S. citizen applicants