Litigation

Denise Erlich is passionate about helping clients navigate through the divorce, paternity or post-decree process. She is committed to resolving cases efficiently and outside of court to minimize conflict, legal fees and emotional stress, but willing to fight if necessary and take a case to trial. Denise uses her 23 years of litigation, mediation and life experience to provide clients with the support they need during this difficult time so that they can transition to their new life as seamlessly as possible. Denise provides valuable information, resources and insight to help clients understand the divorce process, to ensure their rights are protected, and to empower clients to make the best decisions for their family. Denise keeps clients fully informed of their case, provides clients with copies of all court documents, and is always available to answer questions in a professional and timely manner. Denise treats every client with respect and understands how stressful it can be to go through a divorce or other family law matter. Denise patiently guides her clients through every step of the divorce, paternity or post-decree process and provides clients with candid advice about their case and legal options, so they can make informed decisions about their future. With years of experience as a mediator, arbitrator, collaborative law attorney and Guardian Ad Litem, Denise seeks to resolve disputes as fairly and amicably as possible through alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation and collaborative law. Denise is a fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Denise is also a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, and the Illinois State Bar Association. Denise obtained her J.D., with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1999. Graduating in the top 15% of her law school class, she received the CALI Award in Trial Advocacy, was on the Dean’s List, and earned a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She received her M.B.A. in Finance from DePaul University in 1995, and her B.S. in Computer Science and Accounting from the University of Illinois in 1986.

Michael F. Torphy is a practicing lawyer in the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Torphy received his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin School of Law in 1992. Thirty Two years of experience, specialized knowledge, and flexible payment options, guarantee tailor-made, targeted solutions. We make your problems our priority. The difference isn't the law, the difference is the lawyer. Mr. Torphy represents business, banking, insurance and individual clients in a variety of areas including criminal, FINRA, SEC, wrongful death, personal injuries, compliance, litigation, litigation planning, risk management, contract writing, RFP responses, Safe Harbor regulations and human resource issues. Significant litigation experience involving personal injuries, contract disputes, land rights, leasehold rights, real estate transfer issues, business formation and dissolution, probate matters, family law matters, criminal charges, foreclosure, insurance bad faith, denial of government services, governmental property seizure, and denial of consumer-rights issues.

This trial focused practice has the goals of delivering quality legal services, providing to clients personal services while developing strong, trusted relationships through effective communication, analysis, planning and litigation skills seeking the best result possible. Mr. Straile has been a lawyer as a member of the Florida Bar since 2003 and has been working within the court and justice system since 2001; he is a member of the Criminal Law, Family Law, Real Property, Probate & Trust and the Trial Lawyers sections of the Florida Bar. Mr. Straile is a past treasurer for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Young Lawyers Division. Mr. Straile focuses his practice on trial law focusing in family, including domestic violence, traffic, criminal, business law and limited civil litigation or civil trial matters. Family cases include divorce, custody, paternity, modification, domestic violence, child abduction, division of assets, parenting plans, and marital settlement agreements. Mr. Straile handles cases from civil traffic to trafficking narcotics and cases ranging from misdemeanors to life felonies. Mr. Straile has handled all levels of criminal offenses and all issues related to criminal offenses from investigation to verdict and appeal. Mr. Straile represents businesses from start up to litigation after sale. Many clients also have used Mr. Straile to provide general consulting. Mr. Straile earned an LL.M (advanced law degree) from the University of Florida in tax law, a J.D. from St. Thomas University and a B.S. from Lambuth University . Prior to entering the legal field Mr. Straile provided financial services and advice at Banker's Life & Casualty and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Straile spent two years between the Third District Court of Appeal in Miami and the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Ft. Lauderdale . While in Law school Mr. Straile was active in trial competitions, and coached the St. Thomas Trial Team. Volunteer work includes the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Straile served as an organizer of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and a liaison between the program and the Internal Revenue Service. For the Boy Scouts Mr. Straile taught merit badges, served as quartermaster, and assistant scout master. Mr. Straile is an Eagle Scout.

Conveniently located mid-Long Island, in Old Bethpage, Akiva Shapiro, Esq. wants to be your personal attorney. Akiva has a wide array of legal and business experience covering areas of personal law, business law, and estate law. He has more than three decades of business operations & development experience. In addition to his law degree, Akiva holds an MBA from Duke University and is the author of a book about Electronic Discovery in New York State and Federal litigation. Akiva has practiced successfully in a diverse range of legal fields – helping clients handle personal and business litigation needs, protect their assets (from business and personal liability, adverse tax consequences, Medicaid spend down and claw back, and unforeseen divorces), file probate matters, litigate probate claims, negotiate leases and contracts, litigate landlord/tenant matters, prosecute lemon law claims, grieve their property taxes, and handle pre- and post-nuptial agreements and divorce matters, to name a few.

As a partner in the firm, Brent specializes in representing employees in wrongful termination cases. He has worked exclusively in the area of employment litigation since he began practicing law in 1998. Through the years, Brent has successfully represented hundreds of plaintiffs in employment-related litigation, obtaining significant settlements and jury verdicts against Fortune 500 companies, large government entities, as well as small and medium-sized employers. Since he joined forces with Gary Carlin to launch the firm in July of 2004, he has been lead trial counsel in employment cases that generated more than $7 million dollars for his clients. He has handled virtually every type of labor and employment dispute, including claims of sexual harassment, unpaid overtime, whistle-blowing, racial discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, and gender discrimination. In addition, he has also successfully prosecuted cases based on breach of contract, fraud, defamation, and other civil claims that often arise in the context of employment. Brent recently recovered $1.17 million in a well-publicized wrongful termination suit against the City of Pasadena (read more). Brent was also nominated as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles for 2008.Brent was raised in Laguna Beach, and attended Laguna Beach High School, where he played tennis and basketball. In 1994, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he graduated with honors. After college, Brent followed through with his ambition of becoming a lawyer, enrolling at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1997. It was in law school that Brent decided that representing individuals, particularly those who have been wronged, was much more rewarding than defending corporations.

For the past 25 years, Joseph M. Lucas has been serving his clients that have suffered serious personal, financial, and legal problems. These matters have been in personal injury, business law, and real estate law, and much more. Joseph has dedicated his practice to ensuring that his clients can have a trusted legal resource to return to time and time again. Please call 847-381-8700 or contact us online.

Mr. Fine was born in New York, New York and was raised in the northeast, where he studied sociology at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He then graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1976. In law school, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. Mr. Fine was admitted into the Florida Bar in 1976, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1977, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in 1991, and the United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit in 1982. Upon graduation, Mr. Fine practiced as an Assistant Public Defender in the Third Judicial Circuit office in Lake City from 1976-1977. He then worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Gainesville office of the Public Defender from 1977-1980. In 1980, he founded the firm, which is now known as Fine, Farkash, & Parlapiano, P.A., where he wanted to exclusively represent victims of personal injury in claims against negligent parties. Mr. Fine is a highly experienced personal injury attorney and is recognized for his commitment to the law. He holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating* (AV) and was a Grievance Committee Chairman for the Eighth Judicial Circuit for 2006-2008. He coached a trial team for the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1994 and has taught as an adjunct faculty in the trial practice course at the law school since 1983.

Marc L. Shea graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1979. He was formerly associated with Law Offices of Lester G. Sachs, where he practiced general civil law, with an emphasis in mechanics lien law (1979-1982) and then as a partner with Popelka, Allard, McCowan & Jones (“PAMJ”) and Popelka, Allard, McCowan & Bondonno (“PAMB”) (1982 to 2006). Shea & McIntyre is the successor firm to PAMB.

Elisabeth W. Molnar's practice focuses primarily on family law cases, including Divorce, Child Support and Custody.  Her cases involve complex matters in these areas of the law, and handling the issues with key advice and care.  Equally important to her practice is a client-oriented concept of returning telephone calls promptly, speaking realistically to clients about their cases and developing an overall comfort level with clients through the most difficult times in their lives.  Attorney Molnar's practice is based upon satisfied clients referring their friends, family and other loved ones to her services, and said referrals are treated with the utmost respect and confidence.  Although Ms. Molnar's practice is based almost entirely in family law, she also prepares Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills, as these documents frequently go hand in hand with family law matters. Attorney Molnar is currently a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, and Women's Bar Associations.  She is currently the co-chair of the Children's Issues Sub-Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association Family Division.  This sub-committee works with mental health professionals, judges and other attorneys in Pittsburgh to address important issues facing children today and how those issues affect our legal system.  She has also worked on other subcommittees of the Allegheny County Family Law Section, including the subcommittee that designs programs to educate other attorneys through Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education.  Ms. Molnar is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership Board, designing and implementing signature projects for pro bono work in the Pittsburgh area.  Ms. Molnar was also named a Pennsylvania Rising Star in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine in the years 2006 and 2007.   She was also named one of the Cambridge Who's Who, in the 2008 Edition. Before joining the law firm of Raphael, Ramsden & Behers, in 2004, Attorney Molnar joined a general civil litigation firm in Pittsburgh, upon her graduation from Duquesne Law School in 2003.  During her time at the civil litigation firm, she handled several insurance defense matters, in a multiple county practice.  During her tenure at the civil litigation firm, family law also became a significant portion of her practice so much so that she eventually dedicated her career almost entirely to the practice of Family Law. Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is Attorney Molnar's alma mater for undergraduate, as well.  She is a 2001 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Duquesne University, where she majored in Business Administration.  While an undergraduate student, she received the Pittsburgh Builders' Exchange Scholarship.  Ms. Molnar participated in the 3-and-3 Program at Duquesne Law School, permitting her to attend law school at Duquesne at the end of her Junior year of undergraduate education.  While in law school, she was selected to membership on Law Review, based upon academic merit during her first year.  She received her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in June of 2003, graduating Cum Laude.  Ms. Molnar was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in October of 2003, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in December of 2003.   Attorney Molnar is a Pittsburgh native, having attended Thomas Jefferson High School.  She now resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

Bringing years of experience and a distinguished career, David F. Nelson joined Hendrickson & Long, PLLC in 2013. David’s busy career as a WV civil litigation attorney has earned him impressive ratings as AV Preeminent in the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings and notable recognition listed in Best Lawyers in America© for work in his primary practice areas of civil litigation, insurance defense, and personal injury. Immediately after completing his undergraduate education, David worked in a bond redemption unit for a regional bank. It was while working there that he decided he wanted a career that focused on helping people and businesses solve problems and challenges, and he confirmed his desire to become a lawyer. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1987 and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School in 1991. As a former college soccer player (his wife, Kim, is also a college soccer athlete) and a current “veteran” soccer competitor, when not in the office, David can be found on or near the soccer field. He loves not only playing the game but also donating his time as a volunteer coach. While he started at the youth, travel, and middle school levels, since 2004 he has been an assistant head coach for the boys’ soccer team at George Washington High School, where he has helped the team to five West Virginia state championships. He also serves on numerous boards that promote healthy sport and active lifestyles in Southern West Virginia. David and his wife, Kim, volunteer their time through service projects at their church and in the community. With their three having grown and left the “nest,” outside of soccer season David and Kim also now look forward to having some time to travel and visit with friends and family.