Full-Service Law Firm Providing Nationwide Representation

Rathje & Woodward, LLC

300 East Roosevelt Road
Suite 300
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
USA

(630) 668-8500

(630) 668-9218

www.rathjewoodward.com

Contact Rathje & Woodward, LLC

Law Firm Overview

Rathje & Woodward, LLC is a full service law firm representing clients across various practice areas. Established in 1938 by Bertram E. Rathje and John S. Woodward, the firm has remained committed to providing top-quality legal services to individuals, businesses and municipalities, who are in need of sound legal counsel, throughout Illinois and across the nation.

Our law firm continues to build on its strong foundation with an experienced team of attorneys who have the skills and knowledge to anticipate the legal needs of the communities it serves.

Today, we follow the examples of civic responsibility set by our predecessors. Bertram E. Rathje was the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County. Prior to becoming a justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, his son, Louis Rathje, served as a Judge in the Circuit Court of DuPage County and the Second Appellate District.

Founding member, John S. Woodward, formerly served as the President of the DuPage County Bar Association, and Alfred Woodward was a Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County and the Second Appellate District. Robert Dyer was a prominent member of the law firm and was a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Our history and the mix of generations of lawyers working at Rathje & Woodward, LLC allows us to uphold our reputation for being a law firm with traditions of excellence and a focus on the future.

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Directors and Officers; Mechanics Lien; Shareholder Disputes; Business Succession; Charitable Giving; Choosing Beneficiaries, Trustees and Executors; Guardianships; Healthcare Powers of Attorney; Powers of Attorney; Misdemeanor; Family Law: (Alienation of Affection; Annulment; Broken Engagements/Breach of Promise to Marry; Child Abduction; Civil Unions; Contribution to College Education; Fathers’ Rights; Guardianship; Joint Parenting Agreements; Modifications; Orders of Protection; Parentage; Post-Decree Modifications; Post-nuptial Agreements; Property Settlements; Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (“QDRO”); Qualified Medical Support Orders; Removal, Child Relocation, Parent Relocation); Insurance Recovery; Family Law: (Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Employment Agreements; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); Hiring/Firing; Internal Investigation; Non-Compete Agreements; Restrictive Covenants; Retaliatory Discharge.

Areas of Law Description

The attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC have a long history of experience for matters involving:

- Litigation

Our attorneys give clients the confidence they need to prepare for any trial. Each client has unique and special concerns as it relates to their personal and professional needs. We have successfully resolved litigation cases for a variety of legal issues pertaining to: Commercial Transactions; Construction; Directors and Officers; Employment; Homeowners’ Associations; Insurance; Mechanics Lien; Municipal Law; Probate; Products Liability; Shareholder Disputes; Trade Secrets; Criminal; Family Law; Real Estate, Land Use and Development; and Wills, Trusts and Estates.

• Transactional

The attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC have the depth of experience to assist you with business transactions in a wide variety of industries from manufacturing, transportation, and construction to technology, communications and government.

• Employment Law

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, we believe employment matters are better handled in-house and that prevention is the most cost-effective strategy.

• Homeowners’ Association

Our attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC have extensive backgrounds in real estate, zoning including business law and will benefit from our knowledge in these areas, as well as our admirable reputation in the community.

• Insurance Recovery

Rathje & Woodward, LLC has established itself as one of the most preeminent law firms for insurance recovery. We represent the individual and professional business policyholder for a variety of complex insurance recovery matters.

• Municipal Law/Local Government Law

Our attorneys have successfully represented villages and other government clients in a wide array of municipal law issues, including astute legal counsel on matters.

• Mechanics Lien Law

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, our mechanics lien attorneys Reese J. Peck and Derek M. Johnson specifically focus on the complex issues surrounding mechanics lien law.

• Wills, Trusts and Estates

Whether you need to plan for the financial future of your personal or business affairs, are charged with the administration of an estate, or have a probate issue, the experienced attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC are able to help.

• Criminal Defense

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients who have been accused of committing a state or federal criminal offense.

• Family Law

The attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC understand the concerns many families have when there are family law matters that need to be addressed.

• Real Estate, Land Use and Development

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, we have the knowledge and experience to handle all of your real estate, land use and development needs.

- Business, Corporate, Transactional, Tax and Financial Planning

Our lawyers possess the knowledge and experience to assist businesses of every size and in every industry to make crucial decisions and achieve their goals. Our attorneys serve as general counsel to national companies, as well as well known energy companies, professional services companies, real estate developers, manufacturers, construction companies, utilities and municipalities.

• Business and Corporate

The attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC possess the knowledge and experience to assist businesses of every size and in every industry to make crucial decisions and achieve their goals.

• Tax and Financial Planning

The experienced attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC provide individuals, businesses, trusts and estates with invaluable counseling regarding tax and financial planning matters.

- Intellectual Property

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, our attorneys represent clients for a variety of cases involving intellectual property matters, relating to disputes over: Applications to USPTO; Audio or Visual Recordings; Books; Cease and Desist Letters; Copyrights; DVDs; Infringement Claims; International Protection; Licensing; Movies; Service Marks; Slogans; Software; Trade Secrets; Trademarks; and Unfair Competition Claims.

- Employment Law

Our firm recognizes the needs of employers and businesses and effectively helps to resolve many of the issues companies face concerning the following matters: At-Will-Employment; Discrimination; Employee Handbooks; Employer/Employee Counseling; Employment Agreements; Harassment; Hiring/Firing; Investigation; Noncompeting Agreements; Overtime; Regulations; Restrictive Covenants; Risk-Management; Separation Agreements; Training; and Wages.

- Real Estate, Land Use and Development

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, we handle a variety of real estate, land use and development concerns, including: Commercial Real Estate; Construction Law; Contracts; Easements; Economic Incentive/Redevelopment/TIF Assistance; Eminent Domain; Landlord/Tenant; Leases; Real Estate; Real Estate Tax Appeals; Subdivision and Platting; Tax Incentive Financing (TIF); and Zoning and Zoning Entitlements.

- Wills, Trusts and Estates

Our wills, trusts and estate planning attorneys will help clients with every aspect of: Business Succession; Charitable Giving; Estate Planning; Guardianships; Healthcare Powers of Attorney; Large estates; Powers of attorney; Revocable Living Trusts; Special Needs Trusts; Tax planning; Testamentary Trusts; Trusts; and Wills.

- Criminal Defense

Rathje & Woodward, LLC represents clients in criminal defense matters, involving: Assault;; Battery; Domestic Violence; Drugs; DUI; Felony; Juvenile; Misdemeanor; Murder; and Theft/Burglary.

- Family Law, Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage, Post-Decree Modifications

Our family law practice focuses on every area of family law and divorce related concerns, such as: Adoption; Alienation of affection; Annulment; Broken engagements/Breach of Promise to Marry; Child abduction; Child custody; Child support; Civil unions; Contribution to College Education; Divorce; Enforcement of Support/Maintenance; Fathers’ rights; Guardianship; Joint parenting agreements; Legal Separation; Maintenance; Modification of Custody; Modification of Joint Parenting Agreements, etc.

• Adoption

At Rathje & Woodward, LLC, we help families that are seeking to establish new family bonds through adoption. Our adoption attorneys have more than 35 years of experience with providing legal guidance to individuals and families.

• Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage

The divorce attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC understand the sensitive issues that often arise from the dissolution of marriage or in paternity cases.

- General Counsel, Arbitration and Mediation

Our attorneys provide general counsel for a number of different organizations in need of managing specific matters within the community. Our team also includes regular members of arbitration panels who have successfully resolved complex legal matters through arbitration and mediation.

• Arbitration and Mediation

Rathje & Woodward, LLC provides exceptional legal counsel to a wide range of local, regional, national and international businesses, throughout Illinois and the world over.

- Insurance Recovery

The attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC represent the policyholder on all insurance recovery matters, including: Boiler & Machinery; Errors and Omissions; General Liability; Pollution Legal Liability; Premium Refund Claims/Workers’ Compensation; and Property.

- Banking, Loans and Finance Lawyers

Our attorneys are experienced with handling all banking, loans and finance matters, including: Asset Backed Loans; Asset Commercial Bank Lending; Asset Environmental Compliance; Asset Guarantees; Asset Letters of Credit; Asset Lines of Credit; Litigation; Asset Mezzanine Financing; Asset Private Lending; Asset Project Financing; Asset Promissory Notes; Asset Sales Leased Backed Transactions; and Asset Structured Financing.

- Appellate Law

Whether you need to appeal a court’s decision or are looking to defend an appeal, the experienced appellate attorneys at Rathje & Woodward, LLC provide effective, professional assistance. Our law firm handles appeals and every area concerning appellate law, including: Federal; Regulatory; State; and Tax.

- Homeowners’ Association

We are experienced at offering a complete array of legal services to homeowners’ associations. We have attorneys that specifically work with homeowners’ associations on matters such as: Association Documents; By-Laws; Collections; Compliance; Conversions; Easements; Failure to Pay Assessments; Litigation; Storm Water Management; and Violations of Covenants.

Attorneys

	Mr. Kevin M. Carrara Attorney Arbitration, Business Law, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property, Litigation		Mr. Timothy D. Elliott Attorney Appellate Practice, Insurance, Litigation
	Mr. Derek M. Johnson Attorney Appellate Practice, Business Law, Estate Planning, Litigation, Tax Planning		Mr. Gregory W. Jones Attorney Litigation, Local, Municipal and State Law
	Ms. Abigail J. Jung Attorney Appellate Practice, Business Law, Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Family Law		Mr. R. Terence Kalina Attorney Business Law, Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Litigation
	Mr. Tracy D. Kasson Attorney Appellate Practice, Litigation, Real Estate		Ms. Ann Marie Lampariello-Perez Attorney Criminal Defense, Family Law, Local, Municipal and State Law
	Mr. Mark J. McAndrew Attorney Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Business Law, Corporate Law, Employment		Mr. Reese J. Peck Attorney Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Foreclosure, Landlord and Tenant Law
	Mr. Charles L. Philbrick Attorney Insurance, Litigation		Mr. Scott E. Pointner Attorney Banking and Finance, Business Law, Corporate Law, Litigation, Local, Municipal and State Law
	Ms. Emily A. Shupe Attorney Appellate Practice, Employment, Insurance, Litigation		Mr. Henry S. Stillwell Attorney Business Law, Corporate Law, Homeowners Association, Local, Municipal and State Law, Real Estate
	Mr. Gary L. Taylor Attorney Appellate Practice, Family Law, Litigation, Real Estate		Ms. Kaitlyn Anne Wild Attorney Business Law, Corporate Law, Litigation
	Mr. John S. Worthen Attorney Business Law, Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Tax Planning		Mr. John R. Zemenak Attorney Appellate Practice, Business Law, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property, Litigation