ATTORNEY
PROFILES
WILLIAM B. OBERTS
FOUNDING PARTNER
Bill represents municipalities, government entities and their employees, such as police officers, firefighters, and assistant state’s attorneys, in torts, civil rights, labor, employment, and class action litigation. He has been appointed as a special assistant state’s attorney and special assistant corporation counsel for various cities, counties, municipalities, and government entities.
Bill also counsels and represents professionals such as attorneys, architects, accountants, real estate and insurance agents/brokers, inspectors, and others in civil litigation and ethical matters before state and federal courts and professional regulatory bodies, such as the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
Bill’s practice includes litigation in automotive, transportation, premises liability, and construction cases. He has achieved successful outcomes for his clients as lead counsel in several jury trials and appeals in both state and federal courts.
Bill has received many honors from the legal community throughout his career. He has been named “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine and “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyers Magazine for the past several years, distinctions that are earned by fewer than five percent of lawyers licensed to practice in Illinois. Bill was selected from over 700 nominees as one of the “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch.” Bill received the Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court and the Federal Bar Association for his successful representation of an inmate after securing a jury award of both compensatory and punitive damages for his appointed client. Despite these recognitions, the biggest honor he receives is having the privilege to represent his clients and work with them to resolve their legal issues.
Bill is the former chair of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance’s Municipal Law Committee, a former member of the Chicago Bar Association’s (CBA) Board of Managers, and a past chair of the CBA’s Young Lawyer’s Section, an organization with over 9,000 members. He regularly accepts speaking engagements and publishes articles on various issues involving civil rights, municipality defense, school liability, professional liability, civility, and ethics/professionalism.
Outside of the office, Bill makes family and fitness a priority. Bill and his son are baseball enthusiasts, have visited 11 different baseball parks, and plan to attend games at all 30 parks. Bill is also a fitness enthusiast who participates in events such as Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash, and Shamrock Shuffle. He sets a new personal and professional goal each quarter. His recent personal goal was to complete the push up challenge “Bring Sally Up.” To learn more about Bill, read his profile published by CLM Magazine.
EDUCATION
J.D. Michigan State University College of Law (1998), magna cum laude
B.A. University of Illinois (1994)
MARK GALASSO
FOUNDING PARTNER
Mark represents businesses, individuals, and municipalities in a variety of areas, including construction-related claims/lawsuits, professional liability (architects and design professionals), municipal liability, transportation (automobile, ride share, and trucking), coverage issues, moving and storage claims, contract reviews, general liability, and premises liability. Mark’s extensive experience includes over forty jury trials.
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Mark is well known in the legal community and has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine and “Leading Lawyer” by Leading Lawyer Magazine. These two separate distinctions are earned by less than five percent of lawyers who are licensed to practice in Illinois. His excellence as a lawyer was recognized early in his career when he was selected as one of the “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch” by Law Bulletin Media.
Most important to Mark is not the recognition of his peers but the trust and loyalty that he has earned from his clients over his years of practicing law.
When Mark is not working with his clients, he can be found spending time with his family on multiple adventures and volunteering in his community. Notably, Mark was a founding member of the Elmhurst Bears Youth Football Club, a unique youth and cheer organization that focuses on safety, academics, teamwork, community, and athletics.
EDUCATION
J.D. Northern Illinois University School of Law (1996), cum laude
B.A. Illinois State University (1992)
AMY KUNZER
PARTNER
Amy has more than 15 years of experience defending individuals, school districts, municipalities, and corporations in state and federal courts across the country. Amy has been recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" by "Leading Lawyer Magazine". She has been appointed as a special assistant state’s attorney and in that capacity, she regularly represents cities, counties, and municipalities in tort, civil rights, employment, and class action lawsuits.
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In addition, Amy regularly defends private and public sector employers in all aspects of federal and state employment laws, appearing before the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
She has achieved successful outcomes for her clients in dispositive motions, at trial and on appeal, and at mediation. She counsels clients in finding cost-effective resolutions to complex and potentially protracted cases.
Amy has served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.
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​EDUCATION
J.D. DePaul University College of Law (2007)
M.A. Southern Illinois University (1999)
B.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison (1995)
KEVIN KIRK
ASSOCIATE
Kevin has experience defending individuals, government entities, businesses, and non-profit corporations in state and federal courts. He has been appointed a special assistant state’s attorney and special assistant corporation counsel, and in that capacity he regularly represents police officers, correctional officers, and prosecutors in civil rights, freedom of information act, tort, and employment actions. Prior to entering private practice, Kevin was an assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases including first degree murder, sex crimes, property crimes, weapons offenses, drug offenses, and traffic offenses. He has tried countless bench and jury trials.
EDUCATION
J.D. Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2018)
B.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015)
MICHAEL
SPANEL
ASSOCIATE
Michael applies his engineering background to break down complex and technical issues when representing clients in the construction industry, such as construction companies, general contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers. He also counsels and represents professionals such as fellow attorneys, real estate brokers and accountants in federal and state court and before regulatory bodies such as the Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission and the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulations.
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Outside of the courtroom, Michael enjoys playing basketball and attending NBA games. Michael also recently returned to running and is planning to participate in his first half-marathon this summer.
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EDUCATION​
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law (2015)
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (2012)
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