Lavelle Law Names two New Equity Partners

Lavelle Law of Palatine has announced that Steven A. Migala and Heather Guilette Walser were made equity partners of the firm effective January 1st of this year.

Kerry Lavelle, founding partner of the firm, acknowledged the contributions each attorney to the firm in making the announcement. "Both Heather and Steven provide tremendous value to the management team, and to the law office managing their specific practice groups. We are a far stronger firm today with them as equity partners."

Heather Walser joined Lavelle Law in 2009. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Notre Dame Law School, she currently heads the Estate Planning practice group at the firm. Prior to joining Lavelle Law, Walser worked for six years as an Associate at Jones Day and then spent several years in private practice. Within the community, Walser is a Trustee on the Board of the District Fifteen Educational Foundation in Palatine, and a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the JourneyCare Foundation in Barrington. "I welcome the opportunity to expand my role at Lavelle Law and join the other Partners in continuing the excellent tradition that they have established as lawyers and as members of the community," Walser said.

Lavelle noted that the Estate Planning practice group is among the most active in the firm and noted Walser's contributions to that success. "Heather is committed to exceptional service when dealing with clients, and has become a well-respected voice regarding the importance of developing sound and comprehensive estate plans. Many of the clients that we originally served in other areas have chosen to work with Heather and the other attorneys on her team to create or update estate plans."

Steven Migala holds a degree in Finance from Bradley University and received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. He spent many years working for Chicago firms, including at Winston & Strawn LLP, and is a former Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association's Corporation & Business Law Committee. He has an extensive background in Banking, Corporate, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law and currently manages the Banking Law practice group at Lavelle Law. He also serves as a Commissioner of the Planning and Zoning Board in the Village of Streamwood where he resides. Lavelle noted that Migala has been instrumental in the growth of the firm's banking and corporate areas. "Steven has a particularly acute knowledge of banking and corporate law including structuring commercial lending, as well as equity and commercial real estate transactions. He will be instrumental in helping us launch our new Entrepreneurial Law group and the on-going expansion of our Securities Law practice group."

For his part, Migala has enjoyed the ability to work closely with clients of all sizes. "The banking and securities industries are undergoing tremendous change and there are a number of regulatory and legal issues that require close monitoring. I enjoy helping my clients structure sound business deals that protect their interests now and in the future."

Lavelle Law, Ltd. is located in Palatine with an additional office serving clients in the Chicago Loop. The firm was founded in 1989 as a single attorney practice with an emphasis on tax law. The firm has added more than a dozen practice groups including Estate Planning, Business Law, Banking Law, Litigation, Commercial and Residential Real Estate and Law Practice Management. The firm has received numerous awards and commendations for their business success, their commitment to ethics, national recognition for their pro bono services and multiple acknowledgements of the charitable work they do in the local communities. For more information, visit www.lavellelaw.com or follow Lavelle Law on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.