RATHJE WOODWARD - Key Persons
Christopher M. Miller is an experienced commercial litigator, who has represented individual and corporate clients in complex commercial disputes across the country before courts and administrative agencies. In these matters, he has successfully represented his clients by obtaining favorable trial verdicts and securing decisions dismissing the case at either the pleading or summary judgment stage. Over the years, he has gained significant expertise representing clients in the construction industry in the variety of legal claims facing them, including contract negotiations, contract disputes, mechanic's liens, personal injury, and employment disputes. Prior to entering private practice, Chris served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County, Illinois where he also gained extensive appellate and litigation experience. Chris attained his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2015, graduating with honors.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- National Litigation Counsel
Emily joined Rathje Woodward in 2006 and is an experienced counselor, litigator and employment lawyer. Emily has represented clients in a variety of commercial, employment and regulatory matters across the country. Since 2016, Emily also has served as the lead outside counsel for Illinois' second largest public higher education institution (with nearly 30,000 students). In that capacity, Emily works closely with the college's administration to provide guidance and advice on governance, compliance, and litigation matters. Emily consistently has been recognized as a Rising Star in the Illinois legal community from 2014-2021.
Emily currently serves as outside counsel to a large, multi-office dental group. In that capacity, Emily provides counsel on a wide variety of employment and contract matters.
Emily served as trial counsel in a case in which attorney Peter Francis Geraci sought
Emily served as trial counsel in an enforcement action filed in federal court in Wisconsin by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB sought over $70 million from the firm's clients. Prior to trial, Emily and a Rathje Woodward team successfully argued that the CFPB's regulation that purported to grant it authority to prosecute the case exceeded the CFPB's authority. The court invalidated a significant portion of that regulation in April 2016. See CFPB v. Mortgage Law Group, 182 F. Supp. 3d 890 (W.D. Wis. 2016). The CFPB's remaining claims were tried in a week-long bench trial in April 2017. Consumer Financial Bureau v. Mortgage Law Group, LLC, et al.
Emily served as counsel in an action in which the insurer wrongfully failed to indemnify a pasta manufacturer for loss and business interruption resulting from a contamination event at its facility. After a six-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of nearly $2million in favor of Emily's client. Foulds, Inc. v. Liberty Surplus Insurance Co.
Emily served as counsel for Cronimet and two of its executives in a lawsuit in which a competitor claimed Cronimet had wrongfully hired the executives and misappropriated various trade secrets. Emily successfully argued that the executives' employment agreements were void, and secured dismissal of the competitor's contract, unfair competition and tortious interference claims. Cronimet Holdings, Inc. v. Keywell Metals, LLC, 73 F.
Emily served as counsel for a contractor of military housing against its legal liability
Gilberto Gonzalez focuses his practice on commercial litigation representing clients with complex business disputes in various jurisdictions. During his career, he has handled litigation matters involving commercial contracts, business torts, product liability, and financial services. Gilberto has appeared and represented clients in state and federal courts at both trial and appellate levels.
Prior to joining Rathje Woodward, Gilberto worked as a litigator at national AMLaw 100 firms. He defended accountants and attorneys against professional liability claims. Additionally, Gilberto represented companies and banks against fraud-based claims and alleged statutory violations. Gilberto is fluent in Spanish, and he has used his language skills to represent pro bono indigent clients and advocating for their rights. Gilberto is known for building relationships with clients and maintaining close communications through the litigation process.
Gilberto has also worked as a law instructor at the University of Illinois College of Law where he taught legal research and legal writing to foreign-trained attorneys enrolled in the Master of Laws (LLM) degree program. Gilberto made it onto the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.
Gilberto attended the University of Illinois College of Law and graduated, where he served as an Editor of the University of Illinois Law Review and the President of the International Student Association. As a law student, Gilberto was a judicial clerk at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Will County, Illinois.
Heather Afra concentrates her practice in complex civil and commercial litigation. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants, ranging from individuals to multinational corporations, in diverse areas of practice, including civil rights, fraud, and government investigations.
She began her legal career after law school as a litigation associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. As a law student, she interned for the Health, Education and Welfare Section of the California Attorney General's Office. Prior to law school, she served as Chief Research Assistant to the Honorable Richard A. Posner and Professor Williams M. Landes at the University of Chicago Law School.
James P. Arrigo concentrates his practice in Condominium and Common Interest Community Association law and litigation. He works with association boards and their managers to recognize and address legal issues before they become problems, drafts and amends governing instruments and represents associations in all types of cases, including collecting common expenses to appeals. Jim is a presenter at numerous association-related seminars, conferences and in-house programs for clients and has been an author and contributor to association-related publications.
Job Titles:
- Member of Diaconate Class of 2027
Michael L. Wojciak has a diverse practice representing individuals, families and companies in litigation, estate planning, estate administration and corporate matters. Throughout his career, Mike represented both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation, personal injury, and tort related matters in both state and federal courts. He brings a unique perspective to his practice groups having represented parties on both sides of the aisle during all phases of litigation and transactions.
Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance v. Village of Downers Grove, 302 Ill.App.3d 286, 704 N.E.2d 898, 235 Ill.Dec. 325, 1998 WL 892268, Ill.App.2 Dist. December 22, 1998 (NO. 2-98-0170)
Ray also actively participates in his community through volunteer work and public service. From 2015 through 2019 served as Treasurer of the Wheaton Public Library Board (which manages a $4,000,000 budget with 50 full and part-time employees). Ray has coached baseball for the Wheaton Park District, been a scout den leader for Pack 64 Wheaton, and has served as a small group leader for the childrens ministry through his church. He served as a Precinct Committeeman for Milton Township from 2013 through 2017. Ray and his wife Evelyn raised their three children (now adults) in Wheaton. In his spare time he is an avid reader of history and can often be found playing tennis with friends in the community.
Reese J. Peck joined Rathje Woodward LLC in 1984 and concentrates his practice in the following areas: Construction Litigation, Mechanic Lien Litigation, Landlord /Tenant Litigation and represents Landlords in housing discrimination matters under the Fair Housing Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Job Titles:
- Member at Rathje Woodward LLC, Du
Scott E. Pointner is a Member at Rathje Woodward LLC, DuPage County's oldest law firm, and has earned an AV-rating (the highest possible distinction) in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. After three years of litigation experience in Cook, DuPage, and ten other counties, he joined the firm in 1999 and became a partner in 2002. Scott has concentrated his practice in three broad categories: commercial real estate (transactions, leasing, and land use), general corporate and finance, and commercial litigation, with homeowners and condominium association law having become more than half of his practice since 2010. Although he continues to focus his attention in the "transactional" area, Scott's careful attention to detail is shaped in large part by his extensive litigation experience, which helps insulate his documents and transactions from traps too many purely-transactional attorneys often miss. With Scott having litigated cases in fourteen different counties throughout Northern Illinois and having been a member of the Federal Trial Bar since 2002, his mix of small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits (including homeowners and condo associations) benefit from his integrated approach to find the best resolutions for his clients.
In 2015, he was awarded the Leading Lawyer designation for Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums, and continues to retain this distinction. In 2019, he was named to the Illinois Super Lawyer list, a distinction reserved to only 5% of the state's lawyers.
Peter Francis Geraci v. Thomas Macey, et al. Tim served as lead trial counsel in an eight-day jury trial defeating $90 million trade secret case brought by nationally recognized attorney Peter Francis Geraci. Tim also recovered nearly $100,000 in fees as a sanction against Geraci's counsel.
Tim served as lead trial counsel in a two-week bench trial for two real estate investors who had been defrauded by their partners. Tim secured a judgment of over $1 million, which he successfully defended on appeal. Thorne, et al. v. Riggs, et al., 2013 IL App (3d) 120244-U.
Tim served as lead trial counsel in a week-long trial for a landlord seeking to reform several commercial leases. The court awarded judgment in favor of Tim's clients on nearly all claims, which judgment he successfully defended on appeal. See Stratford Medical Center, LLC v. Miller, et al., 2012 IL App. (2d) 100999-U. Tim then successfully enforced the judgment against a tenant who relocated to Louisiana and attempted to evade payment by filing a bankruptcy petition. See Stratford Medical Center, LLC v.
Tim served as lead counsel for the post-confirmation estate of a food distributor in lawsuits against restaurant franchisees and owners. As a result of several trial victories, favorable summary judgment rulings, and various settlements, Tim's client collected over $10 million.
Tracy Kasson joined Rathje Woodward LLC in 1987 and became a member in 1991. Mr. Kasson's practice concentrates in the areas of land use entitlements, commercial transactions, and commercial litigation. Mr. Kasson has represented over one hundred commercial and residential developers regarding their zoning entitlements and has negotiated annexation and/or re-zoning and development agreements for thousands of acres throughout northern Illinois. He successfully obtained easements from the DuPage County Forest Preserve to enable Will County to receive Lake Michigan water. He also negotiated the sale of property and required easements to extend the Chicago and Northwestern railroad to Elburn, Illinois.
He also has represented plaintiffs in multi - million-dollar complex commercial lawsuits, real estate and land use lawsuits, and class action lawsuits, and has successfully defended two favorable appellate rulings in the Illinois Supreme Court. In 2007, he was selected as a "Super Lawyer" in the land use and zoning field. In 2017 and continuing through 2023 he was selected as a Leading Lawyer in Commercial Real Estate.
Yates French joined the litigation department at Rathje Woodward LLC in 2023 bringing over a decade of experience previously having worked in an AM Law top 10 firm. Yates is an experienced commercial litigator and trial lawyer who has represented a broad range of companies ranging from oil and gas to radio and billboard businesses.
In addition to his experience in civil matters, Yates has experience defending pro bono litigants in criminal actions and appeals.