Profiles
Michael P. Rhoades, Attorney | Founding Shareholder
Michael P. Rhoades concentrates his practice in estate planning for clients, which includes preparing and coordinating estate planning documents; implementing business succession planning strategies through the use of family limited partnerships; sales and gifting programs; negotiating and drafting pre-marital agreements; coordinating clients’ charitable goals by use of gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of fractional interests in real estate and gifts of closely held stock; and preparing gift and estate tax returns. Mike earned his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He obtained a Master of Law in Taxation from Georgetown University, which provides him with a uniquely holistic view to each client’s estate planning needs. He is exceptionally committed to serving his clients and a true find among estate planners.
Education:
L.L.M. (Masters of Law in Taxation), Georgetown University Law Center, 1997
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1995, Dean’s List
B.A. (International Studies) DePaul University, 1992, Dean’s List, Golden Key Honor Society, Model UN Ambassador
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
The Florida Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association, Estate Planning Committee – Young Lawyers Section, Secretary
William B. Levy, Attorney | Founding Shareholder
William B. Levy offers business and personal legal services for small to medium sized businesses, the owners of these businesses, their families, and individuals. Bill’s areas of focus are business and corporate law, commercial real estate sales and leasing, mergers and acquisitions, estate planning and estate and trust administration. Bill has extensive experience counseling clients on business entity formation; organizing corporations and limited liability companies; advising clients with regard to day-to-day business operations; handling commercial real estate sale and leasing transactions; and negotiating and drafting a wide variety of business-related documents including shareholder (buy-sell) agreements, operating agreements, employment agreements, vendor agreements, supplier agreements, private label agreements, website development agreements, software development agreements, consulting agreements, independent contractor agreements and confidentiality agreements. Additionally, Bill has niche experience in the unique estate planning needs of the LGBT community and other non-traditional couples including preparing estate planning documents (trusts, wills, powers of attorney, living wills, etc.) and negotiating and drafting co-ownership agreements. Bill is committed to building collaborative relationships with clients and their advisors and providing comprehensive, cost-effective, client-focused service utilizing sound legal strategies and judgment.
Education:
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1985
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Accounting, University of Arizona, 1982
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
Arizona State Bar
Wisconsin State Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago
Greater North Shore Estate & Financial Planning Council
Lake County Estate Planning Council
Lee C. Oliff, Attorney | Principal
Lee C. Oliff focuses his practice in business and corporate matters, real estate, and estate planning. Lee offers legal counsel in business-related matters, including corporate formation, governance, and compliance; business restructuring and reorganization; mergers, acquisitions, and other commercial transactions; financing and operations; estate and business succession planning; and commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Lee’s unwavering dedication to the law and pragmatic approach committed to each client’s particular needs remains the cornerstone of his experience. Lee regularly serves as outside general counsel to his clients as a trusted confidant and is often their first call to handle legal affairs pragmatically, ethically, and with the utmost care and attention.
Education:
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2013
Bachelor of Science in Business, Major in Finance, University of Kansas, 2009
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Wisconsin State Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association State Bar
Illinois Association of Independent Attorneys
American Bar Association
Wisconsin Bar Association
Robert Sternberg, Attorney | Of Counsel
As a savvy dealmaker, Robert A. Sternberg focuses his practice in the areas of business and corporate law, real estate law, loan transactions and advising and counseling business clients as their outside general counsel. Rob represents individuals, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies and banks in negotiating and closing modest to multi-million dollar transactions involving commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions of businesses, and commercial real estate loans. Rob attributes his deal-making prowess to his ability to connect with people on both sides of the deal, grasping the business and human factors, and creative problem solving. Rob collaborates well with his clients’ other advisors and reaches out to his network of professional advisors when necessary to assist his clients.
Education:
J.D. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 1972, Cum Laude
B.A. Economics, University of Michigan, 1969, Phi Eta Sigma
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association, Member, Professional Responsibility Committee
Wesley P. Joy, Attorney
Wesley P. Joy is a young and eager attorney, who concentrates his practice in the areas of (I) estate and trust administration, (II) business and corporate law, and (III) commercial and residential real estate matters. Whether counseling a family on administering a trust or estate, or advising a client on their business formation options, Wesley understands that no two client experiences are identical and always emphasizes the importance of communication with the client and considers proactive communication to be one his trademarks. Wes’ previous work experience includes time spent as a student clinician in Loyola University Chicago’s Business Law Clinic where he focused on entity formation and corporate matters, as well as estate planning and administration experience from his time as a law clerk in the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian and at Leff & Cohen, Ltd.
Education:
J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2019, Tax Certificate Recipient
B.A. Economics, Indiana University, 2016, with Distinction, member Phi Eta Sigma
B.A. East Asian Language and Culture, with focus on Mandarin and Chinese Culture, Indiana University, 2016
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Whitney E Henrick, Attorney
Whitney E. Henrick concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, real estate, and business law. Whitney works closely with individuals and families in understanding their estate planning goals and wishes in order to implement comprehensive estate plans. Whitney also assists fiduciaries and beneficiaries through the estate administration process, assisting them with the transfer of assets and overall implementation of the decedent’s estate plan. Whitney enjoys helping clients to find peace of mind by planning for their estate. She is sensitive to the emotional aspects of the process, which leads to an approach marked by understanding and compassion. Prior to joining RLLaw, Whitney worked for a small general practice firm focusing on estate planning, estate and trust administration, real estate, business law and commercial litigation.
Education:
J.D. UIC John Marshall Law School, Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, 2013
B.S. Human Development & Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section
Recognition:
Super Lawyers Illinois Rising Star, Estate Planning and Probate, 2021
Robert J. Pirages, Attorney
Robert J. Pirages concentrates his practice in all aspects of estate planning, wealth preservation strategies, and estate and trust administration. Rob works hand-in-hand with clients and their families to ensure that the client’s goals and objectives are met. Rob is experienced in administering trusts and estates and assists fiduciaries as well as beneficiaries through the often-challenging process. Rob understands the legal complexities of estate planning and the relationships and emotional aspects involved in best serving clients. He prioritizes establishing a personal relationship with his clients, from understanding their finances to their family dynamic to provide comprehensive and tailored advice. Prior to joining RLLaw, Rob worked for a firm in Northfield, Illinois, focusing on estate and trust administration and estate planning.
Education:
J.D., DePaul University College of Law, Certificate in Family Law, 2020
B.A. in History and English, Loyola University Chicago, 2017
Admissions:
Illinois State Bar
Memberships:
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Center for Disability and Elder Law Young Professionals Board
Kathleen J. French, Paralegal | Firm Administrator
Kathleen J. French has over 30 years of experience as a Paralegal and Law Firm Administrator, with significant experience in trust and estate matters, corporate law, and real estate transactions in addition to expertise in law firm management.
Kathleen’s experience in estate planning and trust administration includes working with attorneys to prepare estate plan documents, including Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Deeds and other documents as needed. She has handled all areas of the estate planning process, from assisting with client intake, drafting documents for review and approval by attorneys, finalizing documents for execution, and funding. With respect to estate and trust administration, Kathleen has handled document preparation, asset gathering, electronic filings, and accountings and has assisted attorneys with file maintenance from start to finish. In corporate law, Kathleen has prepared articles of incorporation, by-laws, corporate resolutions, and stock certificates for corporations as well as articles of organization and operating agreements for limited liability companies. She has also handled annual reports, annual consents, assumed name renewals, and registered agent changes.
Kathleen also has commercial and residential real estate experience assisting attorneys throughout the entire process, from contract preparation and preparation of all documents for closing. Kathleen has experience managing all areas of the legal office, including bookkeeping, billing, accounts receivable processing, bill paying, payroll processing, IT management, health insurance administration, human resources management, and vendor liaison. She has also created and implemented procedures for the office to run smoothly and with optimal efficiency.
Kathleen’s dedication, discretion, and desire to meet the needs of both the firm and clients and her ability to connect with staff and clients on a business and personal level helps her succeed in both roles, as a Paralegal and a Law Firm Administrator.
Deborah A. Baltazar, Paralegal
Deborah A. Baltazar has over 20 years’ experience as a Paralegal in estate and trust administration, corporate and business law and commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Debbie has extensive experience in trust administration and probate matters, including the entire administration process from participating in the initial meeting with clients, to preparing documents to open the estate, handling asset transfers and preparing and filing the final report, final account and receipts to close the estate or trust. In the corporate practice area, Debbie prepares a full range of corporate documents including articles of incorporation, articles of organization, annual reports, corporate minutes, merger/consolidation documents, amendments, by-laws and stock certificates. In the real estate practice area, Debbie analyzes and researches various documents including title searches, title commitments, surveys, zoning reports, leases, building ordinances, subdivision ordinances and other due diligence matters. Debbie also prepares all documents necessary to close real estate transactions.
Debbie enjoys significant client contact and is the ultimate professional, dedicated to promptly and competently serving the lawyers at RLLaw and their clients.
Education:
Robert Morris University — Chicago
Roosevelt University — Chicago, Paralegal Certificate
Memberships:
Illinois Paralegal Association
Institute for Paralegal Education
Organization of Legal Professionals
Illinois State Bar Association
Kimberly L. Ambrose, Paralegal
Kimberly L. Ambrose has over fifteen years’ experience as a Paralegal in estate and trust administration, estate planning, corporate and business law, and real estate transactions.
Kim’s experience in trust administration and probate matters includes preparing documents for Trust and/or Estate Administration, including probate documents, ensuring transfer of assets, and preparing final documents to close the Administration. In the corporate area, Kim prepares the documents necessary to form limited liability companies and or corporations, including obtaining employer identification numbers and preparing by-laws, operating agreements, corporate resolutions, and stock certificates. In addition, Kim also maintains the entities in which RLLaw is Registered Agent by preparing the annual reports, corporate minutes, and amendments. In the real estate area of practice, Kim assists attorneys with preparing documents to sell or buy property. Kim truly enjoys supporting the attorneys of RLLaw and providing superior service to our clients. Kim has been married 39 years, has one son and one grandson. She lives in Wisconsin and enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and going to their camper.
Alyssa M. Dodd, Paralegal
Alyssa M. Dodd has over 10 years’ experience as a Paralegal in Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Administration. Alyssa’s extensive experience includes working with attorneys to prepare Revocable Trust, Irrevocable Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and deeds, as well as effective communications with clients and financial advisors and assistance with documentation necessary to retitle assets to Trust. Alyssa’s participation in estate and trust administration includes assisting the responsible attorney in the initial client meeting, preparation of required documentation to open, maintain, and close probate estates and trusts. Alyssa prides herself on effective listening and communication to ensure the client feels comfortable throughout the entire estate planning or estate administration process.
Education:
William Rainey Harper College – Paralegal Certificate