Emma V. Connor is an attorney with Prather Ebner Wilson in Chicago, Illinois. Her practice focuses on fiduciary litigation, trust and estate administration, and contested probate proceedings. Prior to joining the firm in 2023, Emma began her legal career at Chicago's Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, where she gained experience with high - and ultra - high net worth individual estates and worked on complex fiduciary litigation. She earned her J.D. at Tulane University Law School and her LL.M. in Taxation at Northwestern University School of Law. Before her legal career, Emma worked with nonprofit organizations focused on expanding youth literacy, immigrant and refugee resettlement, and gun safety legislation. She is a member of the Young Professionals Board of Illinois Legal Aid Online, and volunteers with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
Robert M. Harper is a partner with Farrell Fritz in Uniondale, New York. He is a seasoned estates, trusts, and guardianship litigator who advises individuals, families, charities, and corporate fiduciaries. Appearing before the Surrogate's Court and the Supreme Court, Mr. Harper handles a wide range of proceedings including will and trust contests, contested accounting proceedings, contested guardianship proceedings, marital agreement challenges, fiduciary removal applications and surcharges, kinship proceedings, asset turnover proceedings, and more. He also has experience as a court-appointed guardian ad litem and mediator in Surrogate's Court proceedings. In addition to his work with Farrell Fritz, Mr. Harper is a special professor of law at Hofstra University School of Law and coaches Hofstra's moot court teams. With a vast background as a practitioner and professor, he is a frequent lecturer on trusts and estates topics and a contributor to the firm's New York Trusts & Estates Litigation blog. Mr. Harper has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his Litigation - Trust and Estates practice (2024-present) and listed as one of
Long Island Business News' Leaders in Law (2024). He earned his J.D. degree at Hofstra University's Maurice A. Deane School of Law, and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Shayla L. Maatuka has transitioned her solo law practice in Urbana to become a partner at Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC, where she currently serves as managing partner. With a robust background as an entrepreneur who has successfully launched four businesses, Ms. Maatuka combines her business and legal expertise. Her practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, personal injury, workers' compensation, and business litigation. Ms. Maatuka has previously held positions on the boards of the East Central Illinois Women Attorneys Association, Executive Club of Champaign County and Champaign County Urban League. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Illinois, and is admitted to practice law in Illinois and before the U.S. Northern and Central districts of Illinois Court.
Mary Piasta is a partner at Haeuser, Valluzzo & Piasta LLP. Adept at navigating thorny issues ranging from real estate to the complexities of estate planning, her proactive legal counsel provides peace of mind to entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and individuals. Ms. Piasta advises on critical business decisions and the transition of leadership and inheritance across generations. Her clients include diverse businesses of all sizes, ranging from solos and start-ups to multi-generational wineries, and vineyard management companies. Ms. Piasta earned her B.A. degree from the University of California, Davis and her J.D. degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in California.
Benjamin S. Zacks is the founding member of the Columbus firm of Zacks Law LLC, where his practice includes representation of businesses and individuals in connection with business formation, restructuring, wealth planning and funding, asset preservation, estate planning and probate, entrepreneurial law, health care practice group law, intellectual property, computers, energy and technology, debt restructuring, taxation, accounting, auditing, asset recovery matters, and international transactions. He has particular real estate experience in acquisitions and dispositions, commercial and residential lease transactions, permanent and construction financing (on behalf of both lenders and borrowers), office and condominium development, syndications, joint ventures, construction and architect contracts, developer representation, title insurance, zoning and land use development, planning services and litigation services at the trial and appellate levels (state and federal), and in arbitration. Mr. Zacks is a graduate of the Harvard Negotiation Project and has lectured to various professional groups on entity selection, professional ethics, taxation, property rights, buying and selling real estate, title insurance, zoning, and land use issues. He earned his B.A. degree from The Ohio State University and his J.D. degree from Capital University Law School. Mr. Zacks is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Arizona, and before the U.S. Tax Court. He is a member of the Columbus, Ohio State, and American bar associations; and State Bar of Arizona.
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