is a partner in the law firm of Gensburg, Calandriello & Kanter, P.C., where she is known for her diverse skill set, practicing in the areas of federal and state tax controversy and consulting, offshore account disclosures, estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, general business law, and commercial litigation. Ms. Mertens has negotiated many tax resolutions with the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue, reducing her clients' overall tax liabilities and helping them lower their monthly payment. Since 2008, she has served as a monthly contributor to Debits and Credits, a newsletter published by the Independent Accountants Association of Illinois. Ms. Mertens is also a member of the CBA's State and Local Tax Committee, and has lectured and prepared seminar materials for accountant and attorney education on a variety of topics, including offers in compromise, trust fund recovery penalties, IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program for workers, foreign reporting requirements, and the IRS' Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and compliance procedures. In addition, she assists large and small businesses with all stages of their business, from formation of an entity to contracts to employee issues, and dissolution. Ms. Mertens earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Trinity International University; and her J.D. degree, with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. She is admitted to the Illinois State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Bankruptcy Court and the United States Tax Court. Ms. Mertens has also been admitted pro hac vice in the District Court for the District of Columbia and New York State Court.

is a partner with A. Traub & Associates, where he focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning, guardianship, estates and trust administration, special needs planning, and Medicaid applications and appeals. Mr. Drabant earned his B.A. degree from the University of Maryland and his J.D. degree and LL.M. degree in taxation, with honors, from The John Marshall Law School. Mr. Drabant is an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.

is the principal member of William Berry & Associates, LLC, with the principal office in Collinsville, Illinois. His personal experience centers on civil litigation, insurance coverage, products liability, negligence, family law, probate, trust law, and criminal law. Mr. Berry earned his undergraduate degree from Millkin University and his J.D. degree from Washington University Law School.

is a partner in the law firm of Dent Coulson Elder Law, LLC, with offices in Effingham and O'Fallon, Illinois. She practices in the areas of elder law and estate planning services, focusing on nursing home planning, special needs planning, and estate planning. As a member of Elder Counsel and secretary of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Ms. Dent has an array of resources available for her clients' planning needs. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois (previously as treasurer) and is also a member of The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Advisory Board for Effingham County. Ms. Dent earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana and her J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law.

is a partner in the firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP, in Springfield, Illinois, where he practices in the areas of estate and business planning. He represents clients in wealth transfer and estate administration matters. Mr. Drake is experienced in designing and implementing sophisticated and personalized estate plans. He regularly advises clients with illiquid estates, such as business owners and farmers, to achieve their tax and non-tax objectives, such as succession planning. Mr. Drake is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has served in various leadership positions for the American Bar Association's Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. Mr. Drake earned his B.A. degree from the University of Illinois, his M.A. degree from Southern Illinois University, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law.

is an attorney in the law firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP in Springfield, Illinois. She practices in the areas of business law, civil litigation and estate planning, probate and trusts. Ms. Meyer earned her B.S. degree from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and her J.D. degree from University of Illinois College of Law.

is a partner with Generation Law, Ltd. with offices in Elmhurst and Oak Park. She has handled hundreds of contested motions and trials throughout her career. Ms. Johnson's focus is on contested probates and guardianships for disabled adults with an emphasis on citation proceedings involving the financial exploitation of the elderly and presumptively void transfers. In addition, she vigorously represents clients in the areas of trust litigation, including land trusts, elder law, estate planning, and estate administration. Ms. Johnson is the immediate past president of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, where she is the current chair of the Litigative Committee, as well as serves on the Legislative Committee.  Ms. Johnson also serves on the Illinois State Bar Association's Elder Law and Trusts and Estates Committees. In addition, she is a frequent speaker for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and the DuPage County Bar Association, of which she is also a member. Ms. Johnson earned her B.A. degree from DePaul University and her J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law.

is an attorney with the Naperville Law Firm of Brooks, Tarulis & Tibble, LLC. His practice is focused on representing business owners and high net worth families in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, wealth transfer planning and the administration and settlement of trusts and estates. Mr. Wilen has substantial expertise in many areas of the tax law ranging from advising start-ups on choice of entity issues, income tax issues for family controlled and closely-held entities, assisting with compliance on estate, gift and fiduciary tax returns and representing taxpayers in controversies with the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. He earned his B.A. degree in finance from Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business. After undergraduate college, Mr. Wilen attended the Detroit College of Law (which is now known as Michigan State University College of Law), receiving his J.D. degree, cum laude. After law school, he pursued graduate legal studies at the New York University School of Law receiving an LL.M. degree in taxation. Mr. Wilen is licensed to practice in Illinois and Michigan. He has also been admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Wilen is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, and a past president of the DuPage County Estate Planning Council. He is a frequent speaker on topics relating to the taxation of estates and trusts. Mr. Wilen is a long-time resident of Naperville and is very active in the community having served as the Board President of Senior Home Sharing, a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing seniors in DuPage County with an opportunity to live independently in affordable family-style homes. He also served as the Board Secretary for the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing enhanced educational programs for students in the Indian Prairie School District 204.