Illinois Attorneys for Workers' Compensation Defense

The founding partners, Francis M. Brady, John P. Connolly, and Beverly N. Masuda, had practiced together for several years. Over time, they discovered a shared approach to representing Illinois employers. Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. was born in May 1997 of the desire to effectively employ their joint approach.

From the three founders in one location, the firm has grown impressively to staff two offices: the original location in Chicago and a downstate office opened in Bloomington-Normal in December, 2000. The firm has outgrown each office resulting in several expansions.

The roster of partners has grown from three to seventeen. We encourage you to read more about our accomplished team of civil litigation and insurance defense attorneys below, then contact us for diligent preparation of your important matter.

Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. takes great pride in its Continuing Legal Education program. Please contact John P. Connolly at 312-425-3131 to schedule a Continuing Legal Education Seminar at your office.

Francis M. Brady

Partner

Francis M. Brady graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 1978 and from Loyola Law School, Chicago, in 1981. He commenced his practice...

John P. Connolly

Partner

John P. Connolly is an experienced trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in the preparation and defense of Illinois workers' compensation...

Beverly N. Masuda

Of Counsel

Ms. Masuda is a founding member of Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C., and her practice is concentrated in the defense of employers...

William D. Brewster

Partner

William D. Brewster focuses on the defense of Workers' Compensation claims. He has tried dozens of cases before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and...

Daniel J. Cody

Partner

Daniel J. Cody is a Partner at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. concentrating in the defense of workers’ compensation matters before the Illinois Workers’...

William P. Dewyer

Partner

William P. Dewyer is an experienced trial attorney with over 25 years of trial litigation experience. Mr. Dewyer has over 15 years of...

Surbhi Saraswat Goyal

Partner

Surbhi Saraswat Goyal defends employers, insurers and third party administrators in a variety of legal matters stemming from workers’ compensation claims in Illinois. She is a...

Farrah L. Hagan

Partner – Bloomington/Normal

Farrah Hagan joined the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, office of Brady, Connolly and Masuda, P.C. in November 2015, and was promoted to a Partner in 2018....

Noah P. Hamann

Partner – Bloomington/Normal

Prior to joining Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C., Noah worked as claims counsel at a major insurance company for two years where he gained...

Andrew R. Makauskas

Partner

Andrew R. Makauskas is a Partner with Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in its Chicago office. He has been representing employers and insurance carriers...

Julia B. McCarthy

Partner – Bloomington/Normal

Julia B. McCarthy has practiced in the area of workers’ compensation for over 25 years. Ms. McCarthy has handled defense of workers’ compensation...

Steven L. Miller

Partner

Steven L. Miller joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in July 2010. Steven has dedicated his legal practice solely toward representing...

Neel Mookerjee

Partner – Bloomington/Normal

Neel Mookerjee joined Brady, Connolly, & Masuda’s Bloomington-Normal office in June 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Neel worked as an Assistant Attorney...

Ivan Nieves

Partner

Ivan Nieves joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in July 2010. Ivan joined the firm with nine years of workers' compensation experience, having litigated...

Paul W. Pasche

Partner

With over 25 years of trial experience in workers' compensation litigation, Paul W. Pasche was also on the team that began BCM's Medicare department...

Valerie J. Peiler

Partner

Valerie J. Peiler served as an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission for fifteen years prior to joining Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C....

Matthew P. Sheriff

Partner

Matthew P. Sheriff is a Partner with more than 20 years of experience in the defense of workers’ compensation and civil liability matters. Mr. Sheriff...

Peter J. Stavropoulos

Partner

Peter J. Stavropoulos is an experienced trial lawyer with over 10 years of experience, nearly all of which involves Illinois workers' compensation matters. Mr. Stavropoulos...

W. Scott Trench

Partner

W. Scott Trench is an attorney in the Civil Litigation Department at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in its Chicago office. Mr. Trench represents...

Mark F. Vizza

Partner

Mark F. Vizza is an experienced trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in the preparation and defense of Illinois workers' compensation,...

Robert J. Winston

Partner

Robert Winston is a Partner with Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C., in its Chicago office. He has handled civil litigation matters for 25 years. He...

Nicole L. Wiza

Partner

Partner Nicole Wiza practices in the areas of workers' compensation defense, appellate advocacy and Medicare compliance on behalf of insurance companies and employers in...

Amanda T. Bast

Associate

Amanda Bast graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2017 and joined BCM as an associate the following year. Amanda practices...

Clayton D. Britnell

Associate

Clayton D. Britnell is an associate at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. currently dedicating his practice to Workers’ Compensation defense. Clayton is licensed to...

Grant M. Campbell

Associate – Bloomington/Normal

Grant M. Campbell is an associate at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. concentrating in the defense of workers' compensation matters before the Illinois Workers'...

Jeffrey F. Clement

Associate

Jeffrey F. Clement is an attorney in the firm’s Chicago office where he concentrates his practice in civil defense litigation. Mr. Clement has...

Marina Takagi Cobb

Associate

Marina Takagi Cobb graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2014, and joined BCM later that year. While in law school,...

Lyndsay M. Cook

Associate

Lyndsay M. Cook earned her juris doctorate degree from Case Western Reserve University, where she was one of only six students in her graduating...

Bradley E. Crandall

Associate

Bradley Crandall graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 2017, and joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in November of that year....

Dontel T. Crowder

Associate

Dontel T. Crowder graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2018, and joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in October of that...

Courtney Morso Driscoll

Associate

Courtney Morso Driscoll joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C., as an associate in 2017 in the civil litigation department. Prior to joining firm, she...

Markeya A. Fowler

Associate

Markeya A. Fowler joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an Associate in 2018, and practices in the area of workers’ compensation defense. While...

Jeffrey R. Gibellina

Associate

Jeff Gibellina is an associate at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. focusing on Workers’ Compensation defense. Jeff externed for a federal judge and clerked...

Kelly E. Kamstra

Associate

Kelly Kamstra joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2017 in the Workers’ Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, Kelly...

Charles M. Maring, II

Associate

Charles has been practicing personal injury and workers' compensation law since graduating from Marquette University Law School. During law school Charles participated in internships...

John P. O'Grady

Associate

John P. O’Grady is an experienced trial attorney, concentrating in the defense of workers’ compensation claims. Prior to private practice, John served as a...