Our Attorneys

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 twenty. 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 Education programs for attorneys, employers and insurance/claims professionals. Our attorneys frequently speak at both local and national events. Click HERE to Request a Speaker or email marketing@bcm-law.com.

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...

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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...

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Beverly N. Masuda

Retired

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

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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...

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Micaela M. Cassidy

Partner

Micaela M. Cassidy is a Partner at BCM whose practice is concentrated in the defense of employers in workers’ compensation cases throughout the State...

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Jeffrey F. Clement

Partner

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

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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...

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Jeffrey R. Gibellina

Partner

Jeff Gibellina is a Partner at Brady Connolly & Masuda with extensive experience in tirelessly defending Illinois employers, insurers and third-party administrators in workers’...

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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...

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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....

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Noah P. Hamann

Partner

Noah P. Hamann is a Partner with Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. and manages the Firm’s St. Louis, MO office. He is an experienced...

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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...

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Charles M. Maring, II

Partner

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

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Julia B. McCarthy

Of Counsel – 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...

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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...

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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...

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Ivan Nieves

Managing 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...

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Amelia A. Schwingle

Partner

Amelia Schwingle is a partner at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in the Workers' Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced...

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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...

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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...

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Marina Takagi Cobb, MSCC

Partner

Marina Takagi Cobb is the Department Head of the Medicare Compliance Practice Group at Brady, Connolly, & Masuda, P.C. She began her...

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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...

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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,...

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Dylan R. Besser

Associate

Dylan Besser is an associate attorney at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in its Chicago Office, with J.D. Certificates in both Trial Advocacy and...

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Christapher L. Clanin

Associate

Christapher L. Clanin is an associate at the firm’s Chicago office where he concentrates his practice in civil defense litigation. Mr. Clanin has litigated matters...

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Martin J. Deely

Associate

Martin J. Deely came to Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. with more than 16 years of workers’ compensation defense and appellate court experience. Before...

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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...

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Ilir Imeri

Associate

Ilir Imeri focuses his practice in the areas of litigation and workers’ compensation defense, defending employers, insurers, and third party administrators. Mr. Imeri has...

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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...

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Janna M. Miller Midura

Associate

Ms. Miller Midura has had a long career in the practice of Worker’s Compensation defense law, and has represented large insurance companies, third-party administrators,...

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Carolyn P. Murray

Associate

Carolyn Murray graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2011. While in law school, she clerked for Judge Jeffery Dywan, Lake County,...

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Ndubuisi V. Obah

Associate

Ndubuisi Vincent Obah (goes by Vince) joined Brady, Connolly and Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2021. Before starting with BCM, Vince worked...

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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...

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Olga Sheinman

Associate

After graduating from Tel Aviv University, Ms. Sheinman served six (6) years as a JAG Officer in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). As a...

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Rachel E. Smith

Associate

Rachel Smith joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2019 in the Workers' Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, she...

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Daniel J. Spinazzola

Associate

Daniel J. Spinazzola is an associate attorney at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in its Chicago Office, and practices in the area of workers’...

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Karen E. Zimmermann

Associate

Karen Zimmermann graduated from the John Marshall Law School (Chicago) in 2016. While in law school, she clerked for the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman,...

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