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 three offices: the original location in Chicago, a downstate office opened in Bloomington-Normal in December, 2000 and St. Louis, MO opened in June, 2020. 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 in the firm’s Chicago office and the Chair of the Civil Litigation practice group. Mr. Clement has litigated matters...

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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 helps employers navigate through the intricacies involved with injured employees with efficiency and methodical attention to detail. A Partner at Brady, Connolly...

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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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Kelly E. Kamstra

Partner

Kelly Kamstra joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in 2017 in the Workers’ Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, Kelly practiced workers’ compensation...

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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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Carolyn P. Murray, MSCC

Partner

Carolyn Murray is Co-Chair of the Medicare Compliance Practice Group at Brady, Connolly, & Masuda, P.C. She graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law...

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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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Amanda J. Richert

Partner

Amanda Richert is a Partner in the Firm’s St. Louis, MO office. Amanda has spent her career defending employers and insurance carriers in matters...

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Amelia A. Schwingle

Partner

Amelia Schwingle joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in 2016 in the Workers' Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced workers’ compensation...

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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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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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Paul N. Berard

Associate

Paul Berard has focused his practice on the defense of workers’ compensation claims and general liability claims since 2012. He has handled over 500...

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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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Andrea M. Carlson

Associate

Andrea Carlson joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2021 in the Workers' Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, she...

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Catherine L. Carlson

Associate

Catherine Carlson joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2022 in the Civil Litigation Department. Prior to joining the firm,...

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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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Emma L. Knowles

Associate

Emma Knowles joined Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. as an associate in 2022 in the Civil Litigation Department. Prior to joining the firm, Emma...

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Brandt T. Miller

Associate

Brandt Miller joined Brady, Connolly, & Masuda’s Bloomington-Normal office after graduating cum laude from University of Illinois College of Law. During law school, he...

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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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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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Adan Ramirez

Associate

Adan Ramirez is an associate attorney at Brady, Connolly & Masuda, P.C. in the Workers' Compensation Department. Prior to joining the firm, he practiced...

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Robert J. Schwarz

Associate

Robert J. Schwarz is an associate at the firm’s Chicago office where he concentrates his practice in civil defense litigation. Mr. Schwarz served as...

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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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Shawn V. Varghese

Associate

Shawn Varghese joined the firm’s Medicare Compliance Department in 2022. Before joining, he worked for the Speaker at the Illinois House of Representatives and...

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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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