ABOUT US
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History of our firm
Brotschul Potts LLC was formed in 2007 by childhood friends, Matthew B. Brotschul and J. Ryan Potts. The life-long Illinois residents felt the legal market was saturated by overpaid associates with bloated hourly rates, and littered with young lawyers tied to their desks and not to the community. They saw the need for an entrepreneurial firm with deep experience, and one that was not bound to the billable hour. Despite comfortable and well-paying jobs, significant family obligations, and the fear of the unknown, Matt and Ryan decided to fill the void and did what their entrepreneur and business clients do every day. They took a risk, put it all on the line, and formed Brotschul Potts LLC.
Since then, Brotschul Potts LLC has committed itself to providing fair, comprehensive and reliable legal and consulting services. The firm has experienced significant growth and success; however, the founders remain focused on the firm’s core mission and principles of fairness and trust as it applies to their clients as well as their growing team. Matt and Ryan have always believed that the sum of the parts are greater than the whole – by treating each client and each member of the team as an individual with a unique story, the whole achieves far greater success.
Michael G. O’Rourke – President, Signature Bank
Brotschul Potts has served our bank for a number of years, working on all aspects of our banking services. They have gone above and beyond, taking the time to get to know us, help us and understand our business. As a financial institution details and accuracy are paramount, and we have full faith and trust in their team to deliver exactly what we need. Simply put, they get it.
Nate Ernst – Ernst Development, LLC
Expertise paired with great service is hard to find in any profession. I found it when I chose Brotschul Potts to represent my start-up. They have been crucial to our growth and bring expertise and value to every conversation. They are true partners.
George Olmos – Morgan/Harbour Construction
Brotschul Potts has an intimate working knowledge of contract disputes, subcontractor issues, construction defect and general construction matters. They have a profound understanding of the construction industry and their knowledge and experience provides enormous benefit to their construction clients.
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar, Bub City, Joe’s Live
Brotschul Potts has played a crucial role in the growth of our entertainment business. They took a genuine interest in helping our business grow, and took a proactive role in seeing us reach our goals. They see the big picture while guiding through the daily bumps in the road that everyone experiences.
Alex Samoylovich and Jay Michael
Brotschul Potts has provided effective and efficient counsel for our property development company. The firm combines the knowledge of how to properly structure each transaction, with the communication skills to promptly negotiate each contract from start to finish. Having attorneys that understand how to prioritize our needs has been extremely valuable.
Terry Zarowny – Century Environmental Resources, Inc.
You can trust these gentlemen at their word and their results. They will not make promises that they can’t keep.
Meet our Team
The practice of law is a service orientated business, and at Brotschul Potts we believe great service starts with trust. We make the time to get to know every aspect of our clients and believe you should know a bit about us.
Matthew B. Brotschul
Phone: (312) 551-9294
Matthew B. Brotschul is a co-owner and partner of Brotschul Potts LLC, which he founded alongside J. Ryan Potts in 2007. With nearly 15 years of experience as a practicing attorney, he specializes in banking and real estate law with extensive experience in lending, construction and land-use matters as well as general business law. His inherent sense of fairness has earned him a reputation of trustworthiness and honesty among his clients and colleagues, and his ability to understand the unique needs of his clients has contributed to the continued growth of the firm.
Before teaming with Ryan to form an entrepreneurial law firm, Matt was the General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for SMH Contractors in Chicago. As the lawyer for a general contracting firm, he developed extensive knowledge in the legal nuances of the construction and real estate industries. Upon graduation from the University of Illinois College of Law, he also served as an associate for Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP. Matt holds his Juris Doctorate in Law from U of I where he was awarded six CALI Awards for earning the highest grade in his class. He was a member of the Order of Coif and finished fourth in his class. Matt earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Marquette University and subsequently passed all sections of the Certified Public Accountant examination.
Matt is dedicated to giving back to the community and is active in numerous professional and civic organizations. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association as well as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Matt also supports the Les Turner ALS Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League, and is a member of the Academy of Country Music.
A dedicated practicing lawyer, Matt enjoys spending his personal time with his young family. He is also a business investor, notably acting as co-owner of Joes Live LLC, a music and concert promotion company specializing in country music concert promotion, booking, talent procurement and consultation. He resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Vicky and their four children. Matt is committed to success in all aspects of life from family and friends to colleagues and clients. He is loyal and fair, and strongly believes that every person, situation and case is deserving of personal attention and individualized solutions. He is an attorney, an advocate and an advisor.
Matt Brotschul
J Ryan Potts
Phone: (312) 551-9293
- Ryan Potts is a co-owner and partner of Brotschul Potts LLC, which he founded alongside Matthew Brotschul in 2007. With 20 years of experience as a practicing attorney, Ryan specializes in banking law, work-outs, private placements, real estate and business transactions, small business consulting, and civil and commercial litigation. He provides his clients with the benefits of his expertise and experience as well as, and most importantly, his keen understanding and commitment to each client’s needs. Ryan is a firm believer that each individual presents a unique set of circumstances, and as such, each case requires a personalized strategy.
Prior to forming Brotschul Potts, Ryan spent the first part of his career as a personal injury and commercial litigation attorney for Clifford Law Offices, one of Chicago’s most renowned and top ranked personal injury firms. During his tenure with Clifford Law, he gained valuable litigation experience and an in-depth understanding of judicial process and negotiations. Ryan obtained his Juris Doctor from DePaul University in Chicago and is a graduate of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.
Throughout Ryan’s career he has accumulated numerous honors including being named in Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s “40 Lawyers Under 40 to Watch in Illinois” and receiving the 2005 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award. He has authored numerous papers and briefs which were published in the Illinois Bar Journal and the DCBA Brief. A member of the Illinois State Bar Association and former member of the Glen Ellyn Plan Commission and Chicago 2016 Legal Committee, Ryan is also actively involved in numerous professional organizations including the Western Golf Association, Chicago Charity Clays and the Academy of Country Music.
While devoting his career to the law, Ryan’s interests also lie in everything from real estate, politics and business to golf, the U of I and country music. He is an avid golfer, being a former member of the University of Illinois Varsity Golf Team, and is also a business investor, notably acting as co-owner of Joes Live LLC, a music and concert promotion company specializing in country music concert promotion, booking, talent procurement and consultation. He is also the proud father of three daughters, Avery, Kara and Tessa and lives with his wife, Alison, in the western suburbs of Chicago. Ryan is an active and driven individual whose intense commitment extends across all facets of his life from law to family. He strongly believes in living a well-rounded life while continually striving for success. He is an attorney, an advocate and an advisor. Ryan is a licensed attorney in the States of Illinois, Wisconsin and Georgia.
J Ryan Potts
Jay Healy
(312) 971-8671
Jay Healy is an Attorney with Brotschul Potts, joining the firm in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, he was with Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago.
More to come….
Jay Healy
Adam Powers
(312) 268-6795
Adam is an Attorney with Brotschul Potts, joining the firm in 2020 Adam concentrates his practice in property tax rate litigation, complex commercial litigation, business disputes, labor/employment issues, professional liability matters, and construction litigation. Adam has successfully represented Fortune500 companies, individuals, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Having tried cases to verdict in state and federal courts on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, Adam is an experienced litigator that possesses the skills and knowledge to completely analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a case, formulate proactive strategies, anticipate reactions and tactics imposed by opposing counsel, and effectively advance his client’s positions.
Representative examples of cases Adam handled include helping secure a million dollar jury verdict in federal district court against a trucking company, which ultimately settled for more than the verdict and in excess of the available insurance policy. In another case, after Adam appealed a trial court’s ruling in favor of local taxing districts, the appellate court reversed the trial judge and upheld judgments in his clients’ favor. In other matters, after being called to the scene shortly after accidents and fatalities, Adam collected key evidence and developed defenses to prompt expedient and favorable resolutions for his clients.
Adam is actively involved in various professional activities. Adam has made presentations to the Chicago Bar Association’s Real Estate Taxation Committee, acted as a Moot Court Judge for Northwestern and the John Marshall Law Schools, been involved with the Shedd Aquarium’s Auxiliary Board, helped form a Chicago neighborhood association, serves as corporate secretary to a college housing board and was elected as a community representative to the Skinner West Local School Counsel in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.
Adam and his wife live in the Chicago suburbs with their four children.
Adam Powers
Timothy P. Cwick
Timothy P. Cwick joined Brotschul Potts LLC as an attorney in 2021. Tim is responsible for counseling real estate owners, developers, investors and lenders in the structuring and closing of complex commercial real estate and financing matters. Tim applies his vast transactional experience to provide his clients with practical counsel on a wide variety of real estate, finance, and corporate matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Tim spent eight (8) years as the General Counsel to a vertically integrated, mixed-use and multifamily real estate development company with a portfolio market capitalization over $1 billion. As General Counsel, Tim provided effective counsel at each phase of the development process from acquisition, capitalization, entitlement, construction, lease-up and stabilization of each asset. Tim was responsible for leading the commercial transactions team on all secured financing matters and equity capitalizations. During his tenure as the sole General Counsel, Tim successfully completed and closed over $850 million in debt and equity financing for the acquisition, rehabilitation and development of both mixed-use and multifamily buildings throughout the United States. Tim was also responsible for providing various legal solutions and strategies for the affiliated construction, asset management and property management entities.
Tim earned his Juris Doctor from Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina, where he graduated in the top twenty-five percent of his graduating class. While at Charleston School of Law, Tim was the recipient of the CALI Award for Excellence in Legal Writing (White Collar Crime) and a member of the Dean’s List.
Tim holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Clemson University in Clemson, SC. Tim grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois where he currently resides with his wife and three children. When not working on commercial real estate matters, Tim spends his time traveling with his family and attending sporting events, with a heavy emphasis on Clemson football.
Timothy P. Cwick
Sean McQuillan
[email protected]
(312) 621-7406
Sean McQuillan is an attorney with Brotschul Potts, joining the firm in 2022.
More to come….
Sean McQuillan
Ryan Tunney
[email protected]
(312) 762-5762
Ryan Tunney is an attorney with Brotschul Potts, joining the firm in 2023.
More to come….
Ryan Tunney
Richard L Miller II
Richard L. Miller II is an attorney at Brotschul Potts, joining the firm in 2023. Richard concentrates his practice in commercial litigation. He has litigated disputes involving contracts, insurance coverage, partnership agreements, class actions, creditors’ rights, products liability, real estate, employment law, trademarks, licenses, and corporate veil piercing claims, among others.
Richard has represented clients’ interests in federal proceedings in various jurisdictions. He has litigated state court actions, including handling appellate proceedings. Richard also has advocated in arbitration cases and in adversary proceedings within bankruptcy cases.
Richard is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern College of Law where he has served as a Trial Advocacy instructor since 2005 and Advanced Trial Advocacy instructor since 2013. In 2018, he was selected to serve as an instructor for a one-week, summer, international LLM course on Trial Advocacy.
Richard has been an American Arbitration Association arbitrator since 2008. In that role, he has decided numerous cases based upon live testimony and written submissions. Richard is also an arbitrator for FINRA and he served as an arbitrator for the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program for two years.
Prior to entering private practice, Richard served as a prosecutor for Champaign County, Illinois where he litigated approximately 50 jury trials, as well as innumerable bench trials. He prosecuted four murder cases, two of which went to trial, resulting in sentences of 45 and 55 years. Richard once tried five criminal cases back-to-back, prevailing in all five.
Richard has authored: (a) fourteen chapters that appear in Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education ("IICLE") volumes; (b) six articles that appear in the Illinois Bar Journal; and (c) two articles that appear in the CBA Record. IICLE named Richard "Author of the Year" in 2015 and he was the co-recipient of that award in 2010. Richard authored a book, published by IICLE, entitled “Laying Foundations for Introducing Evidence.” In 2018, Richard organized, moderated, and spoke at a half-day IICLE event addressing topics from his book.
Richard has been repeatedly selected as a Leading Lawyer, Super Lawyer, and Rising Star. In 2008, Richard was named one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 To Watch” by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publishers of the Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The Law Bulletin described Richard as “that rare commercial litigator who is a master of advocating for his clients both in the courtroom and in writing.”
Richard was a regular speaker at the University of Illinois College of Law’s Annual Student-Alumni Conference. Richard served on his law school’s Alumni Board for three years, including serving as its President during the last of those years. Richard has also taught in his law school’s Chicago program. In 2017, Richard received his law school’s annual “Alumni Loyalty Award.”
Richard is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the University Club of Chicago. Richard resides in downtown Chicago with his wife and children.
Richard L Miller II
Ed McGinnis
Edward McGinnis joined Brotschul Potts as of counsel in 2022. Ed concentrates his practice on litigation including complex insurance coverage disputes. Ed has extensive experience advising and representing policyholders and insurance companies in declaratory judgment actions involving general liability policies, excess policies, workers’ compensation policies, and school board legal liability policies. Ed has also advised a risk management organization serving colleges and universities regarding insurance coverage and contractual risk management issues in contracts. Additionally, Ed actively represents owners and contractors in personal injury lawsuits. Ed has tried cases in state and federal courts including courts in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts and South Carolina. He has also successfully argued appeals in Illinois Appellate Courts.
Ed has given numerous presentations to businesses and insurance producers on a variety of topics including: the nature and scope of liability insurance products and coverage for construction related claims. Ed has an AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell which is its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. Ed received his JD from John Marshall Law School and his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago. He is admitted to the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. District Courts for Northern and Central Districts of Illinois.
Ed is active in community volunteer services and is on the Board of Directors of a local food pantry which provides services to over 5,000 members of the community.
Ed McGinnis
David Hyde
Kelly Thames
Office Manager
Phone: (312) 577-7005
Kelly Thames is the Office Manager for Brotschul Potts. She joined the firm in 2013 and ensures the office is run effectively. In her role, she manages the firm’s accounting functions including accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reports and payroll. She also administers the HR functions on behalf of the firm and oversees the office staff including the law clerks and receptionist. She is a team player and assists the legal team as-needed; and her professional demeanor and organizational skills help to maintain the efficiency of the office.
Prior to joining Brotschul Potts, Kelly honed her management and customer relationship skills as an account manager for Bar Code Graphics. During her eleven years spent with the firm, she managed the accounts of several major retailers and assisted in the implementation of supply chain compliance programs. She developed a sharp-eye for detail and a passion for customer relations.
Kelly is a graduate of DePaul University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She grew up in Morris, Illinois and currently resides in Norwood Park. She enjoys reading, cooking and traveling. Kelly implements her skills and motivations to uphold the mission and values of Brotschul Potts – a team-oriented environment reliant upon mutual trust.
Kelly Thames
Janet Vazquez
Legal Assistant
[email protected]
(312) 778-6136
Janet joined the firm as a legal assistant in 2022.
More to come….
Janet Vazquez
At Brotschul Potts LLC we distinguish ourselves by immersing in our clients’ businesses and by being responsive to our clients’ personal and professional needs. We get to know every aspect of the people, business and industry in which our clients operate. It is that knowledge and dedication that opens up new opportunities for our clients and helps achieve the best and most efficient results.