Best Lawyers has selected eight Kogut & Wilson attorneys to be named for their excellence in family law for the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America publication.
The firm’s recognitions include:
Best Lawyers

• Cailee J. Alderman: Family Law
• Brenda G. Friedman: Family Law
• Eva M. Kogut
  • Collaborative Law: Family Law
  • Family Law
  • Family Law Mediation
• Bryan J. Wilson: Family Law

Ones to Watch

• Genesis Hernandez Garcia: Family Law
• Sarah E. (Holtzman) Hrabak
  • Family Law
  • Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
• Sabrina Karakaya: Family Law
• Kirsten L. Meeder: Family Law

Brenda has been honored on…
Continue Reading Best Lawyers Highlights Eight Kogut & Wilson Attorneys in 2026 Lists

This year marks a major milestone for Kogut & Wilson—the firm’s 10-year anniversary. What began with two attorneys and a vision of delivering first-rate client service during some of the most difficult and challenging times in our clients’ lives in 2015 has evolved into a respected family law team with an established and growing presence in the legal community.
Over the past decade, the firm has expanded significantly, growing to a team of five partners, five associates and a dedicated group of paralegals and administrative professionals who help deliver the highest level of legal insight and care to every family…
Continue Reading Kogut & Wilson Celebrates 10 Years of Growth, Service and Recognition

Kogut & Wilson is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s attorneys have once again been recognized by Leading Lawyers for excellence in family law.
Eva Kogut has been honored as a Leading Lawyer for the 11th consecutive year, a distinction reserved for fewer than five percent of attorneys in Illinois.
Bryan Wilson, previously recognized as an Emerging Lawyer, has now been named to the Leading Lawyers list.
Brenda Friedman has also been recognized by Leading Lawyers as an Emerging Lawyer, a distinction she first earned in 2021.
Leading Lawyers, a part of Law Bulletin Media, publishes lists…
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Kogut & Wilson associate Sabrina Karakaya has expanded her services in family law to include Parenting Coordination (PC), an alternative dispute resolution process designed for high-conflict cases, such as:

• High-litigation cases involving custody orders
• Cases where mediation has not been successful
• Parents needing assistance with developing, modifying or implementing parenting plans
• Disagreements on important issues regarding their child
• Difficulty in parental communication

After successfully completing a 16-hour training course with the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Sabrina is prepared to take on complex custody matters as a parenting coordinator.
Sabrina is fluent in Polish and experienced in a…
Continue Reading Sabrina Karakaya Expands Services to Include Parenting Coordination

Kogut & Wilson partner Cailee J. Alderman will speak at two upcoming events. On March 7 at 2:15 p.m., she will present a workshop on SIJS predicate orders at the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association’s (AILA) Chicago Chapter’s 2025 Midwest Regional Conference. Cailee will also be a featured panelist at the Rotary Club of Chicago Six Corners’ International Women’s Day event on March 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Cailee will join co-presenter Drew Spear of Spear Legal Services at AILA’s conference to lead a workshop on SIJS predicate orders. The conference brings together representatives of government agencies and experts from AILA…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman to Speak at American Immigration Lawyers’ Association Conference and Rotary Club International Women’s Day Event

Kogut & Wilson partner Cailee Alderman will join an adoption law panel as part of the CLE course, “Great Expectations: Practicing Adoption Law,” presented by the Chicago Bar Association on Thursday, February 6 at 2pm CST.
The webinar features Guardians at Litem and an adoption judge, who will discuss roles in adoption cases, expectations for practicing adoption attorneys and updates in adoption law. As part of the GAL panel, Cailee will focus on key developments related to Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS) and international adoptions.
For more information or to register for the webinar, click here.
Cailee is an award-winning…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman to Discuss Special Immigration Juvenile Status and International Adoption Law in Chicago Bar Association Webinar

Kogut & Wilson is proud to announce that Super Lawyers has named six firm attorneys to their 2025 Illinois lists in recognition of their exceptional impact in family law:
Super Lawyers

• Eva M. Kogut
• Bryan J. Wilson

Rising Stars

• Genesis Hernandez
• Sarah E. (Holtzman) Hrabak
• Sabrina Karakaya
• Kirsten L. Meeder

Additionally, Eva has been named to the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers and the Top 50 Women Attorneys lists. Read more here.
Super Lawyers makes its selections using a rigorous patented multiphase selection process consisting of peer nominations, evaluations and independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 different…
Continue Reading Six Kogut & Wilson Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Super Lawyers Lists

Kogut & Wilson congratulates Eva M. Kogut on being featured on the 2025 Super Lawyers Illinois’ Top 50 Women and Top 100 Attorneys lists. This is Eva’s third consecutive year being featured on the Top 50 list, and her first year being named to the Top 100 list. Eva joins five other firm attorneys that were named to Super Lawyers Illinois lists for 2025.
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes exceptional attorneys from across the country in their Top Lists. Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of professional achievement and peer recognition, with selections made on a state-by-state basis annually.
Continue Reading Eva M. Kogut Once Again Honored on Illinois Super Lawyers Top 50 Women List; Named to Top 100 Attorneys List for First Year

Kogut & Wilson is excited to announce the elevation of Kirsten L. Meeder to partner.
Since joining Kogut & Wilson in 2021, Kirsten has represented clients in a wide array of family law aspects, including complex pre-decree and post-decree matters. Her practice encompasses the identification and distribution of marital and non-marital property, maintenance, child support and allocating parental rights and responsibilities, offering clients strategic advice tailored to their unique circumstances. 
“Kirsten has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our clients and the practice of family law,” said founding partner Eva M. Kogut. “Her ability to navigate the intricacies of family…
Continue Reading Kirsten L. Meeder Advances to Partner at Kogut & Wilson

Kogut & Wilson partner Cailee J. Alderman has once again been appointed as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for adoption cases by the Circuit Court of Cook County. This marks her third consecutive appointment, reflecting her exceptional contributions to family law. Effective December 1, 2024, Cailee will serve a two-year term, continuing until November 30, 2026.
To become a GAL, the Circuit Court of Cook County requires individuals to have deep experience handling adoption cases and undergo a screening process.
Drawing from her extensive experience in adoption matters, Cailee will continue to advocate for the best interests of children throughout…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman Reappointed as Guardian ad Litem for Adoption Cases by Circuit Court of Cook County for 2024-2026 Term

For married couples facing separation and/or divorce, filing a joint income tax return can offer significant financial advantages and can be a powerful tool for couples looking to optimize their tax outcomes. While individual tax circumstances vary, many couples find that this method of filing can result in considerable tax savings and benefits that help them manage their finances more effectively including:

• Potential for various tax deductions and credits
• Expediting due refund(s)
• Lower overall tax rates
• Shared expenses that qualify for deductions are easier to track

This route is legally sound as encountered in In re Marriage of Solis-Cantrill and…
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Second parent adoption allows a non-biological parent to gain the same rights as a biological parent. Following recent political decisions, including the 2024 election and the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs in June 2022, discussions surrounding second parent adoption have increased, as many same sex couples are concerned about their future parenting rights.
What is Second Parent Adoption?
In a second parent adoption, a second adult establishes themselves as a legal parent of a child.  In the case of a LGBTQ+ couple, this often takes the form of a spouse adopting:

• The child born biologically to their partner during

…
Continue Reading Protecting LGBTQ+ Family Rights in Upcoming Years

Kogut & Wilson is thrilled to announce Cailee J. Alderman’s recognition in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s fifth annual Women in Law List. This list recognizes and honors influential women in law who work to mentor and promote other women in the field, act as shining examples of leadership and achieve success in the legal community. 
As a partner, Cailee has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s practices, especially in adoption, guardianship and special immigrant juvenile status cases. Her efforts have not only enhanced the firm’s capabilities, but her extensive knowledge and compassionate advocacy have also transformed how the entire team…
Continue Reading Cailee J. Alderman Honored in 2024 Women in Law List