Attorneys
Chamberlain Hrdlicka announces that it has elevated four new shareholders. Houston-based attorney Justice David Medina, Atlanta-based attorneys Erica Opitz and Christopher Steele, and Philadelphia-based attorney Kevin Sweeney were named as shareholders.
“Each of these attorneys have contributed significantly to the success of our firm through their hard work and dedication to providing great client service,” said Wayne Risoli, the firm’s managing shareholder. “The number of attorneys joining our shareholder ranks this year is a testament to our continued growth and commitment to achieving excellent results for our clients. We are confident that their leadership will bring continued success to Chamberlain Hrdlicka.”
Justice David M. Medina
Justice Medina works with clients in multiple industries on various trials, business transactions and appeals. Justice Medina previously served on the Texas Supreme Court and authored over 90 Supreme Court Opinions. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas State University, his law degree from South Texas College of Law and his Master of Laws degree in global energy, international arbitration and environmental law from the University of Texas.
Erica Opitz
Erica Opitz focuses her practice on corporate, securities and finance and often serves as outside general counsel to her clients. She counsels start-ups and corporate clients on a variety of financial transactions including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, capital raises, real estate transactions and loans. Opitz earned her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and her law degree from Mercer University School of Law.
Christopher Steele
Christopher Steele was elevated to shareholder in Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Atlanta office, where his practice focuses on tax, trusts, and estates, handling matters including tax and estate planning, asset protection planning, and the administration of complex trusts and estates. He has experience in counseling clients on issues relating to income taxes, transfer taxes, complex wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, grantor trusts, life insurance planning and complex gifting techniques. Additionally, Steele assists clients in the design and implementation of business succession plans, including the formation, structure, purchase and sale of corporate entities. He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University, his law degree from Mercer University School of Law and a Master of Laws degree in taxation from the University of Florida. Christopher is a frequent speaker in the Atlanta area and his articles have been printed in national publications.
Kevin Sweeney
Kevin Sweeney was elevated to shareholder in Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Philadelphia office. As a former trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice’s Tax Division in Washington D.C., Sweeney specializes in matters of civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation. At DOJ, he was one of a select team of attorneys assigned to the Swiss Bank Program (SBP) where he investigated and prosecuted Swiss Banks for offshore tax and Bank Secrecy Act violations. Sweeney was the first SBP attorney to move into private practice, making him uniquely positioned to counsel institutional clients on U.S. regulatory and enforcement matters including FATCA and individual clients concerning foreign bank account and cryptocurrency wallet issues. His practice focuses on high-stakes IRS audits, voluntary disclosures, civil tax litigation, and white-collar criminal defense matters for high and ultra-high net worth individuals, business owners and public and private companies worldwide. He earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Maryland and his law degree from New York Law School.
About Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies, as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation. The firm offers counsel in tax planning and tax controversy, corporate, securities and finance, employment law and employee benefits, energy law, estate planning and administration, intellectual property, international and immigration law, commercial and business litigation, real estate and construction law.