JONATHAN MEREL
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY:
KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
JAMES GUSTIN, IAN MCLEOD, & KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY:
THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY:
JAYNE HENNESSEY, DORIA DEBARTOLO & MARGARETA KOMLENAC
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY:
KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
JAMES GUSTIN, IAN MCLEOD, & KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY:
THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY:
JAYNE HENNESSEY, DORIA DEBARTOLO & MARGARETA KOMLENAC
JONATHAN MEREL
Founder & Managing Principal
MEREL FAMILY LAW
Jonathan Merel is the Founder and Managing Principal of Merel Family Law, where he has built one of Illinois’ premier family law firms dedicated to guiding clients through some of life’s most difficult transitions. Since founding the firm in 2009, he has developed a reputation for achieving strong outcomes in complex, high-net-worth divorce and contested custody matters while maintaining a client-focused approach grounded in strategy, communication, and compassion.
Merel and his team pride themselves on providing not only professional and reputable legal counsel but also an equally approachable environment for clients. “At Merel Family Law, we specialize in providing legal services to our clients in all aspects of divorce and family law,” he says. “What we do is only half of what sets us apart from other divorce firms in the Chicago area, though. How we do what we do is just as important.”
While Merel is known as a skilled and aggressive litigator, when necessary, he emphasizes that many clients misunderstand the divorce process. “Clients going through a divorce often feel that the harder their lawyer fights and the more aggressive they are, the better the outcome will be,” he says, noting that this is not always true. In many cases, he explains, “most cases are best resolved through an amicable resolution outside of court,” where families retain control over key decisions rather than leaving them to a judge.
With a bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Merel has bar admissions in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Additionally, a thought leader in family law, Merel has been featured in outlets including the Today Show, Wall Street Journal, and Crain’s Chicago Business.
For more information, visit merelfamilylaw.com or call 312-408-7000.
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