Pekin, IL

Elizabeth M. Reynolds

Elizabeth Reynolds, from Ottawa, IL, joined Kanoski Bresney in 2023 where she focuses her practice on Worker’s Compensation. She takes great pride in standing up for local working people against the selfish interests of insurance companies. Elizabeth was raised in Downers Grove, IL and knew she wanted to be an attorney since she was eight years old. After graduating with her bachelor’s from Marquette University, she set her childhood dream aside and accepted a coveted position with the Social Security Administration. Thus, launching her career serving and helping those who needed it the most, the disabled, survivors, and retirees. She quickly demonstrated a natural ability to patiently and clearly explain complicated Social Security law to thousands of claimants filing for benefits and those who attended her educational presentations throughout the Illinois Valley area. Additionally, Elizabeth was the only person in her office fluent in Spanish and was certified as a Spanish Translator by the Social Security Administration. She used those skills daily to translate important legal documents into English and assist claimants that spoke Spanish. In 2008, Elizabeth temporarily set her professional goals aside to stay at home and raise a family full-time. She selflessly raised two beautiful and kind children which are her pride and joy. Once her children were older, she was afforded an opportunity to return to school to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. While in law school, Elizabeth clerked at criminal defense and estate planning firms. Although both were rewarding and educational, she was presented with several opportunities in which injured people needed legal representation. While working for a labor and employment law firm, she quickly realized that her true interests were in the area of worker’s compensation and personal injury law. Elizabeth has been helping others most of her life and after witnessing first-hand how cunning insurance companies ruthlessly profit from the fragile lives of everyday people, she felt outraged and will not stand for it. Elizabeth is proud to take up the fight against insurance companies so her clients can rest easier and focus on healing.

James M. Ridge

Jim was born and raised on the Northwest side of Chicago. He graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep High School and received his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University. He received his Law degree from DePaul University School of Law in 1974. After graduating from Law School, he began practicing law in St. Louis, Missouri. Jim returned to the Chicago area in 1976 and was hired as an associate at the law firm of Perz & McGuire, concentrating his practice in Workers’ Compensation and Third Party Injury Cases. He became a partner in 1980 and the Senior Partner of the firm in 1985. In addition to a full schedule of trial work, Jim also spends a substantial amount of his time giving legal presentations to various labor groups. He instructs members about both their rights and benefits under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and also issues associated with other statutory and common law cases including personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice. Jim has been recognized for his charitable and civic contributions by many organizations. In 1997, the Illinois Police Pension Fund Association selected Jim as “Man of the Year” for his work employing a successful legislative plan that restored police officers’ and firefighters’ benefits under the Worker’s Compensation Act that had been preempted by various local municipalities. Jim also received the “Blue and Gold” Award from the Fraternal Order of Police in 2004 for his outstanding contribution to the FOP and the Law Enforcement Community in the State of Illinois. This is the highest award given to a non-sworn officer by the FOP. Jim is also a member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Educational Fund board of directors. Jim’s favorite charitable organization is the Guide Dogs of America (GDA). In association with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers he has sponsored the training of a number of guide dogs. Once these dogs complete their vigorous training they enable the blind to live and work with greater independence. Jim has also been honored on several occasions by “In Search of a Cure” for his support of autism research. He is also pleased to support “DADS” - Dollars Against Diabetes. For several years, Jim has joined “Team Trooper” to shave his head at an annual St. Baldrick’s event raising money to help end childhood cancers. Jim is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the American Association of Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association.

Larry A. Apfelbaum

Larry joined the Springfield office of Kanoski Bresney in 1989 and opened the firm's Bloomington office in 1995. Along with his staff of dedicated legal assistants in Bloomington and Champaign, Larry has successfully represented thousands of personal injury and workers’ compensation clients throughout central Illinois for more than 30 years. Larry was born in Freeport, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area with three brothers. After graduating from Illinois State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree focusing on business administration and accounting, he attended the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1987. Larry's first position was at a general practice law firm in Bloomington before he joined Kanoski Bresney to concentrate on personal injury and workers' compensation cases. Larry quickly realized that the laws are often too complicated for lay people to understand, and insurance companies like to take advantage of this fact. By focusing his legal work on helping injured people, Larry has sought to level the playing field with big insurance companies. Larry has been married to his wife, Karen, since 1988. They share their home with three rescue pugs - Ebony, Lola and Reilly - and five rescue cats - Fuzz, Banjo, Oscar, Marley and Pepper. Together Larry and Karen are big believers in giving back, and donate their time and talents to several local non-profit organizations.

Roby M. Javoronok

Roby Javoronok joined Kanoski Bresney as an associate in October 2020 with over 14 years of workers' compensation experience. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he spent his childhood in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Roby graduated cum laude at Western Illinois University and Illinois Centennial Honors College before attending law school at Southern Illinois University. He enjoys traveling and working throughout Illinois. After law school, he has happily resided in Central Illinois. Roby concentrates his practice on workers' compensation and civil litigation. Roby has litigated cases on behalf of petitioners and respondents in each Illinois Workers Compensation Commission venue, giving him great familiarity with tendencies of a wide number of opposing attorneys and developing strong relationships with judges, arbitrators, and commissioners. He has obtained several favorable decisions from arbitrators and has successfully argued before the Illinois Appellate Court. With experience in civil litigation, Roby also appears in circuit and appellate courts. Roby is a litigator at heart and has a passion for securing favorable verdicts for his clients. Furthermore, Roby knows the value of negotiating favorable settlements to avoid delays caused by trial. He knows the strategic value of utilizing investigation, depositions, and medical experts to leverage favorable settlements, or to be fully prepared for trial while remaining cost-sensitive in achieving the client's desired result. Roby has conducted numerous seminars for clients and colleagues regarding workers' compensation laws and strategic case handling. He received multiple "Emerging Lawyer" awards in Leading Lawyers magazine, a distinction that is only given to the top 2% of the lawyers in the state of Illinois under the age of 40.

John J. Waldman

A lifelong resident of Illinois, John Waldman raised his family in the Pekin/Peoria area, where he resides today. John attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, graduating with University Honors with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Paralegal Studies. He began practicing law after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1988. After law school, John began working for a law firm that primarily did work for insurance companies, defending personal injury and workers' compensation claims. Trying to save insurance companies money at the expense of innocent accident victims was not very rewarding. He joined Kanoski Bresney in 1994 and has worked tirelessly for injured victims ever since. John is an avid NASCAR fan and craft beer enthusiast.

Joe Dunn

Joe Dunn grew up in Pekin, Illinois, served in the United States Navy, and graduated from the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University School of Law. He has extensive experience in personal injury and workers' compensation litigation, having worked at Costigan & Wollrab P.C., Janssen Law Center, and Prusak, Winne, McKinley & Dunn before establishing The Law Offices of Joseph W. Dunn. He is recognized by Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent rating), The National Trial Lawyers (Top 100 Trial Lawyers), and is a lifetime member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Jim Farnan grew up on the west side of Chicago. He is a graduate of Fenwick High School, Eastern Illinois University, and The John Marshall Law School. Jim joined our firm in 2015, following 27 years of trial experience with Guth, Reinke & Farnan, and Farnan & Cahill. Most recently, Jim tried a case in June of 2014 resulting in a verdict of $1.8 million on behalf of a construction worker in a very difficult worker's compensation liability case. Jim is a member of the American Bar Association, The Federal Trial Bar of the Northern District of Illinois, The Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association, and West Suburban Bar Association. Jim is an AV-rated Martindale Hubble Best Attorney Network, 2008. He volunteered as a pro bono coordinator for the Chicago Legal Clinic from 1992 to 1995 and as a Moot Court/Trial Skills Instructor for the Chicago Public Schools System from 1995 to 1997. He has acted as an Arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County and has also been a guest expert on the Jonathan Brandmeier radio program. Jim has been recognized for his charitable and civic contributions by many organizations. He is a current volunteer for Catholic Charities, donating his time at Tuesday night dinners for the homeless. He is also past president of LaGrange Little League, past board member with St. Francis Xavier School, and Varsity Football Coach for St. Francis Xavier School.