Croke Fairchild Hits 100 Lawyers, Expanding Its Roster of Heavy-Hitting Legal Talent

Now with a roster of over 100 attorneys, CFDB grew by 35 attorneys in 2024 and has added 13 attorneys so far in 2025. “This isn’t growth for growth’s sake,” said Jessica Fairchild, Partner and Co-Founder. “We continue to expand because our clients rely on us for their most pivotal legal needs—matters that shape their businesses, industries, and futures. We’re bringing in top-tier talent who share our vision of being not just legal advisors, but strategic partners to clients for the long haul.”

To best serve its diverse and growing client base, CFDB has expanded its team with attorneys qualified to practice in 18 jurisdictions, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.

“As we grow, we remain steadfast in our commitment to being the firm our clients turn to when it matters most,” said Patrick Croke, Partner and Co-Founder. “We aren’t just here for a single deal or dispute—we are dedicated to guiding our clients through every stage of their business journeys. Our entrepreneurial and flexible platform enables our attorneys to work closely with clients, solving problems that have real, lasting impact.”

CFDB’s close association with Point of Difference further solidifies its ability to offer seamless legal and regulatory solutions. “Many of our clients rely on us for both legal and government affairs counsel, and our integrated approach allows us to navigate complex regulatory landscapes with agility,” said Lisa Duarte, Partner at CFDB and President and CEO of Point of Difference.  “Most law firms don’t have the deep bench of government affairs and regulatory specialists that we’ve built through our recent hires.”

The firm’s dedication to sophisticated, business-driven counsel is evident in the matters it handles daily. “We are at the table with our clients when they are making their biggest moves—whether it’s a transformative M&A deal, high-stakes litigation, or regulatory navigation that could define the future of their business,” said Drew Beres, Partner and Co-Founder. “We pride ourselves on integrating legal precision with strategic insight, ensuring that our clients are positioned for success not just today, but for years to come.”

CFDB’s latest hires, including the following attorneys, strengthen its corporate, finance, cryptocurrency/Web3, litigation and investigations, government affairs, and private client services practices:

Michael Claus, a partner in CFDB’s Litigation & Investigations practice, is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, where he represented the federal government in fraud investigations and civil litigation. He brings a broad range of experience in complex commercial litigation, highly sensitive investigations, and employment matters to CFDB.

Sidney Kerley, a partner in CFDB’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate practice, is a former general counsel and serves as outside general counsel and corporate counsel to CFDB clients on a wide range of complex matters. Prior to joining CFDB, he served as Chief Legal Officer of IAA, Inc., a leading global marketplace for vehicle buyers and sellers.

Kendra Piercy, a senior government relations director and counsel, brings a decade of legal and legislative experience to CFDB and Point of Difference. Most recently, Kendra served as Chief Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, as well as the House Parliamentarian and the Ethics Officer for the House Democratic Caucus.

Meghan Tepas, a partner in CFDB’s Litigation & Investigations and Private Client Services practices, is a seasoned litigator known for her creative, strategic approach to fiduciary and business disputes. She represents beneficiaries, trustees, and executives in high-stakes trust and estate litigation, breach of fiduciary duty cases, and family-business conflicts. Meghan joins CFDB from Smith, Gambrell & Russell, where she was a litigation partner.

Michael Vignone, a partner in CFDB’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate practice, brings a decade of experience advising institutional investors, portfolio companies, and strategic clients in high-value transactions across industries such as financial services, healthcare, and technology. Previously with Goodwin Procter, Mike has led transactions ranging from early-stage financings to multibillion-dollar acquisitions and divestitures.

Barrett Wilson-Murphy, a counsel in CFDB’s Finance & Liquidity Solutions practice, advises banks, private equity funds, and financial institutions on structured finance, asset-based lending, and fund finance transactions. His experience prior to CFDB, most recently with Nixon Peabody, spans cross-border financing and complex credit facilities.

CFDB and Point of Difference are also deeply committed to serving the communities in which their team members live and work. In Chicago, for example, CFDB and Point of Difference attorneys dedicate significant time to civic and charitable initiatives, including Access Living, Choose Chicago, Intersect Illinois, The Economic Club of Chicago, The Executives’ Club of Chicago, and World Business Chicago.