WILLIAMS - Key Persons
Agnes brings unparalleled commitment to her client's needs and a realistic perspective that helps her create effective strategies for the long-run. Always taking the time to explain the complexities of the legal process, Agnes has the ability to put her clients at ease and allow them to feel confident about going forward, no matter what path they agree upon.
She combines her skill as a courtroom litigator, experience as a child advocate, and compassion for families in transition to advocate for her clients and their families. Her considerable experience in guiding clients going through the emotional strains of divorce and addressing the various legal issues have saved many individuals, couples and children a great deal of time, money, and emotional trauma.
A recipient of Loyola's Civitas Child Law Fellowship and Child and Family Law Certificate, Agnes received her law degree Cum Laude from Loyola University School of Law. Since receiving her attorney license, Agnes has been awarded the 2016-2020 Rising Star Award by SuperLawyers, as well as the 2015-2020 AVVO Client's Choice Award.
Agnes is also fluent in Polish and prepared to provide legal services and referrals to Polish-speaking clients.
Haley practices in all areas of family law, advocating for and counseling her clients during some of life's most challenging moments. Known for her realistic and attentive approach, Haley is committed to guiding clients through complex family law matters, including divorce, paternity, visitation, child support, spousal support, and domestic violence cases.
Having earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Haley has built a reputation for professionalism and commitment to her cases. Whether through mediation, negotiation, or litigation, Haley is dedicated to achieving favorable outcomes for families while minimizing stress and disruption in their lives.
Prior to joining Williams, Farmer & Olechno, LLC, Haley clerked at two prominent law firms in Chicago where she focused on both family law and personal injury law. Haley also worked as a research assistant and was named to the Dean's List during her time at Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Jessica Helligso is a dedicated law clerk at Williams, Farmer & Olechno, LLC, bringing a strong background in advocacy and a passion for family law. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she developed her legal skills and gained valuable experience in the courtroom.
While in law school, Jessica served as a Judicial Extern for the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division. In this role, she conducted in-depth legal research and worked closely with division attorneys, assisting with administrative tasks that supported the efficient functioning of the court.
Jessica's passion for family law was sparked through her earlier work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). As a CASA volunteer, she advocated for the best interests of children in the courtroom and in their everyday lives. This experience motivated Jessica to pursue a legal career, with the goal of making a meaningful impact in the lives of families and children navigating complex legal challenges.
Prior to attending law school, Jessica worked in the banking industry, focusing on business development at boutique business banks. This experience provided her with a solid foundation in client relations, attention to detail, and a results-driven approach-skills she now brings to her work in family law.
Jessica Lapczynska is an accomplished family law attorney at Williams, Farmer & Olechno, LLC, where she brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to advocating for her clients. Fluent in both English and Polish, Jessica ensures effective communication and personalized representation for individuals and families facing challenging legal issues.
Jessica earned her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. During law school, she gained valuable experience as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Patrick Powers in the Cook County Domestic Relations Division. In this role, Jessica conducted complex legal research and assisted in drafting court orders, particularly for pro se litigants.
Prior to law school, Jessica served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Mark J. Lopez (Ret.) in the Cook County Domestic Relations Division. Working closely with the judiciary, she developed a deep understanding of family law proceedings and the importance of crafting fair and equitable solutions.
Jessica's comprehensive experience in family law enables her to provide clients with knowledgeable guidance and strong advocacy. She is dedicated to helping individuals navigate difficult transitions with clarity and compassion while working toward outcomes that serve their best interests.
Prior to becoming a family law attorney, Matt worked on high-stakes business lawsuits in state and federal courts around the country for over 20 years.
With a big-firm background, Matt can be an aggressive advocate for his clients when he needs to be-in fact, he can step-by-step out-litigate most of his opponents. He believes that the best way to achieve favorable settlements for his clients' cases is to be well-prepared for trial.
Matt is also known for his ability to guide people compassionately through an incredibly difficult period, allowing them to see a direction for their future. He sees his dual role as helping his clients understand the universe of possible outcomes for their situations and then advising them on the best strategy for obtaining their desired results. Matt does not believe a family law case should ever be used as a vehicle to lash out or cause harm to anyone.
As an advocate for his clients, Matt understands the costs (both financial and emotional) of litigation and will always look to strategic negotiation first. He is upfront and provides his honest opinion about whether a case should proceed to trial, or whether it should be settled.
Matt has served for many years as a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's "Building Trial Skills Program" and as a NITA faculty member for a trial advocacy class for Cook County public defenders. He has also taught trial advocacy skills to lawyers as a faculty member for the National Employment Lawyers Association's "Trial Boot Camp." In addition, he has guest lectured at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Intensive Trial Practice Program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Over the years, Matt had been a fierce advocate for quality public education. He has written many articles for The Huffington Post, and his writing has also appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times and Washington Post (online edition). He has been a guest on both MSNBC's "Up with Chris Hayes" and "Chicago Newsroom," a cable talk show.
Job Titles:
- Principal ( Retired )
- Retired
During his 25+ years as a family law advocate, Zach brought a common-sense approach to the courtroom. Zach spent 16 years as an Assistant Public Guardian for Cook County before beginning a private practice in 2011.
Zach has represented children in highly contested child custody matters in the Domestic Relations Division and represented children who were state wards in the Juvenile Child Protection Division. Zach advocated for the rights of children who were caught in the middle of contested battles. His awareness of how a case could affect an overall family unit made him a go-to representative for judges appointing attorneys in the most difficult cases.
Zach brought these skills handling child custody matters to private parties. Because of his history as a child representative, Zach was astutely aware of how cases affect children. His experience provided him with unique insight into how to resolve even the most combative cases: Zach was a speaker for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and at the annual Life Span Symposium on Domestic Violence. He is a former school board president and is a member of a charitable board that serves disadvantaged youth in Evanston. Zach was also named a Super Lawyer in 2020.