Call us at (312) 722-6990 or (847) 259-3131
Our Team
Lara A. Duda
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Lara represents individuals, families, financial and healthcare institutions, and professional fiduciaries throughout the Chicagoland area. In addition to representing clients of Duda Meersman Murphy, Lara serves as a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem in disabled adults estates and as counsel for alleged disabled persons.
Lara has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer from 2021 to 2026, an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2014 to 2018, a Leading Lawyer from 2023 to 2026, and an Emerging Leading Lawyer from 2015 to 2022. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of Illinois attorneys are selected to receive these honors.
Lara is a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s committees on Probate Practice, Elder Law, and Mental Health & Disability Law (Chair 2018-19; 2011-12). She is also a 2016 graduate of the Chicago Bar Association Leadership Institute. Additionally, Lara is on the leadership council of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Mental Health Law Section and is a member of the ISBA’s Elder Law and Trusts & Estates committees. She is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Lara has presented and moderated lectures on various estate planning and probate matters for bar associations and community and professional organizations.
Lara earned a Juris Doctor and certificate in Health Law from DePaul University College of Law in 2007. Lara’s academic honors included serving as a member of the DePaul Law Review and Executive Text Editor of the DePaul Journal of Healthcare Law, and being selected as the 2005 American Medical Association & DePaul Law Medical Ethics Scholar. Prior to law school, Lara earned a Master of Science degree in Health Law & Policy from DePaul College of Arts & Sciences. She also earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Journalism degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lara is licensed to practice in Illinois.
Kathleen Meersman Murphy
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Kathleen has over 40 years of legal experience. She currently serves as a member of the Mount Prospect Age-Friendly Task Force and the local M-Team.
Kathleen Meersman Murphy was the principal attorney of the Law Offices of Kathleen Meersman Murphy, LLC. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Marquette University and her J.D. from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
For decades, Kathleen has served her community by providing essential legal advice to those facing difficult decisions. She assists clients in avoiding unnecessary costs and skillfully guides them through the guardianship or decedent estate proceedings, ensuring they are well taken care of.
Kathleen also has great experience in probate and trust estate litigation, and is well known and respected in probate law for being a zealous, dedicated advocate for her clients.
Elisa M. Allie
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Elisa concentrates her practice in the areas of probate, including guardianship and decedent's estates, and real estate transactions.
In addition to representing individuals and their families, Elisa represents many financial institutions in their capacity as estate guardian, trustee and executor and advises clients in various aspects of trust and estate administration.
Elisa was a Vice President in the Guardianship Department at JPMorgan Chase Bank where she administered minor and disabled adult guardianship estates and trusts. Elisa was also an attorney with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender where she litigated numerous trials in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
Elisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and in 1994 she received her Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in Wisconsin, where she is also licensed to practice.
Elisa is a member of the St. Ignatius College Prep Law Society and former member of the Estate and Tax Advisory Council.
Sofia Bautista
Sofia joined Duda Meersman Murphy in 2026 as a Summer Associate. Sofia graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in May 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Estate & Trust Administration ⬩ Guardianship ⬩ Elder Law ⬩ Mental Health Law ⬩ Estate Planning ⬩ Real Estate
Our attorneys have decades of experience assisting clients with all facets of estate, probate, guardianship, and trust administration, including complex and contested matters.
We offer in-person, Zoom video conference, and telephone consultations
