MATTHEW  T. CARUSO

Matthew (“Matt”) practices out of the Wheaton office, where he concentrates his practice on business litigation, contested probate, construction law, guardianships, and criminal law. A two-time chairman of the DuPage County Bar Association Business Law and Practice Committee, Matt has been recognized by his peers for his abilities as a trial lawyer. He has been appointed numerous times by various Judges in DuPage County as the Guardian ad Litem of minors and disabled persons in need of court protection, as well as the Receiver for businesses during disputes. Many of Matt’s clients are in the construction contracting business; thus, he is conversant in the law of mechanics’ liens and negotiating American Institute of Architects general contracts and other related construction contracts and issues.

Matt attended the University of Illinois and the University of Vienna, Austria (B.A. 1985) and the John Marshall Law School (J.D. 1988). He has conducted jury trials on complex business matters and white collar crime in Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties, and in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where he is a member of the federal trial bar. He is also a member of the DuPage County and Illinois Bar Associations. Matt is also a licensed Real Estate Managing Broker.

Matt’s practice areas include commercial litigation; construction law; contested probate; criminal law; zoning law; mechanics’ liens; guardianships, for both disabled persons and minors; federal practice; and appeals.

JEROME J. ROBERTS  

Jerome (“Jerry”) obtained his B.B.A. with distinction from the University of Michigan in 1965 and passed the Illinois CPA exam the same year. He received his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 1968 and was an associate editor of the University of Michigan Law Review. Before founding Roberts & Caruso, Jerry was a partner in a major Chicago law firm for a number of years.

Recognizing the importance of the then emerging technologies, in 1970 Jerry developed the Computers and Law seminar at Northwestern University School of Law as one of the first courses of its kind in the nation. He taught the Computers and Law seminar until 2011. Over the years Jerry has represented numerous Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions and exchanges, as well as scores of technology start-ups and middle-size enterprises, in addressing issues relating to the procurement, distribution and management of technology products, services and personnel. He has acted as an expert witness on such matters in both state and federal courts and lectures in these areas.

In addition to his technology and general business practice, Jerry’s experience also includes extensive civil litigation in both the state and federal courts at every level. He is a member of the federal trial bar as well as the American Bar Association. He served as director and chairman of the audit committee of a suburban bank for almost 25 years and was placed on the board of a large failed savings and loan association by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

Jerry’s practice areas include: general business representation; civil litigation; and representation of clients in all aspects of technology procurement, distribution and protection other than patent issues. He deals extensively with issues relating to the protection of intellectual property and those arising in small technology-based businesses.

JAMES L. RYAN

James (“Jim”) joined Roberts & Caruso as an associate in 2006. He focuses his practice primarily on construction and mechanic’s lien law, business litigation, and contested probate. Jim frequently writes articles on emerging issues in the law. His work has been published by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the DuPage County Bar Association and the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. Jim serves as a member of the DuPage County Bar Association’s Civil Law & Practice Committee, Business Law Committee and the Publication Board, an invitation only committee responsible for publishing a ten-issue per year legal journal called The Brief.

Jim graduated from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. While in law school, Jim completed Loyola’s trial advocacy program, served as a lead article editor of the law review, advanced to the National Quarterfinals of the Wagner Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition, and worked for a federal magistrate judge and then for a large Chicago law firm. Jim received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with majors in Economics and Political Science. Jim is also a licensed Real Estate Managing Broker.

RYAN M. KIPFER

Ryan received both his B.A. and Juris Doctor degrees from Northern Illinois University (2002, 2008). While attending NIU College of Law, he supported the establishment of the Real Estate Law Society and served as Vice President during its year of inception. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. Since working at Roberts & Caruso, Ryan's work has been published by the DuPage County Bar Association.

Before law school, Ryan was a member of the Illinois Air National Guard for nine years. From March 2003 to November 2003, he worked as Supervisor for Tactical Electronic Equipment in Kuwait and Iraq. In 2003, he was awareded the Air Force Commendation Medal and has received various other awards for his service to this country.

Ryan is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, and the DuPage County Business Law Committee. Ryan is also a licensed Real Estate Managing Broker. Ryan practices in the areas of guardianships, mechanic’s liens, and contested probate.