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Jonathan Brian Merel
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About Jonathan
Biography
Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Through his hard work and unwavering dedication to his clients, Jonathan has quickly grown the firm to become one of the premier divorce and family law firms in the Chicagoland area.
Jonathan has a great deal of experience in obtaining favorable outcomes for his clients in multi-million dollar marital estates and contested custody suits (custody is now known as the allocation of parental responsibilities in the State of Illinois). His ability to settle heated divorces and custody disputes has gained him a great deal of respect from fellow attorneys and judges within the Chicagoland legal community. When settlement is not a viable or reasonable option, Jonathan’s experience as a zealous litigator in the courtroom has produced outstanding results for his clients.
Always committed to his clients and their causes, Jonathan’s philosophy is to build strong, trusting relationships with his clients, founded on compassion, sound legal strategy, and open and frequent communication. Known as a skillful and aggressive negotiator with strong tenacity, Jonathan has an impressive track record of protecting his clients’ best interests and helping them meet their legal goals.
EDUCATION
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1999, Jonathan received a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002.
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Jonathan has received numerous awards and achievements as a result of his success. Jonathan has been consistently named as to the Illinois Super Lawyers® lists since 2012. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.
Since 2015, Jonathan has been annually selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Family Law. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey.
In all years since 2015, Jonathan has received the prestigious honor of being selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network; an award bestowed upon less than 5% of all lawyers licensed in each state.
Jonathan has also been honored by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys annually since 2016, being named as one of the 10 Best Lawyers in Illinois based on Client Satisfaction. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in each state.
Commencing in 2017 and in each year thereafter, Jonathan has received the Nation’s Top One Percent designation by The National Association of Distinguished Counsel; an award received exclusively by the top 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Jonathan has also provided his legal skill to prominent national media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and NBC’s Today Show.
MEMBERSHIPS
Jonathan is a member of the American Bar Association, American Bar Association Family Law Committee, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, North Suburban Bar Association, and Lake County Bar Association.
Elite Chicago divorce & family law attorneys giving you the legal guidance you need & the personal attention you deserve. Call us today.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Divorce and Separation
50%
Family
50%
Fees and Rates
Licenses
Licensed in Michigan for < 1 year
State: Michigan
Acquired: 2025
No misconduct found
Licensed in Illinois for 23 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Location
Merel Family Law - Chicago
440 W Randoloph Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606
merelfamilylaw.com/Merel Family Law – Highland Park
595 Elm Place, Suite 225, Highland Park, IL, 60035
merelfamilylaw.com/Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Jonathan online.
Jonathan Brian Merel's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
52 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (52)
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Advocacy (39)
Recommendation (28)
Case Results (26)
Professionalism (25)
Character & Conduct (17)
Cost of Services (17)
Responsiveness (17)
Communication Style (16)
Compassion (16)
Trustworthiness (16)
General Knowledge (14)
Staff & Support (10)
Practice Area Knowledge (8)
Punctuality (3)
Free Consultations (2)
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Lawsuits & Disputes
Posted by anonymous | July 02, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Grateful
Jonathan and team helped me make some sense of what was going on. The court system is ridiculous and having someone with a clear head, who understands and represents your best interest is invaluable!
Posted by anonymous | January 03, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
The best to have on your side
Always responsive, always available to you, patient, tough on the opposing team. Responsible, very involved - this is the man you want in your corner during this rough time. Thank you Jonathan.
Posted by Clyde | August 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Out of State Legal Assistance Needed
Recently I needed to secure an Out-of-State Lawyer and had absolutely no idea how to even begin. I needed someone who would not only represent me but who would have the tenacity and skillset to ensure that this un-just filing was dismissed. Fortunately, with the help of Avvo and testaments from o...
Posted by anonymous | April 21, 2009 | Lawsuits & Disputes
Agressive, to the point lawyer.
Jonathan has the ability to take on challenging situations, and help transform them into possitive outcomes. Jonathan has not only advised me about my case as a professional, but has advised me on situations as a friend. I trust Mr. Merel and he has made the last few years with my case very tolerable...
Posted by Christopher | February 09, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Worst experience of my life
This firm charged me ~4000 dollars for one motion and then told me a few days before hearing that it would be a slam dunk for opposing counsel. Jonathan used my vulnerabilities against me at the end to show that he's a "good lawyer". Jonathan is the kind of man that will pray on weakness and I fell...
Jonathan Merel
Replied last February 09, 2026I take no joy in responding to completely fraudulent and baseless reviews such as this, but I will not allow the stellar reputation of my firm and its lawyers to be tarnished by a reckless, disturbed individual like Christopher. Christopher unfortunately doesn't like to take any responsibility for his own actions; the actions that got him into the situation he finds himself. He instead chooses to blame everyone around him including the only people in his life that had his back and stood by him; his attorneys. Unfortunately we reached a point the attorney client relationship where it became impossible to represent Christopher any further. Instead of taking ownership of his actions and the situation he has caused, he is blaming his lawyers instead of taking a look in the mirror.
Jonathan Brian Merel's Lawyer Endorsements
"Jonathan is professional, tenacious and highly competent. He strikes the right balance between fighting for his clients and maintaining an effective relationship with his opposing counsel. When I have a conflict with a potential client, Jonathan is one of the first people I recommend."
"Jonathan is one of the finest family law attorneys I know. We worked together on many complex cases during my time with his firm. Jonathan's knowledge of the law and the legal system are invaluable assets to his clients. I would not hesitate to recommend Jonathan to anyone in need of a family law attorney."
"I was a client of Jonathan and his firm while going through my divorce. They handled the matter efficiently, explained the law clearly, and listened to what my goals were and got me on the right path to achieving my goals. I was really pleased with the work that they did."
"Jonathan is a seasoned and experienced litigator who is forward thinking and quick on his feet."
"Johnathan is a very good attorney."
"I have been opposing counsel on cases with Jonathan. He is hard working, moves his cases along, and is a skilled advocate for his clients. Jonathan looks for creative ways to solve family problems in divorce, and really knows what he is doing to get the best result for families."
"I highly endorse Mr. Merel. Truly exceptional and caring attorney who gets great results in representing clients! I want all people with legal problems to contact him first."
"I have known Jonathon for some time now, and have worked/consulted with him on a number of family law issues. Jonathan is an excellent attorney. He's knowledgeable, well-prepared, and is a zealous advocate for his clients."
"I endorse Jonathan. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I worked with Mr. Merel on a very difficult divorce matter, and although we were on opposing sides, we were able to make great progress on behalf of both of our clients."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. He was professional and courteous."
"Jonathan is an aggressive advocate for his clients in all divorce and family law matters. I have known Jonathan for years and he has a proven track record of success for his clients and their families. His firm is very professional and thorough in how they handle a case. I strongly endorse him."
"I highly endorse this lawyer. Jon is a smart and skilled negotiator, who is extremely talented in the court room. In the cases where I have been against Jon, we have worked hard to peacefully negotiate settlements which were in the client’s best interests and tremendous savings to all involved. Jon was a pleasure to work with."
"Jonathan is simply the most talented family law attorney that I know. He is entrepreneurial, aggressive and results oriented. You will not find a more impressive advocate."
"I have worked with Jonathan on numerous cases and he is very knowledgeable and a "go-getter" and will fight for his client's rights when needed. Although, when necessary, he will tell his clients "how it is" and that it is not worth the fight or worth spending the legal fees. Good to know he will not fight for the sake of increasing attorney fees and that is great integrity and honor!"
"Jon is an excellent family law attorney. He is tenacious in court and a true client advocate. I endorse him."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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Experience
Honors
2023
Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Featured Attorney, Lawyers of Distinction
2023
Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2023
Best Lawyer, Expertise
2023
Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network
2019
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2019
Leading Lawyer in Family Law, Leading Lawyers Network
2019
10 Best Lawyers in Illinois, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2018
10 Best Attorneys in Illinois - Family Law, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2018
Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers
2018
Leading Lawyer in Family Law, Leading Lawyers Network
2017
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2017
Leading Lawyer in Family Law, Leading Lawyers Network
2017
10 Best Attorneys in Illinois - Family Law, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2017
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2017
Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers
2016
Leading Lawyer in Family Law, Leading Lawyers Network
2016
Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers
2016
SuperLawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Leading Lawyer in Family Law, Leading Lawyers Network
2015
Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2013
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Attorney/Managing Principal, Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C.
2002 - 2009
Attorney, Kamerlink, Stark, McCormack & Powers, L.L.C.
Associations
2002 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2002 - Present
Illinois State Bar AssociationMember
2002 - Present
Chicago Bar AssociationMember
American Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member
North Suburban Bar Association
Member
Lake County Bar Association
Member
Education
2002
Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology
JD - Juris Doctor
1999
University of Wisconsin, Madison
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
The Today Show
Family Law/Divorce/Child Custody
2011
Wall Street Journal
Family Law/Divorce/Child Custody
Publications
2011
Wall Street Journal
Obesity Fuels Custody Fights
Languages
Spanish
English