At Lakelaw, our distinguished team of bankruptcy attorneys brings nearly 50 years of experience to the greater Chicago area, providing comprehensive services for individuals and businesses facing financial challenges. Our adept handling of Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 filings, along with corporate foreclosure, restructuring, and credit repair, empowers our clients to manage their financial futures with confidence. We also focus on public and private student loans, debt consolidation, and tax resolution. Led by David P. Leibowitz, who boasts accolades from Super Lawyers 2026, Best Lawyers 2025, and Martindale-Hubbell with its Preeminent AV Rating, among others, Lakelaw stands as a beacon of reliability in the legal industry. Our skills, proven record, and valuable resources guide our clients safely through any financial storm.
This award is granted to attorneys who have received at least 6 client reviews, and have an average review score of 4.2 or higher.
AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Avvo Top Contributor
This award is granted to attorneys who have significantly contributed to Avvo.com by answering questions in the Q&A forum, publishing legal guides, or other meaningful contributions to the Avvo community.
Avvo Client's Choice
This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com.
About Awards
Client Champion Awards
Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity
and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.
Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.
At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.
At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.
Lakelaw got this award in 2021
At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale Peer Awards
A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Lakelaw got this award in 2021
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Avvo Awards
Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A,
publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.
Lakelaw got this award in 2021
Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.
From our very first conversation, David allowed us to be vulnerable and helped us understand that bankruptcy is not a failure—it’s a right. There is no shame in reaching a point where you have to say, “I can’t anymore,” and hearing that changed everything for us. You stepped into our lives during one of the hardest seasons we’ve ever faced, and I truly believe our paths crossed for a reason. Our situation was complex, but you took it on without hesitation. You made sure we were informed, supported, and—most importantly—okay. You reassured us every step of the way that our family would be taken care of and that we would come out stronger on the other side. Every question, doubt, and concern was met with patience, clarity, and genuine care. We cannot thank you enough for the work you put into our case. If you’re looking for someone with both a brilliant legal mind and a truly compassionate heart, look no further. David is a person of the people, and we are forever grateful.
David was excellent to work with. His knowledge, experience, and quiet confidence was exactly what I needed during one of the most stressful times of my life. He responds quickly (even on weekends), and personally handled my filing.
Very compassionate and explained paperwork and technical terms perfectly. I learned a lot about the process (not that I ever want to go through it again) and felt very comfortable at my hearing thanks to him.
David was incredible. He is fast at replying and has excellent communication overall. He is extremely knowledgeable and very experienced. He explained every step of the process clearly and kept me on track for needed paperwork, signatures, appointments, etc. Thank you, David!!
A1 Lawyer , total package you are looking for a lawyer. Will guide you every step of the way until your case is resolved, communications open all the time and dont feel intimidated talking to him. Very compassionate in dealing with you like a family! Would not hesitate recommending to others, if there is any higher review for any lawyer, he belongs in that league! You got your money's worth in engaging his services. Kudos to him !
Proffeciaonal, knowledgable, compassionate person to work with! He is very committed to what he does and finds a way to relate to your problems. Great overall person to know and work with
David always been amazing lawyer with years of experience and with high level of expertise of what he is doing. Definitely recommending him to anyone with debts, banks issues, bankruptcy e.t.c. Thank you David.
Super professional and responsive in any subject, always on top of things flexible and looking for thing in clients favor and satisfaction. Great working with you David for so many years. Thank you for everything.
David is at the top of his game. Very professional. When my husband and myself where at wits end with our finances he led us through a very painful decision and helped us get through it.
Reviews
These client and peer reviews are from the Martindale-Avvo Legal Network.
Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.
The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.
Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page
Martindale Peer Reviews
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.
What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*
• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.
Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.
Ratings and reviews are feedback from people who have either consulted an attorney about an issue (but may not have hired the attorney) or people who hired an attorney as a current or former client and provided their feedback to our sister site, Avvo.com.