Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

At Donahue, Sowa & Magana, we are one of the oldest law firms in Illinois dedicated to criminal defense. Our criminal defense attorneys provide representation in all Illinois felonies and misdemeanors, including homicide, white-collar crime, and criminal appeals. Our lawyers have tried cases before every level of Illinois trial court, and have a track record of success.

We hold ourselves to the highest professional and ethical standards, and treat all of our clients with respect. The attorneys at Donahue, Sowa & Magana have the capacity, experience, and resources to handle even the most complex cases.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are in need of a criminal defense lawyer in northern Illinois, contact Donahue, Sowa & Magana at either our Lisle or Geneva office.

Serving DuPage, Kane, Kendall & Will counties. Practice focused on domestic relations law: family law, divorce, separation, maintenance (alimony), custody, child support, domestic violence, pre-post-and ante-nuptial agreements.
I began my law career clerking then interning with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office (2001-2003) then since passing the bar I have focused my attention on family law.
Prior to law school I worked as a child advocate for abused and neglected children in Addison Illinois (1996-2000). From 1995-1996 I worked with the elderly population in an in-patient Alzheimer's/Dementia facility in Arlington Heights.

I have been a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois since 2003. I began my legal career as a an Assistant State's Attorney in the County of Kendall, State of Illinois. In 2007 I opened my private practice and have successfully represented hundreds of clients in matters ranging from criminal defense to various family law issues, including divorce.

I have a unique perspective in criminal defense from my experience in criminal prosecution. I believe that in order to successfully represent client's in criminal and family law matters one must know what the available options are, have a very thorough knowledge of the applicable law and be thoroughly prepared.

Mr. Petti is a resident of Elburn, IL. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, and grew up in Pittsburgh PA and Evanston IL. He has acted as legal counsel for both small and large businesses. He has been associated with private law practice firms in Chicago and the Chicago Suburban area. For the past twenty two years, he has maintained his principal law office in Kane County, Illinois.

Mr. Petti's corporate law work includes serving as staff counsel for Motorola and General Counsel of Andrew Corporation, two international electronic businesses.

His trial work has taken him from Connecticut to California. Most of his trial work has been in Cook, Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois. He has appeared and argued before the First and Second Districts of the Illinois Appellate Court, and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Covey concentrates his practice in all chapters of bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related law with special emphasis in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Mr. Covey has concentrated his practice in consumer and business bankruptcy matters for the past fourteen years.

Mr. Covey graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1984 with a B.S in Journalism. He then earned his J.D. at Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1992.

Our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C., have significant experience defending people charged with crimes.

Sandi Byrd entered private practice in October 2002 following nearly six years working as an attorney in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. Since entering private practice Sandi has represented clients in Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, and Cook Counties. Sandi graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to practice law in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois the same year. Since the beginning of her career Sandi has focused her practice almost exclusively in criminal defense. She has successfully tried many jury and bench trials including everything from minor traffic offenses to murder cases. Sandi is an active member of the Kane County Bar Association, currently serving as it General Counsel and as a member of the Criminal Law Committee, and is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Don Zuelke spent over sixteen years as an assistant public defender before entering the private practice in August of 2002. He has practice law for over 20 years, representing clients almost exclusively in criminal cases, and has successfully tried many jury and bench trials. Don graduated from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1984, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year. He then worked as an assistant public defender in the Cook County Public Defender's Office for almost 6 years, followed by almost 11 years in the Kane County Public Defender's Office. He has represented thousands of individuals in criminal defense matters, in everything from DUI and other traffic offenses to murder and other felonies. He is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, qualified and authorized to represent clients in death penalty cases.

The attorneys at Zuelke & Byrd are committed to representing their clients zealously. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent under the law and deserves to have his or her rights protected. Everyone is entitled to a strong defense no matter what the charges are or what the evidence against them is. The law firm of Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C. is dedicated to doing the best possible job for each client, providing each client with the individual attention necessary to successfully defend them. We work hard to get the best possible outcome in each case. Our attorneys are experienced trial attorneys, having successfully tried many jury and bench trials over many years, and will vigorously defend your case at trial.

For more information about our criminal defense lawyers, follow the links below or contact us at Zuelke & Byrd, L.L.C.