Attorneys Amy Gjesdahl and Melissa Kallio Named as Partners
Two Attorneys Named as Partners
We are thrilled to announce that Attorneys Amy Gjesdahl and Melissa Kallio, CELA, have been named as partners here at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras. “We congratulate Amy and Melissa, both phenomenal attorneys, on this outstanding achievement,” said both Kathryn Casey and Helen Mesoloras, partners in the firm. “The exceptional work of these new partners has played a pivotal role in the success and growth of our firm and has greatly enhanced our ability to serve clients in need.”
Amy Gjesdahl, a partner in the firm, is an Elder Law litigation attorney with 11 years of relevant experience. Her practice primarily focuses on highly contested adult guardianships, guardianships for minors, probate estates and financial exploitation matters. Additionally, she practices in uncontested adult and minor guardianships, probate and trust administration and adult protective services matters. Amy serves as court-appointed Guardian ad litem (GAL) and Respondent’s counsel in guardianships. Amy guides her clients through their legal matters with both competency and compassion.
Amy has been named as an “Emerging Lawyer” in the fields of Elder Law and Trust, Will and Estate Planning by the Leading Lawyers Network since 2021. Less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in each state have receive the distinction of Emerging Lawyer. Amy has also been named as an Illinois Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in the fields of Estate and Trust Litigation, Estate Planning and Probate and Elder Law since 2021. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each state.
Amy has presented on the topics of Financial Exploitation Litigation and GAL and Respondent’s Counsel Advocacy in Guardianships to her peers at the Chicago Bar Association in the Probate and Elder Law committees. She is an active member of the Illinois chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and serves on the Litigation and Education committees.
Melissa Kallio, a partner in the firm, is one of only a few Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Illinois. She concentrates her practice in elder law, which includes Medicaid planning and applications, adult guardianship estates, trust and estate administration, and estate planning. Melissa also serves as a court appointed Guardian ad litem (GAL) and counsel for Respondents in guardianship estates. She frequently presents to attorney, consumer, and healthcare professional groups on a variety of elder law topics.
Melissa has been named as an “Emerging Lawyer” in the field of Elder Law by the Leading Lawyers Network each year since 2018. Less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in each state have receive the distinction of Emerging Lawyer. Melissa has also been named as an Illinois Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in the field of Elder Law each year since 2018. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each state.
Melissa is a current board member of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and President elect of the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society. She is a past chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee. Melissa is also a member of M-Team, a volunteer multidisciplinary team focusing on combating abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults on the north side of Chicago.