Skilled Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Lawyers in Joliet, IL
Meet Our Legal Team
The Law Office of Jeff Tomczak is made up of experienced trial attorneys who are committed to protecting the rights of individuals and families throughout Illinois.
The firm has built a strong reputation by handling complex cases and delivering results in both personal injury and criminal defense matters.
Jeff Tomczak – Lead Trial Attorney
Jeff Tomczak is a highly experienced trial attorney with over 30 years of courtroom experience handling complex personal injury and criminal defense cases across multiple Illinois counties and in Federal Court. His background includes serving as a former Assistant State’s Attorney, Chief Narcotics Prosecutor, Chief Felony Prosecutor, and State’s Attorney of Will County, giving him a deep understanding of how cases are built and prosecuted. Throughout his career, Jeff has built a reputation for delivering results, recovering significant compensation for clients, and achieving major legal outcomes that extend beyond individual cases.
His work has led to impactful changes, including the nationwide recall of over 600,000 dangerous products, reforms in nursing home accountability, and contributions to early federal legislation addressing online misconduct. As a prosecutor and later as state's attorney, he handled some of the most serious criminal cases, including murder and high-profile trials, achieving exceptional conviction rates and earning recognition as Illinois State’s Attorney of the Year (twice) and the state’s top DUI prosecutor.
In private practice, Jeff continues to apply his trial-focused approach, combining strategic insight with decades of experience to protect clients’ rights and pursue the best possible outcomes in both injury and criminal cases.
Managing Partner Patricia Kalkanis Rippy
Patricia grew up in Wadsworth, Illinois where she attended Warren Township High School. During her four years there she was on the Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team and Girls’ Varsity Track Team. In addition, She balanced going to Greek School to learn about her culture and to maintain her second language of Greek. She graduated from Warren in 2004 and continued her education at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
While at Roosevelt, Patricia became the Co-Founder and Vice President of Alpha Sigma Alpha which became nationally known as Alpha Gamma Delta. Patricia also served as President of the Student Government Association while completing her Bachelors of Science in Political Science and also obtaining her Paralegal Certificate before graduating in 2008.
After college, Patricia enrolled into Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While in law school, she was an active member of the Women’s Lawyer Association and volunteered at the Dispute Resolution Center of Western Michigan where she learned the true art of negotiation, ranging from civil to criminal matters. She also spent some of her free time volunteering for the Judge Advocate General by educating soldiers on their legal rights.
Patricia completed her last semester of law school as a full-time 7-11intern at the Lake County State’s Attorney Office in Waukegan, Illinois. During her time there she represented the State of Illinois in a variety of hearings and trials including DUls, drug possession, batteries, trespassing, felony traffic and a burglary felony case. This is where she gained valuable experience in not only preparing and conducting trials but selecting juries for weeklong jury trials.
After earning her Juris Doctorate and getting admitted into the Illinois State Bar in 2012, Patricia spent some time in civil work, doing personal injury and mortgage foreclosure defense, before beginning her first job as a criminal defense attorney with the Will County Public Defender’s Office in 2013. She spent a year and a half defending her clients in the misdemeanor division. She gained her passion for defending the rights of her clients through not just trials and hearings but taking the time to meet with them and understand their side to the story. She has been with the Tomczak Group since 2014 and continues to vigorously defend her clients from traffic tickets to homicides. She strives to make her clients happy as evident from her many positive Google reviews. In January of 2025, Patricia was promoted to Managing Partner of the Tomczak Group.
Patricia is currently the President of the Will County Bar Association Board. For the many years she has been on the Board, she has been head of the community services committee and giving back to the many non-for-profit organizations throughout Will County. As President, Patricia has been spearheading future-proofed goals for the Board and its Members. From 2019 to 2025, Patricia was a Village Trustee of Plainfield after winning a contested election.
Patricia loves to travel, especially to visit her extended family in Greece but spends her free time here running and partaking in races. She has last completed a half marathon. Patricia resides in Plainfield, IL with her husband, Circuit Court Judge Daniel Rippy and their three children.
Attorney Anna Bertani
Third-Generation Will County Attorney with Extensive Legal Experience
Anna Bertani brings a deep family legacy in law, combining academic excellence and hands-on courtroom experience. She has represented clients in felony trials and misdemeanor cases, demonstrating strong advocacy skills.
Outside the office, Anna enjoys spending time with her dogs, running, baking, and golfing, reflecting a well-rounded approach to life and work.
Attorney CJ Haney
CJ Haney is a second-generation Will County attorney with roots in Joliet. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a History minor from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University Law School.
CJ has extensive courtroom experience, having worked as an associate attorney and assistant public defender. He has tried over 50 trials and hearings, focusing on defending clients in felony, misdemeanor, and domestic battery cases. Outside the office, CJ enjoys golfing, working out, and traveling.
The Law Office Of Jeff Tomczak Legal Team
If you need experienced legal representation, contact The Law Office Of Jeff Tomczak in Joliet, IL, today. Call 815-723-4400 to schedule your free consultation and speak directly with an attorney who is ready to fight for you.