Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP 2024 Summer Associates Sworn In, Join as New Associates

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of six new associates to the firm. These talented individuals were sworn in as members of the Illinois Bar in 2025 and previously participated in the firm’s highly regarded Summer Associate Program in 2024.

Jeremy R. Hirsh is an associate in the firm’s Chicago office. He concentrates his practice in medical malpractice, defending businesses in pharmaceutical and medical device liability actions, and other general trial practice. Jeremy received his J.D. in 2025 from University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and his B.S. in 2020 from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Mikayla D. Kelz is an associate in the firm’s Chicago office. She focuses on general civil litigation. Her practice encompasses numerous areas, including asbestos and toxic tort litigation, general commercial and business disputes, professional and lawyer liability, and medical malpractice. She received her J.D. in 2025 from Northern Illinois University College of Law and her B.S. in 2021 from University of Wisconsin.

Emma K. Leonard is an associate at the firm’s Chicago office. She focuses her practice on general litigation. Her work includes appellate practice, entertainment matters, intellectual property, product and premises liability, and general torts. She received her J.D. in 2025 from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and her B.A. in 2022 from Miami University.

Kelsie A. Martin is an associate in the firm’s Chicago office where she focuses on general litigation. Her practice encompasses a variety of areas: commercial litigation, business disputes, entertainment and media law, as well as intellectual property, transactional services, and government liability. She received her J.D. in 2025 from Washington State University St. Louis School of Law and her B.A. in 2022 from Florida State University.

Julia R. Raczek is an associate at the firm’s Chicago office, where she focuses her practice on commercial litigation and business disputes, professional and lawyer liability, products liability, and real estate litigation and transactional services. She received her J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of law in 2025 and her B.S. in 2021 from Florida State University.

Maya S. Theo is an associate at the firm’s Chicago office. She concentrates her practice on medical malpractice litigation and other healthcare-related matters, drawing on her prior experience as a registered nurse. She received her J.D. in 2025 from the DePaul University College of Law and her B.S. in 2019 from Arizona State University.

Our program is designed to allow the summer associates to explore different practice areas, interface with associates and partners in a collaborative environment, attend hearings and depositions, and further develop their skills in advance of a career in law. In addition, the program plans a series of social events around the city to allow the Summer Associates an opportunity to get to know the culture of Swanson Martin & Bell outside of the office.

For more information on the firm’s summer associate program, please visit here.