OUR FIRM
BIO
Terence P. Gillespie practiced law for almost 40 years and is one of Chicago's best known criminal defense attorneys.
​
After starting as a State Prosecutor, Terence joined Genson, Steinbeck and Gillespie (later Genson & Gillespie) with two of Chicago's most prominent defense lawyers Ed Genson and Jeffrey Steinbeck in 1984. In 2013, Terence joined his son Michael to form the Law Offices of Gillespie & Gillespie.
​
Terence has handled numerous high profile cases including that of reputed Chicago mobster Michael "Large Guy' Sarno; Springfield power broker William Cellini; Richard J. Vanecko; and the "DuPage 7."
CREDENTIALS
State of Illinois Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
RECOGNITION
Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year: Criminal Non-White Collar 2012
Best Lawyers in America: 2008, 2012, 2016
Leading Lawyer 2011-2017
Leading Lawyer Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney in Illinois
Illinois SuperLawyers: 2009-2016
TERENCE P. GILLESPIE
OF COUNSEL
BIO
Michael P. Gillespie has been practicing as a criminal defense attorney for almost 30 years.
Michael specializes in the defense of both federal and state criminal cases and is widely recognized for inventive defense strategies. Michael has successfully represented individuals from every social strata including political figures, businessmen, athletes, doctors, and fellow lawyers. Michael brings unparalleled experience and judgment in representing clients in all levels of the criminal process.
CREDENTIALS
State of Illinois Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
RECOGNITION
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys: 2016 Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award for Excellence in the Field of Criminal Law
Illinois SuperLawyers: 2013-2015
Leading Lawyer 2017
Leading Lawyer Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney in Illinois
MICHAEL P. GILLESPIE
ATTORNEY AT LAW
GABRIELLE R. SANSONETTI
Of Counsel
BIO
Gabrielle entered private practice after serving as an Associate with Genson & Gillespie, two of the best and most highly sought after criminal defense attorneys in Chicago. Having received masterful direction and mentoring from the criminal defense elite of Chicago, she has become highly proficient and experienced in her own right in maneuvering the complex legal arena of Federal and State Charges.
Gabrielle was indoctrinated into the legal system by working on some of Chicago's most high-profile cases in recent history including U.S. vs. Scalise, U.S. vs. Cellini, and U.S. vs. Sarno. The experience she gained in working these momentous cases has expanded her level of expertise to include many of the intricate areas of Federal and State cases including fraud, RICO, RICO conspiracy, money laundering, tax fraud, and drug conspiracies. She continues to serve as a contract attorney with the Law Offices of Gillespie & Gillespie.
Gabrielle is also highly proficient in trying cases involving state charges, such as robbery, assault and battery, DUI's, possession and distribution of controlled substances and more.
​
CREDENTIALS
State of Illinois Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
​
RECOGNITION
Leading Lawyers - Emerging Lawyers 2015-2016
Chicago Magazine - Top Attorneys in Illinois
Rising Stars in Illinois: 2014-2015
Chicago Magzine Top Women Attorneys
Rising Stars in Illinois: 2013
Chicago Magazine Top Young Attorneys in Illinois: 2012
Leading Lawyer 2017
​
​
​
​
CRAIG T. CAMPBELL
Associate Attorney
BIO
Craig joined the Law Offices of Gillespie & Gillespie in September 2015. Previously, Craig held legal clerkships with Hanson Law Group LLP, the Alamance County District Attorney's Office, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, and was a judicial extern for the Honorable Allen S. Goldberg in the Circuit Court of Cook County Law Division. Craig's previous experience also includes working for the Honorable Michael J. O'Foghludha's election campaign for the Superior Court of Durham County, North Carolina, and interning for the African National Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
​
Since joining the Law Offices of Gillespie & Gillespie, Craig has obtained invaluable experience trying cases at both the Federal and State levels.
​
PRACTICE AREAS
Criminal Defense, Traffic, General Practice
​
CREDENTIALS
State of Illinois Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
​
RECOGNITION
National Trial Lawyers: 2018 Top 40 Under 40 - Criminal Defense in Illinois
Attorney and Practice Magazine: 2018 Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney in Illinois
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys: 2018 10 Best Criminal Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction in Illinois
National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys: 2017 Top 10 Under 40 Attorney Award in Chicago
​
​
_JPG.jpg)
MIKE KAZOUN
Law Clerk
BIO
Mike joined Gillespie & Gillespie as an intern in 2022 during his second-year of law school. Upon the completion of Mike's internship, he engraved himself as the firm's full-time law clerk.
In his time at Gillespie & Gillespie, Mr. Kazoun has gained extensive experience under his belt. Mike has assisted the firm with representing clients in high-stakes white collar litigation and other complex criminal matters in both state and federal courts. The firm entrusts Mike to use his knowledge of the rules of evidence and his keen eye to find our clients potential motions to suppress and bar certain evidence from ever entering court.
EDUCATION
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Juris Doctor, 2024
​
Governors State University
Bachelors of Arts in Political Science, 2021