Johnson & Bell is pleased to welcome four Associate Attorneys to the firm: Claire K. Axelrood, Kelsie M. Farris, Alejandra M. Guzman and Adnan Shafi.
Claire K. Axelrood is an associate in the Health Care practice group and concentrates her practice on defending medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, universities, physicians, nurses, and other health care providers. Prior to joining Johnson & Bell, Claire worked as an associate at a firm in Chicago, where she focused her practice on defending medical malpractice cases. Claire graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2021, where she was a member of Chicago-Kent’s nationally ranked trial advocacy team. During law school, Claire gained experience as a judicial extern in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and as a law clerk at a Plaintiff’s personal injury firm in Chicago. Claire received her undergraduate degree in Communications from DePaul University in 2016.
Kelsie M. Farris is an associate attorney in Johnson & Bell's Crown Point, Indiana office. She concentrates her practice on health care law and medical malpractice disputes involving claims of personal injury and wrongful death. Prior to joining Johnson & Bell, Ms. Farris handled insurance defense disputes, consumer bankruptcy cases and consumer law. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2019 and received her undergraduate degree from Saint Mary's College in 2015.
Alejandra M. Guzman is an associate attorney in Johnson & Bell’s Crown Point, Indiana office where she concentrates her practice on retail general negligence and medical malpractice claims. She graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2021. She was a judicial extern for the Honorable Philip Simon, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana as well as an extern at the Indiana Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Analytics from Valparaiso University in 2018.
Associate Attorney Adnan Shafi concentrates his practice in municipal liability matters, representing municipalities and law enforcement officers. His legal career includes notable experience as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office prior to joining Johnson & Bell. Within the State's Attorney's Office, Mr. Shafi held a role as a prosecutor within the Juvenile Justice Bureau's Delinquency Division among other Divisions, where he effectively litigated multiple felony trials. Adnan earned his Juris Doctor degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2019. While pursuing his legal studies, he contributed as a member of the distinguished Chicago-Kent trial team, actively engaging in mock trial competitions.
