Who We Are

Prior to founding the firm, Haskell was a partner with two of the largest global professional services firms, PwC, LLP and KPMG, LLP. For over 20 years he advised Fortune 1000 companies, boards, and government entities on regulatory risk, compliance, shareholder value, workforce strategy, reputation management, and corporate governance.

As both and attorney and a CPA, the early part of his career was focused on complex structured capital market transactions with a focus on tax and regulatory matters. He then went on to his respective firm's national practices in Alternative Risk Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech) Strategy.

His work included designing and implementing many of the financial services products and their underlying technology that consumers across the world use today. His clients included organizations such as Apple, Microsoft, Citibank, Toyota, J.B. Hunt, Fannie Mae, Aon, and sovereign entities including the United Arab Emirates. Haskell has deep experience guiding CEOs, CFOs, and boards through high-stakes decisions where legal risk, business continuity, and public consequence intersect.

Haskell leverages these decades of in designing and implementing large global cross boarder transactions, and advising on enterprise risk management and technology strategy, to identify where the wrong business decisions lead to institutional consequences.

Haskell concentrates his legal practice at the crossroads of employment law and white-collar criminal activity. He routinely litigates complex fraud and whistleblower cases, state and federal False Claims actions (qui tam), and securities law violations.

He has extensive experience representing clients before various governmental agencies, including the Department of Labor, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, National Labor Relations Board, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additionally, as both a father and grandfather, Haskell is a dedicated advocate for minors, women, and other individuals who have experienced sexual assault in the workplace. He has achieved multi-million-dollar outcomes for #MeToo victims and those with similar claims.

Haskell earned his Bachelor of Business Management from Loyola University Chicago and his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is also a certified public accountant. Haskell is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, the U.S. Tax Court, the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the Norther District of Illinois.

In addition to his advisory and regulatory work, Haskell has taught on emerging technology and governance at the Stanford School of Corporate Governance and has written numerous journal articles and has been frequently sought out by the media on matters of financial services regulation and emerging technology.

Haskell has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Employment litigation in both 2025 and 2026.

He represents employees in complex disputes involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage theft, biometric privacy, and institutional misconduct. Before joining the firm, Max was a partner at a plaintiff-side firm and externed for two federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois.

Max's work focuses on proving who made the call, what alternatives were available, and why one option was chosen over another. He reconstructs events across digital records, internal communications, and policy application to demonstrate intent embedded in judgment.

His work has produced multiple seven-figure resolutions, removal of corporate officers, and the Illinois's highest per-class member Biometric Information Privacy Act resolution in Illinois history.

As the former president of the National Employment Lawyers Association (Illinois), Max has testified before the Illinois legislature and has been intimately involved in shaping multiple pieces of legislation including amendments to the the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and the Illinois Gender Violence Act. He frequently lectures and publishes on issues of employment law.

Max is a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law and holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Michigan.

Max is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), the Central District of Illinois, and the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Max has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2020-present.

Matt brings more than a decade of experience as lead trial counsel and litigation both for and against SEC registrants, insurance carriers, and governmental entities. Matt previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in Illinois's Government Representation Division.

This unique background gives Matt a precise understanding of how business decisions are defended in court and how to dismantle those decisions through disciplined litigation.

Matt is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), Central District of Illinois, Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin, District of Colorado, and the Eastern District of Michigan.

Matt received his B.A. in Political Science from Miami University in 2006, and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2011.

Wayne leads the firm's investigation and review function, in addition to litigating cases involving violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act, federal whistleblower claims, and state and federal false claims (quit tam).

As a former Chief Assistant Inspector General for the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General. In that role, he investigated corruption, fraud, and abuse by city employees, contractors, and elected officials. He led teams that uncovered misconduct, directed complex investigations, and developed comprehensive findings that withstood strong scrutiny from politicians, law enforcement, and the public.

That experience shapes Wayne's approach to litigation. He understands how misconduct is concealed, how internal investigations are constrained, and how decision-makers balance exposure against accountability. As a result, he is particularly effective in whistleblower matters where institutions attempt to reframe retaliation as performance management or isolate wrongdoing as individual error.

Wayne earned his B.A. in Political Science from Morehouse College and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

He is admitted to practice in Illinois and the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois. He is a member of NELA-Illinois, the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, and the Black Men's Law Association.

Alex's work is defined by careful preparation and analytical rigor. He approaches each case by reconstructing the factual record, testing claims against governing law, and developing litigation strategies designed to withstand procedural and evidentiary scrutiny. His matters are litigated with the expectation that they will be examined closely by courts and opposing counsel alike.

Alex has served as lead trial counsel in numerous state and federal cases, where he has been responsible for trial strategy, witness examination, evidentiary presentation, and courtroom execution. That experience informs his practical, outcome-oriented approach to litigation at every stage of a case.

Alex began his legal career clerking for two federal trial court judges, where he developed a deep understanding of judicial decision-making, motion practice, and the standards that govern credibility and proof. That experience continues to inform his approach to litigation, particularly in matters where factual precision and procedural discipline determine outcomes.

Prior to joining the Garfinkel Group, LLC, Alex was a commercial litigator at two leading Chicago law firms and owned his own private practice. Prior to that he represented labor unions and their members in litigation and grievance proceedings.

Alex was class valedictorian and graduated summa cum laude from the John Marshall School of Law. That same standard of academic excellence carries through into his litigation practice.

Alex is admitted to practice in Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.