Introduction

Six attorneys working across two offices in Ottawa and Earlville, Illinois give The Cantlin Law Firm a depth and geographic reach that most small-town practices cannot replicate. The firm has litigated matters in LaSalle, Will, and Grundy Counties, in Chicago, and throughout the Illinois state court system at every level. Its practice spans personal injury, wrongful death, workers compensation, estate planning and administration, real estate, business and commercial transactions, and criminal defense, serving both individual clients and institutional ones including financial institutions, townships, and municipal entities.

The six attorneys, John L. Cantlin, Christina Cantlin, Timothy B. Cantlin, Joseph H. Cantlin, Megan Cantlin, and Keith R. Leigh, operate with what the firm describes as high academic credentials and a consistent emphasis on professional responsibility. The team approach applied to personal injury cases is built into the firm structure more broadly: clients have multiple attorneys with shared institutional knowledge working through their matters, rather than a solo practitioner managing everything without backup or specialized depth.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury: The firm represents individuals injured in accidents, pursuing compensation from responsible parties through investigation, negotiation, and litigation. The team structure means more than one attorney contributes knowledge and preparation to each personal injury matter the firm handles.

Wrongful Death: When negligence results in the death of a family member, the firm represents surviving relatives in wrongful death claims, pursuing damages for their losses including economic support, companionship, and funeral costs.

Workers Compensation: Injured workers in Illinois have rights to medical care and wage replacement through the workers compensation system. The firm represents clients in these administrative proceedings, pursuing all available benefits for injured workers.

Estate Planning: The firm drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and related estate planning instruments tailored to each client’s family structure and asset situation.

Estate Administration: Following a client death, the firm handles the probate and estate administration process, including court filings, creditor resolution, and distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

Wills and Trusts: The firm prepares testamentary documents ranging from straightforward wills to more complex trust arrangements designed to manage assets across generations or address specific family circumstances.

Financial and Commercial Transactions: The firm serves financial and commercial institutions in transactional legal matters, including banking, lending, and business arrangements that require legal documentation and compliance review.

Real Estate: Cantlin Law handles residential, farm, and commercial real estate matters including purchase and sale transactions, title examination, easements, and related disputes.

Traffic and DUI Defense: The firm handles traffic offense defense, including speeding, reckless driving, and license-related charges, as well as DUI defense in Illinois courts.

Misdemeanor Defense: Criminal misdemeanor matters carry real consequences for employment, professional licensing, and daily life. The firm provides misdemeanor defense representation with the same professional standards it applies across its practice.

Municipal and Township Representation: The firm represents townships and municipal entities, a practice area that distinguishes it from practices focused exclusively on private clients. This institutional representation requires knowledge of municipal law, public contracts, and government liability that most general practice firms do not maintain.

Attorney Profiles

John L. Cantlin is a senior member of the firm, contributing leadership and accumulated experience across the practice areas.

Christina Cantlin handles client matters across the full range of the firm practice areas.

Timothy B. Cantlin practices alongside the other Cantlin attorneys as part of the firm team approach.

Joseph H. Cantlin handles client matters and contributes to the firm collective knowledge across multiple areas of law.

Megan Cantlin rounds out the Cantlin family attorneys, operating from the firm offices in Ottawa and Earlville.

Keith R. Leigh is an attorney at the firm who contributes to its litigation and transactional work.

The firm maintains offices in both Ottawa and Earlville, Illinois, giving it coverage across LaSalle County and the surrounding region. The website is cantlinlaw.com/.

Location and Service Area

The Cantlin Law Firm serves LaSalle, Will, and Grundy Counties, Chicago, and clients throughout Illinois from its Ottawa and Earlville offices.

Address: Ottawa and Earlville, Illinois (two offices)
Website: cantlinlaw.com/

Client Focus

The firm serves individuals, families, businesses, financial institutions, and government entities including townships and municipal bodies. The breadth of the practice and the depth of the six-attorney roster allow the firm to handle matters ranging from straightforward estate planning to complex commercial litigation. Personal injury and wrongful death clients receive the benefit of the multi-attorney team approach the firm applies to those matters, with more than one attorney contributing knowledge and preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many attorneys does the firm have?
Six attorneys: John L. Cantlin, Christina Cantlin, Timothy B. Cantlin, Joseph H. Cantlin, Megan Cantlin, and Keith R. Leigh.

Does the firm represent government entities?
Yes. The firm represents townships and municipal entities in legal matters, including public contracts and government liability issues.

Where does the firm litigate?
The firm has litigated matters in LaSalle, Will, and Grundy Counties, Chicago, and throughout the Illinois state court system.

What real estate matters does the firm handle?
Residential, farm, and commercial real estate transactions and related matters including title examination and disputes.

Does the firm handle criminal defense?
Yes. The firm provides DUI defense, traffic offense defense, and misdemeanor criminal defense representation.

What is the team approach mentioned on the firm site?
The firm uses a team approach in which multiple attorneys contribute knowledge and preparation to client matters rather than one attorney handling everything in isolation.

Closing

Individuals, businesses, financial institutions, and government entities throughout LaSalle, Will, and Grundy Counties and the broader Illinois area can contact The Cantlin Law Firm for representation in personal injury, estate matters, real estate, commercial transactions, criminal defense, and municipal law.

Visit cantlinlaw.com/ to learn more about the firm, its attorneys, and its range of legal services.