Strauss & Hoyt

I have had the pleasure of working with Deanna over the past year and a half. Her professionalism and attention to detail are remarkable. I always felt she went above and beyond in preparing her statements before the judge. Her quick response time to my questions and ability to explain legal terms I didn't understand made the legal process so much more comfortable to engage with. She's made me have a deeper appreciation for attorneys and how when you work with the right person and team, you don't feel intimidated or pressured along the way. I really can't say enough praise and would highly recommend Deanna to handle your next case!

Michael Strauss is the most amazing GAL and I Highly Advise anyone to hire him. Having Mr. Strauss logged on zoom that morning changed our lives. Without Mr. Strauss I wouldn't have my son and I am just so grateful, thankful, and blessed for the outcome. He truly most importantly cares about the kids and the best for their future.

Mike represented me in my 2014 divorce proceedings as well as a post-decree matter. I felt like a bomb had just gone off, and Mike pulled me out of the foxhole. He has razor sharp intuition - knew exactly what was needed. He was smart, fast, matter-of-fact, and to the point. He focuses solely on the client's needs and their kids. He won't overcomplicate things to drive up fees. He's remained accessible and friendly over the years. Highly recommend if you want a no-nonsense, straight shooting guy. Oh, and he's also nice.

Mike Strauss is a dedicated professional. He clearly demonstrates an impressive degree of understanding and knowledge of domestic court laws, procedures, and case law in Illinois. He works very quickly and efficiently, and I could not be happier with Mike as my attorney. He is passionate about his practice and holds himself and his staff to a high degree service to his clients. I have already referred other colleagues to him.

While an event requiring an attorney is stressful enough, add to that the grueling task of picking an attorney that actually cares more about their client than their bill rate is next to near impossible. Unfortunately, life is what it is, and I found myself in a dangerous situation with a neighbor whom I had to obtain an emergency order of protection against. I met with attorney after attorney to discuss my case and all but one seemed more focused on telling me/bragging how great they were, who they knew, and how my case was so simple and would be settled quickly. Thankfully, I knew better than to believe any of what I was being told and more importantly, discovered Michael Strauss. While he too believed my case was not exactly complicated, he recognized that the situation could change in a heartbeat and instead of making me promises he would never be able to keep just to sign me on as a client, he discussed best and worst-case scenarios from the start so I could adjust my expectations. And as he predicted, my case grew more complicated and eventually put my own personal safety in jeopardy. Instead of focusing on billing me for every minute that he was working my case, he paused all of this to ensure I was safe. He took on aspects that an attorney would normally not and if they did, they would charge substantially more. Not only did Mr. Strauss did not charge me anything extra, when there was a time that I had nothing left in me physically, mentally, and emotionally and decided to not pursue the legal matter any further, Mr. Strauss indicated that while that was my decision, he would not stop fighting on my behalf! What attorney continues to work a case even if the client has nothing left in them to fight???? When I could not fight anymore, Mr. Strauss stepped fought for me. I have never met an attorney or know of one that was so passionate about their clients and really made them the priority not the retainer nor additional potential billing. He was a Godsend. He is the very type of attorney I believe the job was initially created for - someone who gets into law not for the fame nor money but to actually help those who have nowhere else to turn. I cannot recommend Michael Strauss enough. He was not only my attorney, but he also in a truly unforeseen way became my guardian angel. Because of him, his dedication, and ethics, I am now safe, and it did not financially drain me. While this world does not need more attorneys, they need attorneys like Michael Strauss.