Laura Presto

After 18 years of practicing law exclusively in the area of family law, Laura M. Presto has earned the respect of colleagues, judges, experts, clients and the like through her steadfast preparation, attention to detail, admiration for the law, and empathetic approach to cases. Her practice reflects a fundamental belief that while each case carries its own distinct facts and complexities, the work at its core is about guiding individuals and families through some of the most challenging chapters of their lives, with both clarity and compassion.

Laura earned her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) and her Double-Bachelors of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In law school, she founded and served as President of the Children and Family Law Society, competed on the Moot Court program’s family law and juvenile law teams (earning recognition as a Family Law Octofinalist and a Second Place award for Best Brief), and spent two years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the Cook County Juvenile Court’s Abuse and Neglect Division.

Laura applies her skills across the full spectrum of family law matters, whether litigating cases in court, serving as a Guardian ad Litem, or facilitating resolution as a certified mediator. 

Laura has long been engaged as a thought leader and educator within the legal community. She has lectured at bar events, presented for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) including as a panelist for the program “Lessons Learned Through COVID-19: Utilizing Technology to Move Your Family Law Practice Forward,” and has presented at the Lake County Bar Association’s Family Law Guardian ad Litem training course on multiple occasions. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

Her professional excellence has been recognized through a consistent record of peer-reviewed distinctions. Laura has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer and previously an Illinois Rising Star, recognized as an Illinois Top Women Attorneys Rising Star, and honored by the Leading Lawyers Network as a Family Law Emerging Lawyer and a Leading Lawyer.

Laura has served on the Young Professional Board of Rainbows, an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering emotional healing in children experiencing grief or loss.

Laura brings to Merel Family Law years of litigation experience, compassion, and a deep understanding of the law and its intricacies.