Matthew D. Elster

Partner

T: 312-621-9700
mdelster@beermannlaw.com
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“Success on appeal requires working collaboratively to develop persuasive arguments on critical issues that are thoroughly researched, clearly and persuasively written, and effectively delivered.”

About Matthew D. Elster

Matthew D. Elster is a seasoned appellate and family law attorney with 15 years of experience handling high stakes cases on both sides of the bench. After serving for two years as a law clerk to the Hon. Joseph Gordon on the Illinois Appellate Court, Mr. Elster has devoted his career to representing individuals in domestic relations and related cases in state and federal trial courts and courts of appeal.

As a Partner at Beermann LLP,, Mr. Elster focuses his practice in family law litigation, complex motion practice, trials, and appeals, drawing on his experience both as a judicial law clerk and former commercial litigator to achieve exceptional results for his clients. Mr. Elster has helped his clients navigate high-conflict divorces, complex asset divisions, maintenance/support disputes, and battles over child custody, often involving interlocutory appeals and post-judgment review.

Mr. Elster has been recognized as one of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Under 40” attorneys to watch and as a Super Lawyer for Civil Appeals multiple years in a row.

He has successfully prosecuted and defended appeals in multiple areas of the law, and has obtained numerous notable favorable decisions, including:

      • Hastings v. Jefco Equip. Co., Inc., 2013 IL App (1st) 121568 – successfully obtained reversal of judgment entered against plaintiff/construction worker
      • Freedman v. Muller, 2015 IL App (1st) 141410 – successfully defended order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint
      • In re Marriage of Durchslag, 2019 IL App (2d) 180038-U – successfully defended dissolution judgment awarding client over $42,000 per month in maintenance
      • In re Marriage of Dea, 2020 IL App (1st) 190234 – successfully defended order denying request to increase client’s maintenance obligation
      • d’Escoto v. Imbrenda, 2021 IL App (1st) 210139-U – successfully defended order granting sole custody to the client
      • In re Marriage of Scarp & Rahman, 2022 IL App (1st) 210711 – successfully defended judgment precluding reduction of client’s maintenance obligation
      • In re Marriage of Tener & Walter, 2024 IL App (1st) 220890 – affirming order appointing a guardian ad litem over a potentially disabled party
      • In re Marriage of Hyman, 2023 IL App (2d) 220041 – successfully defended order requiring former husband to provide former wife with one-half of an asset undisclosed during the parties’ divorce
      • In re Marriage of Ibrahim & Mantyyeva, 2025 IL App (1st) 230146-U – successfully defended favorable judgment regarding interest in a non-marital business
      • In re Marriage of Hyman, 2024 IL App (2d) 230352 – successfully overturned adverse ruling on attorneys’ fees
      • In re Marriage of Harper, 2026 IL App (1st) 241781-U – successfully defending allocation of future book royalites.
  • J.D., cum laude, Notre Dame Law School, 2010
  • B.S., University of Illinois, 2005
  • Illinois, 2010
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2012
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2013
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, 2020
  • U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2020
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, 2022
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2023
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, (General Bar: 2012; Trial Bar: 2026) 
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 2026
  •  Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Lawyers – Chicago, Doyles Guide, 2026
  • Illinois Super Lawyer, Since  2023
    • Appellate
  • 40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin , 2022
  • Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2017 to 2020
    • Appellate
    • Business Litigation
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