Sterling & Hayes Law provides experienced legal representation to individuals, families, and businesses facing serious legal challenges throughout Illinois.
Our attorneys concentrate their work in seven core areas of litigation and dispute resolution. We are deliberate about where we focus so that every client receives counsel from attorneys who know their area well.
When another party's negligence causes serious harm, our attorneys help clients pursue the compensation and accountability they may be entitled to.
Learn More about Personal InjuryGuidance through insurance claims, medical documentation, liability disputes, and litigation following serious collisions.
Learn More about Car & Truck AccidentsCompassionate legal representation for families dealing with the financial and legal consequences of a devastating loss.
Learn More about Wrongful DeathRepresentation involving potential negligence and preventable harm in medical care.
Learn More about Medical MalpracticeHelping injured workers understand their rights and pursue available benefits.
Learn More about Workers' CompensationRepresentation in disputes involving workplace rights, contracts, discrimination, retaliation, and other employment matters.
Learn More about Employment LitigationStrategic representation for businesses facing contractual, commercial, and partnership disputes.
Learn More about Business Litigation
Every matter is handled by an attorney who knows the file. We do not pass clients through layers of staff, and the attorney you meet at the consultation is the attorney who handles your case.
We prepare every file as though it will be tried. That preparation is often what produces a fair outcome at the negotiating table — and what allows us to proceed confidently to trial when settlement is not appropriate.
We explain options, risks, and expected timelines in plain language. Clients receive substantive updates on their case, not status placeholders, and questions are returned within one business day.
When the facts support a claim, we pursue it thoroughly. We retain qualified experts, engage with the documentary record, and present each case with the care it deserves — whether it resolves through negotiation or trial.
Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience across the firm's practice areas. Each matters is staffed by an attorney who knows the file and is available to the client throughout.
Managing Partner
Daniel Sterling founded the firm in 2001 and has focused his practice on serious personal injury, wrongful death, and complex business litigation for more than two decades.
View Profile of Daniel Sterling
Partner
Elena Hayes is a partner focusing on medical malpractice and complex personal injury matters, with a background in health policy that informs her approach to medical-legal issues.
View Profile of Elena Hayes
Senior Associate
Marcus Reed is a senior associate whose practice centers on motor vehicle collisions, workers' compensation, and employment litigation.
View Profile of Marcus ReedThe following summaries illustrate the kinds of matters our attorneys handle. They are demonstrative content only — not actual client outcomes.
A driver was struck from behind by a commercial delivery vehicle on I-90, resulting in cervical disc injuries requiring a two-level fusion. Liability was initially contested. After retaining a reconstruction expert and documenting future care needs, the matter resolved prior to trial.
A warehouse employee fell from defective racking, sustaining a serious leg injury and traumatic brain symptoms. The workers' compensation claim was supplemented by a third-party action against the rack manufacturer. Total recovery combined both claims.
A family pursued a wrongful death claim following a nursing facility resident's preventable fall. The matter resolved through structured negotiation after documentation of staffing deficiencies and the facility's failure to implement a written fall-prevention plan.
A patient developed a serious post-operative infection that went unrecognized for several days, resulting in additional surgeries and prolonged recovery. The matter resolved after retention of an infectious disease expert and reconstruction of the standard of care.
Results shown are illustrative demonstration content and are not actual client results. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is evaluated on its individual facts.
The summaries below are illustrative demonstration content. They reflect the kinds of concerns we hear most often — clear communication, responsive handling, and a clear understanding of options at each step.
“After the accident, I had no idea what to do with the insurance adjuster calling me every day. Daniel took the time to explain what was actually happening and what to expect at each step. The constant calls stopped, and I could focus on recovering.”
M. Alvarez
Rear-end collision on the Eisenhower Expressway
Demonstration content
“What I appreciated most was honesty. Elena told me early on that my case had real challenges, and she walked me through what those challenges meant. When the offer came, it was clear she had prepared the file to be tried — not just settled.”
J. Thompson
Medical malpractice consultation and claim
Demonstration content
“Marcus returned every call within the day. That sounds small, but when you are dealing with a workers' comp claim and a mortgage, it is everything. He explained the benefit calculations in plain language and made sure the numbers were right.”
R. Patel
Workplace injury and workers' compensation claim
Demonstration content
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. Here is what to expect when you reach out.
Submit an inquiry through our consultation form or call our intake line. There is no obligation, and the conversation is confidential.
An attorney reviews your inquiry and follows up to ask focused follow-up questions and understand what you are hoping to accomplish.
We explain the applicable process, deadlines, and the strengths and challenges of your situation — in plain language, without pressure.
If we move forward together, you will know what to expect at each stage. If we do not, you will still leave with a clearer understanding of where you stand.
Submitting a consultation request does not create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship is formed only by a written engagement agreement signed by both the client and the firm.
Our team will review your inquiry and help determine the appropriate next step. There is no obligation, and the conversation is confidential.