Sergio Acosta, co-chair of Akerman’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice, and Litigation Partner Julia Lissner have been named on the Crain's Chicago Business 2025 list of Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys, which recognizes leaders in the legal industry for their professional accomplishments and for making a difference in the Chicago community.

Sergio, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, maintains an active litigation practice. He is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, serving for approximately 18 years, including seven years as chief of the General Crimes Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. He has tried more than 75 jury trials to completion. He represents clients in a variety of industries regarding enforcement and other litigation matters, including allegations of bribery; alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the Anti-Kickback Statute; financial and regulatory fraud (e.g., False Claims Act, securities, tax, bankruptcy, and federal programs fraud); violations of export/import laws and regulations; and violations of internal corporate policy. He has also conducted numerous internal investigations for various private sector and governmental entities.

Julia is an accomplished litigator, trial attorney, and appellate lawyer, who has spent more than a decade at Akerman after practicing at two other sophisticated business law firms. She represents public and private companies and individuals, helping them navigate and tackle a wide range of complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts nationwide. Her practice spans a variety of substantive areas, including intellectual property, unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, professional liability, fraud, restrictive covenants, and class action defense. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Appellate Lawyers Association. Julia has received numerous accolades for her work, and this is the fifth time that Crain's Chicago Business has recognized her as among Chicago’s most notable business leaders.