Franks, Gerkin & McKenna, P.C. is pleased to announce that Joseph C. Ponitz has been named a Partner of our firm.

Joe has an extensive legal background that encompasses a wide range of practice areas, including Criminal and DUI Defense, Family Law, and Commercial Litigation.  Prior to joining Franks, Gerkin & McKenna, P.C., Joe served as a Prosecutor with the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Joe attended the Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he was a published author and an editor of the School’s Law Review.  Joe was also awarded the Southern Illinois University Alumni Scholarship Award.  In addition, Joe served as a graduate assistant to a prominent professor and his research was accredited in the Duke Environment of Law and Policy Forum. 

Joe is fluent in Spanish and volunteers with and serves on the Governance Committee of the Healing Pathways Cancer Research Center.  He is a member of the Cosmopolitan Club of Boone County.  He also serves as an Arbitrator for the Seventeenth Judicial District.  From 2007 to 2010, Joe served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of McHenry County Youth Service Bureau.  

Joe is a member of the Illinois, Winnebago, McHenry and Boone County Bar Associations and serves as Chair of the Boone County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee.