Meet the 23 Legal Team
Approachable Legal Guidance From a Team That Listens First
Legal matters can feel personal, time-sensitive, or unfamiliar. The team at 23 Legal is here to make the process feel clearer, not more overwhelming.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, preparing estate planning documents, helping a parent, or working through a property question, you deserve practical guidance from people who listen, communicate clearly, and help you understand what comes next.
Here to Make the Process Clearer
23 Legal was built around a simple idea: a good legal experience should help clients feel informed, supported, and less stressed.
The team takes time to understand what clients are trying to accomplish, explain the process in plain language, and help each person move forward with more clarity.
Team Members
Ben Weaver
Attorney / Founder
Ben founded 23 Legal in 2012 with a simple goal: to make legal guidance feel clearer, more personal, and less intimidating.
Before becoming an attorney, Ben served in the Peace Corps in Zambia, an experience that shaped the way he listens, communicates, and works with people. Today, he helps clients understand real estate law and estate planning decisions without getting buried in legal “mumbo jumbo.”
Ben lives in Mount Prospect with his wife, Kerry, and their two children.
Lily Houlston
Real Estate Client Coordinator
Lily helps clients move through real estate transactions with organization, communication, and practical next-step support.
She joined 23 Legal in September 2024 and brings administrative experience, strong attention to detail, and a people-first approach to client coordination. Originally from the Bay Area, Lily moved to the Chicago area and graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology.
Emily Laffey
Legal Assistant
Emily supports real estate transactions, contracts, client communication, and marketing-related needs for the firm.
She joined 23 Legal in May 2024 and is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Arts & Ideas after transferring from Harper College. Her work helps keep client matters organized and moving forward.
Monika Alcheikh
Estate Plan Client Coordinator
Monika helps estate planning clients move through the process with organization, care, and clear communication.
She joined 23 Legal in November 2024 and brings client-centered experience from marketing offices and nonprofit work. Monika graduated from Elmhurst University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
“Ben Weaver and his legal assistant, Emily, couldn’t have been more kind and caring with my mom. Their expediency and experience made this task a pleasure!
Highly recommend Ben Weaver and his team!”