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Providing services: Business Consulting, Strategic Planning, Business Law, Legal Consulting, Intellectual Property Law, Corporate Law, Trademark Law, Startup Law
Summary: Global Data Privacy & Compliance Corporate Counsel. I support and advise businesses in the following areas: - Data Privacy Compliance: GDPR/RGPD, CCPA/CPRA, COPPA, HIPPA, etc. - International Business Development and Compliance Other: - Commercial Transaction: SaaS, Information technology - M&A - Corporate Formation (US) - Intellectual Property - Employment Law Language: English/French Locations: Chicago, IL/ Paris, France
Providing services: Business Consulting, Leadership Development, Labor and Employment Law, Estate Planning Law, Wills Planning Law, Business Law, Divorce Law, Corporate Law, Legal Consulting, Executive Coaching
Summary: Principal of The Bellows Law Group, Laurel has nearly 40 years of experience counseling senior executives, corporations, compensation committees and human resource directors in connection with executive compensation, employment and severance agreements, and workplace disputes. Ms. Bellows is a skilled negotiator, and offers strategic counseling on diverse client matters ranging from commercial litigation for large corporations to small-to-medium sized businesses to start-ups. Among her many notable accomplishments: The 5th Woman President of the American Bar Association, Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates--the second-highest elected office in the ABA. Past President of the Chicago Bar Association Selected Publications: Co-Author, Today's Chicago Woman, "Smart Negotiating for Women" (February 2010) http://www.tcwmag.com/smart-negotiating-for-women Author, Perspectives, "Is the Past Prologue?" (Summer 2009) http://bellowslaw.com/is_the_past_prologue.shtml Selected Speeches: Keynote Speaker, 2013 Women of Legacy Awards, (and award recipient) Powerful Women International Keynote Speaker, 2012 ATHENA International Global Leadership Award (and award recipient) Speaker, Navigant Consulting Group, "This Time it’s about You" (January 2010), Keynote Speaker, Allegheny County Bar Association, Institute For Gender Equality (October, 2009), Speaker, Arnstein and Lehr, "Terminating High-Level Executives in Tough Economic Times" (September 2009), Keynote Speaker, Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Judge Judy West Lecture Series (September, 2009) Speaker, RHR International and DHR International, "The Art of Negotiation with Female Panache" (May 2009) Keynote Speaker, 2009 Women on the Move Luncheon (May 2009) Licensed to practice in Illinois, Florida and California. Admitted to the United States Supreme Court
Providing services: Corporate Law, Immigration Law, Legal Consulting
Providing services: Real Estate, Estate Planning Law, Business Law, Trust and Estate Litigation, Property Law, Corporate Law, Legal Consulting
Summary: Accomplished outside general counsel with a successful track record managing an inclusive and respectful law practice. Highly experienced in corporate transactional and litigation cases, real estate transactions, and consumer markets, securing many optimal outcomes for clients. Proficient in all facets of corporate governance, with the ability to successfully advise businesses through complex regulatory matters and changes. Proven expertise in all major law tech/SaaS platforms, able to automate document production, generate leads, and simplify client experiences. Completed LLM in Business Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies from Ohio State University.
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Providing services: Divorce Law, Business Law, Corporate Law, Family Law, Labor and Employment Law, Legal Consulting
Summary: I help private businesses and their owners with a variety of corporate and tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, tax planning, business succession planning, and federal and state tax disputes. My clients include manufacturers, distributors, real estate developers and investors, food and beverage companies, private equity sponsors, and institutional investors. I help them plan and execute significant transactions, transition ownership of a business, and resolve IRS or state tax audits. I am a member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Tax Club, and Alliott Global Alliance, the global alliance of law and accounting firms. Outside of the office, I serve on the board of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic and enjoy running and baseball. Please feel free to contact me at (312) 637-3070 or at igolden@hahnlaw.com. I welcome the opportunity to learn more about your business. Areas of focus: Corporate Tax Partnership Tax Individual Tax Tax Controversy State and Local Tax Mergers and Acquisitions Reorganizations Operating Agreements Business Succession Planning Commercial Agreements
Providing services: Business Law, Consumer Law, Copyright Law, Corporate Law, Bankruptcy Law, Entertainment Law, Estate Planning Law, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property Law, Labor and Employment Law
Summary: With a diverse background encompassing both legal expertise and academic achievements, I recently completed an LLM at Chicago-Kent College of Law and hold a PhD in Economic Sciences from the University of Tirana, alongside international experience including a Business Law program at the School of American Law and a Master's in European Economic Studies from the University of Bamberg.
Providing services: Family Law, Legal Consulting, Divorce Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Defense Law
Summary: A career driven, detail oriented, critique foreign lawyer. More than 2 years of legal experience of working with the legal team in various roles. Active team player with good technical knowledge.
Summary: My office specializes in commercial real estate, corporate transactions, and business organization. We bring the depth of our experience to serve our clients and their needs: from first-time business owners to established firms, large corporate tenants to small and medium sized companies. I will work with you or your partners to support all aspects of your business. My experience ranges from public accounting to bankruptcy, residential real estate closings to workouts. In 2024, I was proud to start a residential real estate offshoot to my ongoing practice and hired an associate to work exclusively on these matters. I offer services based in my experience in real estate acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, and financing, as well as corporate/business law. I have an extensive background in negotiating land purchase and sale agreements, reviewing loan documents, examining title, and closing real estate deals. I can also help you set up your new business, modify your current operating/shareholder agreements, and draft all of your corporate documents. In my ongoing practice, I gained expertise drafting and administering leases, assignments, assumptions and amendments when I worked as general counsel to a commercial real estate management and holding company. My office can also handle your zoning, permit and license issues, or for consulting on general business matters. I received a JD/MBA from DePaul University after pursuing degrees in Finance and Economics as an undergraduate. I worked in finance, public accounting, and the not-for-profit industries prior to practicing law. I have also taught collegiate courses on subjects including Business Law, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics, and Labor Relations. I am honored to be our clients' first call for any legal need. While my practice specializes in a few focused areas of law, my office associates with attorneys who practice labor/employment, personal injury, professional malpractice, bankruptcy, collections, and litigation. I hope to act as a resource to you or your clients. If I cannot personally help, I will be delighted to refer you to an eminently capable attorney who can.
Whether you run a financial advisory firm in the Loop, an upscale boutique on State Street, or a night club in Fulton River, chances are good that your business can benefit from having a corporate lawyer on retainer. They offer help in a variety of areas, including contracts, financial reporting, taxes, and human resources.
While legal fees can be substantial, it's important to consider that the cost of hiring a corporate lawyer to review contracts, handle tax matters, and oversee human resources for your business is substantially lower than the cost of hiring a lawyer to represent you if employees, consumers, or competitors pursue legal charges against you. Working with a corporate lawyer is often the best way to mitigate a plethora of risks that small businesses face, including lawsuits over liability, unfair employee termination, and consumer complaints.
Below, we discuss in detail some of the most common services provided to small business owners by corporate lawyers as well as what to look for when you're ready to hire a corporate lawyer for your company.
A corporate lawyer is responsible for helping corporations manage their affairs, understand their legal responsibilities, and follow through with obligations to employees, vendors, and consumers. They accept work on a project-basis or may be hired by corporations on a retainer, which allows business owners and those in a management role to consult with the attorney whenever advice is needed. The retainer works as a down payment toward services rendered and for small jobs but may cover the entire cost of service.
In most cases, corporate lawyers act as general advisors. When it comes to niche matters such as tax and real estate transactions, they often seek outside assistance from lawyers in other legal areas before providing you with the advice you need.
Below, we've listed some of the most common tasks that corporate lawyers handle.
Whether you're just starting a business or you've been around for a while and are ready to incorporate, a corporate lawyer can assist you in navigating the process of forming or incorporating your business.
It's important to understand that a corporation acts as its own legal entity, meaning that a corporation is subject to the same laws and legal proceedings as an actual person. This ensures that no person is solely responsible for acts carried out by a corporation, and as such, their assets and livelihood are protected under corporate law.
When forming a new corporation, a corporate lawyer can assist with the formation of several types of businesses, including limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and business trusts. Incorporation of any type is considered a legal process, and a lawyer should be hired to advise you throughout the process.
In Illinois, all incorporations are required to submit articles of incorporation, which is a short document detailing vital information about the business, to the state. This document must include the corporation's legal name, which should include one of the following words or abbreviations:
In addition to the corporation name, the articles of incorporation document must include the business's registered agent, a legal business address within Illinois, detailed information about shares and common stock, and the purpose of incorporation.
While the details included in these documents are simple to obtain, it's absolutely vital that all information is included as per state law and worded appropriately. The best way to ensure the document is drafted correctly is by enlisting the help of a corporate lawyer, who can assist with naming the corporation, drafting the articles of incorporation, and filing it correctly.
In most states, corporations are required to create and follow their own set of bylaws. These bylaws must be drafted according to state laws and act like the rules and regulations that all managers and employees at a corporation must follow. While drafting bylaws is the responsibility of the company's board of directors, a corporate lawyer can directly assist with this task and review the bylaws to ensure they've been created according to state regulations.
Nearly every business uses contracts and agreements. Contracts exist between small businesses and their vendors or suppliers, and in some cases, businesses require their employees to enter into a contract upon hiring. A lawyer can help you draft and review these contracts to ensure that you've covered all your bases.
Of course, the contracts and agreements you'll use in your business aren't limited to agreements with your employees and suppliers. In fact, everything from agreements on recurring payments to confidentiality agreements can be considered contracts and should be drafted and/or reviewed by a professional corporate lawyer.
These are just some of the most common types of agreements that your business may use that a corporate lawyer can provide assistance with:
Depending on the nature of your business, you may require assistance with intellectual property matters. There are four types of intellectual property: trademarks, trade secrets, patents, and copyrights. A corporate lawyer can provide you with help obtaining the protection you need to guard your business against theft of intellectual property.
A corporate lawyer can be especially good to have on your team if you're required to report your financials publicly. While smaller, private businesses typically aren't required to do this, those that are traded publicly must publish their financial statements on a quarterly basis. Lawyers can help corporations put together accurate financial reports and submit them through the proper channels.
When it comes to taxes, a corporate lawyer can also help business owners structure their organization for tax efficiency. When tax season rolls around, they can provide their clients with representation in the event of an audit or if the need for an appeal arises.
If your business is considering a merger with another organization or looking into acquiring another business, a corporate lawyer is an absolute must. They can negotiate and oversee the entire process on your behalf, ensuring that your best interests are looked after and no detail is missed.
In addition to representing clients in dealings with the second party in a merger or acquisition, a corporate lawyer can help their client obtain proper financing. As mentioned earlier, they can provide assistance with drafting proper contracts between both parties.
Corporate lawyers often provide advice to corporations regarding staffing matters, including employee termination, severance, layoffs, and hiring. They ensure that all decisions are made according to local and state laws as well as human rights codes.
When issues with employees arise, a corporate lawyer can provide mediation between you and your employee and offer sound advice in preventing similar incidents from happening in the future. This might include making changes to corporate policies or revising contracts and employee agreements.
When you're ready to hire a corporate lawyer, it's important you choose someone trustworthy who understands the unique needs of your business and your clients. Be sure to look into the background of any lawyer you're considering retaining, and look for someone who can provide you with all or some of the traits listed below.
When you're hiring someone to manage your business affairs, you want to make sure they understand how your business and your industry operate. While you don't want to hire a lawyer who already represents your direct competitors, you do want someone who has experience representing businesses with similar values and business plans.
Consider the reason you're hiring a lawyer in the first place. If you have a lot of contracts and agreements to draft, you want someone who has a great deal of experience in that area of corporate law. Just the same, if you're looking for representation in a major merger or acquisition, you want someone who has successfully helped similar businesses in your industry to complete this process.
When interviewing potential lawyers, make sure to ask specific questions about the tasks you're hiring them for, and ask for tangible evidence that they've been successful in handling these matters with past clients.
It's crucial that everything you do in your business is done according to local, state, and federal regulations. Depending on your industry, your business may be subject to laws that are specific to the operation of your business. This is particularly true for those in the health care, food, and finance industries. It's essential to make sure that the lawyer you choose to represent you is aware of the specific rules and regulations that pertain to your business and your industry.
Before you hire a corporate lawyer, take some time to find out how they stay up-to-date on changes to industry regulations. It's advisable to ask them how familiar they are with the organizations that govern your business.
In the legal field, communication is key. Your lawyer may be representing you in front of current and past employees, suppliers, competitors, financial institutions, and consumers. You want to know that they're an effective communicator who can speak directly, even under intense pressure.
Additionally, you want to know that your corporate lawyer will be available when you need them the most. Make sure that any lawyer you consider working with is responsive to your calls and emails, even before they've made you a client.
The last thing you want to do is fight for your lawyer's attention. Even if you're a small business that won't require a lot of assistance on a day-to-day basis, you may want to consider asking corporate lawyers about the size of their client base before you hire them. If they serve several smaller clients, they should have enough time to help you with legal matters as needed; however, if your attorney works with a high volume of clients, particularly those with excessive legal needs, you might find that your requests for help are subject to long wait times before your lawyer has the chance to provide assistance.
Whether you want to hire a lawyer for a particular project or keep them available on a retainer, you're likely looking at a sizable investment. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $400 per hour for a corporate lawyer's services, with a slight reduction in that rate for those who are hired on a regular retainer.
When you're researching any lawyer's background, find out whether they're affiliated with any local organizations. This might include the Chicago Association of Corporate Counsel or the Chicago Bar Association. Many top lawyers are also peer-rated by organizations such as Martindale-Hubbell, which speaks to their professionalism and knowledge.