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Meet some of our Illinois Small Business Lawyers
Jeffrey A.
Trusted legal counsel and business advisor to businesses and executive teams in the software, financial, and technology industries. Practice areas include commercial transactions, licensing, SaaS/PaaS/IaaS delivery models, software product development, regulatory compliance, new business formation, employment matters, and general corporate matters.
Frank V.
Navy veteran with 14 years experience practicing law in Chicago.
August 1, 2023
Timothy J.
Financial Services, Business, Corporate, Personal Injury, and Healthcare. I've represented fortune 100 companies and defended individuals in personal debt litigation. Wide breadth of experience, ready to assist.
August 2, 2023
Dennis W.
2008 - Present: Sole Practitioner – Dennis W. Winkler, P.C. Practice primarily in finance and business transactions, as well as commercial real estate transactions. Represent developers, investors, lenders, and businesses, in such matters as: corporate entity selection, drafting and negotiating complex asset purchase agreements, corporate mergers and sales, stock purchase agreements, and various other business contracts for closely related businesses. Involved in a variety of real estate developments, multi-family apartment buildings, construction and acquisition financing, commercial leasing, sophisticated workout transactions, joint ventures, and tax-deferred exchanges. Advise on tax and other savings incentives available to business owners and real estate owners in Illinois. Advise companies involved in related real estate activities such as sales, leasing, property management, brokerage, and construction. Tax experience that includes the representation of taxpayers in State and Federal controversies including: sales/excess tax disputes and responsible parties’ tax assessment protest. Additionally, Dennis has experience in the protest of real estate taxes of commercial and multi-family real estate. As a legal and business advisor, Dennis is committed to helping clients find, develop, and close deals that further their business objectives. Dennis regularly advises entrepreneurs and closely held businesses on matters incidental to their day-to-day business operations as well as their capital raising and start-up needs, corporate structure, private equity raises, and operating agreements. Much like general counsel, Dennis’s breadth of experience allows him to not only provide strategic planning and routine business transactional support to companies, but he also regularly advises on a number of unique issues facing companies by spotting issues and engaging specialists when needed, such as intellectual property, environmental, and bankruptcy counsel. As such, Dennis has been actively involved in sales and acquisitions of manufacturing companies, trucking companies, and logistics companies.
August 10, 2023
Ronald P.
Senior experienced contracts/transactions attorney in the Software Technology space. Also very versed in general corporate legal matters relating to business operations.
September 6, 2023
Andre T.
Commercial Litigation attorney providing advice and counsel to management regarding employment related matters and risk management issues
September 6, 2023
Nadir C.
I am a licensed attorney in Illinois, I am currently a Regulatory Compliance Analyst.
September 12, 2023
Sarah P.
Sarah graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2013. Prior to opening her own practice, Sarah worked in a large law firm defending corporate clients. She then transitioned to a smaller firm where her longing to serve clients in the surrounding community became evident. With her prior experience, Sarah opened her own firm in 2016 and has since served Lemont and the surrounding areas.
September 19, 2023
Sahil M.
Drishti Law is devoted to assisting clients identify and protect their competitive advantage by establishing a capitalization strategy that adapts to their needs. Our expertise focuses on developing competent asset management strategies for innovators, creators, startups, and businesses. Additionally, navigating the current IP trends require a seamless experience that is personable and reflective of your goals. The principal attorney, Sahil Malhotra, founded Drishti Law because of his deep passion and ever-evolving interest in Intellectual property and Data Privacy. We take a holistic approach in balancing the risk and rewards as it relates to the development, management, and capitalization of your assets. Our ability to implement complex litigation and prosecution services permits effective execution of trademark, trade secret, copyright, and data privacy for individuals and businesses. It begins with creating a client-centric environment that develops trust through efficient decision making and instituting creative solutions.
November 1, 2023
Katherine V.
I am a skilled legal researcher and writer with a background in contract drafting and negotiation as well as litigation. I've served as an arbitrator for the past three years and have presided over nearly 400 binding arbitrations for an online dispute resolution platform. Additionally, I am a content writer and editor for the insurance division of LexisNexis. In my role as a contractor for LexisNexis, I research, draft, and edit high-quality legal reference tools on a variety of insurance topics for use by lawyers and insurance industry professionals.
January 29, 2024
Bill C.
I am a corporate business and securities attorney licensed in Illinois with more than a decade of legal experience holding both a J.D. and Master in Law in Taxation. I specialize in advising technology companies in the cryptocurrency space with regulatory compliance (eg. securities law, FinCen, and MSB rules) and cybersecurity matters (eg. GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA), licensing agreements (SaaS, End User Licensing Agreement, Master License Agreement and etc), brokerage agreements, vendor agreements, revenue share agreements, affiliate agreements, and other related business and technology contracts. Having served as both an outside and an in-house counsel, I have worked with many early stage and mid-size companies, including blockchain companies with issued tokens in the top 100 ranking. With a strong understanding of core business needs for cryptocurrency companies and the ability to translate business needs into legal requirements, I have successfully helped businesses in the cryptocurrency space establishing their contracts, meeting regulatory compliance requirements (SEC, FinCen), and negotiating contracts with partners and vendors.
April 13, 2024
Rocio F.
Skilled attorney with particular experience in investigations, document review, corporategovernance, FCPA matters, real estate and regulatory matters, excels at providing sound adviseand savvy solutions while ensuring the highest level of professionalism and integrity.
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Browse Lawyers NowSmall Business Legal Questions and Answers
Small Business
Business Entity
Illinois
I have an LLC for rental investment. Can i use the LLC to do independent corp to corp work.
Currently employed, with investment property under LLC. Would like to do independent contract work.
T. Phillip B.
The question isn't whether you can do it, but is whether you SHOULD do it. You definitely would be able to do other work within the LLC. However, in doing so, now you active work and passive income are getting combined which would likely subject your passive income to the 15.3% self employment tax. Let me know if you have any questions on how to structure the businesses.
Small Business
C Corp
North Carolina
C corp vs. S corp: Which is better?
I am currently starting a new business and am trying to decide which corporate structure is best for my particular situation. I have heard that C corps and S corps have different advantages and disadvantages, so I am looking to get legal advice as to which would be more beneficial for me. I understand that there are many factors to consider, such as taxation, liability, and potential for growth, so I am hoping to get a better understanding of the pros and cons of each structure and which would be the most suitable for my needs.
Nicholas M.
It would be impossible to give you a primer on all of the advantages and disadvantages, but here is a headnote version: C-Corp Pros: Ultimate flexibility with regards to ownership, control, power, etc through the issuance of one or more classes of shares. Cons: Double taxed. You will be taxes as a corporation and as an individual taking a salary from the corporation. S-Corp (this is just a C-Corp electing to be taxed under subchapter S of the IRS code): Pros: Tax advantage for owners (up to 100 people) from not double taxing. Cons: Less flexibility than C-Corp but more granular control than LLC. Depending on the situation, most companies starting out are better off starting an LLC, which has less formalities, and then converting to a S-Corp or C-Corp once they scale and can take advantage. C-Corp, S-Corp, and LLC all have the same level of liability protection if you follow the formalities for formation and maintenance. C-Corps have the most rigor and LLCs have the least. You can also consider LLP and other business structures based on co-owners or other factors that a lawyer can help you evaluate.
Small Business
Waiver And Release Agreement
Texas
I am a tennis coach as a side hustle in Austin, TX. Considering getting basic general liability coverage with an insurance company. If I do I would need to have my students sign a waiver. Is this something you can help with and is it absolutely necessary to have the document notarized or not?
I am a tennis coach as a side hustle in Austin, TX. Considering getting basic general liability coverage with an insurance company. If I do I would need to have my students sign a waiver. Is this something you can help with and is it absolutely necessary to have the document notarized or not?
Kelvin R.
A waiver and release of liability is a good idea. We can draft a provision for you to include in your existing agreement or as a stand alone waiver agreement. It is not necessary that waiver be notarized.
Small Business
LLC
Texas
Why hire a lawyer for LLC formation?
I am a small business owner looking to form a Limited Liability Company (LLC). I am aware of the various steps involved in forming an LLC, such as filing paperwork with the state, but I am unsure of the legal ramifications and potential risks associated with this type of business structure. I am seeking advice from a lawyer to understand the legal implications of forming an LLC and to ensure that I am taking the necessary steps to protect my business and my personal assets.
Michael C.
Here are some of the key reasons why it can be beneficial to hire a lawyer when forming an LLC: - Expertise navigating legal requirements - Forming an LLC involves meeting specific legal and regulatory requirements under state law. A business lawyer can help ensure you take all the necessary steps to properly create and register your LLC so that it obtains legal recognition and protections. - Assistance with operating agreement - Lawyers can draft a customized operating agreement that outlines the ownership structure, member responsibilities, profit/loss distributions, voting rights, and other rules governing your LLC. This agreement is important for establishing how your LLC will operate. - Advice on tax implications - LLCs can choose different tax treatments (like being taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corp or C-corp). A lawyer can help you understand the tax implications of these options. - Ongoing legal advice - After forming the LLC, you may need guidance on legal issues like liability protection, employing workers, licensing, contracts, intellectual property, etc. A lawyer can provide trusted counsel. - Compliance with regulations - Lawyers stay up-to-date on all current LLC regulations and can help ensure your LLC remains compliant as laws evolve. Non-compliance can result in penalties or loss of LLC status. The bottom line is that an experienced business lawyer can help you avoid potential mistakes when forming an LLC and provide ongoing guidance to maintain the legal protections an LLC provides. Their expertise makes the lawyer fees worthwhile for many small business owners.
Small Business
Liability Waiver
North Carolina
Does every participant need a liability waiver?
I am a small business owner who is planning to hold an event for a group of participants. I am looking to ensure that everyone involved is properly protected in the event of any accidents or injuries. In order to do this, I am considering having participants sign a liability waiver. I want to make sure that I have the right legal protection in place and would like to know if every participant needs to sign a liability waiver.
Shelia H.
Yes. If you are having an event, every participant needs a liability waiver. This is especially important if the event includes activities that may result in someone getting hurt. Additionally, it provides you with an opportunity to disclose the possible hazards and an opportunity for the participant to make an informed decision regarding whether to attend and participate. Finally, even if you have a waiver, you will also want to supplement the waiver with insurance that will cover your event.
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