Bequests Lawyers

My career interests are to practice Transactional Corporate Law, including Business Start Up, as well as Real Estate Law, Estate Planning Law, and Intellectual Property Law. I am currently licensed in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Utah, after having moved to Phoenix from Philadelphia in September 2019. I currently serve as General Counsel for a bioengineering company. I handle everything from their Business Transactional Agreements, Private Placement Memorandums, and Corporate Structures to Intellectual Property Assignments, to Employment Law and Beach of Contract settlements. Responsibilities include writing and executing agreements, drafting court pleadings, court appearances, mergers and acquisitions, transactional documents, managing expert specialized legal counsel, legal research and anticipating unique legal issues that could impact the Company. Conducted an acquisition of an entire line of intellectual property from a competitor. In regards to other clients, I am primarily focused on transactional law for clients in a variety of industries including, but not limited to, real estate investment, property management, and e-commerce. Work is primarily centered around entity formation and corporate structure, corporate governance agreements, PPMs, opportunity zone tax incentives, and all kinds of business to business agreements. I have also recently gained experience with Estate Planning law, drafting numerous Estate Planning documents for people such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, and Trusts. I was selected to the Super Lawyers Southwest Rising Stars list for 2024 - 2026. Each year no more than 2.5% of the attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico are selected to the Rising Stars. I am looking to further gain legal experience in these fields of law as well as expand my legal experience assisting business start ups, and also trademark registration and licensing.

I enjoy helping businesses of all sizes succeed, from start-ups to existing small and medium sized businesses. I regularly advise corporate clients on a variety of legal issues including formation, day to day governance, reviewing and drafting business contracts and other agreements, business acquisitions and sales, as well as commercial and residential real estate issues, including sales, purchases and leases. As an attorney licensed in both Michigan and Florida, I also advise clients on real estate issues affecting businesses and individuals owning real property in either state, whether commercial, residential or vacation/investment property. I also regularly assist nonprofit organizations in obtaining and maintaining tax exempt status, and provide general legal counsel on all matters affecting public charities, private foundations and other nonprofit organizations.

I am a 1984 graduate of the Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University) and have been licensed in New Jersey for over 35 years. I have extensive experience in negotiating real estate, business contracts, and loan agreements. Depending on your needs I can work remotely or face-to-face. I offer prompt and courteous service and can tailor a contract and process to meet your needs.

Since getting my license to practice 3 years ago, I have been spent my time as a trial attorney with district attorneys office and insurance defense covering disputes with contracts, landlord-tenant, auto accidents, premises liability, and contract disputes.

I close residential and commercial real estate transactions. Myself and my paralegal work hard to ensure that every closing is properly executed. I can write title insurance policies with two companies First American and AmTrust. We are a small title company, but we are capable and efficient. I love what I do and I would love to provide closing services for you as well. I am also a licensed real estate agent. I do not actively practice real estate in the sales agent capacity because of my real estate closing practice. I remain current with policies, procedures, issues and trends. I am available to help anyone buy or sell a home or refer them to someone who will do an excellent job.

As a resident of the Chicago Southside, Attorney Carissa Essex is a dedicated mother, wife, and attorney. Carissa graduated from the Illustrious Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. She then returned to Chicago to obtain her Juris Doctorate in 2016 from DePaul University College of Law. After working in Corporate America for several years as a full-time Legal Project Manager practicing law part-time, Carissa decided to devote all of her time to her legal practice and founded Essex Law in early 2024. Focusing on Family Law and Real Estate Law matters, Essex Law provides exceptional and affordable services to all throughout the Chicagoland Area.

Transactional and litigation real estate attorney for over 25+ years. Other areas of practice include family law, probate and general civil litigation.