SAFE Agreement Lawyers for Illinois
Need help with a SAFE agreement in Illinois?
ContractsCounsel connects businesses and individuals with experienced SAFE agreement lawyers across Illinois to help with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating your legal agreements.
Quick Facts — SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Avg cost to draft a SAFE Note: $590.00
- Avg cost to review a SAFE Note: $500.00
- Lawyers available: 140 startup lawyers
- Clients helped: 225 recent SAFE agreement projects
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.95 (44 reviews)
Meet some of our Illinois SAFE Agreement Lawyers
Ryenne S.
My name is Ryenne Shaw and I help business owners build businesses that operate as assets instead of liabilities, increase in value over time and build wealth. My areas of expertise include corporate formation and business structure, contract law, employment/labor law, business risk and compliance and intellectual property. I also serve as outside general counsel to several businesses across various industries nationally. I spent most of my early legal career assisting C.E.O.s, General Counsel, and in-house legal counsel of both large and smaller corporations in minimizing liability, protecting business assets and maximizing profits. While working with many of these entities, I realized that smaller entities are often underserved. I saw that smaller business owners weren’t receiving the same level of legal support larger corporations relied upon to grow and sustain. I knew this was a major contributor to the ceiling that most small businesses hit before they’ve even scratched the surface of their potential. And I knew at that moment that all of this lack of knowledge and support was creating a huge wealth gap. After over ten years of legal experience, I started my law firm to provide the legal support small to mid-sized business owners and entrepreneurs need to grow and protect their brands, businesses, and assets. I have a passion for helping small to mid-sized businesses and startups grow into wealth-building assets by leveraging the same legal strategies large corporations have used for years to create real wealth. I enjoy connecting with my clients, learning about their visions and identifying ways to protect and maximize the reach, value and impact of their businesses. I am a strong legal writer with extensive litigation experience, including both federal and state (and administratively), which brings another element to every contract I prepare and the overall counsel and value I provide. Some of my recent projects include: - Negotiating & Drafting Commercial Lease Agreements - Drafting Trademark Licensing Agreements - Drafting Ambassador and Influencer Agreements - Drafting Collaboration Agreements - Drafting Service Agreements for service-providers, coaches and consultants - Drafting Master Service Agreements and SOWs - Drafting Terms of Service and Privacy Policies - Preparing policies and procedures for businesses in highly regulated industries - Drafting Employee Handbooks, Standard Operations and Procedures (SOPs) manuals, employment agreements - Creating Employer-employee infrastructure to ensure business compliance with employment and labor laws - Drafting Independent Contractor Agreements and Non-Disclosure/Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Agreements - Conducting Federal Trademark Searches and filing trademark applications - Preparing Trademark Opinion Letters after conducting appropriate legal research - Drafting Letters of Opinion for Small Business Loans - Drafting and Responding to Cease and Desist Letters I service clients throughout the United States across a broad range of industries.
"Reyenne made the trademark application process seamless, and I look forward to working with her again in the future. She brings expertise, responsiveness, and genuine care to her work."
Mathew K.
Mathew Kerbis is The Subscription Attorney. He’s on a mission to affordably serve clients at scale via the subscription model and inspire attorneys to abandon the billable hour. He founded the law firm Subscription Attorney LLC after working for private practice law firms for nine years. His firm leverages automations and artificial intelligence to offer more accessible and reasonable prices like legal advice starting at $19.99/month and $49.99/page.
"Mathew was pleasant and professional. He passed along great legal knowledge and provided an excellent service at a reasonable rate. I would definitely use his services again."
Talin H.
Talin has over a decade of focused experience in business and international law. She is fiercely dedicated to her clients, thorough, detail-oriented, and gets the job done.
Zachary J.
I am a solo-practitioner with a practice mostly consisting of serving as a fractional general counsel to growth stage companies. With a practical business background, I aim to bring real-world, economically driven solutions to my client's legal problems and pride myself on efficient yet effective work.
"Zach did great work with quick turn-around and was super responsive. Thanks Zach!"
Jason H.
Jason has been providing legal insight and business expertise since 2001. He is admitted to both the Virginia Bar and the Texas State Bar, and also proud of his membership to the Fellowship of Ministers and Churches. Having served many people, companies and organizations with legal and business needs, his peers and clients know him to be a high-performing and skilled attorney who genuinely cares about his clients. In addition to being a trusted legal advisor, he is a keen business advisor for executive leadership and senior leadership teams on corporate legal and regulatory matters. His personal mission is to take a genuine interest in his clients, and serve as a primary resource to them.
"Wonderful attorney! He was extremely professional, answered all of my questions and was patient with my complicated legal situation. Don’t hesitate to hire him."
Demetre K.
A seasoned attorney with deep General Counsel experience and a flexible, business-minded approach to legal leadership. Skilled in collaborating with product, sales, operations, finance, and executive teams — not just to mitigate risk or ensure compliance, but to enable growth, innovation, and efficient deal execution. In my current practice at GCBench, I offer scalable, on-demand counsel tailored to organizations’ changing needs. Legal rigor is combined with operational sensibility, making guidance a facilitator rather than a hurdle. Whether structuring transactions, advising on regulatory matters, or shaping policies, legal strategy is aligned tightly with business objectives.
"Demetre was really easy to work with and made everything feel comfortable from the start. He explained things in a way that was easy to understand, answered my questions without making it feel rushed, and took extra time during the consultation to make sure I understood what was needed. Very professional, easy to talk to, and overall a really good experience. I definitely appreciate his help and would recommend him."
March 5, 2025
JOANNE B.
I am an Illinois-barred attorney with 20 years of in-house government and affordable housing experience. I have had responsibilities of a member of the Office of a Chief Legal Officer, am an adaptable "Jill of all trades," and have strong operations and business acumen. I'm also well equipped to work in fast-paced, multi-priority environments, learn new areas of law and deal with unique situations.
March 9, 2025
Christopher R.
Over the course of the past 30 years, in both General Counsel roles (3 times) and in private practice, I have built a successful national real estate transaction, construction, and environmental law practice
May 21, 2025
Ethan B.
Ethan specializes in preparing and structuring transactional deals and advising business owners as outside general counsel. Ethan enjoys working with business owners and entrepreneurs who strive to achieve growth through utilizing modern-day solutions and implementing business strategies that get results. Ethan is passionate about helping families and individuals with disabilities to design, form, and administer special needs trusts, ensuring individuals with disabilities remain eligible for federal and state benefit programs while living their best lives. Ethan has experience from previous firms in civil litigation, estate planning, and regulatory matters. Ethan holds a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a Masters of Law in Taxation (LLM) from Georgetown Law University Law Center. Prior to law practice, Ethan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was promoted to Chief Editor at a regional news publication.
August 27, 2025
Walid T.
Walid J. Tamari, founder and named member of Tamari Law Group, LLC, is widely recognized as one of the nation's top litigators. In 2018, Mr. Tamari was one of only 25 attorneys in the United States to be recognized by the prestigious National Law Journal as a Trailblazer Lawyer. The publication features lawyers who have “shown a deep passion and perseverance of their mission, having achieved remarkable successes along the way.” In addition, America's Top 100 Attorneys® and the National Trial Lawyers have included Mr. Tamari in their top 100 Illinois attorneys lists and the Business Tort Trial Lawyers Association has also selected Mr. Tamari in its “Illinois Top 10” list. Further, for several years, Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms has chosen Tamari Law Group as one of approximately 25 ranked litigation firms in Illinois. Mr. Tamari is also the past national chair of the Commercial Law League of America's complex commercial litigation committee, a committee comprised of attorneys throughout the nation who practice complex litigation. A distinguished litigator, Mr. Tamari represents clients in high-stakes and high profile civil litigation. He provides clients with result-oriented legal advice and representation in a wide-range of disputes, including claims relating to breach of contract, negligence, business tort and pharmaceutical liability litigation. Mr. Tamari has appeared on CBS News, NBC News, WGN News and Fox News and has been quoted in, among other publications, Forbes, Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Mr. Tamari also teaches entrepreneurship law at Loyola University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. Committed to giving back to the community, Mr. Tamari has established scholarships at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Loyola University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. He has served on national advisory boards at Loyola University of Chicago, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation's Neurosurgery Council.
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Lawyer Reviews for Illinois SAFE Agreement Projects
Review signed angel investor documents and outline options for selling or getting investment returned
"Morgan was fantastic. He quickly reviewed my document and answered all my questions. I highly recommend him."
Find SAFE Note Templates by Type
A SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO. Given this SAFE Note has no valuation cap included, it does not need to reference "Pre-Money" or "Post-Money" since the valuation at the triggering event will not impact the price the investors shares are converted. It will only be converted at the discount.
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
A Post-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Post-Money" refer to the valuation of the company after the current round of financing. This means the valuation would take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A Pre-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Pre-Money" refer to the valuation of the company before the current round of financing. This means the valuation would not take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A Post-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Post-Money" refer to the valuation of the company after the current round of financing. This means the valuation would take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
A Pre-Money SAFE Note is a financial instrument used by startups and investors in early-stage funding. It's an agreement that provides investors the right to purchase equity in the company at a future date, typically during a future equity financing round, sale, or IPO.
The terms "Pre-Money" refer to the valuation of the company before the current round of financing. This means the valuation would not take into account the money invested in the financing round. For example, if the company receives a valuation of $10 million to raise $2 million, the "Pre-Money" valuation is $10 million and "Post-Money" valuation is $12 million (includes the money from the financing round).
- Discount: This is a feature that gives investors a discounted price compared to what later investors pay in a future financing round. For example, if a SAFE note carries a 20% discount and the price per share in the next funding round is $1.00, the SAFE holder would be able to convert their investment into equity at $0.80 per share. This discount compensates early investors for their higher risk.
- Valuation Cap: The valuation cap is a maximum valuation at which the SAFE can convert into equity. This protects investors from over-dilution if the company's valuation increases significantly before the SAFE converts. For example, if a SAFE has a valuation cap of $5 million and the company's valuation in the next funding round is $10 million, the SAFE holder’s investment converts as if the company was valued at only $5 million, offering more shares for the same investment compared to later investors.
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Illinois SAFE Agreement lawyers by city
- Aurora SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Chicago SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Elgin SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Joliet SAFE Agreement Lawyers
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- Peoria SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Rockford SAFE Agreement Lawyers
- Springfield SAFE Agreement Lawyers
ContractsCounsel User
Review SAFE Note
Location: Illinois
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: SAFE Note
Page Count: 4
Number of Bids: 9
Bid Range: $199 - $700
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