SAFE Note Lawyers for Illinois
Need help with a SAFE note in Illinois?
ContractsCounsel connects businesses and individuals with experienced SAFE note lawyers across Illinois to help with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating your legal agreements.
Quick Facts — SAFE Note Lawyers
- Avg cost to draft a SAFE Note: $590.00
- Avg cost to review a SAFE Note: $500.00
- Lawyers available: 142 startup lawyers
- Clients helped: 233 recent SAFE note projects
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.95 (45 reviews)
Meet some of our Illinois SAFE Note Lawyers
Harry N.
Experienced business advisor and in-house counsel with extensive litigation experience, representing parties in a variety of complex commercial disputes, including securities, financial fraud, contract, and antitrust litigation.
"Harry has been extremely helpful in reviewing my contract stack. He is very knowledgeable, thorough, and efficient, making him a pleasure to work with."
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.
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.
"Jason has been excellent on communication with the Cell Tower Company, and getting Us what we have decided to settle on, still under negotiations process. Would highly recommend for any legal needs not just cell tower projects.."
Daehoon P.
Daehoon P.
Corporate, M&A & Securities Lawyer | Managing Attorney, DP Counsel PLLC Practice Areas: Business Formation | Commercial Contracts | Contract Drafting & Review | Mergers & Acquisitions | Venture Capital | Securities Offerings | Franchise Law | Employment & Equity Compensation | Intellectual Property | Cross-Border Transactions About/Bio: I represent companies, investors, and fund sponsors in corporate transactions, commercial contracting, and private securities matters, from entity formation and early-stage financings to acquisitions, exits, and ongoing strategic counsel. As Managing Attorney of DP Counsel PLLC, I help clients structure transactions clearly, allocate risk thoughtfully, and move deals forward with documentation that is practical, enforceable, and aligned with business objectives. My practice includes both day-to-day commercial matters and more complex transactional work, including venture financings, private offerings, M&A deals, fund-related documents, and cross-border structuring. What I Do: Corporate & Commercial • Entity formation and structuring for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships • Operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and governance documents • Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation • Vendor, distribution, manufacturing, SaaS, and licensing agreements • Employment, consulting, confidentiality, and equity compensation agreements • Outside general counsel support for growing companies Securities & Private Capital • Private offerings under Regulation D and Regulation S • Private placement memoranda, subscription agreements, and investor documents • SAFE, convertible note, and priced equity financings • Venture capital and private fund formation matters • Fund governing documents and offering document packages • Securities law analysis for private capital raising transactions Mergers & Acquisitions • Letters of intent and term sheets • Stock purchase, asset purchase, and merger agreements • Due diligence coordination and transaction support • Disclosure schedules, closing documents, and post-closing matters • Earnouts, rollover equity, indemnity structures, and related deal terms • HSR, CFIUS, and related regulatory issue spotting for qualifying transactions Digital Assets & Emerging Technologies • Federal-law digital asset and token securities analysis • Entity structuring for blockchain and Web3 ventures • Digital asset fund and operating structures • AML/KYC documentation support and regulatory issue spotting Franchising • Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) • Franchise agreements • Master franchise and area development agreements • Franchise structuring and registration coordination Real Estate Transactions • Commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions • Real estate joint ventures and syndications • Commercial lease drafting and negotiation • Real estate investment structures and related offering documents Cross-Border & International • U.S. market entry and entity structuring for international clients • Delaware and multi-entity holding structures • Cross-border transaction planning and documentation • Coordination with foreign counsel and tax advisors on cross-border matters Why Clients Hire Me: • Big-law-level drafting with boutique responsiveness • Practical, business-focused advice grounded in execution reality • Clear scoping and transparent fee arrangements • Experience across financings, acquisitions, fund formations, and cross-border transactions Typical Projects: • Contract drafting and negotiation • Entity formation and governance packages • Private offering document suites • Venture financing documentation • M&A transactions from LOI through closing • Fractional or outside general counsel support Industries Technology | SaaS | FinTech | Digital Assets | E-commerce | Healthcare | Real Estate | Food & Beverage | Professional Services
"Daehoon delivered quickly and thoroughly reviewed and adjusted my SAFE agreement. Highly recommended."
Alexander N.
Having overseen over $1.2 billion in transaction value, we are able to provide top-tier service at affordable rates, with much more personalized attention and fast turnarounds. After working for a AM Law Top 100 firm, I started my own firm and have been lucky enough to represent numerous conglomerates (FOX, Endeavor, etc.), promising startups, small businesses and private individuals. Our areas of expertise - Business Formations and Operating Agreements; Capital Raises and Debt Financing; Commercial Transactions; M&A; Real Estate; Intellectual Property; Employment and Hiring; Outside General Counsel; Corporate Agreements and Governance; Litigation and Dispute Resolution. We have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Marketwatch, Yahoo Finance, Variety, Business Insider, Los Angeles Magazine, the LA Times, and others. We are driven by an unwavering commitment to our clients, going above and beyond to deliver results.
"Excellent work. Drafted a very thorough contract that matched my exact needs."
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."
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.
September 18, 2025
George M.
I am a corporate lawyer with extensive experience assisting clients of all sizes, from solo practitioners to enterprise-level international corporations. Over the course of my career, I have negotiated, drafted, and reviewed thousands of contracts spanning a wide range of industries and complexities. My practice is focused on delivering practical, business-oriented legal solutions that help clients protect their interests and achieve their goals.
December 9, 2025
Kevin F.
Hi, I’m Kevin Flaherty, an Illinois-licensed attorney with extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements for engineering firms, technology companies, public agencies, and small-to-mid-sized businesses. Over the course of my career, I’ve: Led negotiations on domestic and international contracts, including engineering services agreements, EPC arrangements, SaaS licensing, MSAs, purchase/supply agreements, NDAs, and other mission-critical commercial documents. Developed risk-allocation strategies around indemnities, liability limits, flow-downs, multi-party contracting structures, and high-stakes project frameworks. Built contract playbooks, drafting standards, review matrices, and workflows designed to help clients understand their risks clearly and move deals forward with confidence. Provided training and guidance to internal teams and leadership on contract strategy, compliance considerations, and best practices. I bring not only legal expertise, but also a practical, problem-solving mindset—translating dense legal terms into actionable business decisions and helping clients protect their interests without losing momentum.
July 5, 2026
Jordan B.
Former Kirkland & Ellis litigator. 3x business owner before law school. Motivated to solve commercial disputes using legal tools from a business lens.
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Lawyer Reviews for Illinois SAFE Note Projects
Review SAFE Note
"Morgan was very detailed in his response and explanations. He showed me red flags, potential solutions, and where problems may occur. He explained some high risk clauses that did not make sense and I should not accept. Overall, Morgan saved me from bad business deal when I flagged his concerns to the counterparty. Thanks Morgan!"
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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Startup lawyers by top cities
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Illinois SAFE Note lawyers by city
- Aurora SAFE Note Lawyers
- Chicago SAFE Note Lawyers
- Elgin SAFE Note Lawyers
- Joliet SAFE Note Lawyers
- Naperville SAFE Note Lawyers
- Peoria SAFE Note Lawyers
- Rockford SAFE Note Lawyers
- Springfield SAFE Note Lawyers
ContractsCounsel User
SAFE note review
Location: Illinois
Turnaround: Over a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: SAFE Note
Page Count: 6
Number of Bids: 10
Bid Range: $325 - $1,150
ContractsCounsel User