Business & Commercial Transactions

At Hinshaw, we have served as trusted legal advisors to businesses in countless matters for more than 70 years. We develop and maintain value-added relationships that better enable our clients to meet their objectives. This experience and know-how, combined with our full-service, geographically diverse practice, enables us to understand the enterprises and entrepreneurs we represent and comprehensively address the legal aspects of their opportunities and challenges.

Every day, we assist our clients in developing and implementing far-ranging solutions to various matters. Our clients are from a range of industries, including construction and real estate, distribution, financial services, food service, health care, insurance, hospitality, long-term care, manufacturing, retail, technology and transportation. We also counsel governmental entities, non-profits of all kinds, and professionals and their organizations.

Asset Preservation and Wealth Transfer
Though seldom easy, adequately preserving, protecting and effectively planning for the transfer of assets requires sophisticated, sound solutions. We can help. Hinshaw attorneys assist clients with a host of issues, such as: business and asset transition planning; developing and implementing asset protection strategies; forming and operating family limited partnerships; planning for generation-skipping transfers and creating descendant trusts; and preparing wills and trusts.

Banking and Finance
Success in the ever-competitive environment in which financial institutions operate requires smart, practical legal advice. Our experience stretches from representing banks in complex multimillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions and loans involving many entities, to advising on the organization and operation of new loan banking subsidiaries and new banks. Among many other matters, we also handle expansionary activities, indemnification issues, loan documentation reviews, regulatory compliance and truth-in-lending matters. We also assist our clients with subjects such as developing legally compliant advertising, forms, procedures and products; insurance activities; and investment advisory services.

Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Successfully protecting one’s rights in financial insolvency situations can be difficult and tricky. Our Bankruptcy attorneys assist secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, bankruptcy trustees and others affected by financial insolvencies. Among other activities, we aid our clients: in pre-bankruptcy work-outs and bankruptcy matters; in negotiating alternatives to bankruptcy; and by acting as Chapter 7 Trustees, counsel for creditors’ committees and as either assignees or counsel for assignees in assignments for the benefit of creditors.

Corporate Organization and Governance
From helping choose the appropriate choice of entity to providing ongoing legal advice based upon our client’s specific needs, we help commercial and non-profit organizations build solid foundations. From filing registration documents to addressing tax implications, we capably handle the full range of matters related to forming businesses. Likewise, we assist with drafting, negotiating and revising documents such as bylaws, directors and officers insurance policies, and corporate compliance programs.

Construction, Environmental and Real Estate
Property related transactions offer great opportunities and legal challenges. We help private and public clients successfully address both. Among many other activities, we counsel on the legal aspects of acquisitions, dispositions and complex commercial transactions; handle the myriad legal issues involved in construction and property development, such as annexation, contracting administration, financing and zoning; manage tax-related issues; as well as negotiate and structure financing arrangements. We also help businesses and individuals resolve complex environmental problems and develop comprehensive plans to manage environmental activities across multiple locations. We likewise represent clients in federal and state administrative and judicial proceedings.

Employee Benefits, Employment, Immigration and Labor
No business can realize its full potential without adequately and fully tackling the growing list of employee related legal concerns. We provide businesses with integrated solutions designed to comprehensively address all employment, immigration and labor law matters. Our employment and labor attorneys are broadly experienced in drafting and revising documents such as collective bargaining agreements, employee benefits plans and employee handbooks. We also routinely handle the full spectrum of risk management activities as well as employer’s risk, immigration and labor relations subjects.

International
In a global economy, pursuing and capitalizing upon foreign business ties is a key to success. Our attorneys have a long history of providing the superior legal service needed to handle a diverse range of international business transactions. To name but a few examples, we aid clients with activities such as agency and distribution agreements, corporate formations, joint ventures and securities offerings (Regulation S). We also help organizations address routine and complex customs and export controls law challenges.

Intellectual Property and Technology
Competing effectively in a global marketplace that puts a premium on effectively harnessing technology and protecting intangible assets requires sophisticated legal advice. Hinshaw’s team of intellectual property lawyers help clients with a remarkably diverse range of registration, licensing and other endeavors involving copyrights, patents and trademarks. Likewise, we draft and negotiate various documents such as hosting and web development agreements; evaluate the scope of right of publicity releases needed; and draft and serve takedown notices, among many other activities.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures
Combining forces with other enterprises can be an effective way for a business to increase its level of growth or reach additional markets. At Hinshaw, we assist clients of all sizes with mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. We soundly manage transactions ranging in size and intricacy from simple asset purchases to complex management buy-outs and private equity fund investments. From due diligence activities to structuring the deal, we handle all aspects of these matters. We have successfully represented both public and private companies (both as buyers and sellers) in many such endeavors.

Securities
In the extensively regulated area of securities law, transactions have to be handled soundly. Just as important, they must simultaneously be addressed practically, with an eye toward achieving business objectives. Having advised individual decision makers and companies on matters ranging from venture capital investments to Securities and Exchange Commission filings, we provide private and publicly held clients the full range of services needed to handle unique and more common securities-related endeavors.

Taxation
Hinshaw tax attorneys provide corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships and others with comprehensive tax services. We deliver intelligent solutions to tax planning activities as well as to unforeseen, immediate challenges. Working with the firm’s other practice groups, our tax attorneys: advise on tax issues relating to mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, and divestitures and joint ventures; design executive compensation arrangements; assist with tax-related issue related to organizing start-up businesses; and prepare federal tax opinions as to various transactions.