Todd M. Young

As a business and commercial transactions attorney, Todd Young advises clients on virtually all manner of corporate issues, ranging from mergers and acquisitions to corporate governance and financing. He works with clients from an array of industries with annual sales ranging from $5 million to $1 billion. Todd helps U.S. entities navigate domestic matters and also serves as U.S. counsel for non-U.S. entities on their U.S. transactions and for other governance matters for their U.S.-based affiliates.

Throughout his career, Todd has facilitated a variety of complex acquisition and disposition transactions on behalf of buyers and sellers.

Todd manages finance and loan transactions for lenders and borrowers and assists overseas corporations in purchasing and selling U.S. entities.

Todd has a particular focus on representing parties in ESOP transactions. His ESOP practice includes the representation of ESOP Trustees, ESOP lenders, and company sponsors of ESOPs.

Todd served for a number of years as a member of Hinshaw's Management Committee and remains actively involved in the firm's management. He was previously a member of the Executive Committee and co-led Hinshaw's Commercial Transactions Practice Group. Additionally, he served as a regional director for the firm.

Todd's leadership in Hinshaw's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts includes co-founding Hinshaw's LGBTQ Affinity Network, for which he serves as co-chair.

Leveraging his legal knowledge and passion for working with the next generation of lawyers, Todd served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University Law School from 1999 to 2010, teaching a course on mergers and acquisitions.

During law school, Todd was an active member of the Law Review, serving as a comment editor. While completing his undergraduate degrees, Todd completed a course of study at the Université de Toulouse in Toulouse, France.

• American Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association

• Holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability
• Recognized by his peers as a "Leading Lawyer" in the areas of: Mergers & Acquisitions Law; and Small, Closely & Privately Held Business Law
• Recognized as a "Notable LGBTQ Executive" by Crain's Chicago Business, 2018
• Recognized on the Super Lawyers list by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, 2005 – 2007

Todd frequently presents on ESOP design, implementation, and financing. His interactive games, including ESOP Jeopardy!, Who Wants To Be an ESOP Millionaire, ESOP Cash Cab, and ESOP Family Feud, are popular conference programs.

• Co-Presenter, "Navigating to Ownership Payoff," ESOP Association National Conference, Washington, D.C., May 16, 2025
• Co-Presenter, "Adding Financial Literacy to Your ESOP Culture," ESOP Association National Conference, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2025
• "Board Duties for a New ESOP Company," Virtual Client Event, April 16, 2025
• Co-Presenter, "Legal Updates: Employment and Contracts," LGBTQI CFO Network Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, December 6, 2024
• Co-Presenter, "Who Wants to be an ESOP Millionaire?" ESOP Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 14, 2024

• Panelist, "How to Fund Your Business," and "How to Sell Your Business," Minority Business Owner Symposium, WestPoint Financial Group, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 2024

• Advocate, "ESOP Advocacy Day," Illinois Chapter of The ESOP Association, Washington, DC, May 10, 2024
• Co-Presenter, "ESOP Family Feud," ESOP Association, Illinois Chapter – 2024 Spring Conference, Oak Brook, Illinois, March 7, 2024
• Co-Presenter, "ESOP Jeopardy!," ESOP Association Midwest Regional Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota, September 22, 2023
• Co-Presenter, "Commercial – Tips to Avoid UCC Traps," 2023 Auto Finance Seminar: Driving Ahead: Auto Finance Insights from Industry Leaders, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, May 4, 2023
• "ESOP Jeopardy," ESOP Association Illinois Chapter Annual Meeting, Champaign, Illinois, March 1, 2023
• Panelist, "Q1 Capital Markets Update," Out in Finance, Webcast, April 29, 2021
• Panelist, "What is the Impact of the ESOP Repurchase Obligation on my Banking Relationship?" National Center for Employee Ownership 2020 Employee Ownership Conference, Webcast, April 22, 2020
• "ESOP Cash Cab," Illinois Chapter Meeting of the ESOP Association, Naperville, Illinois, March 5, 2020
• Panelist, "Growth Strategies, Challenges and Opportunities for US Firms," Professional Practices Alliance (PPA) Breakfast Seminar, London, April 10, 2019
• "Cyber Security for ESOP Companies: Is Your Data Safe?," Illinois Chapter Meeting of the ESOP Association, Naperville, Illinois, March 7, 2019

• Co-Author, Chapter 6, "Corporate Operating and Maintenance Issues," Business Law: Choice of Entity 2024 Edition, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (Prior Editions 2020, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2005, 1999, and 1995)
• Co-Author, Chapter 1, "Organizing and Advising a Small Business," Elements of Illinois Law 2023 Edition, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, September 2023 (Prior Editions 2020 and 2015)
• Co-Author, "Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Lamaze-Prepared Patients," Obstetrics and Gynecology

Media Mentions

• "He Brings Corporate Legal Skills to His Church," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 3, 2008

• Out In Finance
  • Membership Committee, 2020 – Present; Co-Chair, 2020 – 2023
• Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
  • Chancellor Emeritus, 2016 – Present
  • Chancellor, 2003 – 2016
  • Assistant Chancellor, 1995 – 2003
• Church of Our Saviour, Catechist, 6-9 Atrium
• Seabury Western Theological Seminary, Adjunct Professor for "Canon Law" Course, 2000 – 2004