Corporate law is a necessarily expansive practice area, touching myriad business and legal issues with extraordinary nuance. An excellent corporate law practice requires both thorough knowledge of every matter at hand and an ironclad desire to optimize the client’s standing. We have both.

Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona’s top-shelf reputation in corporate law has been well-earned in the trenches. We serve as outside counsel to more than 180 closely held companies, engaging all legal matters–transactional and litigation alike. These companies have come to appreciate the benefits of working with lawyers who are willing to communicate at all hours; who understand the decisions they have to make as executives; whose breadth of knowledge shores them up in any eventuality.

We’re often with these companies in their liminal steps, helping draw up their legal formation advising them on the pros and cons of each available corporate structure. We draft their bylaws, buy-sell agreements, shareholder agreements, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and confidentiality agreements. We advise them on corporate issues such as contracts, acquisitions, sales of shares, real estate, business asset purchases and sales, succession, estate planning and general day-to-day contract and employment matters. We, of course, conduct annual meetings and provide these minutes and annual reports to our clients.

When challenges arise, we litigate on our corporate clients’ behalves. These matters cover every imaginable theme, from contract disputes to complex commercial, employment, restrictive covenant and intellectual property cases.

GKWW’s attorneys reliably provide solid advice across the full breadth of the corporate practice area. We’re proud to support our clients with the knowledge and experience to ensure their business success–often serving as a sounding board for company executives regarding general business decisions as well as legal matters.

We’d love to partner with your business, too. We invite you to contact us for a free consultation.

Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona serves as outside counsel to more than 180 closely held companies, many of which have been with us since their inception.

Working with GKWW to incorporate makes that inception uniquely smooth. When a client approaches us with the goal of forming a company, we advise them on the pros and cons of various corporate structures (including partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations), helping them to choose the very best fit.

We draft the new company’s bylaws, buy-sell agreements, shareholder agreements, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and confidentiality agreements. We advise regarding corporate issues such as contracts, acquisitions, sales of shares, real estate and business asset purchases and sales. We help the new company frame up its general day-to-day contractual and employment matters, assist in succession and estate planning and make sure all corporate formalities–such as annual meetings–are satisfied.

When the path becomes rough, we smooth it. We litigate on behalf of our clients in matters ranging from contract disputes to complex commercial, employment, restrictive covenant, and intellectual property cases.

In simple terms, we are proudly integral–often, from the start–to our clients’ thriving businesses. As such, we don’t just handling their legal matters. We also serve as a sounding board for our client company executives as they make their daily business decisions.

The preparation of shareholder and member agreements–which govern how the owners of a company will benefit from ownership in their company–forms a key area of our practice at GKWW. Our attorneys not only provide solid advice, but also exercise the topical knowledge and experience to ensure the success of our clients’ businesses.

These agreements are complex documents and must be very carefully, very expertly drawn. They address control of the business, voting, distribution of profits (and other earnings) and tax implications for owners. They frequently delineate shareholder member employment and include restrictive covenants that protect the business from future improper competition. Shareholder and member agreements also address succession planning, ownership, dilution issues and buyouts in the event of death or disability. It’s important to note that these agreements also protect the company in the event of court-ordered actions relating to divorce, bankruptcy and other transitions.

In addition to preparing these shareholder and member agreements, we handle disputes involving them. To date, GKWW has handled dozens of disputes between shareholders and members regarding issues of ownership and the activities of shareholders and members.

When partnership disputes arise, GKWW is here to help handle them. To date, we have represented dozens of companies and partners in these disputes.

In this capacity, we have handled litigation relating to partnership agreements, informal agreements, and operations. We have handled disputes involving sales to third parties, breaches of fiduciary duty, embezzlement, claims under the Illinois statutes, cases involving corporate law of Delaware (and other states), clashes over executive authority and challenges involving restrictive covenants and non-competes.

We understand that partnership matters often involve “bet the farm” litigation that imperils our clients’ life’s work. We remain sensitive to that fact. We don’t just make the smartest, most strategic decisions; we also keep our clients thoroughly informed of the progress of this crucial litigation, carefully respecting the pressure they bear.

Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona serves as outside counsel to more than 180 closely held companies, for whom we handle all employee matters.

Our breadth of influence in this area proves vast. We draft the full range of agreements: buy/sell agreements, shareholder agreements, store employee agreements, non-compete agreements, and confidentiality agreements among them.

We also advise and represent our client companies regarding every type of employment claim. We have handled discrimination cases based upon race, sex, age, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation. We have represented clients against claims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment. We have defended companies against freedom of speech claims and claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act. We have advised and defended corporations involving cases brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. We have advised clients regarding layoffs. We have handled claims against clients for improper actions by the client’s vendors. We have represented clients in federal and state courts and throughout the country in employment matters and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and various other agencies. Whatever the matter you’re facing, we’ve handled it in the past.

We work preventatively, as well, often serving as a sounding board for our client company executives as they’re making employee-related business decisions. This helps to smooth the way and avoid future litigation.

Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona serves as outside counsel to more than 180 closely held companies, many of which have been with us since their inception. We conduct annual meetings for these corporate clients. We provide minutes and annual reports, carefully satisfying all corporate formalities.

This process of documentation ensures that our clients enjoy one of the most important benefits of incorporation: the protection of company officers and owners from personal liability. Our practice safeguards our clients against this threat.