Illinois Business Transactions & Commercial Litigation
Shareholder Agreements • Asset Sales or Purchases • Contracts • Intellectual Property
Business Transactions
If you own or operate a business, you know the value of sound legal advice. In a perfect world, you would get that advice before you sign a contract, fire an employee or make any of the important decisions left to you on a daily basis. Yet most businesses cannot afford their own in-house attorney. That is where Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. can help.
Our attorneys have extensive experience and training in a broad range of issues affecting business operations and transactions. Our legal knowledge is supported with backgrounds in finance, banking, economics, management and the construction trades. We are businessmen too and understand the needs of our clients.
We can help you make profitable decisions in a wide range of areas including:
- Contracts
- For-profit and Not-for-profit Business Formation
- Trademarks and Copyrights
- Shareholder Agreements
- Stock Issuance and Sale
- Merger, Acquisitions and Dissolutions
- Financing, Security Agreements, and Banking Transactions
- Commercial Real Estate Transactions
- Construction Law Matters
- Employment Law Matters and Disputes
- Non-compete Agreements
- Zoning
Over the years we have represented clients involved in a myriad of industries including: construction, telecommunications, insurance, banking, trucking, retail and wholesale sales, automotive sales and service, real estate development, restaurants and food service, beverage distribution, oil and mineral production and medicine and healthcare. We take the time to understand the customs and vocabulary of our clients industry or field so that our advice is not given in a vacuum and is relevant to each client’s particular goals.
The attorneys at Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. recognize that a business is not just a name on the side of a truck, but is made up of individuals. While our client may be a corporation, we deal with the people who own, run, live and breath that corporation. While our advice and efforts are comprehensive, we keep in mind that no one knows the business like the people who own it and run it. We never presume to make business decisions for our clients. We know our job is to give our clients the information, options, and risks and rewards of the legal questions. We heartily subscribe to the words of J.P. Morgan “I don’t hire lawyers to tell me what I can do, but to tell me how to do what I want to do.”
Business Disputes
No businessperson wants to end up in a dispute or in litigation. However, in this complex world such disputes are inevitable, even for the most well managed company. This is the arena where Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. can really come in handy. When a transaction or deal goes bad, some transactional lawyers bow out. Not Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. Our attorneys have the training, experience and courage, to handle even the most complex and acrimonious commercial battles. The lawyers at Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. have successfully litigated a broad spectrum of business matters in the state courts, federal courts and before administrative agencies. We have successfully argued before the state and federal appeals court.
While we never shy away from litigation, we recognize the economic realities of business disputes. We know our clients would rather concentrate on running their business instead of sitting through depositions, sifting through evidence and testifying in court. (And paying the legal fees for these activities). So we start every case with a detailed and frank assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of our position and of the potential for mediation and negotiated resolution. Some of our biggest “wins” have been at the negotiating table. Our experience has been that there is no substitute for a well prepared, aggressive, but dispassionate advocate when the time comes to make a deal.
Real Estate
The laws and rules affecting real estate transactions and uses are some of the most complex, pervasive and far reaching. The attorneys at Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. have developed a strong and comprehensive understanding of those laws. We are ready to assist our clients with real estate issues including the following:
- Sales and Purchases
- Easements
- Land Use
- Environmental
- Boundary Issues
- Eminent Domain
- Zoning
- Mineral Rights
- Leases (Residential & Commercial)
- Defective Construction
- Termite and Mold Claims
- Insurance
- Mortgage Foreclosure
- Miscellaneous Claims
Bankruptcy, Debt Work-outs, Reorganization
If you operate or own a business, the chances are high that you will end up dealing with insolvency, tax problems, excessive debts, uncollectible accounts, cash flow problems and similar financial crisis. Whether you are the one being pursued by creditors or the one seeking payment from a failing business, we can help.
The attorneys at Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. have years of experience representing banks, individuals and businesses in negotiating debt work-outs and IRS accommodations. Our clients have reaped the benefits of a lawyer who understands both sides of these types of issues. We are well versed in the laws protecting consumers and businesses from collection procedures as well as the laws useful in collecting accounts. Our background in finance and accounting when combined with a strong understanding of the facts and the law and applied with skilled and tested negotiating techniques have proved successful in reaching resolutions favorable to all sides.
When a financial crisis is beyond negotiating, the attorneys at Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C. do not abandon their clients. We have spent countless hours in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. We understand the intricacies of the Bankruptcy Code and can make the code work for our clients. We have obtained bankruptcy protection for multi-million dollar companies with complex and international debts and small, one owner businesses. We have successfully litigated all manner of bankruptcy issues including wage claims, mechanics liens, judgments, mortgages, security interests, tax deficiencies, repossessions and fraud claims.
On the other side of the table, Gates, Wise & Schlosser P.C. has used the bankruptcy court to protect our client’s interest in mortgaged or secured property and to get them the money they are owed. It takes specialized knowledge of the obscure bankruptcy rules and comfort with bankruptcy procedures to ensure our clients get the best possible outcome. Contact us today.
Gates, Wise & Schlosser, P.C.
1231 South 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Located near the Illinois State Capitol, a few blocks from downtown Springfield
Phone: 217.522.9010
Fax: 217.522.9020
Email
Map and Directions
We serve clients in Springfield, Illinois, and in communities throughout the Central Illinois counties of Sangamon County, Montgomery County, Macon County, Christian County, Shelby County, Macoupin County, Morgan County, Menard County, Logan County, and Cass County, such as Lincoln, Jacksonville, and Decatur.