Business Law and Transactions

A Full Service Business Law Firm. We provide sophisticated legal services to our business clients with the personal touch of a mid-sized law practice. Our team of business lawyers offer companies and their owners, entrepreneurs and professionals, the full range of legal services required through the life cycle of any business enterprise. Our team is skilled in:

Banking & Finance Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
Business Divorce & Complex Ownership Disputes Privacy Law
Business Formation & Maintenance Private Debt & Equity Offerings
Capital Financing Real Estate Acquisition, Development and Leasing
Closely Held Business Law Real Estate Construction
Commercial Contracts & Agreements Securities Law
Commercial Dispute Resolution Self-Funded Health Benefit Plans
Corporate Finance Shareholder Agreements
Corporate Governance & Fiduciary Duty Taxation & Business Planning
Employment Law Technology Law/Cybersecurity
Executive Compensation Trade Secret Protection
Health Care Venture Capital Transactions
Intellectual Property Wealth & Succession Planning
Joint Ventures  

We also offer business owners a wide range of top-notch personal services, including representation in Estate Planning, Real Estate Transactions, Tax, Business Succession and Family Law/Divorce matters.

Business Counselors. Many of our business lawyers serve as outside general counsel for companies of all sizes covering a wide range of industry sectors. In that role, we connect company management to experienced lawyers with the right skill set – both inside and outside our Business Law Group. We understand and enjoy business and we relish serving as trusted business advisers. Taking the time to learn our client’s business has resulted in personal and business relationships that in many cases have spanned decades.

Local Service, Global Resources. Through our membership and leadership in Legal Netlink Alliance (an alliance of midsized, general practice, independent law firms), our reach is literally global. So whether you need to diligence a merger partner in Phoenix, Arizona, litigate in the Delaware Chancery Court, or consult with a tax expert in Belgium, we can provide assistance both quickly and economically.

Business Disputes. Practice Made Personal® means we are there for our clients when the going gets tough and we treat their matters as our own. Commercial litigation can be stressful and distracting for business owners. Our business lawyers understand that. But when there is no alternative to litigation, we won’t abandon you. We work collaboratively with our Business Litigation Group to ensure that the needs of an ongoing business remain paramount both during the course of litigation and when structuring any settlement. Business lawyers in our group also have extensive experience in ownership disputes (often referred to as “corporate divorce”), and work closely with our litigation team in planning, executing and litigating such matters.

A Mid-Sized Firm With a Depth of Experience. In addition to the core business services described above, our attorneys have specific industry experience in: banking and finance (representing both financial institutions and business customers), health care (representing physicians and physician groups) and a wide range of manufacturing and service industries. Our business clients include manufacturers, builders, distributors and banks, as well as health care, technology, real estate and private equity firms. Our entrepreneurial clients include accountants, lawyers, doctors, real estate, finance and investment professionals.



Attorneys
Anderson, Mark D.
De Preter, Matthew "Chip"
Dolgin, Jay L.
Fisher, Paul
Garmisa, William J.
Gilman, Paul A.
Holisky, Jerry
Johnson Jr., David A.
Melamed, Mitchell J.
Morris, Henry M.
Murray, Douglas C.
Nelson, Michael S.
Nelson, Timothy R.
Niro, William L.
Pinter, Kristen M.
Robertson, Ned S.
Schlifke, Bernard A.
Scholl, Steven M.
Sciaccotta, John C.
Sherwin, Judith S.
Slutsky, Eric R.
Sodikoff, Robert N.
Staub, David K.
Zaban, Sharon S.


News
CBA Regulatory Committee to Present "Let's Be Transparent About the Corporate Transparency Act" (Jan. 22, 2024)
Compliance with the Corporate Transparency Act (Jan. 08, 2024)
Business Law and Transactions Trending Now - Beware of Fradulent Requests Related to the Corporate Transparency Act (Dec. 11, 2023)
David A. Johnson Appointed as Chair of Business Transactions Committee (Sep. 21, 2023)
Five Steps for Performing Due Diligence on An Acquisition Target's Use of Generative AI (Jul. 17, 2023)
Federal Trade Commission Issues Proposed Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements (Jan. 09, 2023)
David A. Johnson Jr. and Mark D. Anderson Stress the Importance of Analyzing Tax Impacts of Deferred Compensation Before Transferring Partnership Interests in The Counselor (Mar. 01, 2022)
Employment Law Alert - Supreme Court Pulls the Plug on President Biden's Vaccination or Testing Mandate (Jan. 14, 2022)
Aronberg Goldgehn Continues Streak as Best Law Firm in Four Practice Areas (Nov. 04, 2021)
Aronberg Goldgehn Adds New Associates to Business Law and Litigation Practices (Sep. 14, 2021)
Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Trending Now: Businesses with Illinois Employees and/or Customers Face Wave of Class Action Lawsuits Resulting from Collection of Biometric Information (Sep. 14, 2021)
Aronberg Goldgehn Adds Noted Health Care Attorney Judith S. Sherwin to Firm's Chicago Office (Aug. 30, 2021)
35 Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Honored as Leading and Emerging Lawyers in 2021 Lists (Feb. 09, 2021)
Eighteen Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars (Jan. 29, 2021)
John C. Sciaccotta Co-Presenting a "Mock Mediation and the Virtual Mediation" at the Chicago Bar Association's Advanced Workshop for Improved Negotiation and Mediation Skills (Sep. 28, 2020)
John C. Sciaccotta and Benjamin E. Haskin's Article "Easing the Path Toward an Involuntary Law Firm Break-Up" Published in the CBA Record (Sep. 28, 2020)
John C. Sciaccotta Co-Presenting "How To Be an Effective Mediator on Zoom" at the Chicago Bar Association's Advanced Workshop for Improved Negotiation and Mediation Skills (Sep. 24, 2020)
Alan S. Wernick Presenting "Privacy/Cybersecurity Issues in Virtual Mediation" at the Chicago Bar Association's Advanced Workshop for Improved Negotiation and Mediation Skills (Sep. 24, 2020)
John C. Sciaccotta and Alan S. Wernick Serving as Mediators for the Chicago Bar Association's Newly Launched Mediation Service (Sep. 16, 2020)
Employment Law Trending Now – The DOL Issues a New Temporary Rule, Effective Immediately, Narrowing Provisions of the FFCRA and Providing Guidance on Others (Sep. 15, 2020)
Alan S. Wernick's Article "Mergers & Acquisitions: Cybersecurity Traps for the Seller & Buyer" Published in Wolters Kluwer's Securities Regulation Daily (Aug. 11, 2020)
Twenty-Nine Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Illinois Leading Lawyers (Jul. 08, 2020)
Six Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Emerging Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Jul. 08, 2020)
Alan Wernick Presenting "Mergers & Acquisitions: Cybersecurity Traps for the Seller & Buyer" (Jul. 02, 2020)
Business Law Alert - Paycheck Protection Program Update (Jun. 23, 2020)
John Sciaccotta Elected Treasurer of the Chicago Bar Association for 2020-2021 (Jun. 16, 2020)
John Sciaccotta Co-Presenting "Religious Sincerity in Corporations & Businesses" (Jun. 15, 2020)
Business Law Alert - Paycheck Protection Program Update (Jun. 08, 2020)
"40 Under Forty Hall of Fame Feature: John Sciaccotta" Published in CBA's Young Lawyers Section's @theBar Blog (Jun. 04, 2020)
Mark Anderson Presenting "Section 199A: Operations and Investments" at the Illinois CPA Society's "Taxation on Real Estate Conference" (Jun. 01, 2020)
John Sciaccotta Presenting at Law Bulletin Media's "Ethics 2020" Virtual Event (Jun. 01, 2020)
Business Law Alert - Mergers & Acquisitions: Cybersecurity Traps for the Seller & Buyer (May. 26, 2020)
Business Litigation Alert - Now's A Good Time to Consider Including Arbitration Clauses in Business Agreements (May. 20, 2020)
Business Law Alert - Guidance Brings Clarification On PPP Loan Certification Requirements (May. 14, 2020)
Business Litigation Alert - Force Majeure and Other Potential Defenses for Parties in Breach Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic (May. 07, 2020)
Alan Wernick Presenting "Online Dispute Resolution, Cybersecurity, and Data Breaches – What Do They Have To Do With ADR or Being an Arbitrator and/or Mediator?" (Apr. 28, 2020)
Employment Law Trending Now - Five Key Steps to Bringing Employees Back To the Workplace in Light of COVID-19 (Apr. 27, 2020)
Business Law Alert - Paycheck Protection Program Extended (Apr. 24, 2020)
Intellectual Property Law Alert - Disgorgement of Profits for Trademark Infringement Does Not Require Willfulness (Apr. 23, 2020)
Real Estate Law Alert - Best Practices for Multi-Family Landlords Managing COVID-19 Issues (Apr. 16, 2020)
Employment Law Trending Now - Employers Can Make Tax-Free Payments to Employees for COVID-19 Expenses (Apr. 03, 2020)
Update - The Paycheck Protection Program Under the Historic CARES Act (Apr. 01, 2020)
Amy Gibson and Tim Nelson Presenting "A Recap of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CARES Act" (Mar. 31, 2020)
Business Law Alert - The Paycheck Protection Program Under the Historic CARES Act (Mar. 30, 2020)
Business Law Alert - The Business Tax Provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (Mar. 30, 2020)
John C. Sciaccotta Presenting "Force Majeure Clauses and the COVID-19 Outbreak: What Are the Pressing Legal Issues?" (Mar. 19, 2020)
Nate Lichtenstein Co-Presenting "Valuation of Closely Held Businesses" at a Decalogue Society Of Lawyers CLE Program (Mar. 05, 2020)
Twelve Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Author Chapters in "Disputes Involving Closely Held Companies 2020 Edition" (Mar. 02, 2020)
John Sciaccotta Co-Presenting "Law Firm Breakups - Hard To Do?" a Chicago Bar Association Webinar (Feb. 21, 2020)
Eight Aronberg Goldgehn Members Named Super Lawyers By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 29, 2020)
Seven Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 29, 2020)
David Johnson and Alan Wernick Presenting "The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act Impact on Business" at a Decalogue Society of Lawyers CLE Program (Dec. 19, 2019)
Aronberg Goldgehn Further Expands Its Intellectual Property Practice With the Addition of Patent Lawyer Matthew "Chip" De Preter (Nov. 27, 2019)
John C. Sciaccotta Moderating "Civility in the Profession . . . How to Play Nice," a Chicago Bar Association CLE Program (Nov. 22, 2019)
John C. Sciaccotta Moderating a Panel at the Chicago Bar Association's 2019 Arbitration Institute (Oct. 18, 2019)
Alan Wernick Presenting "Technology and the Law – Emerging Technology Trends and Potential Personal Liability," a Webinar for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (Sep. 17, 2019)
Alan Wernick Co-Presenting "Social Media and the Internet" at the Ohio State Bar Association's Federal Bench Bar Conference (Sep. 11, 2019)
Prominent Technology Law Attorney Alan S. Wernick Has Joined Aronberg Goldgehn in Its Newly Formed Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology Law Practice Group (Aug. 21, 2019)
John Sciaccotta and Ben Haskin Presenting "Book & Records Requests Under Delaware & Illinois Law: The Dos & The Do Nots" at the CBA's Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Committee September Meeting (Aug. 21, 2019)
Paul Gilman, Jerry Holisky, Elizabeth Lazzara and Sheri Zaban Named in the Best Lawyers in America 2020 Edition (Aug. 15, 2019)
John Sciaccotta Co-Presenting "Making Difficult & Distressed Corporate Divorce & Complex Ownership Disputes Resolvable Through Mediation And Arbitration, Inside and Outside of Court Litigation" (Jul. 24, 2019)
The CBA's Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Disputes Committee Presents "Business Divorce Matters Seeking Both Equitable and Legal Relief Filed in the Cook County Commercial Law Section" (Jun. 05, 2019)
Paul Gilman, Elizabeth Lazzara and Sharon Zaban Named to "Crain's 2019 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law" List (Jun. 04, 2019)
John Sciaccotta's Speaking Engagement Reported On in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (May. 20, 2019)
Bill Niro, Chris Niro and Kristy Diesner Featured in Law360 Article Titled "Aronberg Goldgehn Adds 3 to Bolster Chicago IP Practice" (May. 08, 2019)
Aronberg Goldgehn Strengthens Its Intellectual Property Practice With the Addition of Bill Niro, Chris Niro and Kristy Diesner (May. 02, 2019)
Elizabeth Lazzara and John Sciaccotta Serving as Campaign Vice Chairs for the 2019 Investing in Justice Campaign (Apr. 26, 2019)
John Sciaccotta a Panelist at a CBA Seminar Titled "Reducing Unconscious Bias in the Courts and Legal Profession" (Apr. 05, 2019)
Twenty-Three Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers in Illinois (Mar. 20, 2019)
Seven Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Emerging Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Mar. 19, 2019)
Privacy Alert - Liability Under the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (Feb. 20, 2019)
Staci Balbirer, Amy Gibson, Ben Haskin, David Johnson, Amber LaFevers, Lindsay Lollio and Tim Nelson Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 24, 2019)
Staci Balbirer, David Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Lollio Named Members of Aronberg Goldgehn (Jan. 21, 2019)
Ben Haskin and John Sciaccotta Presenting "Books & Records Request Strategies Under Sect 7.75 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act & LLC Act" (Nov. 08, 2018)
John Sciaccotta Elected a Trustee of the Barrington School District 220 Educational Foundation Board (Oct. 26, 2018)
Jerry Holisky and John Sciaccotta Co-Founders of the Chicago Bar Association's New Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Disputes Committee (Aug. 30, 2018)
John Sciaccotta Elected a Member of The DePaul University College of Law Dean's Council (Aug. 29, 2018)
Jerry Holisky Profiled in Leading Lawyer Magazine's 2018 Business Edition in an Article Titled "Fine Art of Business Divorce Garners Rave Reviews From Client" (Aug. 28, 2018)
Aronberg Goldgehn's Women's Initiative Honors Sarah Alter With Its 2018 Inspiration Award (Aug. 17, 2018)
Steve Scholl Featured in a Law360 Article About Him Joining Aronberg Goldgehn (Aug. 10, 2018)
Steve Scholl Has Joined Aronberg Goldgehn's Corporate and Transactional Law Practice as a Member (Aug. 01, 2018)
John Sciaccotta To Be Honored With Fenwick High School's 2018 Accipiter Award (Apr. 30, 2018)
Aronberg Goldgehn Hosting the Legal Netlink Alliance's Spring 2018 Meeting (Apr. 30, 2018)
Five Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Emerging Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Mar. 30, 2018)
Twenty Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Mar. 30, 2018)
Aronberg Goldgehn Hosting the CBA's Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Disputes Committee's Kick-Off Reception (Mar. 08, 2018)
Tim Nelson Discusses How the Law Impacts Technology and Private Equity in Recent Podcast (Feb. 02, 2018)
Mark Anderson Presenting "How Suburban Businesses Will Change to Take Advantage of the New Tax Law" (Jan. 25, 2018)
Seven Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 24, 2018)
Amy Gibson Publishes "Chicago Paid Sick Leave: Are You Feeling the Pain?" (Jan. 15, 2018)
What You Should Know About the Final Version of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Dec. 19, 2017)
Mark Anderson Presenting "Pass-Through Entity Tax Planning" to the Illinois CPA Society's Fox Valley Chapter (Nov. 28, 2017)
Business Litigation Alert - Defending Against IRS Tax Penalties (Oct. 19, 2017)
Aronberg Goldgehn's Women's Initiative Honors Businesswoman Rowena Zimmers With Its 2017 Inspiration Award (Oct. 17, 2017)
Amy Gibson Named in Crain's List of The Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago (Aug. 01, 2017)
Mark Anderson Presenting "Illinois LLC Act Changes" (May. 19, 2017)
Eighteen Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Apr. 27, 2017)
Four Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Emerging Lawyers By Illinois Leading Lawyers (Apr. 26, 2017)
David Johnson Co-Presenting "Starting and Running a Home Based Small Business" (Apr. 24, 2017)
David Johnson Presenting on Corporate Structures at the Chicago Inventors Organization's Pro Bono Law Evening (Apr. 12, 2017)
David Johnson Joins Aronberg Goldgehn's Business Law & Transactions Group (Mar. 23, 2017)
Mike Nelson Joins Aronberg Goldgehn's Business Law & Transactions Group (Mar. 03, 2017)
Federal Court Diversity Jurisdiction and Non-Corporate Entities - REIT Is a Citizen of Every State Where Its Owners Are Citizens (Feb. 10, 2017)
Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 23, 2017)
The Disappearance of the Requirement That the Internal Revenue Service Exhaust All Reasonable Collection Efforts Against the Primary Obligor (Sep. 15, 2016)
Employment Law Trending Now - Illinois Enacts Employee Sick Leave Act Effective January 1, 2017 (Sep. 14, 2016)
Aronberg Goldgehn Sponsoring the 18th Annual Illinois Bar Foundation Gala (Sep. 07, 2016)
John Sciaccotta Elected to Membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Aug. 08, 2016)
Aronberg Goldgehn's Women's Initiative Hosts Its Inaugural Inspiration Award Luncheon (Aug. 01, 2016)
Employment Law Trending Now - The Defense of Trade Secrets Act of 2016; Enhanced Protection for Confidential Information and Trade Secrets (Jun. 23, 2016)
Mark Anderson Presenting the Key Current Issues in Advising S-Corporations (Jun. 02, 2016)
Bob Sodikoff and Son Featured in the Law Day Edition Of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (Apr. 29, 2016)
Bob Sodikoff Publishes Chapter in IICLE's "Secured Transactions 2016" (Apr. 11, 2016)
Tim Nelson Elected Town Council President for Ogden Dunes, Indiana (Jan. 07, 2016)
Five Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named Rising Stars by Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 01, 2016)
Mark Anderson Named a Member of the Edward Foundation's Board of Directors (Aug. 06, 2015)
Aronberg Goldgehn Appoints New Practice Group Chairs (Jul. 29, 2015)
Jerry Holisky Elected Co-Managing Member of Aronberg Goldgehn (Jul. 27, 2015)
Tax Law Alert - IRS Proposes Regulations on Disguised Payments For Services (Jul. 23, 2015)
Aronberg Goldgehn Ranked No. 1 for Having the Highest Percentage of Women Associates Among Illinois' Largest Firms (Jul. 14, 2015)
Mark Anderson Joins Aronberg Goldgehn (May. 06, 2015)
John Sciaccotta Joins Aronberg Goldgehn (May. 04, 2015)
HIPAA Update - A Summary of Recent HIPAA Changes (Jan. 15, 2015)
Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Illinois (Jan. 12, 2015)
Employment Law Update - The Illinois Human Rights Act Amended (Jan. 01, 2015)
Lisa Brodsky, Tim Nelson and Amy Gibson Elected New Members (Jan. 01, 2015)
Paul Gilman Quoted About the Inversion Backlash in Canadian Lawyer Magazine (Dec. 15, 2014)
Billy Garmisa Featured in Illinois Leading Lawyers Network Magazine – Top Business Lawyers in Illinois Edition (Sep. 23, 2014)
USA TODAY Speaks with Paul Gilman on Tax Inversions (Aug. 27, 2014)
Aronberg Goldgehn Listed as Top Midwest Real Estate Law Firm (Jul. 10, 2014)
Legal Netlink Alliance Spring General Meeting Held in Chicago (May. 16, 2014)
Longtime Aronberg Goldgehn Client, Award-Winning Chef Yoshi Katsumura, Receives Recognition (Apr. 03, 2014)
Henry Morris Featured in Leading Lawyers Network Magazine's Real Estate, Construction and Environmental Edition for 2014 (Jan. 17, 2014)
Amber LaFevers, Tim Nelson and Amy Gibson Named Rising Stars By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 13, 2014)
Chris Bannon, Jay Frank, Billy Garmisa and Blooma Stark Named Super Lawyers By Illinois Super Lawyers (Jan. 13, 2014)
Amy Gibson, Tim Nelson and Julie Neubauer Named Rising Stars by Illinois Super Lawyers (Aug. 29, 2013)
Chris Bannon, Jay Frank, Billy Garmisa and Blooma Stark Named Super Lawyers By Illinois Super Lawyers (Aug. 29, 2013)
Seven Aronberg Goldgehn Attorneys Named 2013 Illinois ‘Super Lawyers' and ‘Rising Stars' in Illinois (Jan. 04, 2013)
Jerry Holisky Discusses the Role of Advisory Boards in Closely Held Entrepreneurial Firms (Aug. 02, 2012)
Aronberg Goldgehn Welcomes Legal Intern From Abroad (Aug. 01, 2011)
Timothy Nelson Joins Aronberg Goldgehn As An Associate (Nov. 29, 2010)
Jerry Holisky Receives Chicago Association of Realtors® 2010 Affiliate Member of the Year Award (Sep. 16, 2010)


Articles
Liability Under the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (Feb. 20, 2019)
Fine Art of Business Divorce Garners Rave Reviews From Clients, a Profile of Jerry Holiksy (Aug. 28, 2018)
Chicago Paid Sick Leave: Are You Feeling the Pain (Jan. 15, 2018)
The Disappearance of the Requirement That the Internal Revenue Service Exhaust All Reasonable Collection Efforts Against the Primary Obligor, by Benjamin Haskin (Sep. 15, 2016)
Employment Law Trending Now - The Defense of Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (Jun. 23, 2016)
Billy Garmisa - Everyone Is Replaceable - Except Billy (Sep. 01, 2014)
Bob and Brian Sodikoff of Aronberg Goldgehn and Katten Muchin (Apr. 29, 2016)
Henry Morris - Dealmaker Knows How to Keep His Clients Returning (Jan. 17, 2014)
Report Foreign Financial Accounts by June 30th (Jun. 22, 2011)