William Garmisa is a seasoned general business counsel to individual entrepreneurs, closely held corporations and mid-sized companies. He has a wealth of experience in the formation of business enterprises, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies; mergers and acquisitions; and succession planning.

Incidental to his general business practice, Billy has provided counsel and advice regarding debt and equity financing, employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, consulting agreements, shareholder agreements, real estate acquisitions and developments, real estate leasing, software licensing, equipment purchasing and leasing, and a broad range of other commercial activities.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Consulted start-up ventures in various commercial enterprises engaged primarily in software development and licensing, real estate development and leasing, importation and wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages, various service-related activities, and various manufacturing activities

  • Advised on statutory mergers, acquisitions and sales of various public and private companies

  • Handled restructuring and reorganization of corporations incidental to succession planning

  • Negotiated the contract awarding the exclusive right to sell in the United States the tour packages for the 1990 World Cup matches held in Italy

  • Advised on the formation and administration of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to implement the transfer of ownership from the founding shareholders to the employees

  • Provided consultation regarding dredging and landfill operations incidental to the creation of an industrial park

  • Advised regarding the financing of various real estate developments, including the sale of individual undeveloped residential lots under the Interstate Land Sales Act

  • Handled the conversion of a state chartered bank to a nationally chartered bank and the creation of a bank holding company

  • Assisted in the formation of various business syndications and related private placement offerings

  • Provided consultation regarding restructuring and refinancing of various bank credit lines

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Billy was born in Chicago in 1943. Upon graduation from the University of Michigan Law School, he participated in the first VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) lawyer program sponsored by the federal government.

He joined Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa in 1970, became a partner in 1976 and served as the Managing Member from 1993 through 2008. He holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Also among his accolades, since 2004 Billy has been recognized annually as a Leading Lawyer in Banking & Financial Institutions Law and Closely & Privately Held Business Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers. He has also been named a Super Lawyer in Business/Corporate Law by Illinois Super Lawyers from 2005 to 2008, and again from 2010 to 2014.

When he's not practicing law, Billy enjoys hiking, biking and golfing.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

LEADERSHIP ROLE

  • Managing Member, Aronberg Goldgehn (1993-2008)

RELATED NEWS



University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1968

University of Illinois, B.A., with honors, 1965



BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Chicago Bar Association


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  • AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Illinois Leading Lawyer in Banking & Financial Institutions Law and Closely & Privately Held Business Law (2004-2020)
  • Illinois Super Lawyer in Business/Corporate Law (2005-2008, 2010-2014)

PERSONAL

What is your favorite thing about working at Aronberg Goldgehn? The high professional standards and collegial culture.
What is one item on your bucket list? A trip to New Zealand.