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Overview

From incorporation to wind-up, Pretzel & Stouffer serves as a trusted counselor during every stage of the business life cycle. Our attorneys have advised our clients—ranging from Fortune 500 multinationals to closely-held businesses—on virtually all corporate and business law issues.

Unlike other firms, we have a unique perspective on corporate management and other business law matters. That perspective comes from our extensive litigation experience and involves an emphasis on full-scale risk assessment when advising our clients on a particular course of action.

Our attorneys are well-versed in establishing corporations and limited liability companies as well as partnerships. We regularly draft contracts and standard business forms, policies and procedures for clients as well as review their insurance policies, leases and other corporate documents to keep them apprised of the potential risks.

We frequently handle buy-sell agreements, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions as well as the legal due diligence process included therein, and we also provide corporate counseling for officers, directors, and managers, including during dissolutions and shareholder disputes.

Our attorneys are highly regarded in the legal community as authorities in the field of employee management, including drafting confidentiality agreements, employment contracts and non-compete agreements. We have secured numerous temporary restraining orders and injunctions to enforce these provisions. We have also negotiated severance agreements between management and employees in high and mid-level management positions as well as defended and prosecuted wrongful termination claims. Further, we regularly provide advice and assist clients with unemployment and workers’ compensation claims.

Our practice in this area also extends to health care, particularly on matters related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, medical service provider agreements and medical confidentiality agreements.

We are sensitive and efficient in matters relating to liquidations and corporate restructurings, and we work with clients to mitigate liability while retaining the most value for shareholders and members. We are also adept at helping clients plan for predictable and orderly business successions, especially companies with complex and multilayered ownership arrangements.

Our corporate and business law practice is full-service. Clients repeatedly engage us for their business needs because we deliver consistent, efficient and quality results.

Related News & Results

Robert Chemers and David Larson won an affirmance in the Appellate Court, First District.

Robert Chemers and David Larson won an affirmance in the Appellate Court, First District, of the summary judgment entered by the circuit court for their insurer client in a coverage dispute with a plaintiff insurer over whether the plaintiff insurer’s named insured was an additional insured on the policy issued by our insurer client to ...

November 2023

Robert Chemers and Matt Ligda obtained a dismissal with prejudice

Robert Chemers and Matt Ligda obtained a dismissal with prejudice, after motion, extensive briefing and hearing, of a Supreme Court Rule 224 pre-suit petition where it was shown that petitioner failed to state a viable cause of action and the discovery sought was not necessary.

October 2022

Condeni and Eckler publish in IDC Quarterly

Pretzel & Stouffer attorneys Kayla Condeni and Donald Patrick Eckler published a column in the IDC Quarterly on the judicial estoppel doctrine and recent cases addressing it.  The article is linked here.

March 2021 | Firm News

John Scheid and Ryan Shupe Assist Technology Client with Asset Purchase Due Diligence and Subsequent Negotiation of Distribution Contracts

Pretzel & Stouffer attorneys John Scheid and Ryan Shupe recently assisted a technology sales and distribution client review and analyze the strategic value and terms of numerous product distribution agreements with manufacturers and other suppliers as due diligence for a high-value asset purchase transaction. After the asset purchase closed, John and Ryan also reviewed, drafted, and renegotiated myriad distribution ...

October 2020

Dekalb County Defamation Suit Dismissed

  Pretzel & Stouffer partner, Richard Kenyon, recently obtained dismissal with prejudice of a defamation per se suit in a claim filed in the Circuit Court of Dekalb County. Rick defended a local businessman in the residential rental industry, who also hosts a well-known local radio talk show program where current community issues are discussed. ...

January 2020

John Scheid and Ryan Shupe Help Not-For-Profit Healthcare Client Obtain Secured Financing

  Pretzel & Stouffer attorneys, John Scheid and Ryan Shupe, recently assisted a not-for-profit corporate client in the healthcare industry to obtain more than $20 million in secured financing for its acquisition of several subsidiary businesses. This financing deal involved in-depth analysis, drafting, and negotiation of numerous loan, security, and guaranty agreements and other supporting ...

January 2020

Jim Sipchen and Brendan Nelligan Obtain Dismissal of Trademark Suit

  Pretzel & Stouffer partners, Jim Sipchen and Brendan Nelligan recently won a dismissal of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan against their client, a local California theater. The theater was sued for trademark infringement by a popular 80’s R&B band after it produced a concert performed ...

October 2019

Pretzel & Stouffer Attorneys Obtain Historic Judgment in Bankruptcy Case

A Pretzel & Stouffer trial team, led by Edward Ruff and Michael Turiello and including Paula Villela, along with Douglas Lipke and William Thorsness of Vedder Price P.C. obtained a judgment in the amount of $9,539,768.54 for damages stemming from Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland (“F&D”) for contempt and violation of a bankruptcy court’s ...

July 2019

Pretzel & Stouffer Beats Back Copyright Troll’s Infringement Claim

Jim Sipchen recently forced a settlement of a copyright infringement suit for less than what it cost the plaintiff to file the lawsuit in the first place. The suit was brought by an Indiana attorney against a non-profit organization that promotes the health of single mothers and their babies. The plaintiff, who is notorious for ...

October 2016 | Firm News