Private Companies

Schiff Hardin counsels private companies at all stages of the development spectrum, from start-up ventures to long-standing, highly valued businesses, across a broad range of industries and activities. Our clients include former publicly-traded companies that have gone private, as well as closely held companies whose owners prefer their operations and ownership to remain confidential. Our representation includes domestic as well as international business activities of our private company clients.

Our attorneys bring a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to serving the various needs of our private company clients and provide seamless coordination among our various specialty practice areas. This ensures that our clients, no matter their size, have reliable and consistent "outside general counsel" with whom to consult. Our clients know they will get prompt and thoughtful advice on whatever subject area is at issue.

Schiff Hardin has a long history of representing clients that face the unique challenges of owning and operating family-owned businesses. We have represented many long-standing private companies through several generational changes, and have counseled each successive generation on transition and accession issues they face.

We advise our private company clients in a variety of matters:

General corporate
Board management and governance
Formation of S and C corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and associations
Mergers and acquisitions
Business entity liquidations and dissolutions
Public and private offerings of equity and debt securities
Negotiation of financial transactions and commercial contracts
Purchase and sale of goods
Estate planning and wealth preservation
Business ownership succession
Tax
Real estate
Corporate finance
Construction
Labor and employment
Employee benefits and executive compensation
General business litigation
Intellectual Property