Buchalter, a full-service business law firm, opened its newest office in Chicago. The office has 25 attorneys and support staff, including shareholders Thomas Jefson, Steven Jakubowski, Patrick Owens, David Resnick, R. Kymn Harp, James Mainzer, Justin Weisberg and Thomas Yardley Jr., as well as Jennifer Barton, Emily Kaminski, Teresa Minnich, Christine Walsh, Marko Van Buskirk, Timothy Hameetman and Richard Stavins. In addition, shareholder Pamela Webster will also spend a significant amount of time in the Chicago office.
“As the third-largest city in the country, having a Chicago office has been a long-term goal for the firm,” Adam Bass, president and CEO of Buchalter, said. “The city’s thriving real estate, financial services, private equity and technology sectors, along with its ideal geographic location, present tremendous opportunities and strengthens Buchalter’s national presence. Finding the right lawyers was essential, and the highly respected group joining us in Chicago are an excellent business and cultural fit.”
As the office managing shareholder of Buchalter’s Chicago office, Jefson has extensive experience handling all aspects of complex trust and estate matters including, estate planning for high and ultra-high net worth families, asset protection, probate and trust administration services, complex litigation involving disputed trusts and estates, claims against decedents as well as designing strategies to maximize tax savings. As a trusted legal advisor for over 22 years, Jefson regularly represents families, business owners and executives, investors and individuals in sophisticated matters to preserve wealth and protect assets that help achieve their objectives for years to come. Additionally, he counsels financial institutions, business leaders within diverse industries in the areas of tax planning, charitable endeavors, fiduciary duty compliance and other business transactional matters.
“We are thrilled to join Buchalter, and I’m honored to lead the Chicago office,” Jefson said. “Joining Buchalter provides us with the perfect opportunity to strengthen the support we provide to our clients, expand the services they count on and collaborate with an impressive team of attorneys.”
Jakubowski concentrates his practice in distressed financings and workouts, bankruptcies, receiverships and related ancillary litigation. He has been lead and co-counsel in bankruptcy cases nationwide, stretching from Delaware to Hawaii, including in multiple high profile cases nationwide on behalf of lenders, debtors, creditors and equity committees, acquirers and litigation targets. These matters have involved a variety of industries, including: biotech; commercial real estate; premium fitness clubs; farming; department stores; restaurant chains; convenience stores; metal fabricators; equipment lessors; and wholesale food manufacturing, packaging and distribution.
Owens possesses extensive expertise in estate planning for young professionals to established high net worth clients. This experience also extends to managing a diverse array of estates, from modest, nontaxable ones to those that are significantly large and complex, involving tax liabilities. His involvement spans the full spectrum of trust and estate administration and oversight. He expertly navigates these trusts and estates through their lifecycle, handling or overseeing all requisite income, gift and estate tax filings with meticulous attention to detail.
Resnick maintains a national practice concentrated in commercial real estate development, and leasing and finance matters. He has over 24 years of experience handling all facets of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, sale, financing and leasing of industrial, office, residential, retail and mixed-use properties. He also provides legal services to hospitality clients with respect to their real estate, finance and operational matters.
Harp has over 40 years of experience representing investors, developers, business owners and other stakeholders in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions and development. He applies a practical approach to project and transaction management through clear identification of transaction objectives and challenges, focused due diligence and creative problem-solving and personal hands-on transaction management. He also is actively engaged in the complementary practice of business management law, representing businesses and business owners and investors.
Mainzer also has over 40 years of experience practicing in the areas of taxation, business representation, real estate and trusts and estates. His federal tax practice includes a heavy emphasis on sophisticated partnership taxation and tax deferred exchanges. He represents private sector clients in tax collection defense, audit, income tax and estate tax matters. He also has substantial experience dealing with IRS agents, revenue officers and IRS tax counsel regarding audits, tax appeals and Federal Tax Court matters.
Weisberg has over 30 years of legal experience with a national construction law and commercial litigation practice. He represents private, public, local and international clients in a variety of construction-related transactions and litigation matters. His legal experience has included contract negotiation and drafting of design, design-build, IPD, P3 and construction contracts as well as mediation, arbitration and litigation including both bench and jury trials of numerous disputes involving design and construction matters.
Yardley Jr. concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, business transactions, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, and employment and construction law. With over 30 years of experience, he has handled diverse litigation matters for small business owners, high net worth individuals and corporations. He has successfully represented clients in both state and federal court including: commercial and contractual disputes, corporate litigation, minority shareholder oppression matters, other employment cases, construction matters, condominium and real estate disputes, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters, among others.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tom and the entire Chicago team to Buchalter,” Bass said. “We have immediate plans to expand the office and are looking forward to the future.”
