As of July 1, 2023, the firm of Robinson Payne LLC will be joining Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle LLC. Both named partners, Russel G. Robinson and Richmond A. Payne, along with longstanding paralegals Wendy K. Widmayer and Melissa A. Wolf, are making the move, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in estate planning, corporate…
With over 40 years experience in a broad range of commercial real estate and business law, Richard Demarest (R.D.) Yant is one of the most competent and respected attorneys in his field of work to join MPS in the KSVB acquisition. With that in mind, we recently asked him to reflect on the law, his…
Charles Valente is a partner at MPS Law who arrived when his prior firm, Kaplan Saunders Valente & Beninati, LLP was acquired in January 2023. As one of our most experienced litigators, Charlie has a unique perspective on the topic of commercial litigation, which he shared in a recent discussion. You’re primarily a litigator. What…
Demonstrating the firm’s ongoing commitment to smart growth, Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle LLC (MPS Law) has added three new associates to its steadily growing professional staff. New associate attorney JonTia Pegues joins the firm’s commercial real estate practice group, and will focus her practice on tenant leasing and negotiation as well as general representation of…
The story began over a decade ago, when ownership of a Mexican RV park passed to two brothers and their siblings upon the death of their father. A few years after the older brother took over operation of the business, his younger brother, who resides in Illinois, became concerned about his brother’s accounting for the…
Many people don’t consider creating wills and trusts until it’s too late. MPS attorney Francis Beninati says it’s never too early to think about estate planning. We sat down with him recently to talk about estate planning, helping clients understand their needs, and providing their heirs for their future. Tell us a little about yourself,…
Illinois businesses, take note: In a startling decision this morning, the Illinois Supreme Court held that “a separate claim accrues under the [Illinois Biometric Privacy] Act each time a private entity scans or transmits an individual’s biometric identifier or information in violation of” the BIPA. In so doing, the Court acknowledged that, if ultimately successful,…
In this online article from Insider 94 | Midwest Business Journal, MPS partner Ray Horn considers the critical importance of coordination and commitment between clients and their advisors in M&A negotiations. His article combines practical, common sense advice with insights and anecdotes gleaned from over 20 years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions, partnership agreements and…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government that is charged with protecting consumers and maintaining competition in the marketplace. Recently, the FTC gave public notice of a proposed rulemaking which would severely limit the use of non-compete agreements in employment contracts. According to the proposed rulemaking, noncompete agreements…
Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle LLC (MPS Law) is pleased to announce the acquisition of general business practice law firm Kaplan Saunders Valente & Beninati LLP (KSVB), effective January 1, 2023. The move will bolster MPS Law’s commercial real estate, lending, and mergers and acquisitions practice, while adding depth to the firm’s existing expertise in trusts…
A commercial tenant may expect that its security deposit will be segregated or held in trust by its landlord and therefore be available to be returned to it when the lease is terminated. As explained in a recent New York federal court decision,1 however, if a commercial lease does not require the landlord to segregate…
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the second in a three-part series about how small and mid-sized businesses should deal with customers experiencing financial difficulties. The first installment in this series focused on identifying customers that are in financial distress and taking steps to mitigate potential losses in the event a customer files bankruptcy. In this…
Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle LLC (MPS Law) is pleased to welcome three associate attorneys, one paralegal, and two summer associates to their team, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities in the areas of commercial real estate law and litigation. “MPS is only as strong as the talent and depth of our professional staff, and we’re constantly…
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the first in a series about how small and mid-sized businesses should deal with customers experiencing financial difficulties. Whether due to the impacts of pre-pandemic economic trends such as the shift in consumer spending toward e-commerce outlets, the effects of the federal and state governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic,…
Ray Horn is a partner at MPS Law with nearly 30 years of experience in corporate law, and a considerable focus in the area of mergers and acquisitions. Recently, we sat down with Ray to discuss his M&A practice and how his approach is an ideal fit for closely held small- to mid-sized businesses. Tell…
