Eric Lavender Law LLC helps small and medium-sized businesses start, grow, protect their assets, manage risk, and resolve disputes.
Whether you are starting a company, signing a contract, protecting your brand, using AI tools, dealing with a dispute, or planning for the future of your business, the goal is simple: clear legal guidance and practical next steps.
Business Legal Services
Legal support for Illinois businesses, founders, owners, contractors, creators, nonprofits, and growing teams.
Business Formation and Startup Planning
- LLC formation guidance
- PLLC formation guidance
- Partnerships, including LPs, LLPs, and LLLPs
- Corporations, including S corporations, C corporations, and benefit corporations
- Operating agreements
- Founder and partner agreements
- Ownership and management structure planning
- Business name and brand name legal review
- Post-formation legal checklists
Contracts and Business Agreements
- Client service agreements
- Vendor and supplier agreements
- Independent contractor agreements
- Master service agreements
- Non-disclosure agreements
- Payment terms, deposits, refunds, and scope-of-work provisions
- Contract review before signing
Intellectual Property and Brand Protection
- Trademark search and brand name review
- Copyright ownership issues
- Work-for-hire and IP assignment agreements
- Logo, website, content, and creative ownership issues
- Licensing and permission agreements
- Confidentiality and trade secret protection
Artificial Intelligence and Technology Risk
- AI use policies for businesses
- AI vendor contract review
- Employee and contractor AI-use guidelines
- Confidentiality and data-use concerns involving AI tools
- Ownership questions involving AI-assisted work
- AI legal risk reviews for small businesses
Employment and Workforce Issues
- Employee versus independent contractor classification
- Offer letters and worker agreements
- Employment policies and handbook review
- Restrictive covenant and noncompete review
- Wage, commission, and payment issues
- Severance agreement review
Insurance, Risk Management, and Compliance
- Business legal risk reviews
- Insurance policy and coverage issue review
- Indemnification and limitation-of-liability clauses
- Additional insured and certificate of insurance issues
- Contract risk allocation
- Annual legal checkups for small businesses
Commercial Leases and Business Property
- Commercial lease review
- Shared property and expense agreements
- Co-ownership agreements
- Buildout, repair, and maintenance obligations
- Landlord-tenant business disputes
Business Disputes and Litigation
- Demand letters
- Unpaid invoice and collections matters
- Breach of contract disputes
- Vendor, customer, and contractor disputes
- Business partner disputes
- Small claims representation
- Settlement agreement review
Business Transitions and Owner Planning
- Buyout agreement review
- Business dissolution planning
- Succession planning
- Business ownership issues in estate planning
- Prenuptial and postnuptial planning for business owners
- Shared expense and ownership arrangements
Common Reasons Businesses Reach Out
“I need a contract reviewed before I sign.”
Get help understanding key risks, payment terms, termination rights, ownership language, liability exposure, and practical negotiation points.
“Someone owes my business money.”
Demand letters and dispute strategy can help businesses address unpaid invoices, broken promises, vendor issues, and breach of contract problems.
“I am starting or restructuring a business.”
Formation, operating agreements, ownership planning, founder expectations, and internal governance can reduce future conflict.
How We Work
1. Understand the Business Issue
We start by identifying the business goal, legal risk, deadline, documents involved, and people or companies affected.
2. Explain Your Options
You get clear advice about your options, risks, likely next steps, and practical ways to move forward.
3. Take Action
Depending on the matter, that may mean reviewing a contract, drafting an agreement, sending a demand letter, negotiating, or preparing for a dispute.
Legal Help for the Business Problems That Slow You Down
If you are starting a business, signing a contract, using AI tools, protecting your brand, managing a dispute, or planning for the future of your company, Eric Lavender Law LLC can help you understand your options and next steps.