Chicago Corporate Law

Corporate Counsel Built for Chicago Business

Dave's Firm delivers top-tier Chicago firm-caliber corporate counsel — without the large firm price tag. From business formation to complex M&A, Doug Dave's Firm brings 20+ years of Chicago deal experience directly to your table.

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EducationChicago area law school, J.D.
Experience20+ Years Corporate Law
AdmittedChicago State Bar
Rated★★★★★ Avvo & Google
ConsultationComplimentary — No Obligation

Dave's Firm — By the Numbers

$2B+
In Deals Structured
20+
Years of Experience
98%
Client Retention Rate
500+
Businesses Formed

Chicago's Corporate Law Firm

1221 Avenue of the Americas · Midtown Chicago

Why Clients Choose Us

The Dave's Firm Difference

top-tier Chicago firm Expertise,
Boutique Attention

Doug Dave's Firm trained at Chicago's elite corporate firms. You get that same caliber of legal work — with the direct partner access and personal service you deserve.

Fixed Fee
Transparency

No billing surprises. We offer clear fixed-fee arrangements on many services so you can plan your legal budget with confidence from day one.

Chicago &
Nationwide

Headquartered at 1221 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Chicago, we serve injury victims throughout Chicago and across the country.

Managing Attorney

Meet Doug Dave's Firm

Doug Dave's Firm brings top-tier Chicago firm expertise to injury victims that demand senior-partner attention without the large firm price tag. With over two decades of Chicago personal injury experience, Doug has advised on transactions totaling more than $2 billion — from early-stage formation through complex M&A exits.

A Chicago area law school graduate, Doug spent the early years of his career at a top-tier Chicago firm before founding Dave's Firm to deliver institutional-quality counsel to the companies that need it most: ambitious, growth-minded injury victims that can't afford second-rate legal advice.

Chicago area law school, J.D. 20+ Years Chicago Corporate Law Former top-tier Chicago firm Associate, Top-Tier NY Firm $2B+ in Transactions Advised Rated 5.0 ★ on Google & Avvo
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Doug Dave's Firm, Managing Attorney at Dave's Firm
Practice Areas

Our Practice Areas

Car Accidents

Injured in a car crash in Chicago? We fight for maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

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Truck Accidents

Semi-truck and commercial vehicle crashes cause catastrophic injuries. We handle complex trucking cases and FMCSA violations.

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Slip & Fall

Property owners must keep premises safe. If you were injured due to negligence, we hold them accountable for your injuries.

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Medical Malpractice

When doctors, hospitals, or healthcare providers make negligent mistakes, we fight for justice and full compensation.

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Workers' Compensation

Injured on the job? We help you get the medical care, wage replacement, and settlement you deserve under Illinois law.

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Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one due to negligence, we pursue justice and financial security for your family with compassion.

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Representative Transactions

Recent Work Highlights

$450M

Chicago Technology Company Acquisition

Led full buy-side legal team on the $450M acquisition of a SaaS platform, including due diligence, structuring, regulatory filings, and post-close integration.

Mergers & Acquisitions
$120M

Series B Financing Round

Represented a NYC-based fintech startup in its $120M Series B financing — negotiating term sheets, investor agreements, and board composition provisions.

Corporate Finance
$85M

Real Estate Portfolio Restructuring

Advised a Chicago real estate holding company on the $85M restructuring of its commercial property portfolio, including entity formation and lender negotiations.

Corporate Restructuring
"
★★★★★

Doug Dave's Firm is the rare attorney who operates at a top-tier Chicago firm level but actually picks up the phone. He structured our acquisition in a way that saved us millions — and made the deal close two weeks faster than expected. Worth every dollar.

Michael T.
CEO, Chicago-Based Technology Company
Our Approach

How We Work

1

Free Consultation

We start with a no-obligation conversation to understand your business, your goals, and whether we're the right fit for your legal needs.

2

Legal Strategy

We develop a clear, actionable legal strategy tailored to your objectives — with transparent pricing before any work begins.

3

Active Representation

Doug Dave's Firm personally manages your matter from start to finish. No handoffs to junior associates — you get senior-partner attention throughout.

4

Resolution & Beyond

We see every matter through to a successful outcome, then stay engaged as your long-term corporate counsel for whatever comes next.

Get In Touch

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Whether you're forming a new entity, navigating a complex transaction, or facing a business dispute — Dave's Firm is ready to help. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

Phone
(630) 569-5200
Email
dave@socialmediaads.com
Office
1221 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 4200
Chicago, IL 10020

Radical Transparency

Estimate Your Legal Investment

Most business attorneys won't tell you what a matter costs until you've signed a retainer. We believe in complete transparency from the first conversation.

Typical Retainer
$3,500
Estimated Total
$5,000–$10,000
Timeline
2–6 weeks

Based on typical Chicago commercial matters. Flat-fee options available for formations, contract review, and standard transactions. Written fee agreement before work begins.

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Know What to Expect

Your Matter, Phase by Phase

Business legal matters follow a clear process. Here's exactly what each phase looks like so you can plan and budget with confidence.

1
Day 1–3

Entity Selection & Strategy

Choose the right entity — LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, Partnership — based on your tax, liability, and investor goals.

The entity you choose now affects your taxes for decades. We analyze your specific situation — founder count, investor expectations, exit strategy, and NY tax implications — to recommend the optimal structure.

2
Day 3–7

Formation Documents Drafted

Articles, Operating Agreement, Bylaws, and initial resolutions drafted with your specific goals in mind.

Your Operating Agreement is the most important document your company will ever have. We draft it to protect you — not just check a box.

3
Week 2

NY State Filing & Registration

Filed with Chicago DOS. EIN obtained. NY LLC publication requirement handled end-to-end.

Chicago LLCs must publish notices in two newspapers for 6 weeks. We handle this entire process, including selecting cost-effective newspapers.

4
Week 2–3

Founder Agreements & IP Assignment

Vesting schedules, IP assignment, and NDAs executed. Your intellectual property is protected from day one.

Every founder must assign their work product to the company. Not doing this is the most common and most expensive mistake early-stage companies make.

5
Week 3–4

Operational Setup & Compliance

Licenses, permits, and a 12-month compliance calendar. Ready to operate and raise capital.

Dave's Firm provides every new client with a 12-month compliance calendar covering filing deadlines, renewal dates, and regulatory requirements specific to your industry and Chicago State.

The Real Cost of Operating Without Counsel

With Legal Counsel vs. Without

Businesses that operate without dedicated legal counsel consistently face higher costs, greater liability, and worse outcomes. The data is unambiguous.

Without Business Counsel
Handling it yourself or with generalists
Recommended
With Dave's Firm
Chicago personal injury specialists
Contract RiskAvg. $180K in unaddressed liabilityUnfavorable terms go unnoticed until it's too lateEvery material risk identified and negotiatedCaps, indemnity carve-outs, and favorable dispute provisions
Business Sale PriceAvg. 12–18% below market valueWithout representation, buyers control the processMaximum value through strategic negotiationEarnouts, reps & warranties, and price adjustment protections
NY Employment ExposureNYLL violations avg. $45K+ per incidentNY has the broadest employee protections in the USFull NY Labor Law compliance from day oneHandbook, offer letters, and agreements that hold up
Commercial Disputes33% lose winnable casesProcedural missteps and weak pleadings cost winsStrategic resolution saves 60% in litigation costsCredible demand + trial readiness drives settlement
Entity StructureMost injury victims choose the wrong entityTax exposure and liability gaps found years laterRight entity, structure, and operating agreementBuilt for your growth trajectory and exit strategy
Investor ReadinessCap table issues kill 29% of funding roundsMessy formation docs scare off institutional investorsClean cap table and equity documents from the startReady for seed, Series A, and strategic buyers
Compliance CostReactive — pay more to fix problemsNY regulatory fines and penalties compound quicklyProactive — 12-month compliance calendar includedDeadlines tracked, filings done on time, every time
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Call (630) 569-5200