Business Law
Business law encompasses a wide variety of legal areas. With over 30 years of experience, William J. Arendt & Associates, P.C. has the experience and knowledge to help your business through all of its legal issues, including the following:
- Contract Drafting & Litigation
- Employment Disputes
- Trust Litigation
- Mechanic's Liens
- Bank & Financing Disputes
- Commercial Landlord & Tenant Disputes
For legal assitance with these and other business law matters, please contact our business law department.
Contract Drafting & Litigation
Negotiating an agreement is only the first step in creating an enforceable contract that will protect your interests. It is equally important to make sure that your contract is well-drafted. A properly drafted contract will save you time, money, and headache down the road. With a well-drafted contract, there is less confusion, and, hopefully, less litigation. In the unfortunate event that a dispute does erupt, a well-drafted contract can lessen the time and expense of a lawsuit.
On the other hand, a contract that is poorly drafted will be confusing to you, your business partners, the attorneys, and even the court. Poorly drafted contracts are often open to different interpretations. The obligations of each party may be misunderstood. All of these things can lead to litigation.
Contract litigation begins with a legal complaint, filed with the court. The other party must then respond. Both sides will have the opportunity to gather documents, testimony, and other information related to the contract. There may be motions and court hearings long before the trial begins. Your case may be decided on motions, settled out of court, or at trial.
At William J. Arent & Associates, P.C., we are skilled in contract negotiation and drafting. We can also help you resolve your contract-related lawsuit effectively and aggressively. Please feel free to contact us with your questions.
Employment Disputes
William J. Arendt & Associates, P.C. represents employers in all aspects of employment disputes with the EEOC, Illinois Department of Human Rights, as well as in the state and federal courts. We strive to help avoid workplace disputes from happening in the first place through proactive advice, training seminars, as well as, preparation and review of employee handbooks and personnel policies.
We have been successful representing businesses defend employment matters, including discrimination claims, sexual harassment claims, wrongful termination claims, retaliatory discharge claims, and many other employment-related matters.
Trust Litigation
When a person sets up a trust, he gives the management of his assets in the trust over to a "trustee" to manage for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the trust. The trustee is obliged to administer the trust in accordance with both the terms of the trust document and the governing law.
We have successfully litigated trusts cases involving:
- Disputes as to whether a trust was properly created;
- Disputes as to what the trust document actually means;
- Disputes involving whether a trustee endangered the assets by investing them in a risky venture and misappropriated the assets for his own use.
Mechanic's Liens
A Mechanics' Lien is an effective remedy for contractors, subcontractors, and others involved in the construction or improvement of real estate to resolve payment problems. If a service or materials provider records a Mechanics' Lien against the real estate being improved, the owner cannot easily sell or refinance the property without first paying off the debt secured by the lien. A Mechanics' Lien motivates the owner to make sure the contractors get paid, and is a prerequisite to filing a foreclosure action on the property. There are laws and regulations that govern the filing and recording of mechanic's liens. If the regulations governing mechanic's liens are not followed, the lien will not be enforceable.
Commercial Landlord & Tenant Disputes
A landlord of commercial property who wants to evict a tenant must follow the relevant Illinois and any applicable local laws to the letter, dotting every i and crossing every t. If mistakes are made in eviction notices, for example, the eviction case will be dismissed, and the landlord will have to begin the entire process again. If you have a tenant in violation of your rental agreement, act quickly. If you wait too long, the tenant may owe more money than he can possibly repay.
Outside Information & Useful Links
Regional Circuit Court Clerks
Regional Recorder of Deeds
Employment Law Resources