Since its founding in 2007, the Firm has provided exceptional service to clients around the country who have legal needs in Illinois. Because we are a general practice firm, our clients are diverse, ranging from corporations to small family owned businesses and Fortune 500 executives to employees. As a business itself, the Firm builds on its experience to expertly advise other entrepreneurs. Clients rely on us to guide them through forming their own businesses, hiring employees, drafting and analyzing contracts, filing an Assumed name, registering to transact business in Illinois, and negotiating independent contractor agreements. Many clients who initially seek our services for personal legal issues later request our services in establishing their own companies where we continue to represent them in their corporate capacities.

In addition to business counseling, we advise on a variety of employment matters. The Firm skillfully negotiates all types of employment contracts, including non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, executive compensation contracts, physician agreements, and severance or separation agreements. We coach clients in navigating and responding to difficult employment situations and represent them in defamation, wage, workers’ compensation, discrimination, disability, retaliation, wrongful termination, pregnancy, marital status, and sexual harassment claims. We have appeared before government agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), Illinois Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR), and Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).

From overgrown weeds to dangerous and hazardous building conditions, failure to maintain a business license to lack of a permit, we represent property owners, businesses, and individuals in matters involving the City of Chicago. We have defended our clients in court, including at the appellate level, and at the City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). Our clients have asked us to assist in landlord-tenant disputes or simply to advise and negotiate lease agreements, and breach of contract matters.

We recognize that our success is dependent upon working closely with our clients. Therefore, we pride ourselves on tailoring our strategy to the individual client’s need, which takes into consideration their budgetary concerns.

The Firm is certified by the State of Illinois as a Women Business Enterprise.  Please contact us for more information.

Laura obtained her Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Loyola University of Chicago in 2011 where she was inducted into the National Honor Society for Paralegals/Legal Assistants. She also holds a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in Management.

Laura has participated in all phases of litigation, from case intake through appeal. She is involved in legal support including document management and production, trial preparation, issuing subpoenas, and preparing documents for court or administrative filing. She has experience preparing business formation documents and annual maintenance documents for Illinois corporations and LLCs. Laura has an eye for detail and is supportive to clients as they navigate their difficult and sometimes stressful legal matters.  She is an energetic and reliable professional who prides herself on being resourceful for the benefit of the Firm’s clients.

Helen is the principal and founder of the Firm.  Clients find a trusted counselor and advisor with over 20 years of experience practicing law in Helen.  She strives to provide sound legal advice in a practical manner that advances her clients' personal and professional goals.  

Also, Helen serves as a FINRA arbitrator and is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

As both a former prosecutor and defense attorney for the City of Chicago, she successfully litigated hundreds of cases in the Municipal Prosecutions, Building and Land Use Litigation, and Torts divisions. Following her work for the City, Helen was an associate at Bellows and Bellows, P.C., where she practiced before Illinois state and federal courts, arbitrators and administrative tribunals around the country, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers)). At Bellows, she represented clients in business disputes, divorce, employment, estate planning, securities, and other matters.

Clients and colleagues highly regard her work.  Since 2019 she has been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list in the field of employment law. This designation, conferred upon only 5% of the total lawyers in each state, is based upon peer recognition and professional achievement. 

In addition to her practical experience, Helen possesses the ability to explain complex legal matters in a clear and understandable fashion. She has lectured on topics such as starting a business in Illinois, privacy in employment, hiring and maintaining a diverse workforce, legal issues affecting small businesses, personal financial management, and legal rights and obligations from multiple sides of the employer-employee relationship. Helen is part of the Financial Poise Faculty, where she is a lecturer in the series Protecting Your Employee Assets: The Life Cycle of the Employment Relationship.  Helen also belongs to several civic and professional organizations. She serves on the Alliance of Bar Associations, where she assists in screening judicial candidates. She is a past president of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, which awarded her the Presidential Citation in 2015 and the Intra Society Award of Merit in 2001. Her other bar association memberships include the Illinois chapter of the National Employment Lawyers' Association, Black Women Lawyers' Association, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and the Illinois State Bar Association.  Currently, Helen leads the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners’ (NAWBO) Business Exchange Group. She is also a member of the Lawyers Division of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, a life member of Hadassah, and a member of AIPAC.

Mark received his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with University Honors from Carnegie Mellon University. His interest in the legal field began early in his childhood.  As the son of an attorney, family game night consisted of playing judge, lawyer, and witness in the hallowed halls of imaginary courtrooms.  To embark on what will become a family tradition, Mark is attending law school.   

Prior to joining the Firm, Mark worked as a legal assistant in a workers’ compensation practice where he analyzed medical records, filed documents, and helped the attorneys prepare for trial.  Upon joining the Firm, Mark acclimated quickly to the Firm’s diverse practice.  He has worked closely with the Firm’s clients to assist them with their matters.  Mark brings his attention to detail and excellent writing skills to benefit the Firm’s clients.  The Firm’s clients welcome the compassion he shows for their matters and zeal to find an answer to challenging issues.  The Firm is privileged to have Mark as part of its team and knows he will make a fine attorney one day.    

Burnette received her Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate from Roosevelt University in Chicago in 2007.  Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana. 

Burnette has participated in all phases of litigation, from case intake through appeal. She is involved in legal support including document management and production, trial preparation, and preparing documents for state, federal, and appellate court filing. She has experience preparing business formation documents and annual maintenance documents for Illinois corporations and LLCs. She is an energetic and reliable professional who prides herself on being resourceful for the benefit of the Firm’s clients.   

She has extensive experience with discovery management, agreements, subpoenas, and other discovery requests, and has assisted in multiple trials.  She brings enthusiasm to every new challenge a case may bring.