Steady legal counsel for Chicago businesses, property and families.

§ I · Practice areas

Three practice areas, kept deliberately narrow

We would rather do three kinds of work thoroughly than twenty adequately. Each area is led by a partner who handles it every week, and every matter has one attorney you can reach by name.

If your question falls outside these areas, such as a divorce, a criminal charge or an injury claim, we say so on the first call and suggest where to look instead.

All practice areas

1. I.Business lawForming an LLC or corporation, operating and shareholder agreements, everyday contracts, and buying or selling a small business.
2. II.Real estate lawResidential and commercial closings, purchase contracts and attorney review, condo questions, leases and title problems in Cook County.
3. III.Estate planningWills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, guardian nominations for young children, and help settling a loved one’s estate.

§ II · Getting started

How a matter begins

Most people contact a lawyer at a stressful moment. Our intake is short and predictable, so you know what happens next and what it will cost.

1. You tell us the outline

   Use the enquiry form or call. Give us the type of matter and a few lines about it, and leave confidential details for later.

2. We check for conflicts

   Before discussing specifics, we confirm that we do not already act for anyone on the other side. This usually takes a day.

3. A first consultation

   Thirty to forty-five minutes with the attorney who would handle the matter, at the office in the Loop or by video.

4. Scope and fee in writing

   If we go ahead, an engagement letter sets out the work, the fee and who does what. Nothing is billed before you sign it.

§ III · Attorneys

The attorneys you will actually talk to

Hale & Whitcomb has four attorneys and two paralegals. The person who answers the phone knows your file, and the attorney who advises you is the one who drafts the documents.

Partners review every engagement letter and every closing file. Associates prepare drafts and filings under that review, which keeps hourly costs down without handing your matter to a stranger.

The attorneys shown on this demo website are fictional.

Meet the attorneys

§ IV · Fees

Fees you can plan around

Defined work, such as forming an LLC, a residential closing or a will package, is quoted as a flat fee. Open-ended work, such as negotiating a contract dispute, is billed hourly against a written estimate, and we tell you before that estimate is reached.

Your engagement letter lists what is included, what would cost extra and the filing or recording fees charged by Cook County or the State of Illinois, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Ask for a fee quote

Office

Chicago, Illinois. Meetings in the Loop by appointment, or by video. Street address shown here on a real site.

Hours

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Phone

(312) 555-0142

Email

hello@halewhitcomb.example