Clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations and multinational conglomerates trust Ron to represent them in matters related to banking, business, real estate, probate, municipal law, estate planning, and commercial and civil litigation.
As a banking and business attorney, Ron negotiates and drafts documents of all kinds, including contracts and buy-and-sell agreements, advises on due diligence and other matters, and litigates in both state and federal court. An entrepreneur himself, he also has considerable experience helping clients start their own businesses, providing solid counsel on business entity formation, potential liability, tax structures, insurance coverage, employment matters, succession strategies and corporate compliance issues.
Real estate clients depend on Ron to understand and address issues that arise in complex sales, purchase and lease transactions at every step from offer to closing. He draws from his vast experience with property rights to handle landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, zoning, foreclosures, matters of eminent domain and other issues.
A tenacious litigator, Ron regularly achieves favorable rulings for his clients in a diverse array of commercial and civil matters: business, consumer and construction litigation; breaches of contract; shareholder disputes; insurance claims; property damage; property rights; probate and others. Ron has successfully obtained declarations of rights and injunctions for his clients on many occasions. When litigation may not be in the client’s best interests, he looks for opportunities to avoid the courtroom through arbitration, mediation or settlement. He also serves clients by helping to identify and head off potential problems before they can develop into litigable matters.
His extensive municipal experience includes significant work for a south suburban village and an area park district, which he represented for more than 25 years.
Ron has a proven ability to understand and manage highly fluid and complex problems. Placing a high value on the time he spends getting to know his clients, he makes it a point to listen closely to understand their needs and goals, as well as their reasoning, in order to strategize the best courses of action. His own goal is always to pursue the client’s objectives with the greatest efficiency possible and the least amount of risk. He takes time to make sure his clients understand the legal process, especially when litigation is involved, and what to expect moving forward.
Ron has often found his early experience both as a U.S. Steel employee and as a construction worker helpful in cases involving manufacturing operations or mechanical issues. The resolute work ethic he forged in the steel mills and construction sites of Gary, Ind., where he was born and raised, has directly impacted all of Ron’s clients for more than 30 years.
Many clients also benefit from his manifold wisdom at in-service seminars he conducts on topics related to banking, business law, municipal law and real estate.
In his free time, Ron enjoys cycling, snow skiing and swimming—and, in quieter moments, bird-watching and reading.
Published Decisions
- Berg & Associates v. Nelsen Steel & Wire Co., Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, 1991
- Lamar Advantage G.P. Co. v. 600 Waukegan Road, LLC, Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, 2007