Sulzer & Shopiro, Ltd., with its predecessor firms, has a history in general civil practice extending back over seventy years, with a focus on real estate, corporate, probate and estate planning. We consider ourselves first and foremost as counselors to our clientele. We assist our clients in obtaining appropriate counsel for all types of legal disputes ranging from divorce to personal injury claims, from criminal matters to sophisticated corporate contractual disputes.

As a small local firm we know our limitations and realize we cannot be experts in all areas of the law. As experienced attorneys, we also know how difficult it can be for a client to find a knowledgeable attorney quickly when the need arises. Each named partner, having practiced exclusively in the Chicago area for over 30 years, knows expert attorneys in the areas where we do not personally practice so we can help clients find the right attorney for their needs.

Our real estate expertise includes the areas of commercial and residential contract negotiations, leasing negotiations, condomini¬um conversions and governance, title exam, real estate development, mortgage foreclosures and tax-free exchanges.

The firm has broad experience in dealing with legal questions associated with real estate. We advise purchasers, sellers, developers, lenders and borrowers in structuring transactions affecting residential, commercial, and industrial properties. In this regard, we routinely negotiate, draft, and close contracts for the acquisition of real estate, negotiate and draft loan documents, assist in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and provide advice to ensure the optimum tax results.

The firm has considerable experience in both estate planning and probate work. The firm represents executors and administrators in all areas of probate proceedings, including citation proceed¬ing and claim hearings. Members of our firm teach and lecture in the area of estate planning, and advise clients on the ramifications of tax laws as they relate to estate planning. In assisting clients in formulating their estate plans, the firm uses both basic estate planning strategies such as revocable trusts and more sophisticated planning strategies and techniques including family limited partnerships, insurance trusts, GST Trusts, private foundations and charitable trusts. We also assist the client in formulating a strategy for obtaining distributions from their pension plans and IRAs.

The firm is general counsel for a wide range of business enterprises, from automobile component remanufacturing to condominium associations to financial institutions. The scope of responsibility undertaken in connection with this representation has included annual corporate maintenance, negotiation and preparation of general and limited partnership agreements and operating agreements for limited liability companies, tax protests, negotiation and documentation associated with additional equity and debt requirements, corporate mergers and dissolutions, government regulatory compliance, employment contracts, negotiation and drafting of distributorship and agency agreements, representation of sellers and purchasers of business enterprises, situations of ownership deadlock, non-competition and trade secret agreements and disputes.