Jim Stark, Esq

Jim represents and advises entrepreneurs, business start-ups, closely held and family owned businesses, multi-national companies, and non-profit associations on a broad range of corporate transactional matters.  He serves businesses in numerous industries, some of which include healthcare, transportation, construction, financial services, entertainment and attractions, retail, hospitality, apparel and fashion, brokering, and technology (new product, software, and hardware invention, design, development, funding, licensing, and sale).

As a corporate attorney, he practices in areas such as new business organizations and development, operating agreements and bylaws, corporate infrastructure management, business contract drafting and negotiation, the purchase and sale of businesses, mergers & acquisitions, customer and supplier contracts, buy-sell agreements, business succession planning, employment and non-compete agreements, employment law, venture capital and private placement offerings, financing and lending, licensing, regulatory compliance, merchant services, domain name disputes, and legislative undertakings

Jim is an experienced business attorney, serial entrepreneur, author, and lecturer on the subject of practical business law.  Before joining this firm, he was one of the original members of and Chief Legal Officer for C&H Financial Services, Inc. Under his leadership and guidance, the company grew from $0 net income in 2013 to a multinational firm processing over $1.2 billion annually in 2016 – ranked the 21^st fastest growing company in the U.S. and #1 overall in Illinois (according to Inc. Magazine 500/5000 – 2016).

During his tenure with C&H, James structured, negotiated, drafted or otherwise handled thousands of deals for the company. Examples include matters ranging from customer and vendor contracts, employment and contractor agreements, and intellectual property protection to regulatory compliance audits and certification, national and international market expansion, and private equity financing.

He helped expand the business from a single Chicago-area location to several U.S. and international locations, including Texas, Florida, and California, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand.  As of 2018, C&H is now one of the biggest U.S. players in e-commerce, credit card processing, and merchant cash advance.  He carries with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his former success at C&H, and to this day continues to act as outside general counsel for numerous clients.