The Myth of the Big Firm: Why Agility Wins in Modern Litigation Many clients believe that a massive firm is required for a massive case. The reality? Huge firms are often slowed down by committee structures and bureaucratic oversight. At DiTommaso Lubin, we have the same access to top-tier experts…
Chicago Business Litigation Lawyer Blog
DiTommaso Lubin PC Opens New Practice Groups to Represent Closely Held Businesses and Car Dealerships and to Defend Libel Cases
DiTommaso Lubin, P.C. announced today that it has formally launched a series of specialized practice groups designed to serve car dealerships, closely held and family businesses, media and internet clients, and high net worth individuals with both litigation and transactional needs. Chicago, IL, January 28, 2026 –(pr.com)– DiTommaso Lubin, P.C.…
Squeezed Out of Your Own Company? Strategies for Freeze-Outs in Closely Held Businesses
When Majority Owners Turn on Their Partners In closely held corporations and limited-liability companies, majority owners sometimes forget that they owe duties to their partners. We see the same pattern again and again: a founder who built a business is gradually cut out of key decisions, denied access to financial…
Buying a Business Built on Fake Numbers: Fraud in the Inducement in Business Sales
The Dream of Owning a Business — and the Nightmare That Followed Some of our business clients come to us after realizing that the dream business they purchased is nothing like what they were sold. One of our current matters involves a small investor who purchased a business after reviewing…
Social-Media Accusations, and Defamation or Business Control Lawsuits in the Social Media Age
The New Reality: Accusations Before Investigation In the modern environment, a single social-media post can trigger a storm of attention, formal investigations, and sometimes a lawsuit. We have dealt with this type of situtation in many of our lible and business control cases. Our firm represents pleaintiffs and defendants in…
Following the Money: Forensic Accounting in Civil RICO and Fiduciary-Breach Cases
Why Forensic Accounting Matters in Complex Business Fraud Civil RICO and serious breach-of-fiduciary-duty cases live and die by the numbers. It is not enough to allege that a business partner or investment promoter “took money”; you have to show how funds moved, which entities were involved, and how those transactions…
Defamation Inside the Family or With Ex-Lovers: Protecting Reputations from False Accusations
Overview Few things are more devastating than being falsely accused of abusing a family member or former partner. We have represented libel clients on both sides of these disputes as plaintiffs or defendants. Often, the accusations did not go to law enforcement; instead, they spread through social media or phone…
Forced Buyouts After an Owner’s Death: Buy‑Sell Agreements, Oppression, and “Fair Value” in Illinois
Summary: After a founder dies, survivors often pivot from “we have a buy‑sell” to “we can force a redemption under the articles.” Courts care about doing it right—and about protecting the estate’s reasonable expectations. Start with the contract you actually signed.A written buy‑sell controls if it exists and is enforceable.…
When Lawyers Are the Insiders: Suing (or Defending) Attorneys Derivatively for Member Oppression
Summary: Law firms and professional companies are businesses too. When lawyer‑owners divert funds, freeze out a co‑owner, or weaponize firm control, a derivative suit or oppression claim can be the right tool—if you respect both corporate law and the professional‑ethics overlay. Typical patterns we see: Unilateral transfers disguised as “distributions”…
Derivative Claims in Illinois: A Practitioner’s Checklist (and Common Traps)
Summary: Derivative suits let owners enforce the company’s rights when insiders won’t. Done right, they’re powerful. Done wrong, they’re dismissed. Here’s a field guide for LLCs and closely held corporations. Who can sue and when? LLCs: Members may sue derivatively under 805 ILCS 180/40‑1 when managers/members harm the company. Relief…