GMS- The Formula of Great Business Partners

Fighting with Your Business Partner? Now What?
Lavelle Law attorneys John J. (Jack) Lydon, Jennifer Tee, Ted McGinn, and Frank Portera will unpack a host of circumstances that can lead to disputes amongst business owners. They will provide examples and discuss what constitutes a Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Shareholder Oppression, Squeeze Outs, Shareholder Dilution, and other conflicts. The panel will share the importance of well-drafted Shareholder and Operating Agreements which often prevent and solve many conflicts for business owners. Join Lavelle Law on October 10 and learn the red flags that indicate troubled waters and the proactive steps to take to avoid a “business divorce” and costly litigation.

Event Raffle! In support of the Lavelle Law Charities Food Drive, Lavelle Law is offering a special raffle at Good Morning Schaumburg. Visit the Lavelle Law table and place a donation in their collection box. Attendees will receive a raffle ticket for each item they donate. All nonperishable food items, paper goods, and personal care items are acceptable. Please consider donating to help bring food, dignity, and hope to those in need who rely on the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry.

Meet the Panel


John J. (Jack) Lydon is a litigator with 33 years of experience in complex commercial litigation representing banks, mortgage lenders, title companies, real estate companies, and various other commercial business entities in complex commercial litigation in the state and federal courts. His practice mostly centers around shareholder disputes for small and midsize companies, contested mortgage foreclosures, probate, as well as other real estate related disputes. He has represented financial institutions and mortgage lenders in contested mortgage foreclosures, operations, class action defense, mortgage repurchase, consumer protection, TILA, RESPA, FCRA, ECOA, Fair Housing, collection, regulatory, and probate matters. He is also regularly appointed by courts in Illinois as a special representative for deceased borrowers in mortgage foreclosure cases.


Jennifer Tee manages the litigation practice group and is a shareholder at Lavelle Law. She represents individuals and businesses in a broad range of complex litigation matters involving business, commercial, injunctive relief, and probate and trust litigation in both federal and state court. She also litigates matters involving breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, undue influence as well as various other causes of action brought in these legal settings. She also has a great deal of experience handling arbitrations and was appointed as an Arbitrator in Cook County on the Commercial Calendar, Law Division. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their two cats.


Ted McGinn is the managing partner and a shareholder of Lavelle Law and focuses his practice on business formations, capital structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and other transactions. Many of his clients operate in the healthcare industry including physicians, therapists, and nurses. Moreover, he provides guidance in areas of intellectual property including trademarks and copyrights. He also represents individuals and businesses in bankruptcy and other debtor relief and wind-down strategies. Mr. McGinn serves on the Board of Directors for the Schaumburg Business Association and is a member of the Village of Palatine Zoning Board of Appeals. He is also a former Adjunct Professor with The John Marshall Law School and a former chair of the Chicago Bar Association Asset Protection Committee.


Frank Portera manages the Corporate Compliance Practice Group at Lavelle Law, and focuses his practice on new business formations, drafting shareholder/operating agreements, and mergers and acquisitions. Through Frank’s general business law practice, he works closely with many small business owners to assist them in applying for and maintaining trademarks and negotiating commercial lease agreements. Mr. Portera serves on the Arlington Heights Zoning Board of Appeals, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Board of Directors Gerry’s Café in Arlington Heights. Frank received both his B.A. and J.D. from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.