Practice Areas

With many practice areas, we are ready to meet virtually any legal services need. We invite you to explore the breadth and depth of our capabilities.

Our Practice Areas include:

Administrative Law – Through relationships established by our seasoned team of attorneys and government policy advisors, we are successful in shaping public policy through both administrative and legislative channels.
Alternative Dispute Resolution – In today’s fast-moving and litigious world, disputes are a fact of business life. Presenting them to state or federal courts is often expensive, time consuming and carries no guarantee regarding outcome.
Appellate Litigation – There are at least three reasons to involve an appellate specialist in your litigation or arbitration matter: we increase the likelihood of us as winning through use of expertise, we help clients allocate resources to assure victory, and we provide a fresh but keenly-focused set of eyes to bring critical review of the strategy and issues in order to advance your most effective arguments.
Bank Regulatory Law – Led by Benjamin P. Shapiro, former Regional Counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, we represent numerous regulated financial services companies, including national and state-chartered commercial banks, federal and state-chartered thrifts and savings banks, insurance companies, mortgage companies and other finance companies.
Business and Commercial Litigation – With experience in commercial litigation ranging from administrative actions to complex multi-state matters, Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP’s trial attorneys bring seasoned professionalism to the courtroom in business and commercial matters.
Class Action Defense – Our successful record of handling all phases of class action defense – including claims analysis, forum issues, dispositive motions, oppositions to class certification, and trial — makes Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP a great choice to assist a company in any industry including lending, insurance, health care, retail and manufacturing.
Corporate Compliance – Corporations face new and growing demands not only to comply with all the laws and regulations that apply to their business, but also to organize their compliance efforts in a way that stands up to scrutiny.
Corporate Governance – An increase in corporate scandals has resulted in intense public scrutiny of the manner in which companies govern themselves. Our Corporate Governance practice has a wealth of experience in corporate governance matters and is well-equipped to counsel public and private companies as they steer through the maze of new regulations and standards resulting from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Corporate and Securities – A significant portion of the legal services we provide involves advising and counseling businesses and their management with respect to a wide range of matters. Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP’s Corporate and Securities Group focuses on solutions, not problems.
Creditors’ Rights – Our Creditors’ Rights practice group is well equipped to handle all creditor issues, including but not limited to, consumer debt collection, commercial collections, as well as judgment enforcement.
Crisis Management – The fundamental mission of the Crisis Management Group at Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP is to take the lead in responding to “bet-the-company” or other major legal crises for our clients.
Development and Construction Law – Since the construction industry functions in a landscape of complex regulatory, contractual and business operations issues, it’s important to have a partner early on.
Employment Law – Our employment law practice group provides legal services to clients ranging from major companies and public employers to businesses in such diversified fields as retailing, manufacturing, construction, transportation, banking and finance, health care, government and education.
Entertainment Media and Sports Law – The Entertainment, Media and Sports attorneys of Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP understand the business and effectively counsel and represent our clients to protect their interests and reduce their risk.
Family Law – Our attorneys are skilled in handling the myriad of issues facing families in the U.S. today. Our clients have discovered there are major advantages in seeking counsel on these issues from a firm such as Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP.
Financial Institution Representation – We assist financial institutions in their deployment of capital through our Commercial Finance practice, which includes the representation of financial institutions making commercial and real estate loans; venture capital firms, private equity firms and angel investors making debt and equity investments; issuers and special purpose entities in all phases of asset securitization transactions; credit enhancers of and trustees for public and private bonds; and creditors in connection with troubled loans and investments.
Insurance Counseling & Litigaiton – Our attorneys provide services to insurance industry clients in connection with regulatory and transactional matters, the design, registration, qualification and distribution of insurance policies and specialized insurance products, insolvency and guaranty association matters, coverage disputes, complex insurance litigation, and public policy and trade association work.
Litigation – Today’s legal and regulatory environment is one in which litigation can threaten a company’s very existence. Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP has extensive experience with such large-scale, “bet-the-company” matters, and we are widely recognized for our ability to handle our clients’ most critical litigation issues.
Real Estate Transaction & Litigation – Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP understands the significant changes taking place in the real estate industry and is committed to meeting evolving client needs in the area.
Restructuring, Workout and Foreclosure Mattters – Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP’s Restructuring, Workout and Foreclosures practice combines the firm’s bankruptcy practitioners, transactional attorneys, and seasoned litigators to provide strategic solutions for clients involved in or dealing with distressed or non-performing loan situations.
Securities Arbritration – Since its inception, Belongia, Shapiro & Franklin, LLP has been a top law firm filling securities arbritration claims in Chicago. BSF also works closely with firms across the nation in these matters.
Trademark, Copyright and Advertising Counseling & Litigation – We assist clients in obtaining, protecting and enforcing trademarks, including conducting and reviewing searches and investigations for trademark clearance; preparing opinion letters; filing and prosecuting trademark applications; handling the prosecution and defense of trademark administrative proceedings; monitoring and policing the use of trademarks by third parties; providing general trademark and domain name counseling.