James Stark, Esq

As a Chicago business attorney, James works hand-in-hand with clients to understand the unique needs, goals, pain-points, and dreams of their businesses, many of whom have been loyal clients for his entire career.  He represents and advises entrepreneurs, business start-ups, closely held and family owned businesses, multi-national companies, and non-profit associations spanning dozens of industries.

James has structured, negotiated, drafted or otherwise handled thousands of business transactions. 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.

As a business attorney, he practices in areas such as new business formation and reorganization, contract drafting and negotiation, business purchases and sales, business succession planning, business funding solutions, defending employers before the IDES, construction law, healthcare, trucking and brokering, merchant services/credit card processing, arbitration, and hundreds of other legal matters.

Before joining this firm, he was one of the original members of and Chief Legal Officer for C&H Financial Services, Inc. During his tenure with C&H, James structured, negotiated, drafted or otherwise handled thousands of matters for the company. 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).  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.

Prior to his legal career, he was an active carpenter, founded and executive director of a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provided free education and mentoring services to economically disadvantaged children in the Chicago area, and founded numerous startup businesses, ranging from construction to a couture fashion brand.  Aside from his professional activities, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, hockey, coaching football, and rooting for the Cubs, Bears, and Blackhawks.