Facebook Pixel
Collins Law Logo

Illinois Partnership Dispute Lawyer

Contact Us For A Free Consultation

Total reviews: 126 | Average rating: 4.9

5

If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .

5

I’ve had the opportunity to co-counsel with John Risvold and he is a great attorney. He brings a high level of experience, strategic insight, and tenacity to every case. Truly an asset to the personal injury field. Rest assured, your case is in good hands with this firm

5

Chris Gauther was our attorney and he was very communicative and thorough! We highly recommend the firm! Patty the paralegal was awesome as well! Overall we had a great experience!

5

I had an outstanding experience with Collins Law Firm following my car accident in McHenry County, IL. From start to finish, the team was responsive, knowledgeable and truly had my best interests at heart. A special thank you to Chris Gauthier, who handled my case with professionalism and care. His guidance made a stressful situation much more manageable. I highly recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of strong, compassionate legal representation.

5

My brother suffered horrific injuries in a hit and run accident that involved a drunk driver. I called a couple of other law firms before I VERY fortunately found Collins Law Firm. Our attorney, Ed Manzke, worked diligently and expeditiously to get my brother the highest compensation available in our personal injury case. Ed surpassed our family’s expectations not only in his knowledge and work ethic, but in his genuine compassion for my brother’s situation. He made accommodations that facilitated meeting with us in person WHILE my brother was still in the hospital undergoing surgeries and procedures. Frankly, Ed was the only attorney that offered to do this and it helped speed our case along at a point when we felt that time was of the essence. Additionally, Ed’s assistant, Amber Blevins, deserves acknowledgment for all of her hard work as well. She always offered to answer any questions we had throughout the process and would often reach out to check on my brother’s condition on her own, or at Ed’s request. It means so much when you’re going through a devastating event, that you feel heard, seen and supported. If you want professionals that truly fight for you and treat you as if you’re their only client, then I HIGHLY recommend you contact Collins Law Firm!

5

I cannot speak highly enough of attorney Ed Manzke and his assistant, Amber Blevins, at The Collins Law Firm. Ed worked diligently and with great integrity to help me receive compensation for a lead paint disaster at my residence. From start to finish, Ed, Amber, and the entire team were professional, responsive, and compassionate.

Ed’s thorough guidance and legal expertise gave me tremendous confidence throughout the process. He was always available to answer questions, explain next steps, and provide reassurance when needed. Amber’s attention to detail and communication were equally impressive—she was organized, proactive, and supportive at every turn.

Their combined professionalism, empathy, and commitment truly set them apart. I am deeply grateful to Ed, Amber, and the Collins Law Firm for their outstanding work. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of trusted and skilled legal representation. Thank you, Ed!

5

Fantastic law firm! Christopher Gauthier kept me up to date every step of the way, and helped me figure out a game plan. Im very satisfied with my service here!

5

John Risvold was recommended by a friend and he was a great fit!
Professional and pleasant from the first conversation we had!
He was always available and kept me informed of progress! Patty and Chris worked and made sure I was comfortable and getting all the information needed.
I would highly recommend John and his team.

5

My lawyer was Chris Gotti. He is the best lawyer I could have ever asked for hands down. He was always on top of things and whenever he had news, he would always communicate with me right away! He is very understanding and friendly to talk to and will make you feel comfortable right away! Pick Chris Gotti as your lawyer! He won’t let you down I promise you!

5

Ed and Amber were wonderful to work with. Very professional and achieved a fair settlement for a dog bite/attack. Definitely recommend choosing Collins Law Firm.

5

The staff at Collins Law Firm was very professional and cooperative. From Patty the Legal Assistant to Chris Gauthier, the Attorney who handled my case. Chris G was even polite to refer me to another lawyer in a different field for something else I needed help in. Things were handled quickly and firmly and I knew all the steps along the way because Chris G kept in contact with me at all times. The result of my case was very pleasing, and I will always deal with Collins Law Firm if I ever need legal assistance, which I don't hope I will but they are my choice if I do.

5

My decision to go with Ed Manske and Amber Blevins to handle my mom’s injury case was one of the best decisions I’ve made! From the beginning Ed took the time to listen and put me and my mom at ease. When we made a decision to open a case it came at a time when I was overwhelmed with my mom’s medical situation including countless hospital visits, therapy, bills, doctor appointments etc so throwing a dart and picking a lawyer added to my plate. Both of them were beyond outstanding! They were both extremely professional, communicated expectations, we never seemed rushed to get off the phone quite the contrary they made sure we didn’t have any additional questions. Ed is genuine and truly makes you feel like you are his only case. Thank you so much!

5

I found myself in a car accident situation where I didn’t know who to turn to or what to do. Chris was easy to talk to and I’m glad that the Collins Law firm handled my case all the way through. I’m blessed to have had them, and definitely recommend to anyone who needs fair and compassionate council. Thank you, Collins Law!

5

This is by for the best experience I have had with a law firm, Collins Law Firm. From the onset of the car accident away from our home town, I did not know whom to call but with a search on the internet, I found this firm online. I was so pleased with initial call and conversation. The agents I have dealt with are professional, knowledgeable, very helpful, great tone on the phone and very patient. They took the time to explain what needs to be done and the expectation. My recent agent Chris G. is so awesome. He always showed empathy besides being patient knowledgeable and understanding. He never beat around the bush with my questions, just gave me straight answers. For real!! I will definitely recommend Collins Law Firm to friends and relatives. Their agents exceeds 100% and gives satisfactory RESULTS.

5

Every business dreams to have a lawyer like Rob Dawidiuk! Through acquisitions, Rob and his team helped me grow to become the largest Massage Envy franchisee in the country. He handled every transaction, every negotiation, and every touch point to a better outcome than planned. Purely flawless. Pure diplomacy. Rob and his team lead the negotiation and sale of my business to the private equity firm tax-efficiently for the best possible exit. Rob then helped me to acquire a second national franchise (FedEx Ground) in two different states over a period of four years totaling 16 separate transactions and did them all to his standard of excellence. I've been very fortunate to have Rob in my corner for the last eleven years not only for his M&A expertise, but also for his day-to-day business counsel and support. - Peter Bray

5

What John and especially Chris did to help me reach the settlement I wanted was truly awesome. Chris had great communication and kept me in the loop with my case the whole time, answering questions and going back and forth with the at fault party’s insurance. On top of being a diligent advocate they were genuinely nice and caring people. I’ve never worked with lawyers before but these guys were great and although I don’t live in the state they practice I’d highly recommend them to anyone who’s been in an accident and needs representation.
Go with The Collins Law Firm.
You won’t regret it.

5

Rob Dawidiuk does a great job as your general counsel and handling transactions and litigation. He makes himself available to answer any questions or concerns and helps you work through them. I highly recommend Rob as your attorney.

5

I have worked with Rob Dawidiuk of Collins Law Firm on several matter pertaining to my company. He was always responsive, knowledgeable, and professional. On some complicated matters, including a commercial property sale, his expertise was key in getting deals done and representing my interests. I've recommended Rob to other business associates and will continue to do so.

5

I have had the pleasure of working with Rob Dawidiuk for virtually all of our corporate legal needs. He's brilliant, works very hard, and always in our best interest.

5

I have worked with Robert Dawiduk for over 10 years, Rob has helped me not only to successfully negotiate tough business contracts but also with the sale of multiple businesses.

I highly recommend Rob for your business; he is fair, highly responsive, provides direct feedback, and offers the best solutions for successful outcomes.

5

Rob Dawidiuk is an outstanding attorney and really great to deal with. We have worked on many many transactions together!

5

I have been working with Rob Dawidiuk on a foreclosure file for the last two years. Rob is a conscientious and thoughtful attorney that looks at the whole picture in the case. He is available when I call. Rob has been a long-term attorney associated with this bank and will be in the future.

5

My wife and I recently closed on our first home and Rob Dawidiuk was incredible in helping us through the entire process. He was quick in responding to any questions we had at any point and guided us each step of the way! Throughout the entire process, Rob went explained the process in a way that was easy for us to understand and made us feel confident that we knew what we were signing up for. Thank you so much for all of your help!

5

My husband and I worked with Rob Dawidiuk for our real estate closing. Rob is kind, honest, and responsive. I would highly recommend working with Collins Law.

5

My family has worked with Collin's and Rob Dawidiuk for almost 20 years. We met Rob when they were representing our insurance carrier for an Asbestos brake shoe claim, for which we had no liability. Rob immediately filed for a dismissal, and the plaintiff's attorney was shocked that Rob wouldn't put more time into the case because he could bill the insurance company for more time.

As a business owner, this show of high ethics is why we have been with Collins since then through thick and thin.

They have handled every aspect of legal work for our business (employment law, contract, real estate, product liability, etc).

5

Excellent business to partner with. Rob Dawidiuk has helped our business with all general counsel needs throughout the United States. Not only are they outstanding legal counsel, but also great people. I strongly recommend to anyone.

5

As in-house counsel for a nonprofit corporation, I worked with Rob Dawidiuk as our trial attorney on a complex case. After years of motions, discovery, and partial summary judgments, Rob defended us in a four-day trial and Rob was successful in winning on all issues in the case. It is a pleasure to work with Rob who is a very competent and skilled attorney.

5

Working with Ed Manzke and Amber was an absolute blessing. From the moment I reached out, they treated me with kindness, understanding, and a level of professionalism that immediately put me at ease. They didn’t just handle my case—they truly cared about my well-being and fought hard to get the best possible outcome. They explained everything clearly, kept me informed at every step, and never made me feel like just another client. Their dedication, expertise, and compassion made all the difference, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. If you need lawyers who are not only skilled but also genuinely care, Ed and Amber are the ones to call.

5

Chris did a great job! I highly recommend him for any case.

5

Really good people John is very patient and responsive with handling you personal request

5

John Risvold exceeded our expectations! I was involved in a car crash which resulted in needing several neck and back surgeries, as well as numerous other medical procedures. When the medical bills started piling up and I wasn't feeling better, I sought legal help. My husband and I met with John Risvold, who explained the legal process and stood by us every step of the way, exhibiting patience and professionalism. It was a great relief to offload our anxiety and legal work to him and we always felt that John had our back. The case went to trial and John (and Chris Gauthier) gave a master class on how to litigate a civil claim. We won the case and are extremely happy with how we were treated. We strongly recommend John Risvold and The Collins Law Firm!

5

John at Collins Law has been wonderful help. I'm forever grateful he tackled this case, handled it with care, was efficient, and compassionate. He responded to any questions I had at incredible speed & in great detail. He cares for his clients, and has been wonderful during this trying time. You cannot ask for a better experience, highest respects for John. Highly reccomend.

5

I cannot say enough great things about Chris Gauthier!. He has demonstrated outstanding negotiation skills, resolving my case efficiently and effectively. Chris ability to analyze the situation, provide sound advice, and keep me informed at every step was both reassuring and impressive. What stood out the most was his dedication to achieving the best possible outcome from me. Chris treated my case with care, making me feel valued and supported throughout the entire process.

If you're looking for a lawyer who is knowledgeable, communicative, and truly cares about your best interests, I highly recommend Christopher Gauthier!

5

Working with Ed J. Manzke and THE COLLINS LAW FIRM has been great. Communication, follow-up, advice, and experience were all excellent. Before I met Ed, I was at a low point, as a drunk driver had dramatically changed my life. I was seriously wondering what I could do, and he provided us with a light at the end of the long tunnel. Thank you to everyone at the firm for all their help; we are lucky to have had your support.

5

Ed and his team worked tirelessly to help me with a personal injury situation. They are friendly and kind and want to help you achieve the highest level of settlement resolution. Definitely recommend them as a legal team!

5

I had an outstanding experience with Ed from the Collins Law Firm as my injury lawyer. I was involved in a car accident and was connected with Ed from this firm. Ed was incredibly empathetic, always taking the time to listen and prioritize my needs throughout the entire process. His communicative and transparent approach ensured that I was informed and comfortable with every decision made. Ed’s dedication and support were instrumental in navigating my case, and I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a compassionate and effective injury lawyer.

5

I received the best over the phone consultation, he was very helpful and informative, thank you so much

5

John has helped me out on a couple of times. He really cares about people and helping them . That is a rare thing with most people and very refreshing to see!!

5

I called Collins law firm when I was hit by an SUV. Edward Manzke was my attorney. I couldn't be more then happy with him. He didn't treat me as a client, he treated me as a human being, that was important to me. Thank you . Ed.

5

I had a very positive experience with the Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke was easy to communicate with and very informative. I appreciate all the time they put into my case and making sure I knew what was going on every step of the way.

5

Shawn & his team are not only very professional, they are so caring & patient! The Collins Law firm will be the first I’ll call with any future questions or concerns.

5

I would highly recommend the Collins Law Firm. I deeply appreciate their professionalism, their expertise in environmental law, their attention to detail, and their consistent communication. Shawn was meticulous in his explanations of the process and our choices, and was always available to answer follow up questions with patience and care (including a phone meeting with me the weekend of his daughter's wedding). I am grateful for the representation provided by the whole team at Collins--thank you!

5

Outstanding
The Collins Law team is outstanding. You will find that each lawyer is passionate and focused to achieve the best outcome for their clients. In a recent case in which I was involved in, was related to the emission of toxic fumes. Although legal team members specialized in environmental law, Shawn brought in scientists as well as physicians as resources. to support my case. Communication between the team and I was excellent. They explained the case and proceedings and updated me throughout with personal phone calls and meetings. At any time when I had questions related to my case, immediate answers were provided .
Throughout complex litigation they made me feel involved and explained and they also made me feel that my case and my input was valued.

5

My experience with the Collins Law Firm was top notch! In a world where concern for others seems to be lacking, Shawn Collins and his team were professional, compassionate, and always clear when explaining tedious information.
I thank everyone for your hard work and diligence to win my case…it is sincerely appreciated!

5

The Collins Law Firm team helped me with cases for my parents and I am very satisfied with the settlement. The team did great job with communication throughout the process. They were very good at explaining details of what needed to be done. All of them really care about my family and worked really hard to get justice for them. I am very happy I choose the Collins Law Firm over any other to handle our cases. Thank you Collins team!

5

I hired Shawn Collins from the Collins Law Firm in Naperville. He represented me and others who contracted cancer because of a corporation that was responsible for releasing toxins into the environment. Shawn and his team of attorneys and scientists worked with diligence to prove their case. Shawn is an excellent communicator and is empathetic to his client's frustration and pain. He and his team can be trusted to fight for you as if you were part of their own family. Thank-you Shawn and team from Collins Law Firm.

5

I had a fantastic experience with The Collins Law firm. Their team of attorneys are truly exceptional. They are accommodating, kind, responsive and provide expert legal guidance and support to achieve the best possible outcome. I always feel they have my best interest at heart and are always willing to spend extra time if you have questions. I highly recommend the Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal assistance! Thank you Shawn Collins for outstanding service, I appreciate you and everyone on your staff.

5

“The Collins Law Firm is excellent!! This was my first experience with a law firm, and I have nothing but high praise for Shawn Collins, and his entire law office. Every time there was a need for getting me information, a meeting was held that was detailed, concise, and complete. Their communication was excellent, and kept me informed of every step of my lawsuit. If I ever had a question, it was quickly and completely answered. Every staff member at Collins Law Firm was the utmost professional, yet very kind and caring. I felt they really were concerned about me and what was best for me. I am so happy I was represented by Collins Law Firm. Shawn Collins is the best! I wholeheartedly recommend the firm to anyone looking for superb, knowledgeable representation! Thank you so much Collins Law Firm for what you did for me!"

5

Shawn Collins and his AMAZ8NG team achieved what I had no idea was possible. My goal.was to get a company that had been illegally releasing cancerous gas into the air by my home and school for almost 40 years SHUT DOWN to protect the residents and their children. Not only is that company shut down in our area but the other locations are being stopped as we speak. The Collins Law Firm has saved thousands of lives by fighting for me and others affected by cancer. It is heartbreaking to know that many have lost their lives and are still suffering because of this company. No amount of money from a settlement will ever give us our health back again but at least the future residents will be safe and this will force other similar companies to THINK about the safety of the people that live near their locations and follow the guidelines THOUGHTFULLY put in place by the EPA.
Thank you Shawn Collins and the Collins Law Firm

5

We hired Shawn Collins and The Collins Law Firm about 5 years ago to handle a very complicated personal injury case involving our daughter with special needs. He took the time to meet with us on multiple occasions to get to know our family, especially our daughter. Due to the complexities of our case and various other factors, our case took many years to finally get resolved. Although the case took a while, Shawn Collins and The Collins Law Firm always kept us updated and informed. They were always very accommodating and made sure to answer any questions we had along the way. The Collins Law Firm was always responsive and informative, and provided thorough and detailed information when necessary. Additionally, Shawn Collins is not your stereotypical attorney. He had and continues to have a genuine and caring interest in our family, and in the best interest of our daughter. We have been more than pleased with the services we received, and we highly recommend Shawn Collins and The Collins Law Firm. Our family is truly and eternally grateful!

Ivan and Judy H

Partnership Dispute Lawyers

During the 25+ year history of The Collins Law Firm, the most emotionally-charged disputes we have handled are those involving business partners. For many business partners, their relationship with their business and their partner is at the core of how they see themselves as human beings, and their expectation of loyalty from their partner is very high. That is why, when one partner believes that another has behaved dishonestly, the sense of betrayal can be overwhelming and can provoke a legal and personal battle that threatens the very existence of the business.

At a very basic level, partners owe their business and each other “fiduciary” duties—among them are: honestly, loyalty, diligent effort, and full disclosure of matters important to the business. These duties are breached, and the seeds of the destruction of the partnership relationship and business are sown, when one partner, for example:

  • Starts or joins a company that competes with the partnership
  • Leaves the partnership, and solicits important customers and/or employees to leave with her
  • Stops giving the partnership business his full effort
  • Uses partnership assets for personal reasons
  • Does not keep her partner adequately informed about problems with the business
  • Makes important decisions unilaterally, without consulting his partner

Other problems can arise in a partnership that don’t necessarily involve breaches of duty. Sometimes, over time, one or both partners’ commitment to the business, or expectations of their partners and of the business, can change. For example:

  • One partner no longer wishes to dedicate 60 hours a week to the business, preferring instead to spend more time with his family. This very typical life experience need not be a problem, but can become a very serious one, if that partner expects the same compensation for less work. The partners who now must shoulder more of the work load—and for no additional compensation—can understandably become resentful.
  • Both partners continue to work very hard on the business, but one becomes far more responsible for the business’s success than the other (e.g., a very accomplished salesperson), and wants to be rewarded with a greater share of profits. Some partnerships start out “50-50”, often because the partners are friends, and don’t have any better idea in the beginning about how to compensate themselves and split profits. But, over time, when one partner emerges as more important to the business, and that original “50-50” agreement is no longer realistic, the business can unravel if this is not handled thoughtfully.
  • One partner does not appreciate the value the other brings to the business. This often occurs when one partner handles the “operations” of the business, and the other contributes the money necessary to finance the business. The first may believe that he is working much harder, and many more hours, than the other, and come to believe that he is therefore due much more of the profits. The second, on the other hand, may believe that money is the “life’s blood” of the business, and that, while her partner does put in a lot of hours, it’s not very challenging work and “anyone could do it” and, therefore, the operations partner could be easily replaced.
  • One partner wants to bring in a third partner, but the other does not. One partner may perceive that the business is lacking something important—for example, financial sophistication or technological skill that was not necessary when the partnership started—but the other either does not see this as important, or believes that the need can be adequately addressed by hiring an employee, rather than bringing in a third partner. This is obviously a delicate situation, as it threatens to disrupt significantly the financial and other aspects of the two partners’ relationship.

The business lawyers at The Collins Law Firm have seen how these partnership disputes unfold, and how ruinous they can be if not managed properly. Through our experience in these circumstances, and our knowledge of the law and facts that apply, we have helped clients understand their legal options, including whether to litigate or mediate a dispute. Sometimes, all that may be required is for the partners to have the one-on-one discussion about business issues that they may not have had for years, to see if they can come to a peaceful understanding. At the other extreme, sometimes a tough decision needs to be made about: whether the business can go on as a partnership with these two people; whether it should be dissolved; or whether one partner should buy out the other.

At The Collins Law Firm, we understand, and help our clients understand, that, at the heart of these decisions is a central question: “Has the trust between partners been damaged irrevocably?” If it has, then the partnership cannot go on. What happens from there is what matters: will the partners be able to peacefully un-wind their partnership, and preserve for their individual benefits the value of the business—maybe sell the business to someone else? Or is the feeling of betrayal so powerful that a legal fight is necessary to sort this all out? Sometimes, these issues can be sorted out amicably. That is what we advise, because the consequences of an expensive, emotional battle can be very unfortunate. But sometimes the battle cannot be avoided. It often depends on the temperament of the partners, what is at stake, and the availability of resources to wage legal war.

Because we have helped our clients through so many of these kinds of business threatening disputes, Collins Law Firm attorneys are also able to counsel our clients on the front end, to do everything possible to ensure that partnership disputes don’t arise at all, or, if they do, that they don’t threaten the very existence of the partnership. And so we counsel, for example:

  • Written agreements between partners. In simple terms, these agreements spell out what each partner will do, and how important business decisions, including compensation and profit-splitting, will be made.
  • That the partners have a written plan for how disputes will be resolved before an expensive legal battle becomes necessary. Mediation often makes sense. Sometimes, private arbitration, rather than a court battle, is wise, so that the partnership’s “dirty laundry” is not aired in a public courtroom, for all—including employees and competitors—to see.
  • That partners consider whether their agreement should include an “attorney’s fee” provision, which requires that, if one partner sues the other, the losing partner pays the legal expenses of the winning partner. Such a provision drives up the expense and risk of a legal fight, and can have the effect of making partners think long and hard about whether they want to have the legal fight at all.
  • That partners have mechanisms in place—formal and informal—requiring the partners to regularly discuss issues that are important to their business.

If you are involved in a dispute with your partner, or would like legal counseling about how best to avoid such disputes, the business lawyers at The Collins Law Firm can provide you with the very best of advice. We have a keen understanding, gained through years of experience, of what is at stake in a partnership dispute, why it must be handled (if at all possible) in a way that does not threaten the business, and what the best options are for accomplishing this and protecting your interests.

"*" indicates required fields

Name
Required Fields *
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
nbc logocbs news logoabc logofox news channel logomsnbc logocnn logostarTribune logochicago daily law bulletin logodaily herald logostate journal logo
Why Choose Collins Law
Environmental & Personal 
Injury Lawyers
the legal team at collins law firm

No Fee Unless We Win

Collins Law operates on a contingency fee basis for personal injury and environmental cases, meaning clients only pay legal fees if we win your case.

175+ Years of Combined Experience

Our attorneys have years of experience representing clients with personal injury, environmental contamination, and business claims. Understanding the intricacies of these cases allows us to achieve better outcomes.

Proven Track Record

With a history of successful cases, Collins Law proves their ability to get results for their clients.

Flexible Consultations

Understanding the challenges clients may face following an injury, Collins Law offers flexible consultation options, including home and hospital visits. We will come to you.

Client-Centered Approach

At Collins Law, clients always come first. We prioritize individual needs and concerns, recognizing that each case is unique and deserves personalized attention.

Free Consultation - Available 24/7

Collins Law offers free consultations anytime, making legal advice accessible when it's needed.
chevron-down