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Illinois Partnership Dispute Lawyer

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Our latest reviews on Google

4.9 rating of 147 reviews
michelle stump avatar

michelle stump

12 days ago

Working with Ed and Amber has been a true pleasure. They handled my claim efficiently and professionally, ensuring the process moved smoothly from start to finish. Their responsiveness, expertise, and effectiveness in working with the insurance carrier contributed greatly to a successful resolution. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, dedication, and guidance throughout the matter, and I am grateful for the outstanding service they provided.

Johanna Bukowski avatar

Johanna Bukowski

1 month ago

Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!

Jeff Matticks avatar

Jeff Matticks

2 months ago

I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.

Ella Folson avatar

Ella Folson

3 months ago

Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!

J. Savv avatar

J. Savv

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.

Unique Morris avatar

Unique Morris

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.

Nick Erlenbaugh avatar

Nick Erlenbaugh

3 months ago

Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!

Dwayne Kurfirst avatar

Dwayne Kurfirst

3 months ago

I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.

Helen Montague avatar

Helen Montague

5 months ago

We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.

Matthew Malone avatar

Matthew Malone

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.

Ronnie Sanchez avatar

Ronnie Sanchez

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)

Maddie Scheele avatar

Maddie Scheele

6 months ago

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.

Leticia Pink avatar

Leticia Pink

7 months ago

Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.

Megan avatar

Megan

7 months ago

I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.

David Bretti avatar

David Bretti

7 months ago

(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻

Jas R. avatar

Jas R.

7 months ago

Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.

Amy Ressen avatar

Amy Ressen

8 months ago

I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!

Lauren Dryanski avatar

Lauren Dryanski

9 months ago

I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!

Will Brooks avatar

Will Brooks

10 months ago

John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.

Icela Hernandez avatar

Icela Hernandez

11 months ago

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 .

Partnership Dispute Lawyers

During the 25+ year history of Collins Law Group, 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 Collins Law Group 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 Collins Law Group, 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 Group 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 Collins Law Group 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.

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Why Choose Collins Law
Environmental & Personal 
Injury Lawyers

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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.

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Client-Centered Approach

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