I am one of the shareholders of Lavelle Law, Ltd. and am an experienced business attorney practicing in the following areas:
1. Corporate / M&A:
I counsel business organizations in all stages of their life cycle, from start-up issues, contract negotiation and documentation, assets and equity sales/purchases, and mergers and joint ventures.
2. Banking:
I represent banks and borrowers in commercial lending and workout matters, including negotiating and documenting a variety of loans and forbearance agreements, as well as handling foreclosures and other collection actions.
3. Real Property:
I represent sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants with acquisitions, dispositions and leasing of real estate, as well as with related municipal zoning matters.
4. Estate Planning:
I assist business owners with their succession planning and exit strategy, as well as their estate plans, probate, and trust administration.
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Illinois College of Law
- B.S., summa cum laude, Bradley University, Finance
Bar Certifications
- Admitted to the Bar of the Illinois Supreme Court
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Bar Association Memberships
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association, Former Chair of the Corporation and Business Law Committee
Awards and Recognition
- 2016 Businessperson of the Year, Streamwood Chamber of Commerce
Publications
- Featured contributor to the Crain’s Chicago Business Roundtable, M&A Trends, August 17, 2020
- Author of “Banking and Business Monthly,” a series of articles that examine current banking and business topics. (If you would like to receive the e-newsletter, please email me at smigala@lavellelaw.com)
- I.R.C. § 6050I & The Attorney-Client Privilege: The Misplaced Emphasis on Incrimination Over Confidentiality, 1996 U. ILL. L. REV. 509 (1996), reprinted in THE MONTHLY DIGEST OF TAX ARTICLES (Sept. 1996) at 28, and cited in 152 A.L.R. FED. 459 (1999).
Media
Exit Planning for Business Owners, 2014 Good Morning Schaumburg Presentation, Schaumburg Business Association
Mr. Migala is a contributor to our podcast series “Chicago’s Legal Latte” which can be found on BlogTalk Radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lavellelaw
Expert Witness
Steve served as an expert witness on a Cook County Illinois case involving fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims, assisting his client in obtaining a successful jury verdict awarding significant punitive damages.
Community Involvement
Mr. Migala serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission in the City of Elgin and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. Steve previously served as a Commissioner on the Village of Streamwood's Planning and Zoning Board. He is a former President of the Chicago Area Bradley Alumni Chapter.
Read My Posts
Lavelle Law News and Events
A Type F reorganization (“F Reorg”), governed by Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code, provides a strategically significant mechanism for corporate restructuring. Defined as a “mere change in identity, form, or place of organization of one corporation,” an F Reorg permits a corporation to alter its legal existence while being treated for federal tax purposes as the same entity. This recharacterization allows for the uninterrupted preservation of tax attributes while maintaining shareholder continuity.
Delaware corporations seeking to redomesticate to another state should be advised that on February 4, 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in Palkon v. Maffei, C.A. No. 2023-0449-JTL, addressing a challenge to TripAdvisor's redomestication from a Delaware corporation to a Nevada corporation. The case raised important questions regarding the standard of review applicable to such reincorporations, particularly when fiduciaries may derive a benefit from shifting to a legal regime perceived as more friendly.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes federal minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, with exemptions for employees in bona fide executive, administrative, professional, computer or outside sales roles. 29 U.S.C. § 213. Employees classified as "outside sales" must primarily engage in making sales or obtaining contracts for services or the use of facilities, and they must conduct their work primarily away from their employer’s place of business. 29 C.F.R. § 541.500.
