Business law firm in Chicago
Clear counsel for consequential decisions
Nexum Law advises founders, companies and investors on the legal side of the decisions that shape a business.
Members of
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- ABA Business Law Section
The firm
Nexum Law LLP is a business law firm in Chicago, founded in 2019. We advise on corporate matters, contracts, venture financing, employment, intellectual property and disputes, with attention to what each decision means for the business behind it.
About the firmPractice areas
What we do
Six practice areas covering the legal questions businesses face as they form, grow, hire, build and, at times, disagree.
All practice areasCorporate and Business Law
Formation, ownership, governance and the transactions that change a company's shape.
Commercial Contracts
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating the agreements that define your commercial relationships.
Startup and Venture Capital Law
Formation, founder arrangements, equity and financing for startups and the investors who back them.
Employment and Workplace Law
Hiring, policies, executive arrangements and departures, handled in line with applicable law.
Intellectual Property and Technology Law
Ownership, licensing and protection of brands, software and proprietary information.
Commercial Disputes and Litigation
Advice and representation in contract, partnership, shareholder and other business disputes.
Why clients work with us
Counsel you can plan around
Six commitments that hold on every matter, whatever its size.
Advice you can act on
A clear recommendation and the reasons for it, not a list of everything the law allows.
Plain language
Short written summaries. If a term matters, we explain what it does to you in a sentence.
Commercial context
We ask about margins, timelines and relationships before drafting, so the legal answer fits the business.
Scope and fees agreed first
An engagement letter sets out the work and how it is billed. Fixed fees for defined work.
A named team
You know from the first call which attorney is responsible for your matter and who supports them.
Confidential from the first call
We run a conflict check before asking for details, and limit access to the people on your matter.
Our approach
From first call to finished work
Every matter follows the same four steps, so you always know where it stands and what comes next.
Step 1
Understand
We learn your objectives, your circumstances and the decision in front of you, before forming a view.
Step 2
Assess
We identify the legal issues, the risks that matter to your business and the options open to you.
Step 3
Agree a plan
We recommend a strategy and agree the scope of work, the team and the fees in writing.
Step 4
Support
We carry out the work as agreed and keep you informed, telling you early if anything changes.
Attorneys
The people you will work with
Founding partners lead every client relationship, with partners and counsel bringing specialist depth.
Meet the team
Experience
Selected experience
Illustrative composites of the work we do. They show how we approach a problem and do not describe specific clients or results.
Illustrative exampleStartup and Venture Capital Law
Restructuring founder equity ahead of a seed round
One co-founder had stepped back from the business, but held a third of the equity with no vesting. Prospective investors raised it as a condition of investing.
Read the example
Illustrative exampleCommercial Contracts
Negotiating a first enterprise services agreement
A Fortune 500 prospect required its standard MSA, including uncapped indemnities and broad audit rights, with a signing deadline of three weeks.
Read the example
Illustrative exampleCommercial Disputes and Litigation
Resolving a deadlock between equal owners
The owners disagreed on selling the business. Neither could act without the other, and day-to-day decisions were stalling.
Read the example
Illustrative exampleEmployment and Workplace Law
Updating employment documents for a multi-state team
The company's handbook and offer letters were written for Illinois only, and remote hires were working in four other states.
Read the example
Illustrative exampleIntellectual Property and Technology Law
Securing ownership of agency-built software
Core code had been written by an overseas development agency under a short statement of work that did not address IP ownership.
Read the example
Illustrative exampleCorporate and Business Law
Outside general counsel for a growing manufacturer
Legal work was handled ad hoc by several firms, with no consistent view of contracts, governance or risk.
Read the example
Insights
Notes for business owners
Guide, September 22, 2026
What founders should consider before signing a shareholder agreement
A shareholder agreement decides what happens when owners disagree, leave or want to sell. The time to negotiate it is before anyone needs it.
By Eleanor Sterling
Read the guideHow do I request an initial consultation?
Complete the consultation request form or call our office. We review each inquiry and reply within two business days.
Is the initial consultation free or paid?
A short introductory call to understand your matter is free of charge. If a longer advisory consultation is needed, we confirm any fee in writing before it is scheduled.
How are legal fees calculated?
Depending on the matter, we work on hourly rates, fixed fees for defined projects, or monthly arrangements for ongoing counsel. We explain the basis before any work begins.
When does the attorney-client relationship begin?
Only once we have completed our conflict check, agreed to act for you and both parties have signed an engagement letter. Submitting an inquiry or attending an introductory call does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
Should I send sensitive documents through the inquiry form?
No. Please share only a brief summary at first. Once the conflict check is complete, we will tell you how to send documents securely.
Consultations
Tell us about your matter
Share a short summary and we will reply within two business days. Please leave out confidential details and documents for now.
Submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship, and we cannot guarantee that we can take on every matter. If you face an urgent deadline, such as a court filing, please call the office.