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I believe strongly in working with other experts  when needed, to achieve the best results for clients.  I will never claim I am an expert in a field in which I am not. As examples: Though I am not a litigation attorney, I have extensive experience working with attorneys with that expertise in complex litigation matters and will recommend those with whom I maintain close ties to represent clients in such matters, and work closely with them to the extent I am needed because of my expertise in and knowledge of the matter in controversy, and my relationship with the client, while at the same time assuring that there will be no duplicative work or billing;  with regard to tax matters, I always work closely with the client’s tax accountant – or recommend one if necessary – so that planning will seamlessly take into account both tax and related legal matters; and I  maintain a close relationship with an intellectual property lawyer with whom I have worked on a number of client matters.

“A lawyer needs to understand the totality of a client’s life  to adequately represent and advise him. We are all  complex beings .  I am a lawyer, womens business advocate, mother, grandmother and author.  Sometimes a transaction needs to be structured in view of a client’s family responsibilities  or with an understanding of his or her other financial and business responsibilities.  The client obviously makes the final decision, but I cannot advise him in a vacuum.“ 

 

Certified as WBE with Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Ms. Kurlander has been advising business owners on legal matters for more than 45 years (business issues – including formation, operation, acquisition and disposition of businesses, contracting, real property matters – including leasing, purchase, sale and development, and WBE certification) and also works with business owners on estate planning issues and with respect to their personal legal issues (including employment, purchasing or selling a home, etc.)  She is both  an award winning advocate and expert on small business issues. She has represented clients in numerous industries, including the automotive, plating, construction, design, manufacturing, and service industries. She is a past President of the Chicago Area Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) –  on the Board of that organization in various capacities from 1989-2001 and again from 2011-2014. She was an elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. A participant in the 1993 Illinois Women’s Economic Development Summit and the City of Chicago task force that legalized home based businesses in the City’s zoning ordinance, as well as a member of the Women in Entrepeneurship Working Group of the Governors Commission on the Status of Women. She won the SBA’s 1999 Women’s Advocate of the Year award for Illinois and the Region. She was a member of the Executive Committee of WE-WIL (Women Empowering Women in Illinois), and was NAWBO Chicago’s local government matters liaison to its National organization. She was graduated from the University of Michigan and from Northwestern Law School, a past Board member of the Chicago Abused Women’s Coalition She is the mother of three grown children and grandmother of six, and also a freelance writer of travel articles (mostly about France) and a writer of short fiction.

 

 

Practice Areas
  • Business Law
  • Real Estate
  • Estate Planning
Admitted:
  • 1969, Illinois
Education
  • Northwestern University, J.D.
  • University of Michigan, B.A., 1966
Member:
  • Chicago Estate Planning Council ("CEPC")
  • Illinois State Bar Association (Member, Business Advice and Financial Planning; Elder Law; Real Estate Law; Trusts and Estates Section)
  • American Bar Association (Member, Real Property, Trusts and Estates; Commercial Real Estate Transactions; Partnership and Limited Liability Companies and Leasing Group)
  • National Association of Women Business Owners (Past President)
Languages:
  • Conversational French (though not fluent)
Other:
  • Ms. Kurlander worked as a title examiner at Chicago Title Insurance Company after law school, before being hired by a law firm. In 1969, even Northwestern Law School graduates  faced anti-female hiring bias.  This job helped her gain extensive knowledge in the real estate field.