Kevin W. Chern
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Biography
I have dedicated over 30 years to building businesses and navigating complex paths to success. I founded and operated three successful startups in the legal, marketing, and technology sectors, which helped expand access to legal services, including two national, multi-jurisdictional law firms. My companies have been listed twice on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. I was also named an inaugural member of the Fastcase 50, recognized as one of the country's smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the legal space.
I am deeply passionate about entrepreneurship and mentoring other business professionals. I take pride in lending my insight and experience to other business leaders and entrepreneurs, and just about anyone in need of a roll-up-your-sleeves innovator, deal maker, and doer.
I have counseled hundreds of small businesses regarding eligibility for various tax mitigation strategies, helping them claim over $500,000,000 in credits and deductions.
I am a proud Chicagoan, living just blocks from historic Wrigley Field. I enjoy a good game and spending time with my wife and our dog, Murphy.
Practice Areas
- Tax Law
- Business Taxes, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Communications & Internet Law
- Internet Law, Media & Advertising, Telecommunications Law
Video Conferencing
- FaceTime
- Google Meet
- Skype
Fees
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
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Contingent Fees
On some matters
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois
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Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken
Professional Experience
- CEO
- Sanguine Strategic Advisors
- - Current
- Sanguine Strategic Advisors assists small businesses by addressing their most immediate and pressing issues by providing free operational support and providing access to its expansive network of curated solutions providers.
- President
- Total Attorneys
- -
- Legal Marketing, Technology and Services company providing services to small law firms.
Education
- University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- J.D. (1993) | Law
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- University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- B.S. (1990) | Psychology
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- Honors: Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
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Awards
- Fastcase 50
- Fastcase
- Honoring the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, & leaders. Lawyer or nonlawyer, techie or nontechie, anyone is eligible. Created in 2011, each year the Fastcase 50 award honors a diverse group of lawyers, legal technologists, policymakers, judges, law librarians, bar association executives, and people from all walks of life. In many cases, honorees are well known, but in many others, the award recognizes people who have made important, but unheralded contributions. “Every part of the legal market is changing right now – from law school through every part of the practice,” said Fastcase CEO Ed Walters. “That change can be daunting or discouraging to many people. And that’s one reason that our team enjoys celebrating the accomplishments of the Fastcase 50. These are people who inspire us by their intelligence, creativity, and leadership. We hope they will inspire others as well, especially during a time of great change for the profession.”
- Inductee, Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
- University of Illinois, Chicago
- For 30 years, we have inducted renowned entrepreneurial leaders into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame community, which now numbers nearly 500 individuals. Through the businesses they have built and through their personal engagement, these entrepreneurs have made enduring social and commercial contributions that have helped to foster a thriving, diversified economic engine in Chicago and have enhanced our Chicago communities. We are proud to acknowledge the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Members. By highlighting outstanding entrepreneurs, we recognize excellence, honor the entrepreneurial spirit, and provide inspiring role models for aspiring entrepreneurs! We turn to the members of the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame community to enrich the entrepreneurship experience at UIC. Members have volunteered as speakers, mentors, judges and have sponsored programs and events. Their personal and financial support has been important to advancing our initiatives. By sharing their experiences and lessons learned, they inspire and educate our students, faculty, staff and alumni.
- Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
- #217 on the Inc. 500 List
- Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
- #169 on the Inc. 500 List
Professional Associations
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers
- Member
- - Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
- The Behavior Selection Business
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
- Change Is Good - When It's Strategic
- American Bar Association
Speaking Engagements
- Challenges of Innovation in Legal, Center for Innovation Bootcamp, Chicago, IL
- American Bar Association
- How To Get Started Innovating, Chicago Legal Tech Innovation Showcase, Chicago, IL
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- The Legal Tech Innovator Showcase seeks to promote the law firms, legal service providers, and companies that are using technology to improve legal services in the Chicago area and highlight those whose innovations are exceptional. Five “Best in Show” awards were selected from the judge’s scoring in each of the 2 awards categories: Law Firm/Legal Services and Company/Product/Service. The winners will present a 5 minute product description at the Chicago Kent Auditorium on October 24 and have an opportunity to exhibit during the event.
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- Biz Head Law
Legal Answers
74 Questions Answered
- Q. If I am behind on rent and file for bankruptcy can I still be evicted?
- A: When a bankruptcy case is filed and a landlord has not yet received a judgment for possession, the automatic stay typically stops the proceedings as it does all other collection actions. However, the landlord may ask the bankruptcy court to lift the automatic stay to allow the eviction to proceed. In most cases, filing for bankruptcy will buy a tenant who has not yet been evicted a little time to attempt to catch up, work things out with the landlord or set up a Chapter 13 repayment plan, but will not prevent eviction in the long term.
*Kevin Chern is Managing Partner of UpRight Law, a national law firm with licensed attorneys providing bankruptcy and consumer legal services in all 50 states. ... Read More
- Q. I am considering filing bankruptcy but have a possible settlement coming in a court case that has been filed in fedl ct
- A: Whether or not your settlement is considered an asset in a bankruptcy case does not depend on the date of the settlement. The claim itself is an asset in the bankruptcy case if it exists as of the date of filing, so if a person files bankruptcy with a pre-existing claim, it does not matter how long it takes to settle the case or to receive compensation. The bankruptcy case may be held open pending resolution of that asset.
*Kevin Chern is Managing Partner of UpRight Law, a national law firm with licensed attorneys providing bankruptcy and consumer legal services in all 50 states. He is an Illinois licensed attorney with 21 years of federal consumer bankruptcy and consumer protection law experience. ... Read More
- Q. If I quit paying credit cards & have not even enough money to live on, could they still sue me?
- A: Your financial situation won't prevent anyone from suing you, though it may mean that the creditor would be unable to collect at this point. That's not a sure thing, though--it depends on how much income you have and any assets that you might have.
A local bankruptcy attorney can go through the numbers with you and explain exactly what is at risk and what your options are. It would be in your best interests to get that information before making any decisions about how to proceed with your credit card debt and any other outstanding debt.
*Kevin Chern is Managing Partner of UpRight Law, a national law firm with licensed attorneys providing bankruptcy and consumer legal services ... Read More
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