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Kenneth W. Clingen

Kenneth W. Clingen

Member

Mr. Clingen serves as general counsel to several family owned and privately owned business entities in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, technology, financial services and professional services.  He uses his audit and accounting background to counsel clients in forging solutions that properly balance legal and business concerns.

Practice Admissions, Affiliations & Memberships

Admissions:

  • Supreme Court of Illinois
  • Supreme Court of Florida

Memberships:

  • Tax, Business Law, Law Practice Management Section, American Bar Association
  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Kane County Bar Association
  • DuPage County Law Firm Leadership Council

Seminars

2024
DCBA webinar: Estate Planning Meets Business Planning: An Analysis Of Select LLC Issues
2023
Strafford webinar: Structuring Acquisitions of Family-Owned Businesses: Valuation, Due Diligence, Deal Structure, Operating Transition
2022
DCBA webinar: Drafting Operating Agreements – How to Avoid Common Pitfalls
2021
Strafford webinar: MAC Clauses and Indemnification Provisions in M&A Deals: Recent Trends in Negotiating and Drafting
2020
Real Estate Mezzanine and A/B Loans: Structuring and Enforcing Intercreditor and Co-Lender Agreements
Strafford Webinar:  Structuring Acquisitions of Family-Owned Businesses: Valuation, Due Diligence, Deal Structure, Operational Transition, and More
Strafford Webinar:  MAC Clauses and Indemnification Provision in M&A
2019
Strafford Webinar:  Private Company Acquisition Agreements: Drafting Reps and Warranties, Covenants, and Closing Conditions
DCBA Presentation:  Tax Issues in Selling or Buying a Business – A Business Lawyer’s View
2018
DCBA Presentation: “Negotiating the Sale of a Business – Key Concepts and Legal Issues”
Stafford Presentation:  MAC Clauses and Indemnification Provisions in M&A Deals: Recent Trends in Negotiation and Drafting (KWC: “Negotiating Indemnification Provisions in Private Company M&A Transactions”)
2017
NBI Audio Webinar: “Business Ownership Succession Planning in a Nutshell
2016
DCBA Presentation: “Purposeful Business Succession Planning”
NBI Webinar: “Business Ownership Succession Planning in a Nutshell”
NBI Teleconference: “Tax Issues in M&A”
2015
DCBA Presentation: “How to Stand Out to Partners”
NBI Seminar: “Handling the Sale of a Business – Who is the Client and Joint Representation”
Strafford Webinar: “Private Company Acquisition Agreements – Drafting Reps, Warranties, Covenants and Closing Conditions”
2014
DCBA Presentation: “Select Tax Issues in Private Company M&A Transactions”
KCBA Presentation: “Buy-Sell Agreements: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid”
NBI Seminar: “Mergers and Acquisitions – Tax Consequences”
NBI Seminar: “Using Recapitalizations in Exit and Succession Planning Strategies”
2012
NBI Seminar: “Why Limited Liability Companies?”
DCBA Seminar: “Coordinating Business Succession Planning and Estate Planning”
NBI Seminar: “Financial Statements 101”
Kane County Bar Review Article: “Buy-Sell Agreements – Asking the Right Questions”

Articles

DCBA Brief Magazine: “Avoiding Common Mistakes when Drafting LLC Agreements” – May/June 2023

Education

  • Juris Doctor, University of Notre Dame College of Law (1987)
  • Illinois Certified Public Accountant (1982)
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Notre Dame (1982)

Representative Transactions/representation

  • $30 million sale of filter manufacturer to strategic buyer backed by private equity firm
  • $32 million sale of remediation company to strategic buyer backed by private equity firm
  • $20 million sale of closet design and storage manufacturer to publicly traded company
  • Co-counsel on $300 million sale of property and casualty insurance carrier to publicly traded insurance company
  • $10 million sale of technology consulting company to strategic buyer backed by private equity firm
  • Sale of manufacturing firm to strategic buyer
  • Sale of acoustic research and hearing aid manufacturer to strategic buyer
  • Advised private equity firm on multiple loan transactions to “land bank” lender for housing developers
  • Counseled personal care products company in strategic acquisition and related financing involving multiple credit facilities
  • Created Family business entities, including limited liability companies and limited partnerships as vehicles for preserving and transferring family wealth
  • Advised on sales and gifts of family business interests in connection with estate and succession planning for high net worth and ultra-high net worth families
  • Negotiated private placements for investors in multi-tenant apartments, distribution warehouses, retail shopping centers and related commercial, retail and industrial real estate
  • Negotiated Master Service Agreements with Fortune 500 companies for technical outsourcing and licensing agreements
  • Assisted manufacturing clients on sales terms and conditions on large dollar purchase orders; assist in counselling clients and negotiating with purchasers over warranty and indemnity issues involving manufacturer’s products to avoid litigation