Gary Walt is a partner in the firm’s Business and Finance Practice Groups. Gary has represented more than hundreds of middle market businesses, sophisticated entrepreneurs, family businesses and banks and financial institutions in mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and lending transactions for over 30 years.
Gary joined the Firm in 1992 after spending 10 years at a much larger Chicago-based law firm. When asked why he elected to leave the relative comfort of a firm with over 100 lawyers to one where Gary was originally the fifth attorney and first lateral partner, Gary said “My practice routinely requires that I give practical, business-based advice to clients. Prior to joining the Firm, I had little or no practical experience running a business yet I was counseling them on business matters daily. The opportunity to witness and participate in the growth and expansion of the Firm, and assist in several aspects of Firm management, adds a dimension to my practice and experience that I could not achieve in a larger organization. I try to use that experience when providing guidance and advice to all of the Firm’s clients.” Now, when Gary counsels clients he does so with first-hand knowledge and experience of running a business.
Gary has an extensive range of experience in advising entrepreneurs, middle market businesses, private equity funds and businesses in regards to raising capital (both private equity capital and debt), growth (through acquisitions, mergers, strategic alliances, joint ventures, and licensing), operations (buy-sell agreements, employment and other agreements) and wealth transfer (sales, redemptions, new management, partnerships, new generation transfers). Gary also has a deep understanding and experience in advising both banks, as lenders, and clients, as borrowers, in complex lending transactions (both secured and unsecured). As a result, Gary has developed considerable expertise in matters involving the Uniform Commercial Code particularly in the areas of sales and secured finance. Gary integrates his extensive legal skills and experiences with common sense and practical business judgment and insights.
Gary serves on the Firm’s Legal Opinions Committee and Chairs the Firm’s Accounts Receivable Committee. Gary also is consulted regularly on matters involving conflicts and ethical matters.
Gary greatly values his long-standing relationship with Firm clients and ability to get to know the Firm Client’s and their business needs. By knowing a client’s business and the personalities of those with whom Gary interacts, Gary is confident that the Firm is able to tailor the legal services he and the Firm provide to maximize results and the overall experience provided by Gary and the Firm.
Gary has an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (1979) and J.D. from The Cornell Law School (1982).
