B. Franco Laterza

B. Franco Laterza, of counsel to the firm, earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois in 1987. After graduating from law school, Mr. Laterza practiced at one of Chicago’s largest and most prominent law firms, Jenner & Block. Since then, Mr. Laterza has been practicing as a principal in his own firms. In 2011, Mr. Laterza joined Senak Keegan Gleason Smith & Michaud, Ltd.

During his 30 years of practice, Mr. Laterza has focused on representing individuals and businesses in corporate and transactional matters, as well as in litigation matters.

As corporate and transactional counsel, Mr. Laterza has counseled and assisted entrepreneurs, small and medium sized businesses in initial business planning, corporate formation, corporate transactions and business asset sales and purchases. In the areas of commercial real estate practice and transactions, Mr. Laterza has counseled and assisted individuals, small and large businesses, real estate developers and Real Estate Investment Trusts in the sale and purchase of real estate and has negotiated commercial leases on behalf of both landlords and tenants in commercial and industrial buildings, office buildings, shopping centers and stand-alone retail locations. Mr. Laterza also has represented real estate developers in condominium project bot residential and commercial.

As a trial and appellate advocate, Mr. Laterza has handled matters as both plaintiff and defendant in the areas of construction law, commercial litigation, contract and warranty matters, insurance coverage and other breach of contract matters, commercial real estate foreclosures and various tort and defamation actions.

As a litigator, Mr. Laterza has practiced in both state and federal courts in Illinois and other jurisdictions and has appeared before a variety of administrative bodies and boards. He is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the trial bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Mr. Laterza has published articles and practice materials in the Business and Commercial Litigation Practice Handbook published by IICLE.

Education
Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1987

Bar Admissions
Illinois State Bar Association, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Memberships
Illinois State Bar Association