Hourglass Legal

Hourglass Legal Consulting, established in 2013 and located in Highland Park, Illinois, is a leading corporate law firm mainly known for its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) expertise. Founded by Tom Wippman, who brings over 40 years of experience in the field, the firm serves a wide range of clients, including small to middle-market businesses, venture capital firms, and private equity-backed companies across various sectors such as business services, manufacturing, financial services, and for-profit education. The firm is committed to providing strategic legal advice and helping clients manage complex transactions and regulatory environments effectively. With a focused, low-overhead strategy, Hourglass Legal ensures legal processes proceed smoothly and efficiently, typically closing around two monthly transactions. This approach not only helps in achieving successful outcomes but also optimizes legal expenditures. Hourglass Legal's service offerings cover business formation, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, equity financings, and general commercial matters. The firm also supports day-to-day corporate operations, advising on corporate governance, contract negotiations, executive compensation, and labor and employment issues. The goal is to empower entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies, and investors with high-quality, practical legal and strategic guidance, fostering success throughout their business endeavors. Tom Wippman’s extensive background includes roles as internal and external General Counsel for various entities, including private equity companies, start-ups, and large corporations. Previously, he served as Managing Director and General Counsel at Sterling Partners, a private equity firm managing over $5 billion in assets. Here, he was instrumental in structuring, documenting, and negotiating significant buyout and sale transactions and managing follow-on investments and executive compensation issues.