Biography of Hourglass Legal
Specializing in corporate law, Hourglass Legal Consulting delivers comprehensive legal services to businesses and investors, focusing on guidance for mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Its clientele spans various industries, including business services, manufacturing, financial services, and for-profit education, encompassing small and middle-market companies, venture capital clients, and private equity-backed firms.
The firm excels in providing strategic legal guidance to navigate complex transactions and regulatory challenges efficiently. Its approach minimizes overhead and maximizes focus,
ensuring legal proceedings are handled with minimal drama and optimal cost-effectiveness
Based in Highland Park, Illinois, Hourglass Legal Consulting was established in 2013 by Tom Wippman, who has 40 years of experience in the M&A sector and is revered for his operational, financial, and legal expertise, helping achieve the best outcomes for his clients.
Services Provided by Hourglass Legal
Hourglass Legal's expertise includes business formation, mergers and acquisitions for buyers and sellers, commercial transactions, equity financings, and general commercial matters It also supports day-to-day corporate needs, offering counsel on corporate governance, contract negotiations, executive compensation, and labor and employment issues Its goal is to help entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies, and investors succeed through high-quality, practical legal and strategic advice. Under Tom Wippman’s leadership, the firm fosters strong professional relationships with its clients, supporting them through each phase of their business endeavors.
About Tom Wippman
He has served as internal and external General Counsel for various clients, including private equity firms, independent sponsors, start-ups, and large corporations His notable role as Managing Director and General Counsel for Sterling Partners, a private equity firm managing over $5 billion in assets, underscores his extensive experience He was primarily in charge of structuring, documenting, and negotiating significant buyout and sale transactions, follow-on investments, and executive compensation and employment issues.
His skills in identifying and applying the best legal practices across extensive networks have significantly reduced legal risks and expenses while enhancing growth opportunities He has managed various operational and transactional aspects, such as sales representatives, vendor contracts, and product liability issues, assisting leading entrepreneurs and high-growth companies through the start-up and capitalization stages
His extensive career enables him to provide substantial value in collaborative team settings, identifying and maximizing growth opportunities while addressing legal concerns His profound experience in mergers and acquisitions, sales, reorganizations, and sophisticated debt and equity structures like warrants, options, and convertible debt is unmatched. He also offers valuable management consulting services to executives tackling daily operations and strategic challenges like investment structuring and financing.
Lauded by Clients for a Hands-On and Strategic Approach
Hourglass Legal Consulting and Tom Wippman have consistently earned accolades from clients for their practical outcomes One senior managing director at a private equity firm praised him for his deep legal expertise and partnership, highlighting his exceptional interpersonal skills and transactional efficiency Following a transaction where Hourglass Legal represented the sell-side
involving a significant private equity firm, an investment banker commended him for his effective advocacy for business owners and invaluable private equity experience, which facilitated a better understanding of the contracts and risks, leading to more favorable terms Moreover, a financial services company founder lauded his thorough and expert legal guidance in their latest private equity transaction, which was instrumental in navigating complex transaction structures and agreements
Tom Wippman and Hourglass Legal Consulting are celebrated for their hands-on and strategic legal support, ensuring clients achieve successful outcomes, and look forward to future collaborations.