Bryan R. Bagdady
Business Litigation, Probate Litigation, Bankruptcy and Business Contracts
I am a business and estates attorney who has been practicing law for more than 30 years. I founded Corporate & Estate Legal Services, Ltd. to focus on the needs of my business clients and to handle bankruptcy and probate cases. I have decades of experience handling a wide variety of business contracts and business lawsuits. I represent both plaintiffs and defendants. I genuinely enjoy analyzing and resolving civil disputes. If claims and demands can be resolved amicably, that's great. If not, then we litigate. I was a debater in high school and college. I have been performing these claims-based functions for quite literally my whole life. I am very comfortable with commercial litigation, chancery litigation, probate litigation, and all manner of business torts.
My experience affords me the luxury of handling all phases of dispute resolution including pre-suit settlements, trial advocacy, post judgment enforcement, and appellate advocacy. At most firms, these functions are splintered across different departments and between multiple lawyers. If you retain Bryan as your attorney, then all of these functions are consolidated into one point of contact.
I am also known to be somewhat demanding on my clients. I expect that my clients will be open, honest, candid, and truthful in all aspects of dispute resolution. If you are willing to be truthful and to abide by the requirements of the law, I will zealously advocate on your behalf.
I graduated from Northwestern University where I studied economics. I earned my law degree from DePaul University College of Law. At Northwestern University, I was awarded the Wyman-Hibbs Debate Scholarship for outstanding achievement in the field of academic and competitive debate. If you have a contract, case, or legal claim that you wish to discuss, give me a call or drop me an email. I will be happy to speak with you.
- DePaul College of Law
- J.D. (1982) | Law
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- Honors: DePaul College of Law 711 Student admitted to practice in Courts as Senior Law Student.
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- Northwestern University
- B.S. (1978) | Economics
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- Honors: Wyman Hibbs Debate Scholar. President of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
- Activities: Northwestern Debate Society, Gymnastics Club, Sigma Chi Fraternity.
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- Founding Attorney
- Corporate & Estate Legal Services, Ltd.
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- Corporate & Estate Legal Services, Ltd. was founded in July of 2013 to represent small and mid-sized businesses as well as individuals. The firm focuses on business to business collection litigation, general business litigation, employment and restrictive covenant litigation, probate litigation, chapter 7 bankruptcy services, trademark applications, and intellectual property litigation.
- State Bar of Illinois # 6184235
- Member
- Current
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- Illinois
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- 7th Circuit
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Free Consultation
Free Initial Consultation. -
Contingent Fees
I accept contingency fee cases for qualified business disputes involving claims in excess of $250,000.
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Collections
- Bankruptcy
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Debt Relief
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
- Intellectual Property
- Trademarks
- Trademark Litigation, Trademark Registration
- Q. Is there a downside to not answering Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaim directly ?
- A: Yes they did. Motions for summary judgment are controlled by 735 ILCS 5/2-1005. If you are responding to a motion for summary judgment you need to become familiar with this statute. As a general principle, the court will grant summary judgment if the pleadings, depositions, admissions, and affidavits on file establish that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c). If your opponent did not answer your affirmative defenses or counterclaim, then the factual matters asserted in those pleadings will be deemed admitted for purposes of the summary judgment. Be careful, conclusions and vague allegations not supported by factual content will not be deemed admitted. Good luck.
- Q. Is there a type of disclosure document that I can use to protect an IP idea that i am working on, before it's designed?
- A: We call then NDA's. You need a signed non-disclosure agreement before you disclose your intellectual property to any party. Remember that public disclosure of a patent idea before you file the patent can interfere with your claim of property protection.
- Q. My mother passed away with an irrevocable family trust. Under the terms I am the beneficiary. How do I get assets?
- A: The term executor applies to probate and wills. From your question it sounds like your father has control over a probate estate and a trust. You need to review the Illinois Trust Act. Judicial proceedings and jurisdiction over disputes are identified in sections 201 and 202. The state: (760 ILCS 3/Art. 2 heading) Article 2. Judicial Proceedings. (Source: P.A. 101-48, eff. 1-1-20.) (760 ILCS 3/201) Sec. 201. Role of court in administration of trusts. (a) The court may adjudicate any matter arising in the administration of a trust to the extent its jurisdiction is invoked by an interested person or as provided by law. (b) A trust is not subject to continuing judicial supervision unless ordered by the court. (c) A judicial proceeding involving a trust may relate to any matter involving the trust's administration, including a request for instructions. (Source: P.A. 101-48, eff. 1-1-20.) (760 ILCS 3/202) Sec. 202. Jurisdiction over trustee and beneficiary. (a) By accepting the trusteeship of a trust having its principal place of administration in this State or by moving the principal place of administration to this State, the trustee is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State regarding any matter involving the trust. (b) With respect to their interests in the trust, the beneficiaries of a trust having its principal place of administration in this State are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State regarding any matter involving the trust. By accepting a distribution from such a trust, the recipient personally submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State regarding any matter involving the trust. (c) Service of process upon any person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State, as provided in this Section, may be made by personally serving the summons upon the defendant outside this State, as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure, with the same force and effect as though summons had been personally served within this State. (d) This Section does not preclude other methods of obtaining jurisdiction over a trustee, beneficiary, or other person receiving property from the trust. (Source: P.A. 101-48, eff. 1-1-20.) (760 ILCS 3/203) Sec. 203. (Reserved). (Source: P.A. 101-48, eff. 1-1-20.) If your father won't abide by the written terms and requirements of the will and the trust, then you need a court to intervene and make appropriate orders.