Welcome to
Elias, Meginnes &
Seghetti, P.C.

Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti, P.C.

Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti, P.C. is a business law firm that has been successfully serving clients for over 20 years. The Firm is the successor of the business law department of the Peoria office of a Chicago-based national law firm that had about 400 lawyers. The Firm has been AV-Rated by Martindale and Hubbell for many years.

A majority of the client base of the Firm consists of closely held businesses and their owners, each of whom has a wide array of legal issues that need hands-on attention at a reasonable cost. Many of the Firm’s clients have been with the Firm for many years, principally because the Firm has the required core competencies not usually found in a law firm of its size and because The firm consistently strives to exceed clients’ expectations. The core competencies of the Firm include general business law, corporate representation, mergers & acquisitions, taxation law, estate planning, employee benefits, health plans, business litigation, real estate law, environmental law, healthcare law, municipal law and development and loan transactions, workouts and foreclosure.

Choose EMRS Law

Collateral Base is a multi-practice firm serving clients in Peoria and the surrounding areas. It has been in the industry for over a decade, providing business formation, real estate, commercial banking, and corporate and trust litigation. The firm works with clients looking to form a corporation or LLCs and handles conflicts involving breach of contract and non-compete agreements. Its lawyers also advise business owners on regulatory risks, contract liabilities, and employee issues. Its founding attorney, Tom Howard, is a member of the NCIA.

(309) 637-6000

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ABOUT

PRACTICE AREAS

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

The Firm has maintained an extremely active practice in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) for over two decades, achieving a regional reputation in this challenging area. The Firm’s success has been driven largely by its deep collective knowledge and experience in M&A transactions, and the wide variety of legal matters that must be addressed therein, including taxation, corporate, finance, employee benefits, real estate, environmental, due diligence, and, where necessary, litigation. The Firm’s M&A clients include both businesses that the Firm represents on a regular basis, as well as buyers and sellers that hire the Firm for transactional representation. On occasion, the M&A transaction includes a private placement of equity or debt and the Firm is very experienced in this aspect of M&A. The Firm’s M&A practice covers a wide variety of sectors, such automobile dealerships, Farm equipment dealerships, fertilizer companies, environmental companies, industrial companies, franchise/distribution businesses, health care entities, medical and other professional firms, ESOP companies, and casino and video gaming companies.

Firm M&A Lawyers:

• John S. Elias
• Brian J. Meginnes
• Michael R. Seghetti
• Troy N. Pudik

BUSINESS LAW

The Firm serves as general counsel to numerous closely-held businesses that do not have an internal legal staff to handle the wide variety of legal issues that arise. Clients in this “general counsel” category include businesses involved in manufacturing, distribution, environmental services, insurance agencies, banking, real estate brokerage/development, professional firms (physicians, engineering, architecture), automobile dealerships, casino gaming, video gaming, private equity, general contractors, equipment manufacturers and farmers. The Firm also is called on by clients for representation in specific transactions within almost all of its core competencies.

Firm Business Lawyers:

• John S, Elias
• Brian J. Meginnes
• Michael R. Seghetti
• Troy N. Pudik
• Janaki Nair

TAX & ESTATE PLANNING

The Firm has had a highly sophisticated tax practice, covering the following areas, among others:

• Income tax planning for closely-held businesses and their owners.
• Entity selection and its tax ramifications.
• Tax advice with regard to structuring mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private placements.
• Non-qualified deferred compensation plans (including equity flavored plans).
• Tax opinions to clients, accountants, and other attorneys, with regard to transactions and tax return and tax audit positions.
• Tax dispute resolution before the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities, as well as tax litigation before the Tax Court and other federal and state courts.

Much of the Firm’s work in these areas arise out of referrals from accountants, attorneys and other business professionals from various locations throughout the Midwest and the United States.

Firm Tax Lawyers:

The Firm’s Taxation Practice is led by John S. Elias, a leading Midwest practitioner in this area. The Firm’s Tax litigation practice is also led by John S. Elias and supported by the Firm’s litigators, primarily Janaki Nair, the head of the Firm’s litigation practice, and Cynthia L. Elias, Of Counsel to the Firm.

Estate Planning

The Firm has an active Estate Planning Practice, servicing mainly closely-held businesses and their owners. Services include family planning both from a business succession and estate and gift tax perspective involving, among other things, the use of inter-vivos and testamentary trusts, family limited partnerships (LLCs), and other techniques, as well as various post-mortem tax strategies.

Firm Estate Planning Lawyers:

• John S. Elias
• Brian J. Meginnes
• Troy N. Pudik

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & HEALTHCARE

The Firm maintains a sophisticated employee benefits practice, including self-funded and fully insured group health plans, flexible spending plans and fringe benefits, association plans, pension and ESOP plans, HIPAA compliance, Affordable Care Act compliance, 457 Plans, deferred compensation arrangements, and state and federal litigation of employee benefits issues.  Firm clients in this areas include employers, associations, governmental entities, insurance companies, and third-party administrators.

Firm Employee Benefits / Health Plan Lawyers:

The Firm’s practice in this area is led by of David N Schellenberg, a full time leading practitioner in this area, with the related litigation led by Janaki Nair, the head of the Firm’s litigation practice.

Health Care Law

The firm is general counsel to a number of substantial physician groups. Representing and advising them in regulatory matters as well as general business and corporate matters.

Firm Health Care Lawyers:

• John S. Elias
• Brian J. Meginnes
• Troy N. Pudik

BUSINESS LITIGATION

The Firm litigators have extensive experience in the Federal Courts and the Courts of the State of
Illinois, in numerous substantive areas of the law that affect businesses and entrepreneurs,
including without limitation, the following:

• Disputes arising out of mergers and acquisitions
• Real property disputes, including cases for specific performance
• Construction contract and performance disputes
• Municipal law and land use disputes, representing government entities, developers, and citizen objectors
• Environmental disputes, involving local, Illinois, and Federal agencies, and common law trespass and nuisance cases
• ERISA, pension, health insurance, self-funded plans, and benefit matters related to insurance and self-funded plans
• Commercial and business litigation covering a wide variety of matters
• Employment litigation, specifically in the area of employment contracts and non-competition agreements
• Probate and trust litigation
• Real Estate Foreclosures, on behalf of various banking institutions
• Tenant Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) cases, primarily for owners of commercial properties
• Bankruptcy matters, representing creditors
• Collections matters, representing creditors

The Firm litigators work hand-in-hand with the business and transactional attorneys at the Firm to provide
comprehensive service to clients.

Firm Litigators:

• Janaki Nair
• Lane G. Alster
• Bradley S. Barber
• Cynthia L. Elias (Of Counsel)

LOANS, WORKOUTS & FORECLOSURES

Loan Transactions

The Firm represents numerous banks with regard to documenting loan transactions. The Firm’s practice in this area is led by Michael R. Seghetti.

Workouts/Foreclosure

The Firm is also actively engaged in loan workouts and foreclosure for a number of financial institutions.

Firm Attorneys practicing in the Workout/Foreclosure area:

• Michael R. Seghetti
• Janaki Nair
• Lane G. Alster
• Bradley Barber

MUNICIPAL LAW & DEVELOPMENT

The Firm serves as corporate counsel to a number of Illinois municipalities, as well as serving as special counsel to a number of other Illinois municipalities in the areas of economic development, public-private partnerships and health benefits plans oftentimes through intergovernmental associations.

Firm Attorneys:

• John S. Elias
• Michael R. Seghetti

REAL ESTATE & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Real Estate Law

The Firm’s Real Estate Practice includes a very active real estate transactional and leasing component all over the State of Illinois, as well as servicing the real estate component of the Firm’s M&A practice. In addition, the Firm for over 15 years has served as real estate counsel to a major national retailer and shopping center developer, including the development of over 50 shopping centers and serving as lead counsel for the development of distribution centers for that retailer.

Firm Attorneys Practicing in the Real Estate area:

• John S. Elias
• Brian J. Meginnes
• Michael R. Seghetti
• Troy N. Pudik

Environmental Law

The Firm’s environmental practice includes representing several environmental consulting companies and waste disposal companies, both from a transactional
and regulatory perspective, as well as providing advice in connection with the Firm’s real estate practice.

Firm Lawyers Practicing in the Environmental Law area:

• Brian J. Meginnes
• Janaki Nair

         Bradley 

         Barber

Area of Practice:

• Business litigation
• Probate /Estate Planning
• Municipal Law

Education:

• University of Illinois at Urban-champaign, Illinois
  • J.D. – 2016
  • Honors: Cali Award Recipient for Comparative Criminal Law
• Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana
  • B.A. cum laude – 2013
  • Honors: Recipient of the Political Science Award and the Jack P. Barlow, Sr. History Book Prize
  • Major: Political Science

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, 2016
• U.S. District Court Central  District of Illinois, 2016

Prior Employment 

• Beckett & Webber, P.C., Urbana, Illinois, Associate Attorney (2016-2017)
• McLean County Public Defender’s Office, Bloomington, Illinois, 711 Intern (2016)

         Lane 

         Alister

Law School:

• University of Illinois (J.D. 2005)

Undergraduate School:

• University of Illinois (B.A. 2002)

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois, 2005
• Central District of Illinois, 2010

Professional Organization Memberships:

• Peoria County Bar Association (2006-present)
• Illinois State Bar Association; (2006-present)
• American Bar Association (2006-present)
• Abraham Lincoln Inns of Court (2006-present)

Areas of Practice:

• General Litigation,
• Commercial Litigation,
• Construction Litigation

         Cynthia L. 

         Elias

Cynthia L. Elias is of counsel to the Firm and practices in the litigation and dispute resolution area. Ms. Elias is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Ms. Elias also earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Illinois State University and a bachelor’s degree from Miami of Ohio (Summa Cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), where she was valedictorian.

Ms. Elias previously practiced law with several large companies and firms in Massachusetts and New York; and worked as a School Psychologist in Central Illinois before commencing the practice law with the Firm.

Ms. Elias is also President and Chairman of the Board of the Daniel J. Elias Memorial Foundation, which is actively engaged in philanthropic activities.

John S. Elias

John S. Elias is a founding member and the Chairman and CEO of the Firm. Mr. Elias can perhaps best be described as a leading middle-market business lawyer with a wealth of experience in the corporate, business planning, securities, tax planning, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) areas.

Mr. Elias is a graduate of Harvard Law School (J.D.); and earned a Masters of Law degree in Taxation from New York University. Mr. Elias also earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University, England (which he attended on a Reynolds Scholarship), and a BA degree in Economics from Dartmouth College (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

Mr. Elias is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell, and has for many years been selected as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in several business/tax related categories, and as an Illinois Super Lawyer in the Mergers & Acquisitions category. Mr. Elias is the author several articles in national publications such as the Tax Lawyer and the Journal of Corporate Taxation, dealing with income, gift and estate tax planning for closely-held businesses and their owners. Mr. Elias is also a past chairman of the Tax Section of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Prior to founding the Firm, Mr. Elias was partner-in-charge of the Peoria Office of Keck, Mahin & Cate, a Chicago-based national law firm that has about 400 lawyers. In addition to Illinois, Mr. Elias also previously practiced law as a bar member in New York, Massachusetts and Ohio. Mr. Elias is on the Board of Directors of the Daniel J. Elias Memorial Foundation, which is actively engaged in philanthropic activities.

Brian J. Meginnes

Law School:

• University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 1978)
• magna cum laude

Undergraduate School:

• University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1975) with high honors Government and International Affairs

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois, 1978

Employment:

• Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti, P.C., Founding Member (1996-Present)
• Keck, Mahin & Cate (1988-1996)
• Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll & Keller (1978-1988)

Special Honors:

• B.A. with high honors
• J.D. magna cum laude
• Order of Coif

Areas of Practice:

• Corporate, Environmental, Health Care, Intellectual Property Law

         Janaki

         Nair

Law School:

• University of Illinois (J.D., 2002)
• Cum laude

Undergraduate School:

• University of Chicago (B.A., Law, Letters & Society, 1999) Special honors

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois, 2002

Employment:

• Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti, P.C., 2002-present Member, 2008-present

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, 2002
• (U.S.) Central District of Illinois, 2003
• (U.S.) Seventh Circuit Appellate Court, 2005
• (U.S.) Southern District of Illinois, 2010

Appointments and Memberships:

• Hearing Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, 2010-present  [Panel Chair, March 1, 2016-present]

• The Abraham Lincoln Court (f/k/a Abraham Lincoln Inn of the American Inns of Court), 2004-present. Executive Committee, 2009-2015 (President, 2012-2013)

• Peoria Promise Foundation, Board of Directors, 2015-present
  Secretary, 2015-present

• Friends of Peoria Regional Learning Center, Board of Directors, 2017-present

• Peoria County Bar Association, 2002-present; Illinois State Bar Association, 2002-present; American Bar Association, 2003-present

Honors & Distinctions:

• Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2009-2018

         Troy N. 

         Pudik

Law School:

• Drake University Law School, Des Moines, IA (with Honors) (J.D. 1993)

Graduate School:

• Drake University, Des Moines, IA (M.B.A. 1993)

Undergraduate School:

• University of Illinois, Champaign, IL (A.B. 1990)

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois, 1993

Professional Organization Memberships:

• Peoria County Bar Association,
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Areas of Practice:

• Corporate,
• Health Care,
• Intellectual Property and
• Real Estate

Charitable Activities:

• Member, Board of Trustees of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Illinois (1995 – 1998), President (1998)
• Member, Board of Directors of Easter Seals (1998 – Present), Executive Committee (1998 – 2002)
• Member, St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, Finance Council (2013 – Present)

Instructor:

• Illinois Central College – Real Estate Law (1998 – 2000), Recipient, Faculty Who Made a Difference Award 
• National Business Institute :
  • September, 1998 – Illinois Probate: Beyond The Basics – The Estate’s Timetable – Time Is of The Essence
  • May, 2002 – Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships in Illinois – Compliance Under State Law
• Bradley University Foster College of Business, Entrepreneurial Experience 489:
  • September, 2008 – Choice of Entity

         David N.     

         Schellenberg

Law School:

• University of Miami School of Law (LL.M in Estate Planning, 1990)
• Southern Illinois University School of Law (J.D. 1989)

Undergraduate School:

• Bradley University (B.S. Political Science in 1983)
• Illinois Central College

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois 1990
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1991
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1998
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1998
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2006

Law Review:

• Lead Articles Editor, 1988-89
• Staff Member, 1987-88
• Best Editor Award

Article:

• The Doctrine of Worthier Title in Illinois: Burying the Dead, 23 John Marshall L.Rev. 81 (1989) (with Taylor Mattis).

Areas of Practice:

• Employee Benefits and Health Care Law,
• ERISA, Tax Law,
• Corporate Law

Michael R. Seghetti

Law School:

• Notre Dame Law School(J.D., with honors, 1986)

Undergraduate School:

• University of Illinois, Champaign (B.S., Accounting, with honors, 1983)

 Admitted to Practice:

• Illinois, 1986

Joined Firm:

• 1996

Employment:

• Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti, P.C., 1996-Present; Keck, Mahin & Cate, Peoria, Illinois, 1988-1996
• Chapman & Cutler, Chicago, Illinois, 1986-1988

Other Professional Certifications:

• Illinois CPA Certificate, 1983

Special Honors:

• Notre Dame Law Review, 1984-86
• 40 Leaders Under Forty, 1997

Professional Organization Memberships:

• Illinois State Bar Association
• Peoria County Bar Association

Bar Admissions:

• State of Illinois, 1978;
• United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, 1979

Charitable Activites:

• Member of the Board of Education of Dunlap School District Number 323 (1995-2011)
• President (1997-1999, 2001-2007)
• Central Illinois Chapter, American National Red Cross Board Member (1982-1988),
• Chairman (1986-1988)
• Counseling and Family Service, Board Member (1979-1985)
• W.D. Boyce Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc., Board Member (1988-1998),
• Vice President Administration (1988-1991),
• Vice President Finance (1991-1994), President (1997-1998)
• Peoria Promise Foundation (2007-2014),
• Board Member (2007-2014), Secretary (2007-2014)
• Public Building Commission of Peoria, Board Member (2008-Present)
• BizPAC, Inc., Board Member (2013-Present)

Social, Legal and Honorary  Fraternities:

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Pi Sigma Alpha
• Mt. Hawley Country Club

Professional Organization Memberships:

• American Bar Association,
• Illinois State Bar Association,
• Peoria County Bar Association

Areas of Practice:

• Governmental,
• Corporate,
• Banking and
• Real Estate

Municipal Representation:

• City of Chillicothe, City Attorney, 1998 – Present
• Village of Bartonville, Village Attorney, 1991 – 2005
• Village of Bartonville Fire and Police Commission, Counsel, 2011 – Present
• Village of Bellevue, Village Attorney 1990-2006 and 2013 – Present 
• City of Toluca, City Attorney, 2013 – Present
• City of Elmwood, Village of Manito, Village of Tremont, TIF Attorney

Civic Activities:

• Peoria Public Library Board of Trustees, 1991-1997(President, 1994-1996);
• Notre Dame Club of Peoria Board of Directors, 1992-2014 (Vice President, 1995-1996; President 1997-1998, 2003-2014),
• Peoria Notre Dame High School Board of Trustees 2007-2011
• St. Vincent de Paul School Athletic Committee, 2004-2015
• Bradley University Chiefs Club Board, 2000-2003; Society of St. Vincent de Paul (2014-Present)

OUR ATTORNEYS

(309) 637-6000

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416 Main Street, Suite 1400
Peoria, Illinois 61602

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