Courtney L. Kleshinski

Partner

Location
Chicago
Phone number
(312) 857-7079

Whether closely collaborating with in-house legal teams or providing trusted and responsive guidance in an outside general counsel role, Courtney Kleshinski brings a practical, business-minded perspective to a wide variety of commercial and transactional matters.

Courtney’s clients know her counsel is not only legally sound but also reflects her deep understanding of their unique challenges, priorities, and business goals. That comes from truly listening to her clients and spending the time to develop, explain, and discuss options and solutions with them. This combination of legal acumen and personal investment has made her a valued asset for companies in a broad range of industries.

For companies of all sizes and at all stages of the business lifecycle, Courtney offers pragmatic, cost-effective legal advice on every aspect of governance, operations, and transactions, including entity formation, corporate mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, negotiating and documenting a wide range of business and commercial contracts, equity and debt financings, public and private investments, and SEC reporting and compliance. Courtney also has experience in commercial real estate matters, handling acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and restructuring.

Courtney’s robust outside general counsel practice and close working relationships with her clients allow companies that don’t have legal departments to feel like they do. Her counsel is of particular value for the start-up companies and investors she represents in venture capital transactions, early-stage financings, and strategic exits.

Active in her community, Courtney has volunteered for several years at Upwardly Global, supporting immigrant and refugee professionals through interview coaching and resume review, and at the Junior League of Chicago, engaged in supporting literacy programs in Chicago Public Libraries.

“To a large extent, what I tell my clients is a reflection of what they tell me. I base my counsel on what they value, what they want to avoid, and what they want to achieve.”

Represented a large manufacturer in an acquisition of additional manufacturing facilities.

Represented a large Chicago-based service provider in the sale of two manufacturing facilities and underlying real estate.

Represented a Chicago-based private equity fund in various acquisitions ranging from $5 to $20 million for high-tech, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunications and publishing companies in various stages of development.

Represented a publicly held company in several hundred million dollars of financings, including multi-tier structured financings of bankruptcy remote special purpose entities.

Serve as outside counsel for an RBIC venture firm in connection with its capital investments in multiple early stage financings and equity acquisitions.

Represented a publicly held international supplier of insurance and reinsurance solutions in secured and unsecured credit facilities.

Represented a major Indian forging company in its acquisition of a U.S.-based manufacturer.

Represented sole placement agent in millions of dollars in sale of stock and warrants of various publicly-traded companies.

Represented multiple Illinois non-profit institutions in connection with negotiating commercial leases.

The Best Lawyers in America© ​“Ones to Watch” (Woodward/White, Inc.), Corporate Law, 2021-2025.

Selected as one of Illinois Super Lawyers ​“Rising Stars,” 2018-2023.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for her work in the M&A: Middle Market area, 2019 and 2023.

Volunteer at Upwardly Global, supporting immigrant and refugee professionals through interview coaching and resume review, 2018–present

Member of the Junior League of Chicago, engaged in supporting literacy programs in Chicago Public Libraries, 2019–present