Jeffrey A. Hopper

As a corporate lawyer and business adviser, Jeff is committed to forging the right path to realizing each client’s goals. He is dedicated to serving as an effective consensus builder, communicator and negotiator who maintains focus on getting the deal done. In addition to his practice, Jeff serves on the firm’s Management Committee and is the partner-in-charge of legal personnel.

Jeff offers comprehensive legal counsel to businesses and business owners in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, debt and equity finance, succession planning, executive compensation, real estate ventures and other general commercial law, corporate and contract matters. He often fills an outside general counsel role to those he serves. His industry experience is broad, with a particular focus on healthcare, including merger and acquisition and joint venture transactions involving pharmacy, wholesale drug distribution, home health and hospice, and provider practices. He takes pride in providing practical legal advice and in finding solutions that address business needs and goals.

One unique element of Jeff’s practice is his extensive experience in executive compensation, including the full array of equity, non-equity and cash-based awards. Examples include stock options, restricted stock, phantom awards, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, deferred compensation and cash awards. Notably, Jeff advises on Sections 162(m), 280G, 457 and 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

Prior to the law, Jeff served as a commercial loan officer with First Oak Brook Bancshares, a middle-market Chicago bank. During law school, he also worked for the United States Department of Labor. Having worked in the financial services industry, along with a business degree from IU Kelley School of Business, Jeff has the training and experience in understanding, analyzing and interpreting financial statements, which clients value and enhance his ability to be effective in negotiating and closing transactions of all kinds.

He was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has three children.