Thorelli & Associates

What Thorelli & Associates does

Thorelli & Associates is a Chicago-based business law firm founded in 1985 that provides legal counsel to foreign companies — particularly European small and medium-sized enterprises — seeking to enter or operate in the United States. The firm employs four lawyers plus supporting staff at its headquarters in Three First National Plaza (70 West Madison Street, Chicago) and reports having served more than 1,000 foreign companies over its 40-plus-year history, with a publicly stated 95% case-resolution success rate and 98% business immigration client satisfaction.

The firm's practice spans six core service areas: contract negotiation and M&A, intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets), corporate law and business formation, business immigration (E-1, E-2, H-1B, L-1A, L-1B visas), product liability preventive management, and dispute resolution (commercial litigation, mediation, arbitration). It also publishes educational resources such as 'Legal Aspects of Doing Business in the United States' and topical legal updates on tariffs, ADA claims, and H-1B lottery changes. The team is multilingual (fluent in four languages) and includes Founding Partner Thomas H. Thorelli (40+ years, board director of the French-American Chamber of Commerce Chicago for 15+ years), Managing Partner Nathaniel T. Cutler (focused on cross-border SMB M&A into the US), and attorneys Greg Casimer and Jennifer Blackwell.

The firm operates on a professional-services billing model with quote-based fees tied to matter complexity and free introductory consultations. Its go-to-market relies on direct client engagement, referrals from chambers of commerce and trade organizations (French-American Chamber of Commerce, Federation des Industries Mecaniques, UK Department for Business and Trade, Global Chamber), educational webinars, and content marketing. The firm is privately held with no external investors, parent company, or institutional ownership, and reports no proprietary technology platforms.

Name

Thorelli & Associates

Legal name

Thorelli & Associates

Website

https://thorelli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thorelli & Associates is a Chicago-based business law firm, founded in 1985, that helps foreign — primarily European — small and medium-sized companies enter and operate in the US market across corporate law, IP, M&A, business immigration, product liability, and dispute resolution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Law Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Business law services
• US market entry
• Intellectual property law
• Business immigration law
• Contract negotiation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Fees: Law firm generates revenue through professional legal services billed to clients. Services include contract negotiation, IP protection, corporate law, business immigration, product liability management, and dispute resolution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thorelli & Associates is a Chicago-based business law firm providing comprehensive legal services to foreign companies entering the US market. The firm's core offerings span contract negotiation and M&A, intellectual property protection (trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets), corporate law and governance, business immigration (work visas), product liability preventive management, and commercial dispute resolution. The firm has served over 1,000 foreign companies since its founding in 1985.

Product overview

Thorelli & Associates is a Chicago-based business law firm offering a comprehensive suite of legal services for foreign companies doing business in the United States. The firm provides six core practice areas: Contract Negotiation including Acquisitions (covering mergers & acquisitions, distribution and licensing agreements), Intellectual Property Services (including trademark, patent, copyright, and trade secrets), Corporate Law (business formation, governance, compliance), Business Immigration Law (E-1, E-2, H-1B, L-1A, L-1B visas), Product Liability Preventive Management (risk assessment, document review, claims defense), and Dispute Resolution (commercial litigation, mediation, arbitration). The firm also publishes educational resources on legal aspects of US business operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Negotiation including Acquisitions Expert guidance in complex business transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic agreement negotiations, including contract negotiations, distribution, licensing, and employment agreements, for businesses entering or operating in the US market.
• Intellectual Property Services Comprehensive IP protection and management services covering IP portfolio audits, trademark registration, patent services, copyright protection, trade secrets, and IP litigation for businesses operating in the US market.
• Corporate Law Comprehensive corporate legal services covering business formation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic business planning for organizations of all sizes operating in the US.
• Business Immigration Law Expert assistance in business immigration matters including work visas (E-1, E-2, H-1B, L-1A, L-1B), business immigration, and compliance programs for foreign companies and individuals.
• Product Liability Preventive Management Proactive legal strategies to minimize product liability risks through risk assessment, media and document review, and claims defense for consumer products, medical devices, automotive, and aeronautic industries.
• Dispute Resolution Strategic representation in business disputes through mediation, arbitration, and/or litigation, focusing on commercial litigation, mediation services, and arbitration.
• Trademark Services Trademark registration, trademark licensing transactions, and trademark litigation services, including federal registration, trademark clearance searches, and enforcement in federal court.
• Patent Services Patent prosecution, patent litigation, patent searches, freedom-to-operate opinions, and response to patent infringement claims.
• Copyright Protection Copyright registration, protection of original creative works, software copyright, and assistance with works made for hire.
• Trade Secrets Trade secret protection, security measures, employee procedures, non-disclosure agreements, and non-compete agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully helped over 1,000 foreign companies navigate US legal challenges
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Business Academy / Department for Business and Trade (DBT)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 September 2026Thorelli & Associates collaborates with the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade through the UK Business Academy program. Tom Thorelli serves as a US legal expert and DBT collaborator for many years, delivering webinars on US contracts and IP protection for UK exporters. This partnership provides educational content to UK businesses considering US market entry.
• Blue Link WorldwideminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 July 2025Thorelli & Associates co-hosted a webinar with Blue Link Worldwide titled 'Creating a Winning US Sales Strategy' to discuss multiple vital aspects of formulating a successful strategy for foreign companies wishing to enter the US market.
• Global ChamberminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2025Tom Thorelli participated in a Globinar with the Global Chamber considering alternative routes of expansion into the US market through acquisitions of American entities.
• French-American Chamber of Commerce, ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Thorelli has served for over 15 years on the Board of Directors of the French-American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. This long-standing relationship supports French companies seeking US market entry guidance.
• Federation des Industries MecaniquescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThorelli & Associates is the US lawyer recommended by the Federation des Industries Mecaniques for member companies requiring US legal services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DLA Piper: Global law firm with major US presence and a strong foreign-investor and immigration practice—competes for the upper end of Thorelli's foreign-entry mandates.
• Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Large full-service US firm with significant cross-border, immigration, IP, and corporate practices serving foreign companies entering the US—broader alternative for Thorelli's enterprise clients as they grow.
• Foley & Lardner LLP: Mid-size national firm with a strong international practice advising foreign companies on US entry, IP, immigration, and corporate matters—overlapping service offering with significantly broader geographic reach.
• Fox Rothschild LLP: National US law firm with a well-developed international practice serving mid-market foreign companies entering the US through its cross-border desk—comparable niche but at materially larger scale than Thorelli.
• Arnall Golden Gregory LLP: Atlanta-based business law firm with an international services practice assisting foreign companies with US market entry, immigration, corporate, and IP matters—directly overlapping Thorelli's core practice areas at a larger scale.
• Akerman LLP: Top-100 US firm with a dedicated cross-border and immigration practice serving foreign businesses in the US—comparable to Thorelli in foreign-entry focus but operating at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Baker McKenzie: Global law firm with extensive US entry, M&A, IP, and immigration practices for international clients—competes for the same foreign-SMB US-entry mandates as Thorelli but at the premium end of the market.

Regional players

• Ice Miller LLP: Indianapolis-based full-service business law firm with Chicago presence, offering corporate, IP, and immigration practices comparable to Thorelli—true Chicago/Midwest competitor for SME clients.
• Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC: Chicago-based business law firm serving middle-market clients with corporate, M&A, and commercial practices—direct Chicago competitor for SME M&A and corporate work.

Direct peers

• Harris Bricken Sliwoski LLP: Seattle-based boutique firm with a parallel niche: helping foreign (especially cannabis, tech, and consumer-products) companies navigate US legal and regulatory requirements. Closest direct peer to Thorelli given overlapping foreign-SMB entry support, IP, and immigration practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thorelli-&-associates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thorelli & Associates