Markoff Leinberger Llc

What Markoff Leinberger Llc does

Markoff Leinberger LLC is a Chicago-based business litigation law firm founded in 2011 by Paul Markoff and Karl Leinberger, with Jeff Burns subsequently joining as partner. The firm concentrates on commercial litigation matters for small and medium-sized businesses, with practice areas spanning contract and lease disputes, creditor rights and commercial collections, employment law, fraud and embezzlement, shareholder and partner disputes, and local counsel services for out-of-state attorneys and in-house counsel. Court admissions extend to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, and Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, enabling selective multi-jurisdictional representation despite a Chicago headquarters.

The firm operates with three named attorneys plus limited support staff within a 1-10 employee band, executing a partner-led model in which the named partners handle cases personally. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is built on human legal expertise, courtroom experience, and personal client relationships. Marketing is conducted through a content-driven website with practice area pages, client testimonials, and direct phone/contact-form intake. Technology infrastructure is limited to a standard law firm website and standard business communication channels; no AI, automation, or software product is offered.

The revenue model is professional services billing under flexible arrangements including hourly fees, contingency fees, and hybrid fee agreements, supplemented by free initial consultations. Client segments are primarily small and medium-sized businesses in Chicago and Northern Illinois, with secondary exposure to individual consumers and out-of-state law firms seeking local Illinois counsel. The firm is privately held by its partners with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company, reflecting a traditional law firm partnership structure.

Name

Markoff Leinberger Llc

Legal name

Markoff Leinberger LLC

Website

https://www.markleinlaw.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Markoff Leinberger LLC is a Chicago-based commercial litigation law firm founded in 2011, serving small and medium-sized businesses across contract, creditor rights, employment, fraud, shareholder, and local counsel matters via three partner-attorneys under flexible fee arrangements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Litigation Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAAAB

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYBPAHAAAA

Corporate & Commercial Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYBPAHAAAH

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYBPAHAAAM

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

Keywords

• Business litigation services
• Commercial litigation law
• Creditor rights collections
• Employment law counsel
• Fraud embezzlement litigation

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Billing: Professional services revenue from legal representation. The firm offers flexible fee arrangements including hourly billing, contingency fees, and hybrid fee agreements. This allows the firm to serve clients ranging from individual plaintiffs to large businesses with varying risk tolerances and payment preferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Markoff Leinberger LLC is a Chicago-based business litigation law firm that provides legal representation and counsel to small and medium-sized businesses and select individuals in commercial litigation matters. Its core offerings span contract and lease disputes, creditor rights and commercial collections, employment law, fraud and embezzlement litigation, shareholder and partner disputes, and local counsel services in Illinois and federal courts.

Product overview

Markoff Leinberger LLC is a Chicago-based business litigation law firm offering legal services since 2011. The firm provides a portfolio of legal services including Contract & Lease Disputes, Creditor Rights & Commercial Collections, Employment Law, Fraud & Embezzlement Litigation, Shareholder & Partner Disputes, and Local Counsel Services. The firm serves small and medium-sized businesses in Chicago and surrounding areas, offering flexible fee arrangements including contingency and hybrid fee agreements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract & Lease Disputes Legal Services Legal representation and counsel for businesses dealing with contract drafting and review, breach of contract, partnership disputes, and commercial lease disagreements.
• Creditor Rights & Commercial Collections Aggressive debt collection and creditor rights representation, including pre-judgment litigation, post-judgment enforcement, and foreign judgment registration in Illinois.
• Employment Law Services Legal counsel for employers on employment contracts, severance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage theft matters.
• Fraud & Embezzlement Litigation White-collar crime litigation services for fraud and embezzlement cases, including internal fraud investigations and recovery of stolen assets.
• Shareholder & Partner Disputes Legal representation for disputes among shareholders, members, and partners, including breach of fiduciary duty, buyouts, dissenter's rights, and dissolution matters.
• Local Counsel Services Local counsel representation for law firms and in-house counsel in Illinois and federal courts in the Chicago area and northern Illinois.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Much Shelist, P.C. Chicago-based business law firm serving SMBs and middle-market companies with commercial litigation, employment, creditor rights, and transactional work — directly overlapping with Markoff Leinberger's practice mix and target client.
• BatesCarey LLP: Chicago litigation boutique focused on commercial disputes, employment, and professional liability matters for businesses — a closely matched peer in size, geography, and practice scope.
• Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Gorn, LLC: Chicago business law firm offering commercial litigation, creditor rights, real estate, and corporate services to closely held businesses — a comparable Chicago boutique serving the same SMB litigation market.
• Litchfield Cavo LLP: Chicago-based litigation firm focused on commercial disputes, creditors' rights, and insurance defense for businesses — comparable boutique-style peer operating in adjacent Illinois markets.

Broad incumbents

• Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP: Chicago-headquartered national law firm with broad litigation, employment, and creditors' rights practices serving businesses — a larger incumbent competing for the same Chicago commercial litigation work.
• Freeborn & Peters LLP: Chicago-based full-service business law firm with substantial commercial litigation, employment, and creditors' rights practices — competes for SMB and mid-market litigation clients in the same geography.
• Akerman LLP: National law firm with a strong Chicago presence covering commercial litigation, employment, real estate, and creditors' rights — a broader incumbent overlapping on several of Markoff Leinberger's core practice areas.
• Michael Best & Friedrich LLP: Full-service firm with a Chicago office handling commercial litigation, employment, and business disputes for companies — a larger competitor with overlapping SMB and mid-market litigation work.
• Cozen O'Connor: National law firm with a Chicago commercial litigation practice serving businesses in contract, employment, and creditor matters — a broad incumbent competing for similar Illinois-based clients.
• Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP: National business law firm with a Chicago office covering commercial litigation, employment, and creditors' rights — a broader incumbent serving a comparable SMB and mid-market client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Markoff Leinberger Llc