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When at a crossroads in your career, the next step is often murky and ambiguous. We partner with senior executives, helping you navigate employment and consulting agreements, equity participation, termination agreements, and company transitions.
Exceptional outcomes happen when you learn to communicate your value and advocate for your desired pathway to success. We understand the mix of personal and professional stress that occurs—and we guide each leader from chaos, fear, anger, and lack of control to a place of safety and certainty.
Partner with us and you can expect transparent conversations, candid feedback, and expert legal counsel.
“Laurel Bellows is a strategic thinking lawyer with decades long experience negotiating employment and separation agreements. She is tough but professional, pays special attention to non-compensation issues and is particularly savvy negotiating equity participation and non-compete provisions. If I were to entertain a new senior leadership role, I would most definitely want Laurel on my side of the employment negotiations and the earlier in the process the better.”
— Steven L. Brown
Executive Entrepreneur
“Laurel Bellows is a brilliant strategic thinker and doer. She gets incredible results for her clients and for the non-profit causes she champions. If Laurel is speaking at a public gathering or on line, don’t miss it. She will motivate you and help you achieve your goals.”
— Linda Klein
Past President American Bar Association
“Laurel is a true expert who I highly recommend for executives in transition either by promotion, new organization or change of control. Laurel’s acumen runs deep and I personally benefited from her guidance, negotiation skills and mentorship.”
— Craig Shirley
CEO Entrepreneur
Bellows Law Group is internationally recognized for personalized counseling and vigorous advocacy.
Our expertise includes:
Laurel Bellows is the founder and managing principal of the Bellows Law Group, P.C. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in executive compensation, talent retention, and integration in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and executive employment and separation agreements for business of all sizes..
Laurel is widely recognized for her negotiating skills and business acumen as she supports senior executives at a transition crossroads that place family and business fortune at risk. It is this emotional landscape where Laurel thrives. She meets her clients at a challenging time, whether corporate separation or unanticipated offers are under consideration. She provides security, confidentiality, wise counsel, and strength based on MANY years of experience to make difficult decisions and move forward toward positive change.
In addition, Laurel is a past member of IWF’s Global Board, former President of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Network and Chicago’s IWF Forum and honored to receive a number of national and global awards. Laurel is passionate about ending sex trafficking in the United States and achieving equality of opportunity and compensation for women.
Nicholas Economakos is an expert negotiator and trial lawyer who has tried seventy cases to verdict. Working with both employers and employees, Mr.Economakos has a unique understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both parties during any negotiation or lawsuit.
He represents companies in various employment matters from numerous industries, including financial, construction, beverage, legal, research and consulting, and fabrication and design. He has also worked with organizations which fight for social justice and survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.
Mr. Economakos represents employees in all employment-related matters, including HR investigations, discrimination claims, whistleblower claims, retaliation claims. He specializes in negotiating Employment Agreements, Equity Agreements and Separation Agreements on behalf of C-suite and senior level executives with private companies and public companies in many industries, including pharmaceutical, commercial banking, cannabis, consulting, health and medical, media, tech, social media, beverage, automobile, airline, cruise line, and education.
Nicholas has successfully negotiated with numerous Fortune 500 companies including Apple, CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, Toyota Motor Corporation, Cigna, Meta Platforms, Humana, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, PespiCo, MetLife, Boeing, AbbVie, Abbot Laboratories, Honeywell International, Amgen, United Airlines Holdings, McDonald’s, Ameriprise Financial, Baxter International, Alcoa, Molson Coors Beverage, Fifth Third Bancorp, and Northern Trust.
Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Economakos earned a bachelor’s degree and graduated cum laude while captaining the NCAA Division One Men’s Ice Hockey Team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Following university, Mr. Economakos played professional hockey in New Jersey, Texas and California. He then earned his law degree while on the Dean’s List at Chicago-Kent College of Law where he was a member of the Chicago-Kent Trial Team Advocacy Program, ranked top-three in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Mr. Economakos was admitted into the Illinois State Bar and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois General Bar and Trial Bar in 2012. He is an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law where he teaches trial advocacy and coaches its top ranked trial advocacy team.
Nick has also worked with organizations that fight for social justice and survivors of sex trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.
Our firm has a global reach. By leveraging our International Referral Network (IRN), Bellows Law Group accesses trusted local counsel in every state and in numerous countries. If you’re a U.S. client working or considering a role outside the U.S., we’re here to help. We also counsel clients located outside the U.S. who seek employment or separation support as they transition to their next career opportunity.
Avvo Top- Rated
“Lawyer Superb Attorney Rating”
Crain’s Chicago Business Most Influential Business Leadersers in America”
Avvo Top- Rated “Lawyer Superb Attorney Rating”
Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment