Jeffrey D. Schmidt

Good corporate counsel should do more than protect clients against negative outcomes—it should create value and maximize growth. I advise clients as a strategic partner invested in their success. We work together to navigate risk and capitalize on opportunities to deliver a positive return on their legal investment.

Jeff Schmidt joined Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd. in 2026. He focuses his practice on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and advising privately held businesses.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Jeff represents clients as lead transaction counsel and serves as outside general counsel to closely held and family-owned businesses. He also regularly engages with clients on routine business matters to maintain a current and practical understanding of the issues affecting their operations.

Jeff’s practice centers on mergers and acquisitions in the middle market, where he represents both buyers and sellers in varied and diverse businesses, including professional services, manufacturing, food and hospitality, technology, design and engineering services and a broad range of other industries. Clients engage Jeff for more than just technical legal work, relying on him to help organize, coordinate, and drive deals forward. He routinely partners with accountants, brokers and investment bankers and other professional advisors to keep deals aligned and moving to successful conclusions.

In addition to his transactional work, Jeff guides closely held and family-owned companies on contracts, governance, employment matters, and risk management. He emphasizes practical, business-minded judgment and assists clients in evaluating decisions across the full lifecycle of their businesses—from founding to growth and expansion to succession and exit.

Jeff also counsels clients in the negotiation and resolution of business disputes, including disputes among owners and business partners and broader commercial matters. He approaches these issues strategically and often resolves them prior to the onset of formal litigation, with an emphasis on preserving value and, where possible, business and personal relationships. Jeff frequently collaborates with financial advisors and estate planning professionals to integrate succession and asset protection strategies and efficiently coordinates legal matters across disciplines to deliver cohesive and cost-effective representation.

Prior to joining GSRNH, Jeff led the corporate practice at a prominent Chicago firm. There, he advised businesses, families, founders and entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders across a variety of industries, assisting them in navigating transactions and other complex strategic issues, as well as managing routine legal and operational needs.