Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Glazer.
Adam, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When my kids were younger and asked about my job, I would tell them I helped people solve their problems. I must have lost track of time – between the billable hours – because before I knew it, the oldest called me on it: “that’s kind of a bullshit answer, Dad. You’re a lawyer, right?”
Guilty as charged, my child. Now, when exactly did you start sounding so much like your mother?
I started out defending medical malpractice and other negligence suits, but for the last 20 years, I’ve been a “commercial litigator,” meaning, I represent clients in business disputes, rather than in personal injury or criminal cases. Home is in the trenches of the Chicago court system, but I regularly handle cases across the country for select clients.
To track the start of my legal career, I’d have to flash back to junior year of high school when Mr. Turner, my English teacher, branded me a “sidewalk lawyer” for my (unsuccessful) efforts to diversify the curriculum with less Shakespeare and more George Lucas. I sensed Mr. Turner appreciated my advocacy, even as he entered summary judgment against me. In subsequent years, I’ve often wondered if judges who’ve ruled against me have felt the same way.
Although, my cynical kids aren’t buying it, the desire to help solve problems really did lead me to the practice of law and to finding approaches to litigation that are often original, usually assertive, always carefully considered and sometimes all three.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every lawyer’s road has potholes. You lose cases you should win and win cases you should lose. Competition for good clients has never been fiercer. Moody judges, unreasonable opposing attorneys, and clients with unrealistic expectations are obstacles all lawyers face.
These challenges, however, are generally offset by the rewarding aspects of the practice, including when a carefully devised and deftly implemented litigation strategy produces the desired result. This is what I envisioned, when I graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Law and started practicing at some of Chicago’s behemoth law firms.
While I tried some significant cases at these firms and developed relationships with some terrific lawyers and clients that I maintain today, I found the internecine politics of large firms poses a significant obstacle to success, as if practicing law wasn’t challenging enough.
Fortunately, no such obstacles are found at the shop I joined some 18 years ago, a 25-lawyer firm where I practice alongside several other large firm refugees. While it’s not exactly a dream job – like playing second base and batting cleanup – it truly feels like home. I only wish I had discovered earlier that well-constructed smaller firms, built with the right caliber of people who also happen to be outstanding attorneys, generally produce a higher quality of life.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg – what should we know?
We represent many entrepreneurial individuals and some of the largest corporations, but our bread and butter clients are probably middle-market companies and closely-held businesses. As a general service law firm, we practice in diverse areas, including corporate, real estate, litigation, tax, estate planning, and employment law.
We also have significant experience practicing in two less common areas, namely the reduction of real estate tax assessments and in protecting the interests of independent sales representatives.
My law firm is well-known for offering the level and sophistication of legal services typically associated with large firms, and because we don’t carry the large firm overhead, we are able to provide our services at much more competitive rates.
Outside of the practice, I serve as an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s School of Law, write a monthly column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, serve on my town’s Plan Commission, and take in as many Cubs games as the summer schedule allows.
What were you like growing up?
As a kid, I was never sure of the difference between growing up and throwing up.
Eventually, I learned that all families are essentially dysfunctional, and my intestinal system settled down. Until I discovered girls, of course.
Because the grass is always greener, growing up in South Florida left me yearning for more than one season. I was curious and contrarian as a boy, perhaps explaining how I started in Fort Lauderdale and ended up in the Midwest, a decision revisited every January.
College was over in a blur while the grind of law school took forever, but then, I started practicing law in Chicago and never really looked back (except to answer these questions).
Many sons learned the value of a dollar from their fathers or some enduring wisdom like good manners not costing anything. For whatever reason, the life lesson I picked up from my dad was “Why doncha turn off the lights? Whaddaya, own stock in Florida Power & Light!”
Contact Info:
- Address: 222 S. Riverside Plaza
Suite 2100
Chicago, Illinois 60606 - Website: www.sfnr.com
- Phone: (312) 648-2300
- Email: adam.glazer@sfnr.com
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjglazer/
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