Todd R. Eskelsen

Partner

Todd R. Eskelsen has extensive experience representing sole proprietorships, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and cooperatives in all phases of business organization, corporate and financial transactions, and day-to-day operations. As the chief legal advisor to many of his clients, Mr. Eskelsen is regularly involved in significant litigations, overall corporate strategies and implementation of business initiatives.

Mr. Eskelsen regularly advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other major business initiatives, most recently including transactions in the insurance, dairy, temporary staffing, imaging devices and newspaper industries. Such transactions have involved antitrust, securities, environmental, employment, technology, corporate governance, financial and risk management considerations and filings and negotiations with independent rating entities and state and federal regulatory agencies including state insurance departments, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), and others. The breadth of Mr. Eskelsen's acquisition experience has provided him with expertise and practical challenges from which to creatively develop solutions to the most difficult situations.

Mr. Eskelsen also represents buyers, sellers, lenders and borrowers in the acquisition and financing of real estate and has represented major national lenders in secured and unsecured financings involving real estate, stock pledges, assignments of tax sharing payments and other collateral, and in the workout of secured and unsecured loans.

Experience

As principal outside counsel to one of the country's largest grain processing and marketing cooperatives, Mr. Eskelsen has advised on legal issues arising in all parts of its business, including a major acquisition and reorganization involving 23 affiliated cooperatives and a subsequent IRS tax audit, a nationwide recall by a major food manufacturer, and several joint ventures involving domestic and foreign partners in processing, manufacturing, and marketing activities.

Mr. Eskelsen is primary U.S. counsel to a London Stock Exchange-traded temporary staffing company with operations in approximately 25 U.S. states, advising on acquisitions, corporate financings and reorganizations.

As a primary outside counsel to a midwestern state farm bureau and its more than 50 affiliated companies, Mr. Eskelsen has advised this client on foreign and domestic acquisitions and divestitures, securities issues, and its complicated organizational structure.

He currently represents the independent corporate instrumentality of a local governmental jurisdiction tasked with redevelopment of government-owned real estate properties within the jurisdiction.

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. Eskelsen serves as the outside (pro bono) counsel to several charitable groups in the Washington, D.C. area.

Previous Experience

Prior to joining Schiff Hardin, Mr. Eskelsen spent 21 years practicing corporate and real estate law at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, and was a partner there for 12 years.

Education

Professional Memberships

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee
        Executive Committee
Standing Subcommittee on Securities
        Chairman

Civic and Charitable Memberships

National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale
Chair and Director