Hourglass Legal Consulting, established in 2013 and based in Highland Park, Illinois, specializes in corporate law with a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The firm caters to a diverse clientele, including small and middle-market businesses, venture capital clients, and private equity-backed firms across industries, such as business services, manufacturing, financial services, and for-profit education.
The firm is committed to providing strategic legal guidance to help clients navigate complex transactions and regulatory environments efficiently. Known for its low overhead and precision-focused approach, Hourglass Legal maximizes efficiency in legal expenditures, successfully closing about two transactions monthly.
Founded by Tom Wippman, who brings 40 years of experience in the M&A sector and serves as the firm’s president, Hourglass Legal has developed a reputation for trust, confidence, and professional capability. Wippman’s expertise spans operations, finance, and law, which enables him to secure the best possible outcomes for his clients.
Hourglass Legal’s service offerings include business formation, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, equity financings, and general commercial matters. Additionally, the firm provides daily corporate support, advising on corporate governance, contract negotiations, executive compensation, and labor and employment issues. Its mission is to support entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies, and investors by delivering high-quality, practical legal and strategic advice. He and his team focus on fostering close-knit professional relationships with their clients, assisting them through every phase to prepare and negotiate high-value situations.
He has served as internal and external General Counsel for various clients, including private equity firms, independent sponsors, start-ups, and large corporations. Notably, he was the Managing Director and General Counsel for Sterling Partners, a private equity firm with assets over $5 billion, where he was responsible for structuring, documenting, and negotiating significant buyout and sale transactions.
His extensive experience enables him to leverage best legal practices across broad networks to minimize legal risks and optimize growth. He has handled various operational and transactional challenges, such as managing sales representatives, negotiating vendor contracts, and resolving product liability issues, significantly aiding entrepreneurs and companies during critical growth phases.
Wippman’s career is distinguished by his ability to collaborate with teams to uncover and maximize growth opportunities while managing legal concerns. He is skilled in mergers and acquisitions, sales, reorganizations, and employing sophisticated debt and equity structures like warrants, options, and convertible debt. Additionally, he provides valuable management consulting to corporate executives tackling strategic issues like investment structuring and financing.
He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and an A.B. in Economics from the University of Illinois. Hourglass Legal and he are highly regarded by clients for their hands-on, strategic approach to legal challenges, consistently facilitating successful outcomes and building lasting client relationships.
