PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Attorney. The Law Offices of Gary E. Cooke II

Chicago, Illinois January 2001 - Present

Responsibilities Include:

• Attorney for LLC's, partnerships and approximately twenty-five (25) corporations

• Trademark evaluation, filings and defense and Copyright filings

• Attorney for several condominium associations

• Condominium conversion representation, including development of declaration, by laws, closing on real estate sales and handling construction issues

• Residential and Commercial Real Estate closings

• Residential, Commercial and Equipment Leasing

• First Chair in civil litigation matters in such areas as real estate, leasing, construction, mechanicsÕ liens, employment, condominium law, collections and contracts

• The evaluation, preparation and execution of a variety of Asset and Stock Sale Transactions, Restructurings, Refinancings and Turnarounds

• Performing and examining valuations and performing due diligence investigations on business opportunities examining all aspects of the target business

• Attorney for entrepreneurs, working with clients to create business structures, determine share allocations and structures, analyze financial conditions, and shop business ideas and business plans

• Franchise purchase evaluation and Franchise development

• Evaluation, preparation and development of Marketing relationships, Joint Ventures and Licensing transactions including Secrecy and Know-How agreements

• Evaluation, preparation and development of employment, sales representation and consulting agreements

From March, 2022 to September, 2022, Mr. Cooke was employed by Robert Half Legal and handled a temporary assignment as a Commercial Real Estate Attorney for Buffalo Wild Wings. Mr. Cooke assisted with due diligence in store renovation projects and performed extensive property declaration (small developments to mega=mall complexes, PUDs) lease, title, easement and survey review.

From June, 2015 - October, 2016, Mr. Cooke acted as General Counsel for a commercial construction excavation and demolition sub-contractor, including associated entities such as a tractor trailer fleet company and a non-profit community development corporation.

From 1997 - 2001, Mr. Cooke acted as General Counsel on a $25 Million Dollar Private Placement for a start-up Airline.

Prior to January, 2001, Mr. Cooke worked in several different practice settings. Mr. Cooke began practicing law in Chicago in 1988, working for a small law practice and then a firm of approximately 35 attorneys.

Founding partner of Cooke & Niehaus. July, 1999 to January, 2001

Founding partner of Cooke & Whitcomb. May,1996 to July,1999

The Law Office of Gary E. Cooke II. October, 1991 - May, 1996

Brydges, Riseborough, Morris, Franke and Miller (firm of about 35 attorneys). 1988 - 1991

Ralston Purina Company, Legal Intern, St. Louis, Missouri. 1986-1987

At Ralston Purina, he reported to senior counsel and the general counsel and wrote memoranda on a variety of corporate legal issues in the areas of Securities Regulation, Acquisitions, Partnerships, Secured Transactions, Products Liability and Labor Relations.