Leonard C. Brahin
Associate
Overview
Leonard C. Brahin is a litigation and legal service transactions attorney in Holland & Knight's Chicago office.
Litigation. Mr. Brahin's litigation practice focuses on representing plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation involving temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. He has challenged adversarial corporate boards and the U.S. government in vindicating the rights of injured individuals and companies, as well as navigating complex federal issues, including the separation of powers, First Amendment, Due Process Clause and Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Legal Services Transactions. Mr. Brahin's legal service transactions practice focuses on professional responsibility and regulatory guidance for dozens of sales, acquisitions and investigations involving investors and law firms establishing management service organizations (MSOs) and alternative business structures (ABS). In addition to ensuring compliance with the rules of professional conduct at all stages of a deal, Mr. Brahin has guided clients on how to adapt to and counter legislative efforts seeking to undermine these transactions, including preparing white papers, advocating on behalf of stakeholders and drafting legislative counterproposals.
While in law school, Mr. Brahin spent two semesters externing for the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and one semester assisting with nearly two dozen appeals for the Honorable John Z. Lee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. During that time, he was an active member of the DePaul Law Review, Moot Court Decalogue Society and DePaul Federal Bar Association.
Prior to law school, Mr. Brahin worked for a transportation logistics company in Chicago.
Representative Experience
- Represented a paper business in its enforcement of its noncompete agreement against a breaching party
- Represented a home healthcare provider in seeking relief against a federal agency for an improper limitation on its services without notice and a hearing
- Represented a contender for a corporate board in having his name placed on the ballot
- Represented corporate directors in their reinstatement to a nonprofit board after their improper removal
- Represented a member of a nonprofit organization after being improperly removed from general membership
- Represented a buyer in the purchase of a property after the seller attempted to renege on the sale
- Defended a law firm against a former employee's challenge to a name, image and likeness (NIL) agreement
- Defended a corporate director against a derivative action seeking to delay an important board meeting
- Defended a business against a nuisance claim during a long-term construction project
- Defended an unincorporated association against an antitrust lawsuit challenging its core policy practices
- Advised a business in an All Writs Act challenge to a concurrently filed state court complaint designed to avoid federal jurisdiction
- Advised a business seeking equitable relief against a company holding its website hostage
- Advised a bidder in a lowest-bidder lawsuit against a municipality
- Represented a real estate company in its Appointments Clause challenge to a qui tam action
- Represented a financial services employer in connection with a non-solicitation action against a former employee
- Represented hotels in connection with the eviction of delinquent guests
- Defended a water park against a junk fees class action case
- Defended a major commercial retailer against a $200 million contract dispute with an outside vendor
- Defended a municipal employer against a First Amendment and Title VII challenge to its vaccine mandate
- Defended a medical review officer against federal employment discrimination claims with respect to a fitness-for-duty determination
- Defended a publisher against a state qui tam action based on its alleged sales practices
- Obtained the reversal of a law firm disqualification arising from a corporate affiliate-based conflict of interest
- Advised lawyers, interest groups and investors on regulatory implications of Illinois attorney regulation legislation
- Advised nonlawyer investors and law firms on the propriety of purchasing and selling an attorney's name, image and likeness (NIL) rights
- Advised a criminal defense firm on its professional obligations when responding to government interview and grand jury subpoena requests
- Advised a law firm on the separation procedures when a named partner exits the firm
- Defended a law firm in a state bar trust account investigation
- Defended a personal injury attorney in an Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) investigation
- Advised a jury consultant company on appropriate fee structure options under the Rules of Professional Conduct
- Represented Orion Legal MSO, a managed services organization (MSO) owned by Uplift Investors, in its partnership with Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, a personal injury firm operating in Kentucky and Tennessee; advised on transaction structure, regulatory and ethical considerations, and supported matters associated with the MSO model
- Represented Norm Ai in its establishment of an MSO; advised on transaction structure, regulatory and ethical considerations, and supported matters associated with the MSO model
- Represented multiple investor groups in connection with their investments in legal services MSOs supporting debt collection-focused law firms
- Represented multiple personal injury law firms in connection with the establishment and sale of legal services MSOs to outside investors
- Represented a corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) law firm with the establishment and sale of a legal services MSO to outside investors
- Represented several artificial intelligence (AI)-native law firms in establishing an MSO
- Represented a healthcare law firm in establishing an MSO
- Represented a regulatory law firm in establishing an MSO
- Represented a wills and trusts law firm in establishing an MSO
- Represented an incarcerated client seeking post-conviction relief with respect to claims of ineffective assistance of counsel arising from sentencing misadvice
- Represented an individual in a revenge porn matter, removing sensitive materials from the internet pursuant to the Take It Down Act
- Represented a karate studio in a landlord-tenant dispute related to COVID-19
Credentials
- DePaul University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude
- University of Pittsburgh, B.A., Communication, Politics and Philosophy, magna cum laude
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, 2025-Present
- Chicago Bar Association, 2024-Present; Young Lawyers Section, Director, 2026-Present; Young Lawyers Section, Professional Responsibility Committee Chair, 2025-Present
- The Saints, Volunteers for the Performing Arts, 2024-Present
- Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2022-Present
- DePaul Decalogue Society, President, 2022-2024
- Most Improved Committee, Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2026
- Order of the Coif
- Order of the Barristers
- Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award, DePaul University College of Law, 2024
- President's Award for Service, DePaul University College of Law, 2023
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Litigation Laboratory, DePaul University College of Law, Spring 2023
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Trial Advocacy I, DePaul University College of Law, Spring 2023
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Business Organizations, DePaul University College of Law, Fall 2022
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Torts, DePaul University College of Law, Fall 2021