Joe McQuade

Joe McQuade

Senior Counsel

Joe is a trusted, solutions-oriented legal advisor with over 27 years of experience guiding businesses through complex legal matters. With a focus on serving as Outside General Counsel, he advises companies on day-to-day legal strategy, commercial transactions, corporate governance, financings, regulatory compliance, employment law, and risk mitigation.

Clients value his ability to combine legal precision with practical, business-minded solutions, strategic thinking and strong collaboration. He has worked across industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer retail, and marketing and communications, managing a broad range of matters from internal policy development to M&A support to data privacy concerns, and dispute resolution.  Joe has experience with designing equity incentive plans and equity grant management, and advising on employee-related matters.  He has also served as a trusted advisor to clients’ and companies’ boards of directors, facilitating board and committee meetings and advising on matters related to corporate governance, fiduciary duties and shareholder relationships.  As a responsive and strategic partner, Joe helps clients reduce exposure, strengthen operations and enable business growth through proactive legal planning.

Whether advising a startup or serving as fractional GC to a mid-sized business, Joe employs an entrepreneurial mindset and emotional intelligence, consistently partnering with his clients to amplify business growth and deliver sharp insight and measurable value.

Joe received his BA from The University of Notre Dame and his JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  He lives in Evanston, Illinois with his wife and two daughters.

• Years in Practice: 28 years
• Licensed In: Illinois
• Representative Clients: Startups and Small to Mid-sized businesses in the technology, healthcare, consumer retail, B2B, and marketing and communications industries.
• Endorsements:  
• Hobbies/Interests:  Dedicated Peloton rider. Avid sports and music fan who enjoys attending sporting events and live concerts.