"The perfect client is someone who has reached a point where they need a higher degree of expertise and more counseling, such as a start-up with significant aspirations or a successful business that wants to break through to the next level. They are looking for someone to help them build their business, not just execute legal documents."
Sean is a partner in HMB’s Business and Finance Group and a member of HMB’s Board of Directors. He focuses his practice on general counsel, commercial leasing and transaction matters, predominantly serving high-growth companies, ranging from start-ups to more established entities.
Sean is known for his “consigliere-style” approach to delivering legal services, from representing transactional needs, like contracts and agreements, to offering the big picture advice that helps clients accomplish their goals. He has considerable experience helping business leaders find and create the optimal structures to operate their businesses, whether it’s for the purpose of encouraging growth and investment or for taking advantage of tax law opportunities.
Read MoreFor M&A work, Sean works closely with private equity groups on all aspects of their operations, including structuring funds, fundraising and investments, strategic acquisitions, the growth of portfolio companies and strategic exits.
Sean has strong experience advising the manufacturing and distribution industry on critical business needs such as OEM agreements, joint ventures and partnerships. He also has a depth of experience with medical and dental practices, professional service companies, marketing agencies and the technology industry, including developers, analytical firms and IT support.
The First Phone Call You’ll Make
Clients look to Sean as the first phone call they make, whether evaluating an opportunity or putting out a fire. Sean and his clients share common characteristics which also set them apart: an entrepreneurial spirit, unwillingness to maintain the status quo and deep appreciation for the value having a lawyer in a strategic long term relationship can provide for a company’s top and bottom lines.
Experience
- General counsel services
- Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures
- Commercial leasing
- Manufacturing/distribution companies – providing counsel for critical business needs such as OEM agreements, joint ventures and partnerships
- Private equity groups – structuring funds, acquisition and growth of portfolio companies, fundraising, investments, and strategic acquisitions
- Professional Services firms – especially medical and dental practices
- Technology companies – including developers and support companies
Education
- University of Michigan, J.D.
- University of Michigan, B.A.
Professional Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association, Past Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association’s Business Law Committee
- Illinois State Bar Association
News
- HMB 2021 Board of DirectorsJanuary 1, 2021
HMB welcomes Sean D. Auton, Christin A. Handa, Jeffrey A. Hechtman, David A. Hughes and Kate Kanabay to its 2021 Board of Directors.
- Client Success: HMB Represented TruQua in Sale to IBMDecember 2, 2020
HMB congratulates TruQua, a Chicago-based IT Consulting company, for its sale to IBM. TruQua will enable IBM to broaden its consulting expertise and capabilities to help clients implement SAP solutions that will improve and automate financial management workflows, enhance operational efficiency and, ultimately, drive an enterprise-wide transformation through the adoption of SAP S/4HANA, the latest generation of SAP's ERP business…
- HMB Represents NextLevel in $50M Merger with California-Based Healthcare CompanyJanuary 10, 2020
NextLevel Health Innovations, Inc. ("NextLevel"), a managed care health plan for Cook County residents with Medicaid known for its community involvement, has signed a Merger Agreement with Molina Healthcare, Inc. ("Molina"), a FORTUNE 500 company. HMB represented NextLevel in the negotiation and signing of the Merger Agreement. As part of the transaction, Molina will assume the right to serve approximately…
- Attorneys in Action: Sean Auton gives back with Facing Forward to End HomelessnessAugust 28, 2019
Sean Auton, an HMB partner and member of HMB's Business and Finance practice, gave out plenty of high-fives at Facing Forward to End Homelessness's Board/Resident picnic. Sean works with Facing Forward as a board member. Facing Forward ends the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and social services. Once critical needs such as food and housing are met, clients at…
