Charlie Sommers joined Founders Law in 2023 and works as an Associate Attorney for the firm. His practice area focuses on transactional startup and venture matters, and clients seek his advice when incorporating, growing, and exiting their business.

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Charlie counsels innovators from all backgrounds, and develops pathways for individuals on immigrant visas to become startup founders in the US. By forming relationships with his clients at an early stage, he understands their non-negotiable entrepreneurial principles and uses this to tailor a legal strategy to their individual needs. As outside corporate counsel, startup founders turn to Charlie when raising money, entering into commercial agreements, and making calculated risks.

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His approach extends beyond a recitation of the law; he knows founders need more than that and seeks to provide trend-setting solutions for those striving to gain a competitive advantage. Charlie actively engages clients on the business side, illustrating the implications of their legal approaches on business initiatives. He also uses his network of subject matter experts in Chicago's business community to ensure that no question from a founder goes unanswered.

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Charlie earned a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and an M.B.A. in Quantitative Finance from the IIT Stuart School of Business. He earned a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Sociology from Boston College. Nowadays, he serves as a mentor at leading entrepreneurship programs in Chicago, including the University of Chicago Polsky Center, Illinois Institute of Technology Kaplan Institute, and the DePaul Coleman Center.

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When Charlie is not in the office, he can be found at a West Loop restaurant, on Lake Michigan, or at a sporting event.