KRAFT LAW OFFICE

Obtained judgment  for  Chicago law firm on its 3/4's of a million dollar quantum meriut claim against an international freight forwarder and logistics company. See, Rodriguez O'Donnell Gonzalez & Williams, P.C. v. Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc., No. 15 CV 3030, 2017 WL 4010923 (N.D. Ill.) 

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Obtained   six figure judgment for Plaintiff on its Breach of Contract Claim.  Commercial Credit Corp v. Bennett, Cook County Illinois Case No. 2018 L 282. 

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Successfully  negotiated $5 million dollar revolving line of credit for Illinois mortgage banker.

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Successfuly defended $478,000.00 counterclaim for Breach of Fiduciary Duty. See, Rodriguez O'Donnell Gonzalez & Williams, P.C. v. Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc., No. 15 CV 3030, 2017 WL 4010923 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 12, 2017).  

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Aggressively defended repurchase claims brought against Illinois Mortgage Banker resulting in favorable settlements. See, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. American Financial Funding Corporation,  and FDIC v. American Financial Funding Corp.

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Obtained dismissal of borrower’s federal predatory lending claims brought against an Illinois Mortgage Banker and its president,  which dismissal was successfully defended by Kraft Law on appeal. Montanez v. Wolfenberger et al., 567 F. App'x 461 (7th Cir. 2014), cert denied, Montanez v. Wolfenberger, 135 S. Ct. 756 (2014).

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Obtained dismissal of borrower’s state law claims against an Illinois Mortgage Banker and its president based upon the doctrine of res judicata, which dismissal was successfully defended by Kraft Law on appeal. Montanez v. Wolfenberger, 2016 IL App (2d) 150753-U ). 

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Assisted nationwide mortgage lender with the preparation and submission of name change filings in NMLS and with the various governing state agencies

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Prosecuted and obtained favorable settlements for a mortgage Lender in Illinois state court actions involving Appraiser Error and Omission Claims.

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Registered Title Agent for First American Title and Old Republic Title, representing both Sellers and Buyers in Residential Real Estate Transactions.

Kraft Law Office (KLO) was founded over 10 years ago by attorney Michael A. Kraft, a licensed Illinois attorney since May 1988.    As former General Counsel to mortgage bankers United Financial Mortgage Corp. & Alliance Bancorp, Mike established KLO for the purpose of providing litigation services to clients throughout the Chicagoland area (Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle & Will Counties) and legal guidance to mortgage banking clients nationwide who seek assistance with matters regarding: Mortgage Banking Law; Lender Liability; Repurchase Claims; Civil Litigation; Arbitration; Mediation; Breach of Contract; Mortgage Licensing  & Regulatory Matters; Repurchase & Security Agreement Review & Negotiation; Loss Mitigation: Truth in Lending; Fair Lending; Labor and Employment, Collection Matters, and also available for short term Special Projects.  Since its inception in 2007, KLO’s goals and practice have been to provide excellent legal representation in a cost effective manner.  Mike’s familiarity in handling day-to-day legal issues encountered by companies doing business in the mortgage industry helps KLO achieve its goals.  With vast in-house experience, including also serving as interim General Counsel for Metrocities Mortgage (2008-09), Mike and KLO know what it’s like to procure legal services and view matters from the perspective of the corporate legal department with an eye towards achieving practical, cost effective solutions.

Mike commenced his legal career in 1988 as an associate of an aggressive Chicago based firm comprised of trial lawyers concentrating in defense and insurance-related litigation.   From late 1989 to 2001, Mike honed his litigation and business counsel skills while employed as an attorney for the mid-sized full service law firm of Siegen Barbakoff Gomberg & Kane, Ltd. and its progeny (SBG&K). At SBG&K, Mike concentrated his practice in commercial litigation, including the representation of major securities broker-dealer institutions in employment related disputes.  Around 1995, Mike began representing United Financial Mortgage Corp., an Oak Brook, Illinois based mortgage banking company ("UFMC").  In 2001, Mike left private practice and joined UFMC as its General Counsel. Mike added Executive Vice President to his title when, in April 2004, he became a member of UFMC’s executive management team.  In December 2005, at a time when UFMC had grown to become a leading nationwide publicly traded mortgage lender (then NASDAQ symbol: UFM) with approximately $2.7 Billion in annual loan originations, UFMC was sold to private investors.  This transaction resulted in Mike also becoming General Counsel to UFMC’s new sister corporation, Alliance Bancorp, a Brisbane, California based Alt-A residential mortgage lender. While serving as EVP & General Counsel to UFMC & Alliance, Mike managed all functions of the legal department including the mortgage licensing division.  Mike was also actively involved in UFMC’s acquisition of Portland Mortgage, AmPro Mortgage, Plus Funding and Vision Mortgage.  In addition, Mike regularly participated in the companies’ strategic planning, routinely negotiated the terms and conditions of various investor agreements, supported both the Human Resources and Compliance Departments, managed loss mitigation efforts and associated legal actions, managed outside counsel, and also personally handled company litigation matters.  During his tenure, Mike also served as assistant corporate secretary for both UFMC and Alliance. Due to the extraordinary economic forces affecting many employed in the mortgage industry, in the fall of 2007 a career change was thrust upon Mike and the other UFMC/Alliance Bancorp employees.  It was at this time that Mike opened his own law practice and the Kraft Law Office (KLO) was formed.  Mike received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and his M.B.A. from Rosary College now known as Dominican University.  Mike is also a proud graduate of Augustana College where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and majored in business and accounting. Mike is licensed to practice in all Illinois State Courts, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar Member), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.  Mike is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. Mike resides in Naperville, Illinois with his wife and has four adult children.