“As a transactional attorney, I assist clients in closing transactions, from the everyday to the once-in-a-lifetime.”
Ms. Burkland concentrates her practice on corporate and commercial transactions, with extensive experience negotiating and interpreting a full range of contracts that govern her clients and their businesses. She advises parties in the buying, selling, leasing, and licensing of goods; distributor and sales representative agreements; terms and conditions of sale and purchase for vendors and buyers; and joint venture and contract manufacturing agreements. Ms. Burkland has significant experience in financial transactions, including secured and nonrecourse loans, leveraged lease transactions, sales and lease-backs, and other credit arrangements. She advises businesses in their formative stages and in a variety of corporate matters, including stockholder agreements and general corporate maintenance. In addition to the ordinary course of business matters, she represents buyers and sellers in significant corporate acquisitions and sales. Miriam also serves as the firm's Business & Corporate Practice Group Vice-chair.
Services
Business & Corporate
Our business is business–your business. We offer vast experience in a full array of corporate legal services.
Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Law, 1981
- J.D.
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1978
- B.A., cum laude
Memberships
- Chicago Bar Association
- Commercial Finance and Transactions Committee
Admissions
- Illinois, 1981
Professional Achievements
- Illinois Leading Lawyers: "Leading Women Lawyers," 2023
- Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer, "Top 50 Women in Law," 2021
- Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2010-2023
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005-2007; 2011
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating
- "Shareholders’ Agreements." Illinois Business Law: Choice of Entity, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Co-Author, 2020 Ed., Chapter 5.
- The Best Lawyers in America©, 2025
Experience
Representative Matters
Represents international contract manufacturer in wide range of legal matters from routine contracts; Board of Directors, stockholder and governance issues; and negotiating and interpreting credit agreements, including equipment leases and revolving line of credit and term loan facilities in excess of $100 million.
Led purchase of start-up pet tech company by a Nasdaq listed company via a stock-for-stock merger.
Represented pet insurance company in its sale to international investment firm.
Represented food ingredient manufacturer owned by descendants of the founders in general legal matters including negotiating and interpreting business contracts, managing stockholder relationships, maintaining best governance practices, and eventual sale to private equity
Represented seller of software company to a portfolio company of leading private equity firm.
Lead negotiation and oversight for multimillion-dollar sale of majority interest in two companies, including drafting of contribution agreement, operating agreements, non-competition agreements, consulting agreement, assignment documents, and other corporate documentation and consents.
Represented purchaser of medical laboratory, expanding purchaser's national network of lab facilities.
Led sale of niche textbook publisher to international publishing house.
Presentations
- Illinois State Bar Association, 9th Annual Solo Small Firm Conference, "Advising Your Client on Selection of Business Entity," October 5, 2013, Itasca, IL.