Fertile Ground Legal Strategies

Owen Brugh founded Fertile Ground Legal Strategies LLC to bring clients superior legal services at a predictable and transparent cost. Fertile Ground Legal focuses in the areas of land use and zoning, business and hospitality licensing, and legislative advocacy. At Fertile Ground Legal, the overarching goal is to add value to your business or organization.

Part of how we do this is through a value-based pricing model. Instead of charging by the hour, we charge a flat fee based on how much value our work adds to your project. We believe that the old billable hour model of pricing for legal services disincentivizes clients from connecting with their lawyers as much as they would like. With value-based pricing, you’ll never need to worry about how much sending an email or making a call to Fertile Ground Legal will impact your project budget.

Our Services

Land Use and Zoning

At Fertile Ground Legal, we understand the intricate web of regulations and considerations that surround land use and zoning. Our expertise in this area stems from years of experience navigating the complexities of zoning, special use permits, and variation proposals and working collaboratively with builders, community groups, and elected officials. Owen Brugh’s background as an aldermanic Chief of Staff uniquely positions Fertile Ground Legal to guide you through the intricacies of land development. Whether you are an individual homeowner seeking a zoning variance, a small business seeking a special use permit, or a developer pursuing a large-scale project, we are committed to helping bring your vision to fruition.

Business Licensing

Securing the necessary licenses for your business is a critical step in its success. Fertile Ground Legal excels in the realm of business and hospitality licensing, providing comprehensive legal support to help you navigate the regulatory landscape. Owen Brugh’s firsthand experience assisting small businesses navigate licensing requirements uniquely equips Fertile Ground Legal to address complex ordinances and work seamlessly with City Council members and officials. From liquor licenses to permits, Fertile Ground Legal is dedicated to navigating the licensing process for your business, allowing you to focus on what you do best.

Legislative Advocacy

Advocacy is at the core of Fertile Ground Legal’s values. Our commitment to legislative advocacy is grounded in Owen Brugh’s extensive background in shaping policies and ordinances at both the city and state levels. At Fertile Ground Legal, we offer strategic guidance to businesses and organizations seeking to influence legislative outcomes. We can help you make a plan for advancing policy and help you find strategic partners to advocate for change. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of existing state and local laws or championing new progressive policies, we are your dedicated legal partner in advocating for policies that align with your vision and values.

About Our Founder

Previous to founding Fertile Ground Legal Strategies, Owen Brugh worked for seven years as Chief of Staff and General Counsel with a Chicago alderman on the Northwest Side. In that role, he advised and assisted the alderman on legal and policy issues, worked with builders and the community on land use proposals, and advocated for the alderman’s policy goals including transit oriented development and small business development. He also frequently moderated community meetings and worked with community groups, builders, and the media. Additionally, he managed a diverse staff, worked with other members of the City Council Progressive Caucus, and served as the primary media contact for the office. 

Owen also served for four years as Director of Policy and Legislation with the Chicago City Council Committee on Finance. While there, Owen advised on complex ordinances, worked with City Council members and City officials on issues before the Committee, and advised the Chairman on legal and policy matters such as third-party delivery apps, climate resilience, and state law requirements for public meetings.

Owen graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2011 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that year. Previous to law school, Owen worked as a newspaper reporter for more than eight years and also worked on several state and local political campaigns. When not working, you can often find Owen reading non-fiction, cooking for his family, or in Sec. 216 at Wrigley Field.

Contact us for a free consultation

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Name

Fertile Ground Legal Strategies LLC

4422 North Ravenswood, Suite 41

Chicago, Illinois 60640

(773) 217-8037

owen@fertilegroundlegal.com

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.