Heyl Royster

Mark Ludolph

Shareholder
Peoria, IL

Joined Firm in 1997

Mark handles disputes as they arise, proactively working with his clients to put them in the best position to succeed.

  • Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy Practice Group Chair
  • Directed the largest corporate sale in the firm’s history
Read Full Bio

Mark Ludolph

Attorney in Peoria, IL

Mark focuses his practice on all areas of business litigation, including creditor's rights, bankruptcy, shareholder/partnership disputes, and commercial transaction litigation. Joining the firm in 1997, Mark is currently a Shareholder and Partner in the Peoria office and serves as the Chair of its Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Practice Group and as Co-Chair of the firm's Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

Mark has experience in handling a wide variety of complex litigation matters, including business break-ups, construction defects, bankruptcy preference and adversary litigation, toxic torts, will contests, and mechanics liens. He routinely represents business clients throughout the state and federal courts of Illinois and the state courts of Iowa and Missouri. He also practices in bankruptcy courts throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Mark's clients include Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions, commercial lenders, property owners, construction companies, agribusiness companies, and not-for-profit corporations. In addition to his litigation work, he has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, assisting businesses with buyouts, stock sales, and asset purchases. Mark directed the largest corporate sale in the firm's history.

Taking a comprehensive approach to advising his clients, he handles disputes as they arise and is proactive in working with clients. He develops business practices and processes that minimize the chance of litigation while putting the client in the best position to succeed should litigation become necessary. He maintains long-term relationships with his clients, focusing on cooperation toward achieving the client's goals.

Mark is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and has served on the Commercial Litigation Steering Committee for several years. He served as the Commercial Litigation Vice Chair for the 2023 Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Super Conference and is currently the Commercial Litigation Chair for the 2024 Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Super Conference. He also serves as Chair of the Commercial Litigation’s Financial Institutions SLG (Specialized Law Group). He is also a member of the Illinois Defense Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, Peoria County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois, and the Missouri Bar Association. He has spoken before the Federal Bar Association for the Central District of Illinois, the Peoria County Bar Association, and local business organizations such as the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. He has provided in-house continuing legal education to corporate clients' legal departments and training to businesses and their employees on legal issues impacting their work.

Mark is incredibly proud of his volunteer work with the Peoria Notre Dame Junior Football program. He had the privilege of coaching and serving on its Board of Directors for eight years, teaching the fundamentals of football and what it means to be a team player. More significantly, he helped young men build and foster lifelong friendships, teach good sportsmanship, promote personal responsibility through community service, and lay the foundation for moral excellence.

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 1997

B.A., Eastern Illinois University, summa cum laude, Speech Communication

Licensure(s) and Admission(s)

State Courts of Illinois

State Courts of Iowa

State Courts of Missouri

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Affiliations

Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois

Defense Research Institute, Commercial Litigation Steering Committee

Illinois Defense Counsel

Illinois State Bar Association

Peoria County Bar Association

The Missouri Bar Association

Results

  • Fritz v. Weather Shield Manufacturing, Inc. – Plaintiffs sued our defendant for breach of contract and warranty regarding windows used in the construction of the plaintiff's home. The plaintiffs sought both replacement costs and compensatory damages of $60,000. Our defendant's motion to dismiss the breach of contract claim and claim for compensatory damages based on the limitations of the expressed warranty was granted. At trial, the verdict was entered in favor of our defendant on the breach of a warranty claim.
  • In Re Estate of Helen Blair – Plaintiff sought to have annuity proceeds included in a probate estate. Defense verdict.

Presentations/Publications

Presentations

“Tips of the Trade: Bankruptcy Practice: Chapter 7 Basics,” The Federal Bar Association’s Central District of Illinois Chapter Seminar (2018)

“Strategies to Get Paid: ‘Mechanics Lien Act and other laws you need to know to collect receivables,’” Heyl Royster “Avoiding Litigation Part Deux” Seminar (2018)

“Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” IICLE Mortgage Foreclosure – The Meltdown Continues (2010)

“Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” Peoria County Bar Association Veterans Affairs Seminar (2008)

“Landowner Liability and Risk Management,” University of Illinois Extension Free Hunting Workshop (2006-2008)

Publications

The Business Suit,” DRI’s Commercial Litigation Committee newsletter (2016)

"Seven Things Business Owners Need to Know About Bankruptcy Preferences," Interbusiness Issues (2016)

Awards/Recognition

  • Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media

Public Profile

Mark focuses his practice on all areas of business litigation, including creditor's rights, bankruptcy, shareholder/partnership disputes, and commercial transaction litigation. Joining the firm in 1997, Mark is currently a Shareholder and Partner in the Peoria office and serves as the Chair of its Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Practice Group and as Co-Chair of the firm's Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

Mark has experience in handling a wide variety of complex litigation matters, including business break-ups, construction defects, bankruptcy preference and adversary litigation, toxic torts, will contests, and mechanics liens. He routinely represents business clients throughout the state and federal courts of Illinois and the state courts of Iowa and Missouri. He also practices in bankruptcy courts throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Mark's clients include Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions, commercial lenders, property owners, construction companies, agribusiness companies, and not-for-profit corporations. In addition to his litigation work, he has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, assisting businesses with buyouts, stock sales, and asset purchases. Mark directed the largest corporate sale in the firm's history.

Taking a comprehensive approach to advising his clients, he handles disputes as they arise and is proactive in working with clients. He develops business practices and processes that minimize the chance of litigation while putting the client in the best position to succeed should litigation become necessary. He maintains long-term relationships with his clients, focusing on cooperation toward achieving the client's goals.

Mark is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and has served on the Commercial Litigation Steering Committee for several years. He served as the Commercial Litigation Vice Chair for the 2023 Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Super Conference and is currently the Commercial Litigation Chair for the 2024 Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Super Conference. He also serves as Chair of the Commercial Litigation’s Financial Institutions SLG (Specialized Law Group). He is also a member of the Illinois Defense Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, Peoria County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois, and the Missouri Bar Association. He has spoken before the Federal Bar Association for the Central District of Illinois, the Peoria County Bar Association, and local business organizations such as the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. He has provided in-house continuing legal education to corporate clients' legal departments and training to businesses and their employees on legal issues impacting their work.

Mark is incredibly proud of his volunteer work with the Peoria Notre Dame Junior Football program. He had the privilege of coaching and serving on its Board of Directors for eight years, teaching the fundamentals of football and what it means to be a team player. More significantly, he helped young men build and foster lifelong friendships, teach good sportsmanship, promote personal responsibility through community service, and lay the foundation for moral excellence.

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