Attorneys

Hofbauer Law Group was founded in 2018 by Sarah Lash-Hofbauer after many years litigating creditor’s rights in Chicago and New York. During her practice, Sarah recognized a need in the legal market for firms that focus on SBA-related documentation, compliance, and liquidation matters.

Sarah has worked with a broad range of SBA lenders, from community banks to national institutions, and understands the challenges lenders face in navigating the SBA’s origination, servicing, and liquidation requirements. She negotiates and drafts documents for all types of lending transactions, whether originations or refinances, and manages workouts efficiently through forbearance agreements, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and loan modifications. Lenders also turn to her for due diligence and enforcement reviews of existing or prospective files.

In addition to SBA lending, Sarah has significant experience in real estate law. She reviews contracts, negotiates and drafts commercial leases, handles evictions, and addresses tax appeal matters. Having represented both borrowers and lenders in banking and real estate transactions, Sarah brings a comprehensive perspective that clients value. Lenders and clients appreciate her clear, practical advice and often rely on her as a primary point of contact for legal and property matters.

Bar Admissions:

Indiana State Bar

Illinois State Bar

New York State Bar

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 

Jennifer Hughes is a trusted advisor to SBA lenders.  She focuses her practice on commercial loan documentation, creditor's rights,  commercial litigation and bankruptcy actions. 

Jennifer also counsels lenders on SBA related issues, including compliance with the SBA’s Standard Operating Procedures, and oversees local attorneys in various jurisdictions.

Prior to joining Hofbauer Law, Jennifer gained invaluable banking and real estate experience as a managing attorney for a large law firm in Chicago. Representing banks at a large creditors’ rights firm for several years developed her considerable skill as a litigator.

Jennifer was a faculty lecturer for the March 2018 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education on Basic Enforcement of Judgments held in Chicago and co-authored the IICLE on that topic. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and serves as Co-Chair on the Executive Board of the Alliance for Women. Jennifer graduated from Illinois State University in 2005 with a BA in Political Science and holds her JD from The John Marshall School of Law. She has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 2009 and the Northern District of Illinois since 2011. She recently completed her application with the State Bar of New Jersey and is registered to practice law in the State.

Bar Admission 

Illinois State Bar 

New Jersey State Bar

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 

Crystal V. (Sava) Cáceres practices in the areas of bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, and creditors’ rights. She is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago (2001) and Northern Illinois University College of Law (2008) and is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the United States District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois. Ms. Cáceres is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and American Bankruptcy Institute. Prior to joining Hofbauer Law Group, Ms. Cáceres practiced at a mid-sized law firm where she focused on bankruptcy, foreclosure litigation, eviction and housing court matters. 

Education

Northern Illinois University (J.D., 2008)

Loyola University of Chicago (B.A., 2005)

Bar Admission

Illinois State Bar

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Vanja Crowe serves as Operations Manager and Paralegal at Hofbauer Law Group and brings extensive experience across the loan, real estate, and legal industries. Before joining Hofbauer Law, she was Director of Operations for one of the largest real estate brokerages in the world. She also worked as a licensed loan originator for a nationwide mortgage lender and as a paralegal at a multi-state law firm.

Since 2018, Vanja has built a diverse background that is essential to the firm’s day-to-day operations. She is well-equipped to support Hofbauer Law’s clients and ensure their needs are handled efficiently and effectively.