Chicago-based coworking space company, Desklabs, and its owner Mehmet Muhsin Okmen are facing a lawsuit filed by Christopher V. Langone, an attorney who claims he was deceived into providing legal services without compensation. The suit alleges that Okmen manipulated Langone into acting as the company's general counsel with no intention of paying him for his work.
Langone alleges that Okmen allegedly devised a scheme to defraud him of compensation for legal services provided to Desklabs in the role of general counsel. This alleged deception began in late 2018 when Okmen and Langone allegedly discussed the idea of Langone becoming outside general counsel of Desklabs, according to the complaint.
The complaint further alleges that Langone performed numerous services for Desklabs from November 2018 through March 2020. These services included advising on seeking investors, reviewing drafts of investor packages, term sheets, slide decks and representing Desklabs in defending a lawsuit filed by Tyco.
Langone is seeking damages exceeding $75,000 for his allegedly unpaid legal services.
Langone filed the suit in Chicago federal court on Feb. 10. He is representing himself in the action.