Mr. Helmholz served as Assistant Director and General Counsel of the Illinois Securities Department between 1983 and 1987 when he joined the Springfield Illinois firm of Sorling Northrup Hanna Cullen & Cochran and remained there through 2003 when he joined the Springfield firm Brown Hay & Stephens through 2009. Drawing on his securities industry and regulatory experience, Scott represented broker-dealers and registered representatives in defending administrative actions and prepared private placement memoranda for various business ventures. Scott also served as one of the first members of the NASD Board of Arbitrators and represented claimants and respondents in NASD arbitrations. Scott opened the Springfield office of the national firm Bailey & Glasser LLP in 2009, where he focused his practice on mineral law litigation matters, including representation of an electric utility in disputes relating to long-term coal purchase contracts and coal producers in connection with pipeline conflicts as well as international sales, brokerage, and shipping disputes.

As a partner in Bailey Glasser’s Springfield, Illinois office, Scott concentrated his practice in civil and regulatory litigation involving energy and natural resources. He represented resource owners and developers in all aspects of mineral law, including hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") conflicts, permitting matters, land use, royalty disputes, coal sales and brokerage matters, and pipeline and railroad infrastructure conflicts, as well as electric utilities, coal operators, mineral owners, and oil and gas producers. Scott regularly appeared before administrative tribunals such as the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, as well as before state and federal courts throughout central and southern Illinois. Scott was a member of the Illinois Oil and Gas Association, the Illinois Coal Association, and the Mineral Law Section of the Illinois State Bar Association. He served as a member of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board from 2000-2004 and was its Vice Chairman/Government Relations from 2003-2004. Scott has argued cases before the Third, Fourth, and Fifth District Illinois Appellate Courts and the Seventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals.

Bar Admissions include Michigan 2018, Missouri, 1978, Illinois, 1983, U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1987, U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1989, U.S. Supreme Court, 1994 U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990.

Prior Experience includes Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Special Labor Relations Counsel, 1988-1991, Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Securities Department, Assistant Director and General Counsel, 1983-1987, Office of the United States Attorney (Southern District of Illinois), Special Assistant United States Attorney, 1983-1987, State of Illinois, Office of the Attorney General, Special Assistant Attorney General, 1989-1991, 2012-2016, Law Clerk, Hon. Charles Shangler, Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, 1978-1980.

As Corporate Counsel for Commonwealth Capital, LLC, Mr. Helmholz is a member of the Senior Management Team. He ensures the Company’s corporate finance legal services and operations function in technical compliance with firm policy.

Answering directly to the CEO, Scott is responsible for formulating and fulfilling the Company’s Blue Chip Program™ in conjunction with the firm’s technology subsidiary, Commonwealth Capital Technologies, LLC, to further implement efficiency and legal standards. In his role, Scott is also responsible for updating the firm’s corporate finance operating policies and procedures for Executive Board approval and implementation.

Mr. Helmholz also serves on the Investment Policy Committee of Commonwealth Capital Income Fund-I. Scott and his wife reside in Harbor Springs, Michigan.