Our corporate attorneys represent businesses ranging from game-changing startups to Fortune 100 leaders—across the country, across industries, and at every phase of the corporate life cycle. As business lawyers, we see our job as helping clients reach goals, from helping launch and secure financing to advising both public and privately held middle-market companies on securities issues and strategic transactions.
Our firm combines national practice depth with regional market knowledge to help businesses scale challenges, identify opportunity, and mitigate risk. We are goal-oriented, practical, and creative problem-solvers who put our clients—and their business needs—first.
Mergers & Acquisitions
We take the time to understand our clients’ businesses, industries, and goals, and we tailor our approach to each client, regardless of deal size. We have completed deals—on both the buy-side and sell-side—for clients ranging from small family-owned or closely held businesses and ESOPS, to middle-market companies, to large public and multinational businesses. Our experience representing private equity funds, investors, portfolio companies, and lenders enables us to see transactions from all sides and create tax-efficient structures that align risk and reward to business objectives.
We work closely with companies, investors, financial advisors, bidders, and targets to provide comprehensive deal advice, from initial structuring and due diligence through corporate governance issues, negotiation and documentation, closing, and integration. This approach helps our clients propose alternatives and respond to issues with creativity and nimbleness in a way that differentiates us from competitors in pursuing and closing deals.
One client told Chambers USA: “the extensive tenure, experience, and the genuine collegiality and team approach of the firm's partners not only brings all of the requisite expertise to any complex situation, but expedites the transaction process, lowering costs and enhancing decision-making.”
Private Equity
We represent private equity funds in all aspects of their operations—from fund formation to executing their investment strategies. Our attorneys have extensive experience advising sponsors, dealmakers, and management groups in private equity investment transactions. For our buyout fund clients, we advise on the acquisition of, or investment in and ultimate divestiture of, portfolio companies. We represent those portfolio companies in add-on transactions, borrowing, and other operational matters. For our mezzanine debt fund clients, we advise on funding and administering their loans. Many of our fund and investor clients have been clients for decades and work with us on multiple transactions each year.
Our private equity clients concentrate on investments in numerous industries, including technology, health care, media, and manufacturing. We bring a deep understanding of the unique issues and complexities in structuring and completing private equity transactions to each client engagement. We know what is “market” based on substantial fund experience and the volume of transactions completed.
Emerging Companies and Venture Capital
Entrepreneurs with innovative technologies, growth potential, and sound business models need counsel who can help transform their ambitions into profitable operations. We have represented start-ups and emerging companies in virtually every industry, including life sciences, technology, manufacturing, consumer products and retail. We advise on matters spanning the life cycle of a start-up or emerging company, beginning with formation and initial capitalization, seed funding, and capital raising to institutional funding, through exit events, such as a sale or public offering.
We also represent venture capital funds and other investors looking for investment opportunities. We know the venture investment landscape and monitor current trends for deal structures and terms. We help investors evaluate potential investments, assist with due diligence, negotiate financing, draft documentation, and structure and close transactions. Clients benefit from our vast network of relationships with venture capital and private equity firms, angel investors, investment funds and banks, and strategic industry companies that invest in emerging technologies.
Securities and Capital Markets
The lawyers in our Securities and Capital Markets practice have extensive experience advising public and private companies wishing to enter public markets at all stages of their capital-raising activities, including start-up financing, initial public offerings, and subsequent public and private equity and debt financings, companies with SEC reporting and disclosure obligations, and shareholder communications.
In addition to serving as principal corporate governance and securities counsel to publicly traded companies, we counsel underwriters and investors on federal and state securities laws. We also advise investors, such as endowment funds, foundations, pension plans, and family offices on their investments and we represent hedge funds and other pooled investment vehicles in all aspects of their operations, including regulatory and compliance obligations. Our team includes a nationally recognized Delaware Chancery Court litigation practice, which provides real-time guidance for transactions and government matters.
Transactions and Outside General Counsel
Closely held and owner-operated businesses in the middle market often face a common dilemma: They are large enough to need sophisticated counsel, yet the range and nature of legal and business issues makes a full in-house legal team impractical. We have the skill and experience to provide effective and efficient counsel to these companies.
Our integrated approach centers on providing our clients with a multidisciplinary team equipped to help clients with their specific set of issues—including commercial contracts, labor and employment, intellectual property, real estate, litigation, risk management, transactions, and business transition concerns. As a national, multipractice firm, we often call upon colleagues in our other practice areas to efficiently tailor our services to client needs.