Our Venture Capital & Private Equity group has extensive experience in the financial industry, not only as attorneys, but also as investors and entrepreneurs. We represent clients in investment fund formation, private equity investments, venture capital and growth capital financing, and forming and growing start-ups.

Service Areas

Fund Formation

We advise funds and fund sponsors on structuring, forming, and operating all types of investment funds. These include hedge funds, debt funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, and other types of pooled investment vehicles. We apply our experience across multiple practice areas, such as securities and taxation, to help clients determine, create, and document the optimal structures for a fund and its general partner. We also assist fund sponsors in managing the capital-raising process with investors. Once a fund is operational, we provide ongoing compliance counsel and, if needed, dispute resolution services.

Private Equity Investments

We represent private equity funds, companies seeking to raise private capital, and investors in all aspects of financing, acquisitions, and exit transactions. Our work includes structuring investor returns, providing tax advice, and preparing or reviewing offering materials and designations of equity ownership classes and distribution preferences in a limited liability company or partnership. We also serve as counsel to portfolio companies in a variety of industries. Our extensive industry knowledge, combined with our deep understanding of the private equity business and financial markets, is of significant value to all our private equity clients.

Venture & Growth Capital

Michael Best represents venture capital and angel investors, funds, and financial institutions in everything from initial seed rounds to later-stage investments and portfolio management. We have worked with hundreds of investors and start-ups across the country, and we understand the fast-moving world of emerging and high-growth companies. Some of our attorneys are also investors and entrepreneurs, giving us firsthand insight into effective strategies for finding the right investment partners, structuring deals, and achieving growth objectives.

Start-up & Emerging Companies (Venture Best®)

Our Venture Best® group works closely with entrepreneurs, and with their VC and angel investors, to help new, rapidly growing companies find financial backing and expand their businesses. In addition to transactional work, we counsel early-stage businesses on their financial, organizational, and regulatory needs as they grow. We also provide crucial value-added services to start-ups, such as advising on business plan and pitch development, making investor introductions, and team-building referrals. Our extensive network of contacts enables us to help each entrepreneur find the right investors — and vice versa.

Click here to link to the full suite of services.