Full-Service Law Firm solving complex challenges through bold thinking, precise execution, and shared purpose.

Full Service Law Firm | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Specializing in the Intersection of Business &amp; Government

Meet our team of trusted advisors, strategic thinkers, and community builders dedicated to client success.

Learn about our full-service legal and business solutions, designed to address complex challenges for leading organizations across industries.

Access thought leadership, news, and resources to stay informed about the latest trends, legal developments, and industry innovations.

Discover how partnership, bold thinking, and precise execution drive results for clients nationwide.

Explore how our national reach and local expertise support clients across the United States and beyond.

Grow at a firm designed to bring out your best.

core/heading

Strategic Counsel for Capital Markets Participants

We serve as a strategic partner to banks, broker-dealers, investment advisers, companies, investors, lenders, and borrowers supporting clients in navigating capital raising transactions, lending and derivatives transaction, regulatory compliance with FINRA, the SEC, and the CFTC,, and ongoing disclosure obligations.

core/paragraph

Our interdisciplinary team delivers sophisticated, cost-effective, practical, and responsive guidance. We take a holistic approach to offer comprehensive representation for capital markets clients, drawing on the strength of Michael Best’s full range of practices including tax, corporate, data privacy and cybersecurity, branding and advertising, employment, wealth planning, and ERISA law.

Our Approach: Beyond the Deal, Building Relationships That Build Businesses

We give clients access to niche expertise without sacrificing responsiveness or cost-efficiency. Our team represents banks, clearing firms, broker-dealers, investment advisers, dual registrants private funds, family offices, and many companies ranging from the largest banks and broker-dealers in the world to fintech start-ups, and every size of financial institution in between.

<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW63952811 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="MB Body Text Nova" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;c197b436-9efd-5785-9bf6-6fa54729feb3|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;MB Body Text Nova&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134234082,&quot;true&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;MBBodyTextNova&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777844,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469769226,&quot;Arial Nova,Times New Roman&quot;,335559740,&quot;280&quot;,201341983,&quot;2&quot;,335559739,&quot;180&quot;,335559738,&quot;180&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,268442635,&quot;22&quot;]}">At Michael Best, our Broker-Dealer &amp; Investment Adviser Practice Group provides comprehensive legal services tailored to the needs of financial services firms, including broker-dealers, investment advisers, hedge funds, family offices, venture capital, private equity funds, and fintech companies. We guide clients through formation, registration, licensing, compliance, enforcement defense, and private disputes with customers or counterparties. Our experienced attorneys—many with prior roles in-house or at regulatory agencies—offer strategic counsel on SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulations, AML compliance, supervisory procedures, and internal investigations. Whether you're launching a new firm, responding to a regulatory inquiry, or scaling operations, Michael Best is your trusted legal partner for navigating the complex broker-dealer and investment adviser landscape.

Broker-Dealer &amp; Investment Adviser

Derivatives

<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW8168913 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="MB Body Text Nova" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;c197b436-9efd-5785-9bf6-6fa54729feb3|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;MB Body Text Nova&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134234082,&quot;true&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;MBBodyTextNova&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777844,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469769226,&quot;Arial Nova,Times New Roman&quot;,335559740,&quot;280&quot;,201341983,&quot;2&quot;,335559739,&quot;180&quot;,335559738,&quot;180&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,268442635,&quot;22&quot;]}">We represent dealers and end users across the full lifecycle of derivative transactions, from structuring and documentation to enforcement. We also offer scalable solutions for high-volume transactions, including loan amendments and documentation.

Successful relationships between lenders and commercial borrowers depend on clearly defined agreements. Our Lending team helps clients explore the full spectrum of finance options and develop the complex contractual terms that are key to mutually beneficial relationships. 
Clients, both lenders and borrowers, benefit from our focus and guidance on strategic issues and in-depth knowledge covering a wide variety of industries, which enable us to negotiate terms that protect them throughout the lending relationship. 
From structuring the transaction to performing due diligence, negotiating terms, drafting documentation, securing complex collateral, coordinating all aspects of the deal, and resolving post-closing issues, our team helps facilitate timely and cost-effective deal flow.

Lending

<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188530807 BCX8" data-ccp-parastyle="MB Body Text Nova" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;c197b436-9efd-5785-9bf6-6fa54729feb3|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469775450,&quot;MB Body Text Nova&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134234082,&quot;true&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;MBBodyTextNova&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777844,&quot;Arial Nova&quot;,469769226,&quot;Arial Nova,Times New Roman&quot;,335559740,&quot;280&quot;,201341983,&quot;2&quot;,335559739,&quot;180&quot;,335559738,&quot;180&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,268442635,&quot;22&quot;]}">Our Securities team advises public and private companies on securities offerings and private placements. For publicly traded companies, we handle a full range of securities reporting and compliance matters, M&amp;A transactions, and securities litigation. In addition, we provide counsel on broker-dealer and investment adviser regulatory issues.

Securities

michael-best/tabs

Blue digital stock market screen displaying numeric prices and a glowing line graph showing fluctuating market data.

SEC Adopts New Rules Regulating SPACs, Shell Companies, and the Use of Projections in SEC Filings

Ninety-Eight Michael Best Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 List

Texas District Court Stays Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements

Corporate Transparency Act Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements Are Back in Effect

Enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act Enjoined Again While Appeal is Heard

Capital Markets

Key Contacts

Trending Conversations for Capital Markets

Dynamic Dairy Markets Continue Amid Record Production

Five Financial Insights Growing Organizations Should Be Thinking About Right Now

SEC Proposes to Simplify Filer Status Categories and Expand Availability of Short-Form Registrations

Key Contacts

Trending Conversations for Capital Markets

Dynamic Dairy Markets Continue Amid Record Production

Five Financial Insights Growing Organizations Should Be Thinking About Right Now

SEC Proposes to Simplify Filer Status Categories and Expand Availability of Short-Form Registrations

Slide Menu

Slide Search