Brett R. Valentyn

Brett is a corporate attorney and trusted advisor to business owners, boards, founders, and investors. He helps clients navigate the legal and strategic decisions that arise throughout the life of a business, from day-to-day corporate matters and growth initiatives to ownership transitions, acquisitions, and exits.

Drawing on extensive experience leading M&A transactions across a wide range of industries (from small add-on acquisitions to large public company mergers), Brett brings practical business judgment to complex situations. Clients rely on him not only for deal execution, but also for guidance on governance, risk management, commercial relationships, and strategic planning. He works closely with entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, growth-stage companies, serial acquirers, financial sponsors, and investors to help them build, grow, acquire, and transition businesses.

Prior to joining Michael Best, Brett was a managing associate at a global AmLaw 10 firm.

Solutions in action

Brett’s notable transactional experience at Michael Best includes the following:

• Represented one of the largest insurance brokerages in the US in its sale to a global publicly held professional services firm.
• Represented a supply chain solutions provider in its sale to a global investment manager.
• Represented a publicly held strategic buyer in its acquisition of a naval sensor company.
• Represented a self-storage and pre-engineered building construction company in its sale to a publicly traded strategic buyer.
• Represented a revenue cycle management company in its sale to a nationally recognized healthcare consulting firm.
• Represented a global sports technology company in its acquisition of an AI sports video company.
• Represented a global sports technology company in its acquisition of a sports software company.
• Represented a global sports technology company in its acquisition of an athletic performance tracking company.
• Represented a global sports technology company in its acquisition of a gamified fundraising company.
• Represented a sports learning management company in a combination with a strength and conditioning software company.
• Represented leading global packaging supplier in its acquisition of a container manufacturing company.
• Represented a publicly held strategic buyer in its acquisition of a parking management software company.
• Represented a manufacturer of iron casting products in its acquisition of another metal casting manufacturer.
• Represented a marketing analytics software company in its sale to a private equity owned marketing platform.
• Represented a software provider for governmental entities in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a wildlife nutrition and land management company in its sale to a leading manufacturer of outdoor products.
• Represented a transcription services company in its sale to an AI solutions provider.
• Represented a national credit union association in a merger of equals with another national credit union association.
• Represented a behavioral health technology company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a residential energy and electrification software company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a publicly held telecommunications company in sales of FCC licenses.
• Represented an adult family homes business in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a contract review software company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a strategic buyer in certain acquisitions and joint venture transactions involving portfolios of senior and assisted living facilities.
• Represented a human resources and consulting firm in its sale to a financial buyer.
• Represented a digital marketing agency in its sale to a financial buyer.
• Represented an executive coaching software company in its acquisition of a leadership development software company.
• Represented a maternal health software company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a custom cabinetry design company in its sale to a financial buyer.
• Represented a sales training software company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a strategic buyer in its acquisition of one of the country’s largest spindle repair companies.
• Represented a strategic buyer in its acquisition of a cloud-based bookkeeping division from a global professional services firm.
• Represented an educational technology company in a sale of a controlling interest to a financial buyer.
• Represented a digital drug development company in its sale to a strategic buyer.
• Represented a strategic buyer in a stock-for-stock merger with a marketing technology company.

Brett’s notable transactional experience prior to joining Michael Best includes the following:

• Represented a public containerboard and corrugated packing company in a $4 billion merger with another publicly held packaging company.
• Represented a global real estate professional services firm in its $1.8 billion acquisition of a capital market advisor.
• Represented a publicly held global investment manager in a $1.55 billion share exchange with a leading retirement services company.
• Represented one of the largest asset managers in the world in its $1 billion acquisition of a consumer lending platform.
• Represented a publicly traded REIT in its $1 billion acquisition of its sponsor and external advisor.
• Represented a publicly held large cap conglomerate in its divestiture of a major business unit.
• Represented private equity funds on several transactions, including both platform sales and add-on acquisitions.
• Represented a publicly traded REIT in several acquisitions of medical and senior housing facilities.
• Represented a family-run investment enterprise in various transactions and legal issues, including venture capital investments, entity reorganizations, debt arrangements and contract review.
• Represented various public companies in the drafting, review and/or filing of public disclosures for periodic reporting and in connection with transactions, including proxy statements, Form S-4s, Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs, Form 8-Ks, earnings releases and Section 16 filings.
• Completed a three-month secondment with the legal team of a publicly held manufacturer of marine products, assisting with various transactional matters.