Building a scalable business takes support from the ground up. Our Venture Best legal team helps companies lay a strong foundation for growth—and we can support you at every stage of the business life cycle.
During the early stages of building your business, we advise on critical issues like entity structure, founder ownership, intellectual property, and tax planning.
When it’s time to move from vision to reality, we’ll guide you through the process of forming, operating, and growing your company.
Customized Support for Start-Ups
For a new company to succeed, it has to be properly set up. The right legal guidance can help entrepreneurs manage risk and capitalize on opportunities.
Every business has different needs, and those needs change over time. That’s why our services are designed for maximum flexibility and tailored to your specific goals.
One-Stop Shopping
As a full-service legal provider, Michael Best can cover all the bases. You’ll get not only one-stop shopping, but also high-level advice on legal and business strategies to propel your company into the next growth stages.
Here are just a few areas where we can help:
- Entity formation
- Founders agreements
- Corporate governance
- IP and licensing strategies
- Privacy and data security
- Executive compensation
- Employment policies and agreements
- Commercial contracts
- Real estate leasing or acquisition
- Growth funding
- Tax planning
- Wealth management
- Day-to-day legal questions
Recognized Excellence
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Ranked in eight practice
areas; 23 partners named
as leading lawyers |
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Leader in delivering
exceptional client service,
AFAs, and investing in
client relationships |
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National Tier 1
ranking, based on
client feedback
and peer reviews |
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92 Michael Best lawyers
ranked in 46 practice
areas, among the
top 5% of attorneys
in the U.S. |
Meet the Team
Galen Mason is our lead transactional counsel for all of Venture Best's high-growth clients in the Chicago area. He represents companies, founders, management, and investors in entrepreneurial endeavors – many of which involve building enterprises that have never before been built. He works with clients across the country, involved in all manner of go-to-market strategies – B2B, B2C, marketplace, SaaS, manufacturing, and distribution – and across numerous industries. Galen advises on topics that touch a company's cap table or an investor’s equity position and further serves as outside general counsel for his clients, discarding trivial issues and identifying and marshaling resources for more complicated problems. He carefully builds and manages a team of Michael Best subject matter experts who provide first-in-class, proactive, and efficient guidance, the delivery of which Galen adjusts with growth of the business. This includes legal and business counsel from formation and early financings to growth stage employment, tax, intellectual property, and regulatory matters, later stage financings, commercial agreements, rapid and discreet dispute resolution, secondary transactions, and ultimately, an exit transaction
Drew Whiting is particularly skilled in helping entrepreneurs and their investors navigate corporate and transactional legal matters because he has been in their shoes. After earning his law degree, Drew founded his own firm, and later became a member of several venture capital syndicates. As an attorney, Drew provides well-honed advice to entrepreneurs, early and growth-stage companies, venture capital investors, closely-held family businesses, investment banks, and private equity firms. Drew has a passion for helping his clients achieve their growth and exit goals, and has counseled dozens of emerging companies throughout their lifecycles – from formation and funding to growth and maturation. He also represents angel investors, investment syndicates, and venture capital firms, guiding them through the formation of SPVs, investment clubs, and venture capital funds. In each matter he handles, Drew’s thoughtful approach is backed by his real-world knowledge of the issues affecting his clients.
Meet Our Team in Other Cities
Stephen Aguilar helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies, from planning at the earliest stages to funding to growth and scale-up. He provides practical advice along every step of the way, counseling clients on key transactional and business matters including entity formation, corporate governance, private equity and venture capital investments, contracts and agreements, brand protection, acquisitions and divestures, employment issues including immigration, and when needed, dispute resolution.
Rick Ressler has dedicated his 30+ year legal career to developing his general counsel corporate and securities legal practice and providing excellent service to his clients and community. Rick offers clients a deeply educated, reasoned perspective and wide-ranging experience, having represented companies large and small, publicly traded and privately held. He has experience across industry sectors including consumer products, technology, transportation, and business accelerators.
David DiGiacomo has experience working as both company and investor counsel, giving him insight and knowledge into negotiating deals on his clients’ behalf. He also has two start-ups and an MBA under his belt and thrives on helping others overcome every challenge in the book. Previously, Dave helped launch the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of Colorado to support Colorado’s late-stage, high-growth companies. Dave’s client-first approach to counseling, strategy, and practical solutions helps Venture Best clients yield results in the natural foods, agricultural, health, and technology sectors.
Shawn Stigler is our lead transactional counsel for all of Venture Best's high-growth clients in the Denver and Cottonwood Heights areas. He focuses his practice on advising start-ups, privately held businesses, business owners, investors, and investment funds, focusing his practice on business planning, forming, funding, and mergers and acquisitions.
Dan Gawronski is our lead transactional counsel for all of Venture Best's high-growth clients in the Milwaukee / South Eastern Wisconsin area. He solves legal and business problems for Venture Best clients throughout their lifecycles, from helping entrepreneurs refine early-but-visionary ideas into fundable business plans to executing successful exit transactions.