Lenhart Obenshain’s corporate and securities attorneys offer a breadth of experience in business formations, financings, and merger and acquisition transactions. We maintain a network of relationships with banks, angel investors, private equity providers, wealth managers and accountants in order to provide our business clients with greater access to sources of financing and strategic partners. We represent both companies and their founders, on the one hand, and private equity investors and banks, on the other, giving us valuable experience from both sides of the financing table. We look for clients with whom we can have a long-term working relationship, as we believe our knowledge about the client’s business and history makes us better, value-added counselors. Lenhart Obenshain views itself as an important and proactive player in our client’s business success.

Our services include:

• Comprehensive Business Services. Lenhart Obenshain’s attorneys possess significant entity formation and tax expertise for a small law firm. Several of our corporate attorneys hold advanced law degrees in taxation, making them well qualified to handle issues relating to choice of entity, tax aspects of partnerships, issuances of equity to employees and entity conversions, and mergers and acquisitions. Our attorneys have significant experience in negotiating corporate and limited liability company buy-sell agreements, stock option or restricted equity plans and agreements, and employment agreements. Our attorneys are also experienced in drafting employee confidentiality, intellectual property assignment and noncompetition agreements. We also prepare, review and negotiate a wide range of supply, distribution, customer and other business contracts for our clients.
• Corporate Finance and Securities Offerings. Lenhart Obenshain’s attorneys have represented publicly traded companies, privately owned businesses, and private equity groups in equity financings and securities offerings, including in the context of mergers and acquisitions, registered offerings, private placements and venture capital financings (including convertible debt, preferred stock, warrants and limited liability company interests offerings), debt financings, tender offers, takeover planning, “going private” transactions and proxy contests. Our real estate and commercial finance attorneys support our corporate attorneys in connection with asset-based loans and other commercial debt financings. We also handle all Securities and Exchange Commission and “blue sky” law filings in connection with private placements of securities.
• Mergers and Acquisitions. Our attorneys regularly represent buyers and sellers of businesses in asset and stock purchases or redemptions, mergers, spin-offs and leveraged buyout transactions. Our tax attorneys offer unique experience in structuring taxable and tax-free reorganizations, holding company formations and entity conversion transactions. We have significant experience with the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions, strategic tax planning to maximize transaction values, and intellectual property protection and transfer. Lenhart Obenshain’s real estate attorneys support our merger and acquisition attorneys with all aspects of real estate leasing and transfer.
• Emerging Growth Companies. Lenhart Obenshain represents growth-oriented, technology-based businesses from formation (whether in Virginia or Delaware) through exit. We assist clients in developing sound business plans and in financing growth, commercialization and market penetration, whether by way of venture capital or debt financings, intellectual property licensing or strategic partnering. Lenhart Obenshain’s experienced tax attorneys assist clients in the selection of the optimal form of business entity, whether a corporation or limited liability company, and in designing equity incentives and executive compensation for key employees.
• Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures. Especially for technology companies, growth financing and timely commercialization often require partnering with an industry partner. Lenhart Obenshain’s attorneys bring all legal disciplines, including business, tax, intellectual property and international, to the planning and formation of joint ventures, and to the structuring of licensing, manufacturing and distribution agreements, or other partnering arrangements. Our attorneys can also assist in structuring minority strategic investments.

Lenhart Obenshain places a premium on creativity, efficiency and responsiveness. We offer cost-effective alternatives to the traditional “billable hour” arrangement, including providing a comprehensive review of clients’ business plans and strategic options for a fixed fee, and introductions to venture capital sources such, as angel investors and private equity groups, and to commercial and investment banks, and other advisors such as accountants and business consultants, at no charge. Lenhart Obenshain prides itself in its network of relationships with private equity providers, financial institutions and other professional advisors, and routinely brings these to bear in assisting clients.

If you need legal advice on emerging company and venture capital issues,
contact Patrick C. Asplin at 434.220.6105.