Overview

Jake focuses his practice on representing public and private companies, entrepreneurs, private equity firms, and financial and institutional clients in a broad range of corporate and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity issuances, corporate restructurings, venture capital and angel investing, strategic alliances, and corporate governance matters. Jake counsels management, directors and shareholders in connection with entity formation, contract negotiation, operational and employment issues, commercial leasing, financing, and exit strategies. He has experience in transactions involving healthcare, manufacturing, technology, aerospace, real estate, and service sectors.

Experience

SECURITIES

• Represented medical device company in private placement of convertible preferred stock
• Represented mezzanine investment fund in subordinated debt financing transactions
• Represented management consulting company in issuance of common stock
• Represented services company in issuance of subsidiary minority membership interests and private debt transactions
• Represented food processing company in “down round” sale of preferred stock
• Represented medical parts distributor in recapitalization, dividend, and issuance of securities to venture capital investors
• Represented biotech company in issuance of senior preferred stock
• Represented software development company with issuance of convertible preferred units

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

• Represented private equity fund in leveraged buyout of metal processing company
• Represented public company in acquisition of polymer manufacturing division
• Represents sellers and purchasers in healthcare practice acquisitions and dispositions
• Represented aerospace parts manufacturer in asset sale to public company
• Represented marketing design and distribution company in multiple add-on acquisitions
• Represented online publishing company in sale to media group
• Represented private equity firm in acquisition of physical rehabilitation services company
• Represented privately held industrial equipment dealership in asset disposition
• Represented healthcare supplies company’s management team in negotiation of executive compensation and “roll over” of stock in private equity sale

Recognition

• 2009 – Selected to Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Areas of practice: Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions.

Recent Articles

• Mitigating risk in M and A transactions
• Company Succession Planning 101: Address basic questions before selling closely held business
• Mitigate M and A risk through due diligence, deal structure and favorable terms

Presentations

• September 14, 2017, NBI Seminar (“Business Law: Start to Finish“), “Selecting the Best Business Structure – LLCs, S-Corps, C-Corps and More” and “Forming Limited Liability Companies (LLCs),” Akron, Ohio
• November 20, 2013, Startup Lakewood, StartupU – Early Stage Business Structures, Compliance & Best Practices: Common Questions By Entrepreneurs
• September 19, 2013, Cleveland Metro Bar Association, Business Contracts A-Z: Reviews, Drafts & Negotiations

Associations

• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association