Corporate

Our Corporate Practice Group is recognized by Chambers® 2025. We are also ranked nationally in Corporate Law, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulation by 2026 Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”

 

We serve as lead counsel on transformative deals and as outside general counsel to emerging and established companies. Our attorneys handle everything from day-to-day corporate and governance needs to billion-dollar mergers, leveraged buyouts and public offerings. Our clients include public and private companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, financial institutions, family offices, founders and boards of directors across industries.

With more than 80 dedicated attorneys, our Corporate Practice Group is growing rapidly nationwide. In the past few years alone, we have closed more than 200 M&A transactions and over 50 add-on acquisitions, representing an aggregate enterprise value in excess of $10 billion.

Unmatched Experience. Market-Informed Perspective.

Our lawyers bring a business-minded approach, deep industry fluency and a strong command of market trends to every engagement. We know what matters in a deal and what matters to investors, boards and stakeholders. Clients trust us for our responsiveness, creativity and the ability to deliver efficient, high-impact results.

We counsel clients on the full range of corporate, transactional and governance matters, including:

• Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures
• Public offerings and private placements of securities
• PIPEs (private investments in public entities)
• Venture capital financings
• Bank and institutional borrowings
• Asset-backed financings and securities
• Domestic and international joint ventures
• Mutual funds
• Leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and restructurings
• Fund formations and private equity investments
• Distribution and licensing agreements
• Employment contracts, equity plans and incentive programs
• Non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality agreements
• Partnership agreements and shareholder agreements
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Contract negotiations and commercial agreements
• General business counseling and outside general counsel support
• Roll-ups and consolidation strategie
• Private equity and venture capital transactions

Private Equity

Benesch is a go-to law firm for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies across the full investment lifecycle. Our clients include growth equity funds, independent sponsors, mezzanine lenders and family offices engaged in buyouts, recapitalizations, divestitures and co-investments.

Our Private Equity team distinguishes itself with:

• A dedicated middle-market focus
• Deep experience across consumer, healthcare, logistics, industrials, software and services
• Significant deal flow and market visibility
• Introductions to operators, funders and deal opportunities
• Post-close portfolio support and portfolio company growth strategies
• Innovative resources like custom training, diligence support, data rooms and more

We have represented private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in platform acquisitions and add-ons in nearly every sector—including dental and healthcare services, manufacturing, defense, software, logistics, aerospace, energy, marketing and financial services—with transaction values ranging from under $10 million to over $1 billion.

Public Companies, Securities & Capital Markets

Benesch has represented publicly traded companies for decades, with experience spanning:

• Public offerings and private placements
• PIPEs and SPAC combinations
• ’33 and ’34 Act compliance
• SOX and Dodd-Frank compliance
• SEC periodic and proxy filings (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, Section 16, etc.)
• NYSE/NASDAQ rules and requirements
• Shareholder activism, proxy contests and takeover defense
• Investor relations and board education
• Disclosure controls, document retention and governance policies

We advise boards, officers, issuers, underwriters and institutional investors in equity and debt offerings and other capital markets transactions, including tender offers, recapitalizations, special committee matters and governance transitions. Our clients range from emerging growth companies to multinational public companies in manufacturing, healthcare, consumer products and beyond.

Outside General Counsel & Strategic Advisors

We serve as outside general counsel for dozens of companies, from venture-backed startups to mature middle-market enterprises, providing day-to-day legal and strategic business counsel. We collaborate seamlessly across Benesch’s practices to deliver proactive advice on corporate governance, commercial contracting, risk management, data security, labor and employment, tax, IP and litigation matters.

Our attorneys are trusted for their sound judgment, practical guidance and ability to translate legal insight into business action.

Deep Industry Focus

We bring sector-specific experience across a wide range of industries, including:

• Software & Technology
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Manufacturing, Plastics & Polymers
• Transportation, Logistics & Supply Chain
• Consumer Products & Retail
• Financial Services
• Aerospace & Defense
• Energy & Infrastructure
• Professional & Business Services
• Education
• Food & Beverage
• Marketing
• Real Estate, and more

Our firm also has dedicated interdisciplinary teams in niche areas such as Plastics, Polymers, Data Centers, Healthcare and Government Relations, allowing us to provide integrated counsel tailored to our clients’ markets.

Global Reach, Local Insight

Through our affiliations with TerraLex and IR Global, we have trusted legal partners in more than 165 countries. Whether navigating cross-border transactions, international joint ventures or inbound investment, our team brings global fluency and on-the-ground coordination to each matter.

We regularly represent clients in international transactions involving China, the UK, Canada, Italy and beyond.

Recognition & Rankings

Benesch and its Corporate attorneys are consistently recognized for excellence by:

• Chambers USA – ranked in Corporate/M&A
• Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” – national rankings in Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulation
• BTI Consulting Group – named a Standout in M&A
• Numerous individual accolades for group leaders, including recognitions from The Deal, ACG, Global M&A Network and more

Our Work in Action - Representative Examples

• Represented Loar Holdings in its $385M acquisition of Applied Avionics and subsequent IPO.

• Represented Palmetto in its acquisition of The Cool Down, the world’s leading clean lifestyle media platform, marking the first time a clean energy company has acquired a clean lifestyle platform.

• Represented Bain Capital in its $250M investment in Cuisine Solutions and in multiple logistics and food-related acquisitions.*

• Represented Francisco Partners portfolio company Truven by Merative in its acquisition of Springbuk, a leading health intelligence solution for employers.

• Serve as long-standing outside counsel to numerous private equity-backed healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and SaaS companies.

*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch.