Michael Best & Friedrich LLP is pleased to announce the elevation of five esteemed partners to the firm’s Equity Partnership. We extend our congratulations to Bart Dillashaw, Dan Gawronski, Carrie Meigs, Keith Richardson, and Brett Valentyn on this significant milestone in their careers.
“The elevations are recognition of these partners’ skills, commitment to high-quality service to clients, and leadership within the firm,” said David Krutz, Firm Managing Partner of Michael Best. “We congratulate all five of them on reaching this professional milestone. The future is bright for them and for our firm.”
Bart D. Dillashaw, Venture Best, Lincoln Office
Since beginning his legal career in Silicon Valley more than 20 years ago, Dillashaw has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital firms, public technology companies, and venture-backed startups. He leverages his substantial experience to help clients navigate the ins and outs of venture capital structures and the issues that young tech companies face when rapidly scaling. With a particular focus on venture financing and merger transactions, Dillashaw has handled countless deals, ranging from thousands of dollars to hundreds of millions, across a variety of economic environments, and through all stages of corporate development.
Daniel J. Gawronski, Venture Best, Milwaukee Office
As a member of the Venture Best Team, Gawronski advises early-stage and emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycle, including business plan review, corporate or limited liability company formation, stock options and other equity incentive plans, corporate governance, debt and equity financing strategies, corporate reorganizations and buyouts, and other general corporate matters.
Carrie E. Meigs, Litigation, Raleigh Office
Meigs is a seasoned healthcare attorney who regularly advises both established companies and healthcare innovators in regulatory compliance, credentialing, and reimbursement disputes. She acts as a strategic advisor to her clients and often serves as outside general counsel. Meigs draws on her extensive litigation experience when acting as an advisor to her healthcare and other clients and maintains an active litigation practice including appearances before state and federal courts and before regulatory agencies.
Keith E. Richardson, Litigation, Raleigh Office
Richardson is a trusted legal counsel to faith-based organizations nationwide and a principled advocate for his business clients’ most demanding disputes. Large churches, religious leaders, state and national denominations, and philanthropic ministries turn to him for sound counsel and representation. Business leaders and shareholders also seek Richardson’s guidance and tenacious advocacy when internal and external disputes arise.
Brett R. Valentyn, Transactional, Madison Office
Valentyn has a breadth of experience in mergers and acquisitions and a variety of other transactional matters to help clients navigate complex transactions and corporate legal issues. His M&A experience includes advising small-cap to large-cap companies on the buy- and sell-side of transactions of all sizes, from private equity add-on acquisitions to multi-billion-dollar public company mergers, across a diverse group of industries. He also uses his transactional skills and experience to support the firm’s Venture Best team, advising entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, and investors with their various legal needs.