NewsIn the third quarter of 2024, Am Law 200 national firm Michael Best was pleased to welcome 32 associate attorneys in several practice groups including benefits, healthcare, intellectual property, labor & employment, litigation, regulatory, transactional, and Venture Best. The recent additions to the firm: Austin Office
- Jordan Lofaro – Venture Best
- Madison Dornak – Litigation
Chicago Office
- Carolyn Ayaub – Labor & Employment
- Nathan Celestine – Labor & Employment
- John (Jack) Darrow – Transactional
- Nate Linger – Benefits
- Samantha Bush – Venture Best
- Lauryn Schmelzer – Labor & Employment
Cottonwood Office
- Rachel Cannon – Litigation
Denver Office
- Landon Glover – Venture Best
- Emily Sexton – Labor & Employment
Lincoln Office
- Elaina Bailey – Venture Best
- Josh Kirkwold – Venture Best
- Miranda Rogers – Venture Best
Los Angeles Office
- Claudia Herrera – Venture Best
- Vivian Le – Venture Best
- Liana Minassian – Venture Best
- Shar Mukhopadhyay – Venture Best
- Andrew Yang – Venture Best
Madison Office
- Dallas Humphries – Transactional
- Julia Valgento – Litigation
Milwaukee Office
- Masroor Ahmad – Intellectual Property
- Tara Ajlouny – Intellectual Property
- Allison Hawkins – Regulatory
- Danial Manzoor – Transactional
- Ellie Szczupakiewicz – Litigation
Raleigh Office
- Matthew Couch – Litigation
- Christian Delgado – Venture Best
- Taylor James – Intellectual Property
- Justin Russell – Transactional
Salt Lake City Office
- John McIntyre – Transactional
Washington, D.C. Office
- Margaret McAlpin – Healthcare
Related People Preview Attorney's BiographyAllison assists clients with a variety of complex regulatory issues. She also counsels clients on other related business matters.Prior to joining Michael Best in her current role, Allison gained experience as a Summer Associate with the firm. Earlier, she was a law clerk at a boutique law firm in Milwaukee where she established corporations for clients and filed documents with the Department of Financial Institutions, drafted client communications and motions for the court, analyzed and made rec ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyAndrew brings a background in computing to his role as a business-minded lawyer and Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States (CIPP/US) practicing at the intersection of venture, data, and technology transactions, intellectual property, and deal-making. He is experienced with advising private and public technology companies, emerging and high growth start-ups, and video game studios, developers, and publishers across the full spectrum of matters required to develop, commer ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyCarolyn advises public and private businesses on a range of employment, benefits, and compliance matters. She has particular experience in the context of mergers and acquisitions, assisting clients with employment diligence in both public and private transactions. Her work also includes helping clients navigate complex employment regulations and agreements while mitigating potential legal risks, and when the need arises, counseling on workplace internal investigations and employment litigation m ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyChristian is a member of Michael Best’s Venture Best practice group, returning to the firm after completing the firm’s Summer Associate program and receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Christian’s practice focuses on corporate and transactional matters for start-up, early-stage, and established companies.Prior to joining the firm, Christian gained invaluable experience as an in-house law clerk for a multinational infrastructure and eng ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyClaudia has a background in corporate transactions, intellectual property, and entertainment law. She has experience working with early-stage entrepreneurs as well as veteran entrepreneurs on a variety of businesses from video game developers to AI companies. She continues to advise companies on entity formation, equity and debt financings, equity offerings, and more. Before joining Michael Best, Claudia was an Associate with the venture law firm O&A, P.C. During her time with O&a ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyDallas is an Associate in Michael Best’s Corporate practice, assisting clients with a variety of business and transactional matters.While pursuing his law degree, Dallas was a student associate at the Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic in Milwaukee. In this role, he provided legal counsel to start-ups and small businesses on a variety of transactional matters, including contract drafting, corporate governance, employment law, and federal trademark law. Dallas also worked as a legal ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyElaina is a dedicated and enthusiastic attorney with a strong commitment to guiding her clients in their journey to elevate their startup ventures to new heights. She provides guidance on the intricate legal challenges startups face when developing a strong foundation for their business.Prior to her legal career, Elaina found a passion for entrepreneurial energy in the Clifton Builders program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a Clifton Builder, she was certified as a Gallup Consultant i ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyEllie is an associate in the firm’s litigation group, working with businesses across various industries on complex litigation matters and civil disputes. Her background in researching data breaches and cybersecurity gives her an edge in handling third-party disputes.Before joining Michael Best, Ellie’s experience as a legal extern in the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Criminal Litigation Unit allowed her to gain first-hand experience in court, reviewing evidence, assisting w ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyEmily assists businesses with a broad range of complex litigation matters, civil disputes, and litigation avoidance strategies. She also has specific experience in wealth management and securities, including compliance with rules issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).While pursuing her J.D., Emily served as the student attorney in the Community Economic Development Clinic in Denver, where she provided transactional legal services to community-based associations and small bu ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyJack is a member of the Corporate practice group at Michael Best. He assists clients with a variety of day-to-day business and transactional matters.Jack was previously a summer associate at Michael Best, during which time he worked on a variety of corporate, tax, and real estate matters. Jack leverages additional experience from an internship at the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office, where he conducted research and provided analysis in written memos. While in law school, Jack wo ... Jack T. Darrow* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyJohn focuses his practice in the areas of complex corporate, capital markets, and securities transactions. He assists clients throughout all phases of the financing process.Prior to joining Michael Best, John gained valuable experience in supply chain management as an inventory representative for a manufacturing distributor, as well as working for a global supplier of advanced polymers and high-tech plastics as part of their procurement team.  Preview Attorney's BiographyJordan is an associate at Michael Best in the firm's Venture Best Group, where he focuses on venture capital and emerging growth transactions. Jordan supports emerging technology companies and start-up founders in the full range of their industry-specific corporate needs and through their early-stage investment rounds and cap table changes. He also represents early-stage investment funds, accelerators, angel investors and all those in between.Jordan is adept at closing private market investm ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyJosh’s practice encompasses full lifecycle representation of startups and growth companies, including formations, commercial contract work, and intellectual property protection, with a particular focus on venture capital finance and M&A transactions.Prior to law school, Josh gained experience in the industry at an ecommerce company, and also worked in the legal industry as a paralegal.  Preview Attorney's BiographyJulia’s practice focuses on legal matters related to all aspects of complex litigation, including civil disputes and litigation avoidance strategies.Before joining Michael Best, Julia gained valuable experience as a Law Clerk with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Legal Affairs, where she analyzed ongoing litigation and advised on policy adjustments, and as a Clinic Clerk for the Wisconsin Innocence Project, where she refined her legal research skills. She also served as a Rese ... Preview Attorney's BiographyJustin focuses his practice in corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, contracts and negotiations, and other transactional matters. He supports a variety of financial institutions and other businesses in navigating the legal aspects of complex deals.Clients in the technology and financial sectors benefit from Justin’s prior experience as an account manager for a multinational technology company, where he worked closely with financial institutions to meet their business needs. He ... Justin T. Russell* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyLauryn assists both public and private businesses with matters related to the employer-employee relationships.Before joining Michael Best, Lauryn gained a plethora of experience. Most recently, she was a Summer Associate with the firm. Earlier, she served as a legal intern for the Florida Department of Children and Families, in the Office of the General Counsel. She assisted attorneys in trial preparations, researched complex legal topics, and briefed senior staff on high-priority cases. In addi ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyLiana represents emerging and venture backed companies, as well as investors, on a variety of corporate and transactional matters. Prior to joining Michael Best, Liana was an associate attorney at a venture and corporate law firm, where she assisted clients with funding, corporate governance, entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and licensing and commercial agreements. While pursuing her law degree at Loyola Law School, Liana completed the corporate concentrat ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyNate Linger is an associate in the Labor & Employment Group at Michael Best focusing on employee benefits and executive compensation matters. Nate has significant experience representing clients in employee benefit matters for corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for private and public companies. Nate is skilled in advising on health and welfare-related administration and compliance issues that arise under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and the Affordabl ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyMadison is an Associate in Michael Best’s litigation practice, assisting clients in a broad range of complex litigation matters.Before joining Michael Best, Madison served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable District Judge David Morales of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In this role, she gained experience observing proceedings and preparing judicial orders relating to a wide range of legal issues including commercial litigation disputes, product liability, ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyMasroor is an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. With an extensive background in engineering, he brings a technical perspective to obtaining patent protection for U.S. and international clients, ensuring thorough and innovative solutions. Masroor’s experience bridges the gap between complex technical concepts and effective IP solutions for mechanical and manufacturing clients.While pursuing his law degree, Masroor worked as a Research Assistant for Professors Bru ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyMatt advises clients on a variety of litigation matters and civil disputes, including courtroom litigation. He also counsels businesses in litigation avoidance strategies.Matt began his career with Michael Best as a Summer Associate. He also served as a Judicial Extern for a federal district court judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, where he drafted bench memoranda, conducted research, and gained direct experience in the courtroom.  Preview Attorney's BiographyMargaret practices in corporate and transactional law, with a focus in healthcare. With her proven track record in the health and health tech industries, clients appreciate the comprehensive experience, deep understanding, and diligent attention to detail that Margaret brings to their matters.Prior to joining Michael Best, Margaret served as corporate counsel for health tech organization Carrot Fertility, focusing on regulatory and compliance issues. Her experience includes guiding cross-functio ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyMiranda provides entrepreneurial and startup clients with support through all phases of the business lifecycle. Her unique background, which includes roles in both private practice and public defense, enables her to think outside the box and devise creative solutions for complex problems.While serving as Deputy Public Defender in Saunders County, Nebraska, Miranda provided representation and advocacy for clients in both criminal and juvenile court. During that time, she participated in the devel ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyNathan focuses in the area of labor and employment relations, assisting companies of all sizes as they navigate the complex employer-employee relationship.He first joined Michael Best as a Summer Associate. Developing his knowledge and skill in both employment law and litigation, he conducted legal research, drafted employment policies, prepared client advisories, and drafted court filings.Through an earlier Summer Associate role, Nathan gained experience in corporate law, drafting certificates, ... Nathan W. Celestine* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyRachel focuses her practice on advising business on a broad range of civil disputes, complex litigation, litigation avoidance strategies, and courtroom litigation.Prior to joining the firm full-time, Rachel gained experience as a Summer Associate with Michael Best. As a law student, Rachel worked as a teacher’s assistant and as a legal intern for a criminal public defender. She participated in a traveling trial advocacy team and, together with her partner, won a trial advocacy competition ...  Preview Attorney's BiographySamantha assists entrepreneurs, corporate businesses, and investors with a variety of business and transactional matters. Her background in integrative biology gives her a unique perspective handling ventures within the life sciences and health industries.Prior to joining Michael Best full-time, Samantha gained experience as a Summer Associate with the firm. She also served as a law clerk at a Chicago-based firm specializing in corporate law, where she handled a variety of legal issues involved ... Samantha J. Bush* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyShar brings a background in the finance industry to his role as a business-minded associate at Michael Best. He provides strategic counsel to private companies, venture capital firms, and private equity entities in the technology and other high-growth sectors. Leveraging his understanding of the innovator economy, Shar advises clients throughout their lifecycle, from initial formation and funding to exit. His practice includes financing and venture capital transactions, matters related to Web3, ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyTara focuses her practice on intellectual property matters, specifically in the area of mechanical patent preparation and prosecution in the U.S. and around the globe. She has worked with a diverse range of technologies including power tools, water filtration systems, submersible pumps, underground and surface mining machines, vacuum cleaners, and lighting fixtures, among others.In her prior role at Michael Best as a Patent Engineer, Tara gained experience drafting design and utility patent appl ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyVivian is a business-minded attorney who works alongside emerging and high growth start-ups, private and public technology companies, and video game studios, developers, and publishers on an array of corporate and commercial matters. She specializes in advising emerging growth companies on entity formation, corporate governance, venture financings, employment matters, equity management, and more. Vivian also supports clients spanning multiple industries on commercial matters, such as professiona ...
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