Service Areas
- Business
- India
- Mergers + Acquisitions
- Corporate, Securities + Commercial Transactions
- Life Sciences + Biotechnology
- Venture Capital + Private Equity
- Securities
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Life Sciences + Biotechnology
- Global Reach
- India
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- Detroit College of Business, B.B.A.
- Schoolcraft College, A.A.S.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- New York
A distinctive background positions Jeffrey L. LaBine to advise his clients on how to negotiate the twists and turns inherent in the corporate world, whether they be Securities and Exchange reporting issues for a public company, venture capital or angel funding for a technology startup or public/private acquisitions or dispositions. Jeff has extensive experience both in the corporate realm and as counsel to corporate clients, principally in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and commercial financing, private equity and debt offerings and general corporate law. That experience allows him to provide his clients with a unique perspective on their issues, challenges and goals.
“My clients expect me to offer them solutions that work with their business realities, not the legal answer from a textbook that sounds great but cannot be implemented in the real world. A client once told me, and I believe it to be true, that a good lawyer is invaluable but a good lawyer that understands you have a business to run is irreplaceable.”
Jeffrey L. LaBine
A focal point of Jeff’s practice has been counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions and the often unique issues that these transactions bring, especially in the multinational arena. Jeff’s experience in this area, and often with the structures and in the countries in question, affords him the ability to give the client a preview of issues that are likely to arise and possible approaches to those issues.
Another area of expertise is in representation of start-up companies, institutional and private investors. Jeff frequently advises these emerging companies, their founders and those investing in them on diverse issues such as corporate structure and governance, private equity and debt offerings and other funding mechanisms, and joint venture and licensing activities.
Experience
Jeff has assisted clients in acquisition and divestiture transactions throughout North America, Europe, India, South America and Australia in such diverse fields as automotive and heavy manufacturing, mining assets, services and technology. Recent examples include a Swedish and Canadian stock sale for a manufacturing safety products company, a 20-country divestiture (both stock and asset sales) for a manufacturing company, a Mexican stock acquisition, a multinational stock sale for a light manufacturing company, and an Australian stock acquisition with a Canadian reverse takeover component. Jeff also recently assisted clients in structuring and forming several new Midwest-based venture capital funds, represented a major Indian bank, through its London branch, in its financing to Indian and U.S. mining companies, represented a multinational manufacturing company in connection with the refinance of its ABL credit facilities in North America, Europe and India, worked with professors at major research universities in the area on technology spinouts and assisted technology start-ups in garnering venture and angel funding.
Representative Matters
- Convention Facility Acquisition
Represented The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority in its acquisition, by long term lease, of Cobo Center from the City of Detroit.
- Safety Products Company Sale
Represented selling shareholders of Swedish multinational industrial safety products company in $22 million stock sale to US NYSE traded company.
- Manufacturing Company Sale
Manufacturing Company Sale Represented NASDAQ traded company in $121 million subsidiary asset sale.
- Automotive Supplier Company Sale
Represented multinational automotive parts supplier in sale of stock and assets of subsidiaries in 18 country product line disposition to private equity fund.
- Manufacturing Company Sale
Represented NASDAQ traded company in $14.6 million subsidiary stock sale.
- Basketball Tournament Acquisition
Represented NCAA in its acquisition of the NIT Tournament.
- Publishing Company Sale
Represented music publisher in the sale of approximately sixty percent of its publishing catalog and related assets.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Mergers and Acquisitions Committee; Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee; Model Joint Venture Agreement Summaries of International Law Supplement, Editorial Board Member; International Law Section
- State Bar of Michigan, Business Section
- State Bar of New York, Business Section
- Michigan Venture Capital Association, Member
- MichBio, Corporate Member
Honors + Awards
- Wayne State University Law Review Senior Articles Editor
- U.S. Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2008
Military Experience
- United States Air Force, 1983-88
Publications
"Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Change to 'Accredited Investor' Definition," Michigan Biosciences Link, October 2010
"Buying a Business: Don't get snagged by hidden liabilities," Detroiter Magazine, Detroit Regional Chamber, Fourth Quarter 2004
"Revised Form 8-K: New disclosure items and shorter filing deadlines," Miller Canfield Corporate and Securities Law Update, Summer 2004
"Recent Trends are Fueling Automotive Supplier Consolidation," (Jeffrey Adelman co-author) Enterprise Magazine, Michigan Manufacturers Association, November 1999
"Michigan's Adoption of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act: An Examination of the Changes Effected to the State of Fraudulent Conveyance Law," Wayne Law Review, Vol. 45-3 (1999)
Note, "Sentencing Entrapment: Activism or Interpretation," Wayne Law Review, Vol. 44-3 (1998)
Speeches
"Technology, Business Incubation and Entrepreneurship," (Panelist), China Entrepreneur Network 2010 Forum, November 6, 2010
"Charging Forward: VC, EVs and Other Next Generation Vehicles," (Moderator), Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, May 11, 2010
"Cross Border Investing, Capital Sourcing and Deal Syndication - Partnering with Canadian VCs and Investors," (Panelist), Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, May 13, 2009
"Reversing the Lens: An Acquirer's View of Venture-Backed Companies," (Moderator), Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, May 14, 2008
"Have an Idea, Now What?" (Presenter and Business Plan Competition Judge), TiEcon Midwest 2008, November 21-22, 2008
"Equity Sources," (Panelist), MichBio Annual Meeting, April 22, 2008
"Planning for Mergers and Acquisitions: What happens to employees, benefit plans and unions?" Miller Canfield Annual Employment Law Seminar, October 18, 2007
"Starting Your Own Business - Finance Panel," Starting Your Own Business Bootcamp, Ann Arbor SPARK, September 19, 2007
Ask the Experts," (Panelist), Ann Arbor Spark Business Bootcamp, May 31, 2007
"Following the Money: Where Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists See Opportunity," Crain's Detroit Business Webinar, March 19, 2007
"Corporate Issues in Acquisitions and Divestitures," Environmental Law Section - State Bar of Michigan, December 9, 2004
Seminars + Events
- Business Law & Order: Financing I
- Practical Guide to the New Michigan Uniform Securities Act
- Cross-Border Investing, Capital Sourcing and Deal Syndication - Partnering with Canadian VCs and Investors
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