Polsinelli Shughart Expands Private Equity Focus

CHICAGO (April 15, 2013) Michael D. Rosenthal, a highly experienced lawyer in the venture capital and private equity community in Chicago, joined Polsinelli Shughart’s General Corporate Practice as a shareholder. Rosenthal advises entrepreneurs, companies and investors, and for more than 20 years has handled matters involving fund formation, corporate mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions, workouts and restructurings and securities. That experience has led to Rosenthal being ranked among the nation's leading venture capital lawyers and Illinois’ leading private equity lawyers by Chambers USA.

“We are pleased that Michael is bringing his reputation and extensive background in corporate and private equity transactions to our firm,” said Chicago Managing Director Anthony J. Nasharr. “His deep experience working with technology, health care, and energy companies is an excellent fit for our client base throughout the firm.”

Rosenthal represents venture capital and private equity investors, angel investors and strategic investors in start-up, later stage and mezzanine financing as well as workout transactions and general portfolio management. His fund formation experience includes representing private equity, venture capital and hedge fund sponsors as well as limited partners in funds. Rosenthal also counsels companies with respect to their exit alternatives and acquisition and growth strategies.

“Polsinelli’s entrepreneurial approach was extremely attractive to me. Whether representing buyers or sellers in M&A transactions, or investors or entrepreneurs in venture capital and private equity financings, I believe my clients will benefit from the depth and breadth of the Polsinelli team and its focus on the middle market,” said Rosenthal. “The firm’s knowledge base and experience in sectors such as life sciences, health care, technology and energy closely aligns with my clients, and also provides great opportunities for further growth.”

“Michael’s representation of growth companies, entrepreneurs, venture capital companies and private equity investors are areas of significant continued expansion for our firm. We are very happy he chose Polsinelli,” said Business Services Division Chair Trip Frizell.

Rosenthal earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School where he was Order of the Coif and served as contributing editor for the Michigan Law Review. He received his B.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis, magna cum laude. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third and Seventh Circuits.  Rosenthal would be a good source for reporters working on stories about: Venture capital activity and fund formation Mergers and acquisitions in the middle market Life sciences companies, health care and medical device companies