Karl Ahlm focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, financing transactions and general corporate matters.  His broad range of experience includes advising and counseling financial sponsors, companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 to lower middle market, financial institutions, individual investors and management teams on a wide range of transactional matters, including:

Mergers & Acquisitions – Representation of public and private entities in domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisition and joint venture transactions involving a broad range of asset, stock purchase, merger and JV structures.

Private Equity – Representation of private equity funds in structuring and executing platform and add-on acquisition transactions and equity co-investments.  Representation of financial sponsor and management clients in structuring and documenting employment agreements and management incentive arrangements.

Venture Capital – Representation of both venture capital firms and early stage companies in connection with equity financing transactions and related matters.

Finance, Lending & Restructuring – Representation of lenders and borrowers in structuring and documenting senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt documents and inter-creditor agreements, as well as out-of-court restructurings and equity arrangements.  Representation of clients in the purchase and sale of assets in a distressed context, including 363 sales.

Securities – Representation of investors and issuers in connection with securities offering transactions, including initial public offerings and secondary registrations and '34 Act matters and fund and investment vehicle formation matters.

General Corporate and Commercial – Representation of both public and private companies in negotiating and documenting distribution, licensing, supply and other commercial arrangements and agreements.

Karl has also served as outside general counsel to several growth oriented companies.

Recent Representative Matters

Prior to joining Gould & Ratner LLP in 2009, Karl was a partner at the international law firm DLA Piper where he served as national M&A liaison as well as the partner responsible for corporate associate training for the Chicago office of the firm.  His specific experience includes the representation of:

• Private equity funds in numerous platform and add-on acquisitions by portfolio companies, including in the food and beverage, auto supplier, manufacturing and distribution, consulting and business valuation, staffing, for-profit higher education, and health care sectors.
• Privately held, including family owned, businesses in sale transactions entered into with private equity and strategic purchasers.
• Public and private companies in domestic and cross-border acquisition and divestiture transactions across a broad range of industries.
• Management teams in connection with employment agreements and equity arrangements in management buyout transactions with financial sponsors.
• Equity co-investors in structuring and documenting equity co-investments made alongside financial sponsors.

Presentations

• Presenter, The Best M&A Due Diligence Tips, Tricks and Techniques for 2010 - What Corporate/M&A Lawyers Need to Know Before Doing Their Next Deal, ExecSense Webinars, June 2010
• Contributing author, Private Equity Fund Exposure and Protection: Leading Lawyers on Weighing Investment Risks, Structuring Prudent M&A Transactions, and Preparing for Increased Government Involvement (Inside the Minds) Aspatore Books, 2009
• The Trouble with Transitions: Transition Services Arrangements in Divestiture Transactions, April, 2009
• New Accounting Rules for M&A Deals Will Start Soon, August 2008
• Join the Club: Can Strategic and Private Equity Investors Jointly Pursue Acquisition Opportunities?, April, 2008
• Due Diligence and Disclosure Schedules in M&A Transactions, Chicago Bar Association, May 2006

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Member, Association for Corporate Growth, Chicago Chapter
• Member, Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors
• Member, Chicago Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Volunteer and provider of pro bono legal services to various not-for-profit and community service organizations

Articles

• Financial Regulatory Reform: Changes You Should Know About