Mergers & Acquisitions

A Partner for Your Transformative M&A Transactions

Pragmatic guidance. Proven results. Exceptional value.

Our Mergers and Acquisitions team is in the business of helping clients navigate their most pivotal and defining transactions. In the past five years alone, we’ve successfully closed 624 deals valued at over $21 billion. Whether you’re a seasoned dealmaker or exploring M&A for the first time, our attorneys bring the experience, insight, and efficiency needed to guide you forward with confidence.

We go beyond just closing deals. Your transactions deserve more than legal support—they require strategic guidance and real-world insight. That’s exactly what we deliver. With deep experience and a sharp understanding of what drives transactions forward, our M&A attorneys help you understand what’s market, identify value drivers, navigate risks, and propel you toward the exciting opportunities that await in your next chapter.

Best known for our middle-market work, we represent buyers and sellers across the United States and internationally, including public and private companies, business owners, strategic acquirers, private equity firms, and family offices.

Clients trust our legal depth—but they also value that our advice is practical, actionable, and tailored to your business goals. As one client put it:

“You’re giving us advice based on what you would do if it were your company. You’re not just telling us what we can’t do or handing us a list of risks. You’re helping us make informed decisions.”

At Koley Jessen, our deal advisors deliver the expertise and holistic support found at larger firms, with the responsiveness and down-to-earth Midwest approach that sets us apart. Additionally, our single-office model in Omaha provides a unique competitive advantage—offering you direct access to partner-level service at competitive rates, often lower than those of firms in major metropolitan areas, and providing the answers you need efficiently and effectively.

M&A isn’t just part of what we do—it’s where we excel. That means fewer roadblocks, more solutions, and a partner you can trust to help seize opportunities and get deals done.

How Our M&A Lawyers Can Help Your Business

Buy-Side Representation

Buying a business can be a significant step for your organization, and having the right support makes all the difference. Our business acquisition attorneys work closely with you—whether you’re a strategic acquirer, private equity firm, or family office—to navigate the entire transaction process, offering clear guidance and strategic insight from start to finish.

Our structured approach includes:

• Strategic Planning: Defining your objectives and acquisition criteria.
• Evaluation of Target Companies: Conducting thorough assessments to identify potential risks and opportunities.
• Valuation and Structure: Assessing worth and determining the optimal deal structure.
• Due Diligence: Conducting in-depth investigations to uncover hidden challenges.
• Drafting and Negotiation: Crafting agreements with favorable terms that protect your interests.
• Execution and Closing: Finalizing the deal efficiently for a smooth transition.
• Post Closing: Leveraging transaction data to ease post-closing integration and operations.

With a strong focus on economic outcomes and tax implications, our goal is to help you acquire businesses that align with your growth strategy and position you for long-term success.

Sell-Side Representation

We also specialize in representing sellers in their business transactions, guiding companies and business owners through every stage of the sale process. Selling a business is a big moment, financially, personally, and strategically, and we build the right team around you from day one. With experience across the full spectrum of exit strategies, we help you show up prepared: with the right structure, organized financials, and a plan designed to reduce roadblocks and support a successful closing.

Whether you're a family-owned business navigating a once-in-a-lifetime sale or a private equity firm selling a portfolio company, we’re here to help ensure the sale reflects the full value of your business—preserving your legacy and supporting your financial and operational goals.

Private Equity and Sponsor Finance

Our mergers and acquisitions practice regularly handles private equity transactions, providing comprehensive legal counsel throughout the investment cycle—from initial acquisition and financing to operational matters and eventual exit. We advise on both acquisitions and dispositions, including standalone investments to establish new platforms, strategic bolt-on transactions to expand existing portfolio companies, and customized exit strategies designed to maximize return and capture the value you’ve built—ensuring your team has the guidance needed at every stage.

To support these transactions, our sponsor finance team works closely with our M&A attorneys to advise on debt financing structures that fund acquisitions, provide working capital, and meet other corporate needs. Recognizing the diversity of industries in which your business operates, we coordinate with our firm’s specialists in various practice areas to ensure a seamless, one-stop shop for all your legal needs. Our dedicated team is well-equipped to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in private equity deals, empowering your team to achieve its strategic objectives.

Our Comprehensive M&A Services

• Public and Private Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions: Looking to grow your business through a merger or acquisition? We specialize in these transactions.
• Stock and Asset Sales: Is it time to sell your company's shares or individual assets? Our team can guide you through the process.
• Carve-Out Transactions: Considering selling a business unit or division? We can manage the complexities for you.
• Leveraged and Management Buyouts: Interested in acquiring a company using borrowed funds? We have the expertise to assist you.
• Recapitalizations: Need to stabilize your company's capital structure? We offer guidance on restructuring debt and equity.
• Divestitures and Spin-Offs: Thinking about divesting assets, a business unit, or a subsidiary, or creating a new independent company? We can handle the process.
• Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances: Looking to form a collaborative arrangement with another company? We can help you establish successful partnerships.
• Bolt-Ons: Want to expand your business by integrating smaller acquisitions? We have a high degree of specialization in these transactions and can help you achieve your growth objectives.
• Cross-Border Transactions: Expanding internationally or navigating a deal with foreign entities? We can help you manage the complexities of global M&A.

Why Choose Koley Jessen for your M&A Needs?

Client-Centric Service: Our commitment to client satisfaction drives us to prioritize responsiveness and exceptional service. We are always prepared to meet your needs and strive to ensure that you never have to wait for answers. Recognizing that no two businesses or deals are alike, we take the time to understand your industry, business model, and specific objectives. No cookie-cutter solutions here. We tailor our approach to your business, your goals, and your vision for the future.

Experienced, Multi-Disciplinary Team: Our M&A team is deep at all levels, supported by specialized professionals in key areas like banking and finance, commercial contracts and licensing, data privacy and security, employment, environmental law, intellectual property, and tax. With this in-house knowledge, we ensure that every aspect of your transaction is addressed with the utmost expertise.

Organized and Efficient: We have developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) that streamline our processes and enhance our efficiency. This level of organization enables us to close deals promptly amidst the high pressures and tight timelines that often accompany M&A transactions, while upholding high-quality standards.

Use of Technology: We leverage cutting-edge technology, including AI-powered tools and M&A portals, to equip our team with the best information for each deal, streamline processes, and enhance efficiency. By integrating technology strategically, we deliver faster, higher-quality service while keeping costs down.

Focus on Economics and Taxes: We are highly focused on the financial aspects of deals, working diligently to help you achieve the best economic results net of taxes.

Friendly, Respectful, and Professional Style: We maintain a friendly, respectful, and professional demeanor in all our dealings—elements we believe are essential for creating positive experiences that foster long-term partnerships. We aim to be trusted advisors, providing thoughtful advice that evolves with your business.

Global Reach through TAGLaw® and IBLC: When international co-counsel is needed, our membership in TAGLaw® and the International Business Law Consortium (IBLC) provides us access to top-tier legal specialists worldwide. These networks ensure seamless support for cross-border transactions, allowing us to handle deals anywhere your business takes you.

Proven Track Record and Value: Numbers tell part of the story, but the best testament to our work comes from our clients. They say it best:

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