Brian Casserly's practice focuses on venture capital, private equity, startups, and emerging growth companies. He advises founders, early-stage companies, venture capital funds, private equity firms, family offices, and angel investors throughout the business lifecycle -- from company formation through growth, financing, acquisition, and exit.
Brian serves as outside counsel to startups and emerging growth companies, helping founders build scalable businesses and prepare for institutional investment. He regularly advises clients on company formation, corporate governance, SAFE and convertible note financing, Series Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C financing rounds, equity incentive plans, commercial contracts, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. His practical, business-focused approach helps founders navigate legal challenges while remaining focused on growing their companies.
Brian also represents venture capital funds and private equity firms in and their investments and acquisitions, portfolio divestitures, and ongoing fund operations. He advises investors throughout the investment lifecycle, including evaluating opportunities, structuring and negotiating venture capital and private equity transactions, completing Series Seed and Series A investments, portfolio company governance, follow-on financings, recapitalizations, and strategic exits.
Because Brian represents both founders raising capital and the investors deploying it, he understands the priorities and objectives of each side of a transaction. That perspective enables him to anticipate issues, streamline negotiations, and structure transactions that position clients for long-term success and lasting business relationships.
Brian's clients span a wide range of industries, including software, SaaS, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, agtech, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, and professional services.
Brian lives in West Lafayette, Indiana, with his wife and twin boys, and in his limited free time he enjoys playing golf. He is the former owner of a coffee shop and still drinks too much espresso.
Representation of one of the Midwest’s most active seed-stage venture funds in more than 125 financings, including SAFEs, seed rounds, and Series A investments, as well as ongoing advice on follow-on financings and portfolio company exits.
Representation of a buyer in the acquisition of a family-owned logistics company valued at over $10M, navigating closely held stakeholder dynamics on both sides.
Representation of AgTech company in its seed, Series A, and bridge financing rounds, followed by its acquisition by a large multinational company.
Representation of software company in its acquisition by a major US technology company.
Representation of a professional services business in its $35M+ asset sale to a PE-backed multinational buyer, including equity rollover and a structured earnout.
Representation of a professional services business in its $15M+ asset sale to a private equity-backed strategic buyer, including equity rollover and earnout structuring.
Representation of a SaaS platform company in its acquisition of a competitor, structuring a mixed cash and equity transaction with earnout and management incentive alignment.
Representation of a founder-led SaaS company in its acquisition of a venture backed complementary business.
Representation of software, technology, life sciences, and other venture-backed companies across early- and growth-stage financings, including SAFE, convertible note, Series A, and Series B rounds.
Representation of technology company in ~$50M Series B equity financing with top tier VC participation.
Representation of an AI-enabled PropTech platform company in its ~$15M Series A financing led by institutional investors, including corporate conversion to a Delaware C-corp and implementation of an equity incentive plan.
Representation of a FinTech company in its ~$75M Series C financing, including a negotiated secondary component providing liquidity to early stakeholders.
Representation of a HR technology company in its seed financing and subsequent 7-figure acquisition by another venture-backed company.