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Fred Tannenbaum

Experienced Transactional Attorney & GC for Emerging Technology, Venture Capital, Private Equity & Mid-Market Businesses

Fred Tannenbaum is a highly experienced legal professional who has extensive expertise in handling over 500 M&A and 300 venture capital transactions in the United States and ten other countries.

His clientele includes mid-sized private equity and venture capital funds, mid-market businesses, family offices, strategic investors, and opportunistic entrepreneurs, with deal sizes ranging from early stage startups to nearly $1B.

Apart from his legal practice, Fred Tannenbaum also serves as a de facto outsourced general counsel and strategic advisor to close to 100 businesses, especially U.S. and Israel-based venture-backed technology companies.

He offers a unique perspective on balancing legal decisions with business considerations, drawing from his vast experience working with diverse companies.

Fred Tannenbaum holds several leadership positions on corporate boards of directors, advising committees, and actively participates in community activities by serving on charitable boards fighting diseases and social maladies.

A prolific author and speaker, he has authored a significant business law treatise, multiple law review articles, chapters on venture capital, and over 100 articles focusing on topics relevant to investors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and family businesses.

He also shares his knowledge by guest lecturing on early stage business financing at Northwestern University's Innovation and New Ventures Office, affiliated with the Kellogg School of Management.

Educationally, Fred Tannenbaum has a BA with a double major in Economics and Politics (summa cum laude) from Ohio Wesleyan University and a JD (magna cum laude) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Previously, he held a position as a Partner at Gould & Ratner.

Highlights

Aug 2 · linkedin

Great video conversation today with MSI Global’s Detroit member law firm, Kerr Russell. Thanks to Eric Lark, Jim De Line and Mark Knoth for sharing insights into their terrific mid market full service firm with my colleagues Rob Taylor, Matt Olins and Becca Smart and your humble reporter. Collaborations and avid searches for opportunities together are key attributes and benefits of MSI Global, enabling Gould & Ratner to serve our clients seamlessly around the world with efficient, capable, energetic and like minded experienced professionals.

Jul 19 · linkedin

Bittersweet to celebrate the retirement lunch for the longtime CFO, Alan Kessler, of one of our great long time clients, Batory Foods, one of the country’s largest national food ingredient distributor. We have helped them grow from modest means to a behemoth, thanks to our M&A, litigation, tax, financing, and Human Resources teams. Alan will be sorely missed as he was a centrifugal force helping drive and manage this growth. Thanks to my amazing colleagues, Joe Marzo (real estate), Mark Brookstein (litigation, compliance nd Human Resources), Susan Mosteller (corporate and compliance) and Matt Olins (debt financing and creditors rights) for their invaluable contributions and service though the years as part of a dedicated team (along with several other esteeemed colleagues who were unable to attend). At the risk of sound sappy, it’s great people like Alan and clients like Batory that make our jobs rewarding and meaningful.

Fred Tannenbaum
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Location

Greater Chicago Area