Chad G. Bartell | carlsonblack.com

Chad G. Bartell | Partner

Tel: 608.448.6355

Chad is a rare type of legal professional. Holding both a law degree and a business degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, he has over 15 years of experience providing both legal and business advice as an attorney in both law firm and in-house settings. Through his education and professional experience Chad holds a unique vantage point at the intersection of law and business, helping him better understand and serve the needs of his clients and provide clear, practical advice on a wide range of topics.

Chad started his career at one of Wisconsin’s largest full-service business law firms. There he cut his teeth on sophisticated M&A transactions, handling them from pre-letter of intent discussions through post-closing indemnification matters. He counseled clients on transaction structure, drafting mechanisms for the allocation of risk, and on the variety of substantive legal issues, including topics in employment, real estate, intellectual property and environmental law. He also advised on securities law issues, drafted private offering memorandums for clients seeking to raise equity capital and participated in the drafting and filing of registration statements at both the federal and state levels. Further, he was involved with venture capital financing transactions and in the representation of various high-growth, emerging companies in biotechnology, software, medical device, electronics, and other technology sectors.

After six years with the law firm, Chad went in-house with Springs Window Fashions – a national manufacturer of window covering products with several thousand employees and hundreds of millions in annual revenues. As one of only two attorneys with the company, Chad handled or supervised a wide variety of legal matters, ranging from corporate acquisitions to intellectual property licensing arrangements to commercial contracts to executive compensation. He expanded his skills to include litigation management and developed triage-level competence in specialized areas such as commercial lending and employment law. Despite the wide range of subjects he handled, the common thread to Chad’s approach to providing legal services has always been the identification, evaluation, and management of business risk. That and providing succinct, actionable advice that acknowledges practical realities.

Now a member of Carlson Black O’Callaghan and Battenberg, Chad remains focused on keeping the horse ahead of the cart, so to speak. His previous work on the front lines of a large operating business combined with his business school education and sophisticated legal practice in a large law firm setting allow him to leverage solid technical skills with real-world experience over a wide range of legal issues – all guided by an instinctual understanding of his clients’ business needs.

Practice Areas

Corporate Structuring and Governance
Venture Capital Financing
Commercial Contracts
Securities Regulation
Mergers & Acquisitions

Professional Associations and Memberships

Board Member, Arts & Literature Lab, Inc.
Former Vice-President and Board Member, Forward Theater Company
Former Vice-President and Board Member, Oakwood Village
Former Secretary and Board Member, Madison Parks Foundation
Member, State Bar of Wisconsin

Education

J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 2004
MS., University of Wisconsin – Madison, School of Business, 2004
B.A., Wesleyan University, 1999