Virginia’s Go To Lawyers – Business Law: Joel M. Birken

Joel Birken
ReesBroome PC
Founding Shareholder
Tysons

Education / Certifications:

BA, George Washington University
JD and LLM, George Washington University Law School

What is the field or practice area for which you are best known?

Business law and mergers and acquisitions

Please describe a signature case, deal or transaction.

Representation of a government contractor from formation to sale for in excess of $100 million.

Please briefly mention up to three additional important cases, deals or transactions.

Closing a sell side transaction where principal died during the negotiation process. I have had two “round trips” where I helped a client sell itself and years later helped the former owners buy the company back. I was glad to get the clients back! I have also handled a number of sell side transactions where the company was sold to its employees. These are more challenging than a sale to a third party.

Describe your approach to working with clients.

I try to get a firm understanding of the client’s business, so I can tailor my advice to their specific needs. On the sell side of an M & A transaction, I counsel the principals to understand that when the purchaser buys it, it owns it and is free to make changes.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

Treat all parties with respect and don’t be afraid to admit you don’t have the answer. But go find it!

What developments in business law do you expect to see in 2021?

The obvious impact of remote practice and communication with colleagues and clients. This will be a long-term trend and will improve efficiency but lead to more impersonal relationships. There will be tremendous economic stress that will trickle down throughout the business community. This will lead to more consolidations and restructuring. The unwinding of COVID directives and restrictions will be confusing for business owners and counsel alike.