Virginia’s Go To Lawyers for Business Law 2022 — Autumn Visser

Autumn Visser
Principal, Woods Rogers
Roanoke

Your specialty:

Mergers and acquisitions.

Signature case, deal or transaction:

Representing a technology company in an equity sale to a Belgium-based company. The sale included negotiating with current lead investors to address their concerns with the business and return on investment, as well as protecting members in their post-closing obligations and earn-out structure.

Working with clients:

It is about never saying “no.” There is always a path forward for a client. As legal counsel, I strive to listen to what the client wants and needs from a transaction and structure it to reduce as much risk as possible.

Advice:

You have to know what you don’t know. As a lawyer, I am in a dangerous position if I represent myself as someone who knows all things. It is a better position to surround myself with those that have different areas of expertise and rely on them when the time comes.

Outlook for 2022:

Cybersecurity risks and laws will continue to be at the top of the list. Destabilization in certain areas of the world has increased the number of attacks on businesses. A cybersecurity incident will not only impact the current state of business, but it could impact valuation for several years thereafter.