Overview

Justin Crawford is a broad-based business attorney focusing his practice on general corporate and commercial matters, private securities offerings and capital raises, mergers and acquisitions, and company formation and organization.

  • Represents family-owned businesses and closely-held companies in a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, material handling, food and beverage, medical device, life sciences, pharmaceutical, laser and other high technology, marketing and advertising and construction
  • Assists clients in a wide variety of business matters including start-up company formations, complex commercial transactions and business succession
  • Advises board of directors and serves as secretary in connection with significant corporate transactions and general corporate governance matters
  • Represents clients on general corporate matters, business reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and business succession and estate planning matters

Services

Industries

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented family-owned business in $10+ million acquisition of conveyor and screening equipment manufacturer and with expansions into Texas, Minnesota, and overseas
  • Represented family-owned business in sale of company to private equity firm
  • Advised closely-held business in all aspects of initial formation and organization, financing, commercial agreements and transactions, and exit
  • Served on business succession and transition team for family-owned business, consisting of family members and key management employees
  • Represented numerous venture-backed companies in multi-million dollar preferred stock and convertible debt financing rounds
  • Represented venture capital fund in initial and follow-on investments in life science, drug development, and medical device companies in purchase of more than $30 million of preferred securities and convertible debt
  • Represented organizers in formation of $10+ million medical device fund
  • Represented medical practice in all aspects of practice, including expansion of medical providers
  • Advised minority shareholders in a stock redemption and takeover of closely-held companies worth $7.5 million
  • Represented closely-held publishing house in the $7 million sale to a leading information source and intelligence gathering public company
  • Aided organizers in a private placement of $18 million of bank holding company common stock and in the formation of a national banking association
  • Assisted Mexican auto supplier with the $150 million acquisition of U.S.-based structural products business
  • Counseled clients on qualified retirement and welfare plan design, administration, consolidation and termination, reporting and disclosure requirements, claims procedures, and fiduciary duties

Prior Experience

  • Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., Principal, 2009-2013; Associate, 2005-2008
  • Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL, Associate, 2000-2005

Credentials

Education

Admissions

Recognition

Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2024
    • Recognized in practice areas of:
      • Corporate Law
      • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Kalamazoo Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2019, 2022, 2024 
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2011-2014
  • Law Bulletin Media
    • Leading Lawyers, Closely & Privately Held Business Law, 2023
    • Leading Lawyers, Corporate Finance Law, 2023
    • Leading Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2023
    • Leading Lawyers, Securities & Venture Finance Law, 2023

Professional & Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section
      • Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
      • Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Kalamazoo County Bar Association
    • Legal Outreach Clinic Volunteer
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kalamazoo
    • Volunteer Big Brother, 2015-2018
  • Hospital Hospitality House of Southwest Michigan
    • Board of Directors, 2014-2015
  • Kalamazoo County Bar Association
    • Legal Outreach Clinic Volunteer, 2008-Present
  • Notre Dame Club of Kalamazoo
    • Board of Directors, 2008-2015
  • Portage Community Senior Center
    • Campaign Cabinet Member, 2019
  • West Portage Little League
    • Volunteer Baseball Coach, 2016-Present
  • YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo
    • Volunteer Basketball Coach, 2016-Present

News & Insights

News

  • Phillip D. Torrence, Joseph A. King, Justin M. Crawford, Russell S. Linden, David A. Ettinger and Gregory R. Schermerhorn are mentioned as counsel for Tribune Publishing Co. in the Deal Pipeline article “Tribune rolls up more newspapers”
    Media |
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