Overview

Chris Wittels advises public and private companies, as well as private equity and venture capital investors, in mergers, acquisitions, minority investments, divestitures, financings and general business matters. Chris enjoys learning clients’ businesses and — combined with industry-specific knowledge — provides counsel tailored to each client’s unique needs and business goals.

Corporate Advisory

Chris advises clients on general corporate matters, including entity formation, conversion and liquidation processes, corporate governance, Corporate Transparency Act compliance, executive onboarding and various portfolio company matters.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Chris takes a lead M&A advisory role for public corporations, private entities and sponsors primarily in the technology, industrial and consumer goods sectors. He is experienced in strategic acquisitions and dispositions, private equity transactions, leveraged buyouts, and auction processes.

Throughout the transaction lifecycle, Chris advises on common buy-side and sell-side legal issues, including customary due diligence, drafting of definitive and ancillary documentation, and post-closing integration issues.

Emerging Growth & Venture Capital

Chris counsels high-growth clients on venture capital-backed SAFEs and series financings. He also handles entity formation, conversion and liquidation matters.

Representative Experience

Information Technology (IT) Transactions

  • A public company in its purchase of all outstanding stock of a national cybersecurity provider.
  • A public company in its purchase of all outstanding stock of a national cloud-based mobile application service provider.
  • A target in the sale of its television advertising and digital streaming business units.
  • An enterprise machine-learning target in its sale of all outstanding stock.
  • A private equity-backed purchaser in its acquisition of all outstanding stock of an enterprise product and supply chain platform.
  • A private equity-backed purchaser in its acquisition of all outstanding stock of a marketing management SaaS solutions company.
  • A public company in its purchase of all outstanding stock of a direct-to-voicemail service provider.

Cannabis Industry Transactions

  • A vertically integrated cannabis company in connection with its purchase of substantially all assets of various regional targets.
  • A regional cannabis company in its merger with and into a national cannabis company.

Food, Beverage & Consumer Products Transactions

  • A premium global spirits brand in its sale of a majority interest to a large public company.
  • A private equity-backed purchaser in its acquisition of a cosmetic products supplier and manufacturer.
  • A private equity-backed purchaser in its acquisition of all outstanding equity of an aquarium products supplier.
  • A diversified producer of dairy-free products in its sale to a consumer products private equity fund.

Industrial, Manufacturing & Service Company Transactions

  • A private company in its acquisition of a regional furniture manufacturer.
  • A private equity-backed air conditioning and plumbing business in the sale of its equity.
  • A private company purchaser in its acquisition of a Canadian semiconductor company.
  • A private equity-backed purchaser in its acquisition of a windows supplier and service provider.

Prior Experience

Chris formerly was an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, where he taught legal research and writing to LL.M. students.

Before law school, Chris was an investment analyst at IP merchant bank Ocean Tomo, where he modeled and executed IP-based investments and advised the management of IP-rich corporations on intangible asset valuation to enhance their collateral packages.

Personal Interests

In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, snowboarding, hiking and playing guitar.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Colorado

Certifications
CFA Institute — Chartered Financial Analyst® (Level I)
Education

University of Illinois College of Law
J.D. cum laude, Illinois Law Review (notes editor) (2019)

University of Denver
B.S.B.A. in Finance, cum laude

University of Denver
B.A. in Music, cum laude

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

  • Chris maintains an active pro bono practice that includes providing legal assistance for nonprofit corporations, veterans, and supporting indigent clients and asylum-seekers.

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association

Civic Activities

  • Frequent participant in projects lead by Brothers Redevelopment, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides housing and a variety of housing-related services for the region's low-income residents.

Honors

  • Best Lawyers — “Ones to Watch” in Corporate Law, 2023-24