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Milwaukee Office
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 2350
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Contact
(414) 277-5455
Fax: (414) 978-8654


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  Corporate Services
  Corporate Finance/Securities
  Mergers & Acquisitions
  Private Equity/Venture Capital
  Financial Institutions
  Investor Services


Professional Experience
Ryan Van Den Elzen practices in the areas of private equity and venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, and general corporate services. In addition, Ryan has experience assisting and advising financial institutions regarding regulatory and corporate matters. Ryan’s recent experience includes:
  • Representation of private equity and venture capital fund managers in the organization, formation, and fundraising for new investment funds. He has assisted fund managers in structuring and negotiating fund and general partner level organizational documents, including negotiating terms with institutional investors, and structuring general partner documents to maximize value for principals of the general partner.

  • Representation of institutional investors and wealthy individuals making aggregate investments of hundreds of millions of dollars in private equity, venture capital, real estate and hedge funds. He has assisted several clients in reviewing and negotiating the terms of fund organizational documents and side letters to help minimize the risk of investment while maximizing potential returns.

  • Representation of private equity funds in the purchase and sale of portfolio companies. He has assisted various private equity funds in leveraged buyout transactions, including structuring investment agreements, to maximize value for the funds.

  • Representation of privately held businesses making acquisitions and divestitures. He has assisted many businesses, including family owned businesses, in making strategic investments for growth, as well as in selling their businesses and succession planning.

  • Representation of employers and executives in structuring executive compensation packages to allow employers to attract and retain superior management talent and to provide appropriate incentives to senior executives.
Education and Honors
  • University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 2002)
    Notre Dame Law Review, 2000-2002 (Assistant Managing Editor, 2001-2002).
  • University of Wisconsin (B.S., 1999)
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin, 2002

Professional Recognition
Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Editions 2008 & 2009 (Business/Corporate).

Professional and Civic Activities

American Bar Association (Member).

Wisconsin Bar Association (Member).

State Bar of Wisconsin (Chairman, Business Law Section; Committee on Private Equity and Venture Capital, 2006-present).

Selected Presentations/Publications
  • Co-author (with Michael H. Lappin), “Earnouts: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” Mergers & Acquisitions Supplement to The Business Journal, Serving Greater Milwaukee, September 22, 2006.

  • “Mergers, Statutory Share Exchanges and Asset Transfers,” Wisconsin Business Advisor: Securities, Mergers, and Acquisitions, January 2006.

  • “Creditors and Foreign Corporations Take Note: Analyzing Beloit Trust,” Business Law News, Volume 24, Number 3, 2005.

  • “In the Wake of Enron: Increased Lawyer Liability Under the Securities Laws,” Business Law News, Volume 22, Number 3, 2003.

  • Note, “Decrypting the DMCA: Fair Use as a Defense to the Distribution of DeCSS,” 77 Notre Dame Law Review 673, 2002.