Overview
Nicholas (Nick) Oertel is a partner in the Lansing office of Foster Swift. He concentrates his practice in providing outside general counsel service to a wide variety of businesses, including family-owned businesses, start-up companies, and health systems. He has more than 10 years of experience and a unique ability to find simple solutions to complex issues. Nick is the current co-leader of the firm's Business & Tax practice group.
As an outside general counsel, Nick assists clients in negotiating, drafting and enforcing all types of contracts. He has significant experience involving mergers and acquisitions - in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas. His merger and acquisition counsel includes all deal phases from the initial planning (including tax planning) to post-closing indemnification claims and defense. In the non-profit arena, Nick has counseled health systems in acquisition/affiliation matters and associated governance issues. Nick also advises on federal and state tax issues, including federal income tax exemptions and Michigan non-property taxes (sales and use).
Nick also regularly counsels family-owned businesses, entrepreneurs and start-up businesses on a wide range of matters. He is an expert on entity selection issues and drafting effective shareholder agreements, including planning for multi-generational family businesses. Nick has counseled many businesses in fundraising – from convertible promissory notes, SAFEs and Series A rounds – and the Federal and blue sky securities laws applicable to those financings.
Nick is active in various civic groups and is the President of the Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan and is a recipient of Ingham County Bar Association’s 2016 Top 5 Under 35 award.
Honors & Recognitions
Ingham County Bar Association's 2016 Top 5 Under 35
NALS of Lansing 2014 Boss of the Year
Affiliations
Memberships & Affiliations
Legal Affiliations:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Lansing Regional Chamber
- Political Action Committee
Industry & Professional Associations:
- Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan, Board of Directors
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented technology company in $100+ million sale to private equity fund;
- Represented health system in negating and implement successful joint venture;
- Represented Michigan-based private equity fund in acquiring heating and cooling business;
- Crafted succession plan and associated documentation to transition successful multi-generation family business;
- Successfully represented business owner in office liability sales tax dispute – all liability cancelled
- Assisted numerous early stage companies, negotiate, structure and close private placement offerings totaling more than $25 million
- Successfully obtained summary disposition in use tax dispute – use tax assessment reduced to $0
Communications
Recent Blog Posts
BizTech Law Blog
- Key Considerations on How to Sell Your Business
- A Brief Legal Guide to Buying a Distressed Business
- Do I Need a Private Placement Memorandum to Raise Investment Capital?
- Common Legal Mistakes of Start-Ups
- Title III Crowdfunding: What is a Funding Portal?
- SEC Finalizes Long-Awaited Title III Crowdfunding Rules
- Crowdfunding 101
Tax Law Blog
Publications
- Will Recent Alabama Ruling Stay Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act?, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, March 5, 2024
- Using Low-Cost DIY Legal Services: Risks Far Outweigh Benefits, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, January 24, 2023
- Michigan Intrastate Crowdfunding and More, Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Report, May 30, 2014
- Court of Appeals Clarifies Agricultural Exemption To The Use Tax, Foster Swift Agricultural Law Update, August 2012
- Can you Reduce your Employment Taxes?, Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Report, June 2012
- Noncompetition Agreements Are Enforceable If..., Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Report, June 2012
News & Events
Speaking Engagements
- Learn Key Considerations for Selling a Business, Foster Swift 2nd Wednesday Morning Break, April 13, 2022
- MSU Entrepreneurship Association: Legal Edition, Michigan State University, November 18, 2015
- Lansing Crowdfunding Workshop, Michigan Community Resource, September 23, 2015
- Understanding Your Options for Raising Capital in Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, August 11, 2015
- Webinar: Top 5 Legal Issues To Address in Every Software Transaction, October 16, 2013
- Estate and Succession Planning for Family-Owned Agri-Businesses, Michigan Cattlemen's Association, January 21, 2012
News
- Foster Swift Elects EC Officers for 2024, Ingham County Legal News, February 21, 2024
- Foster Swift Elects EC Members for 2022, February 21, 2022
- Firm Elects EC Members and Practice Leaders in 2021, February 17, 2021
- Foster Swift Attorneys to Present Accelerator Award at CMU Competition, April 9, 2018
- Foster Swift Elects Seven New Shareholders, January 18, 2017
- Nicholas Oertel to Lead Workshop for Global Entrepreneurship Week at MSU, November 18, 2015
- Foster Swift Names Nicholas Oertel as Firm's New Associate, April 14, 2010
Media
Practice Areas
Education
Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 2009, summa cum laude
Michigan State University, B.A., 2006, high honors
Bar and Court Admissions
Michigan