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