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
Practice Areas
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
University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D.
- cum laude; Dean's Scholar; Am Jur Award in Jurisprudence for highest grade; Am Jur Award in Labor Law for highest grade
Hope College, B.A.
- Political Science and Psychology
- summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board National Honor Society; Sigma Xi Research Award in Psychology; Book Award in Political Science
Admissions
- Michigan
Recognition
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Corporate Law, 2016-2025
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2016-2025
- Venture Capital Law, 2025
- Kalamazoo Corporate Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2019, 2022, 2024
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2011-2014
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Closely & Privately Held Business Law, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Corporate Finance Law, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Securities & Venture Finance Law, 2023-2024
Professional & Community Involvement
- American Bar Association
- Business Law Section
- Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
- Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee
- Business Law Section
- 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