Arlington, Virginia's concentration of defense technology companies, cybersecurity firms, and government services businesses creates a distinct market for companies considering public offerings. The proximity to the Pentagon, intelligence community, and federal procurement apparatus means many Arlington-area companies reaching the public markets carry classified contracts, ITAR-regulated technology, or CFIUS-sensitive ownership structures that add regulatory complexity to the IPO process. Our managing partner works directly with companies preparing for public offerings, handling the securities law engagement from initial structuring through SEC registration and closing.
Share the basics. Alex reviews every inquiry personally.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Alex Lubyansky handles ipo & going public law work for buyers and sellers in Arlington and across the country. Here is what that looks like:
We work best with people who know what they want and are ready to move:
Tell us what you are working on. We respond within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
We don't take every matter. Here is what happens when you reach out.
Alex reviews your transaction details personally. No intake coordinators, no junior associates screening your submission.
We evaluate whether your deal aligns with our practice. Not every matter is a fit, and we will tell you directly if it is not.
If there is alignment, Alex schedules a direct call to discuss your transaction, timeline, and objectives.
Before any work begins, you receive a written engagement letter with defined scope, timeline, and fee structure. No surprises.
Alex Lubyansky handles every ipo & going public law engagement personally.
15+ years of M&A experience. Nationwide. One attorney on every deal.
We review every transaction inquiry within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Use these before you call any firm, including ours.
At many firms, a partner sells the work and a junior associate does it. Ask for the name of the attorney who will draft and negotiate your documents.
Volume indicates current, active deal experience, not just credentials from years ago.
A $500K SBA acquisition and a $50M PE deal require different skill sets. Make sure the attorney has handled transactions similar to yours.
M&A transactions require a team. Your attorney should work with your other advisors, not in a silo.
Reps, warranties, and indemnification claims surface months after closing. Ask whether the firm handles post-closing litigation or refers it out.
Hourly, flat fee, or hybrid. Ask what factors increase legal costs so there are no surprises.
Common questions from Arlington clients
Submit your transaction details for a preliminary assessment by our managing partner
Submit Transaction DetailsSubmit transaction details and Alex will respond directly.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
The DC metro area's M&A market is uniquely driven by government contracting, cybersecurity, and professional services firms. GovCon acquisitions represent the largest deal category, as defense and IT services companies pursue scale to compete for larger contract vehicles. The region also sees significant deal flow in healthcare (anchored by NIH), consulting, and lobby/public affairs firms.
GovCon M&A requires specialized due diligence on contract novation, security clearances, and DCAA compliance. Buyers without GovCon experience often underestimate the regulatory complexity of acquiring cleared contractors.
The federal government spends over $700 billion annually on contracts, creating a massive and recession-resistant market. GovCon companies with established contract vehicles and security clearances command premium valuations.
Virginia's non-compete statute (effective 2020) prohibits non-competes for low-wage employees and requires careful drafting for enforceability - acquirers must review all employee agreements across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia jurisdictions as each state has different rules.
The Arlington and Northern Virginia corridor has produced a growing number of companies that transition from government-focused revenue models to public market capitalization. Defense technology firms, cybersecurity platforms, and government IT services companies in this area often reach a scale where public capital markets become a viable growth funding strategy. The IPO process for these companies involves unique considerations: SEC disclosure requirements for government contract revenue concentration, ITAR and export control compliance disclosures, CFIUS review implications if foreign investors participate in the offering, and the tension between public disclosure obligations and classified contract details. The SPAC pathway, while less active than in prior years, remains a consideration for defense-adjacent companies that want to access public markets with more certainty around valuation and timing.
Taking a defense technology company public involves SEC registration (Form S-1) with risk factor disclosures specific to government contracting, including customer concentration on USG agencies, contract recompete risk, security clearance dependencies, and ITAR compliance obligations. The prospectus must address how classified contracts are reflected in financial statements without disclosing classified information. Underwriter selection often favors banks with defense sector expertise and institutional investor relationships in the government technology space.
Cybersecurity companies in the Arlington corridor often serve both government and commercial customers, which creates a growth narrative attractive to public market investors but requires careful segmentation of revenue sources in SEC filings. Key legal work includes IP ownership verification across government and commercial product lines, FOCI (Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence) mitigation planning if international investors participate, and structuring of lock-up agreements and insider trading policies that account for employees with security clearances.
Government services companies that want more pricing certainty than a traditional IPO may consider a de-SPAC transaction. The legal work involves negotiating the business combination agreement, preparing the proxy statement/prospectus (Form S-4), managing the PIPE financing component, and addressing the SEC's heightened scrutiny of SPAC projections and disclosure. Government contract-specific representations and the target company's regulatory compliance history are central to the due diligence process.
Arlington's concentration of defense technology, cybersecurity, and government services companies creates a pipeline of IPO candidates with regulatory profiles distinct from typical technology companies going public. The securities law work for these offerings requires understanding of how government contract dependencies, security classification, ITAR compliance, and CFIUS considerations interact with SEC disclosure requirements. Companies in this corridor that prepare for public markets with experienced securities counsel are better positioned to navigate these intersecting regulatory frameworks.
Restricted by income threshold. Strict blue-pencil (no reformation).
Entity mergers and conversions require filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). Annual reports (annual registration fees) are required. The SCC also regulates certain types of business entities more actively than most states.
Virginia State Bar (mandatory unified bar). Unified/integrated bar (Virginia State Bar is the regulatory body). The Virginia Bar Association is a separate voluntary organization. VSB membership is required to practice law in Virginia.
Bar association websiteFederal districts: E.D. Va., W.D. Va.
Business court: No dedicated business court division. Commercial disputes proceed through general civil courts.
Northern Virginia is a national cybersecurity and government IT M&A hub; Richmond generates financial services and consumer products deal activity.
Watchpoints
These are the items we see derail ipo & going public law transactions in the Arlington market. Each one is rooted in current statutory law, recent legislative changes, or recurring patterns from the deals Alex has handled.
Restricted by income threshold. Strict blue-pencil (no reformation).
"Founders get excited about the check amount and focus on valuation headlines while the fine print gets glossed over."
Securities regulated by Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Securities and Retail Franchising (scc.virginia.gov/securities). Blue Sky notice filings required for Reg D. Virginia restricts non-competes for employees earning at or below a wage threshold (Code of Virginia sec. 40.1-28.7:8).
The seller isn't your enemy, but their interests aren't aligned with yours.
In-depth guides to help you prepare for your transaction
State-by-state securities registration requirements and exemptions.
Read guideHow private companies can issue equity compensation under Rule 701.
Read guideFiling requirements for Regulation D offerings at the state level.
Read guideHow reverse mergers work and when they make sense as a path to going public.
Read guideRequirements for selling restricted and control securities.
Read guideAcquisition Stars represents clients across Virginia and nationwide. Alex Lubyansky handles every engagement personally.
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"The data room is the buyer's first experience of how you run your business."
15+ years of M&A and securities transaction experience Senior counsel on every engagement Admitted in Michigan, practicing nationwide
Reviewed by Alex Lubyansky on . Read full bio
Alex Lubyansky handles every engagement personally. Tell us about your transaction and we will let you know if there is a fit.
Tell us about your deal. We review every submission and respond within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
One attorney on every deal. Nationwide. 15+ years of M&A experience.