Reverse Merger Attorney

By Managing Partner Last updated

Reverse Merger Law representation for buyers, sellers, and operators nationwide.

Donald Hateley serves as Of Counsel to Acquisition Stars and handles the securities law work. Alex Lubyansky leads the M&A work, with an associate supporting the engagement.

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Donald Hateley, Of Counsel for securities law at Acquisition Stars

Donald Hateley

Of Counsel, Securities Law | Acquisition Stars

Donald Hateley serves as Of Counsel to Acquisition Stars for securities law matters. His background includes advising public and private companies on securities transactions, corporate finance, and corporate governance, including public and private equity and debt financings. Admitted to the California bar in 1993, he is a graduate of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and Southwestern Law School.

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Direct Answer

A reverse merger attorney represents private companies seeking public market access by merging into an existing public shell company rather than filing a traditional IPO registration statement. The work includes clean shell due diligence, Form 211 applications for OTC Markets quotation, change of control filings, and post-merger reporting compliance. Acquisition Stars helps operating companies and shell sponsors with the M&A side of this structure, including shell due diligence and the merger agreement, and works with securities counsel on the Form 211 application, change of control filings, and post-merger reporting compliance.

Why a Reverse Merger Attorney Matters

A reverse merger can move a private company into the public markets faster and at lower cost than a traditional IPO, but the shortcut carries its own risk: an improperly vetted shell can carry undisclosed liabilities, prior shareholder disputes, or reporting gaps that become the new company's problem at closing. A reverse merger attorney who diligences the shell thoroughly, not just the merger documents, helps confirm the company is acquiring a clean vehicle rather than inheriting someone else's unresolved history.

What We Do

  • M&A structuring and negotiation of reverse merger transactions and shell acquisitions
  • Clean shell due diligence and verification
  • Corporate clean-up and redomestication
  • Coordination with securities counsel on Form 211 applications and quotation on OTC Markets
  • Coordination with securities counsel on reverse merger financing and PIPE offerings
  • Coordination with securities counsel on S-1 or Form 10 registration statements
  • Coordination with securities counsel on change of control filings and reporting
  • Coordination with securities counsel on OTCQB uplisting post-reverse merger

Who We Serve

  • Private companies seeking faster public market access
  • International companies entering U.S. public markets
  • Companies unable to complete traditional IPOs
  • Companies seeking lower-cost public listing alternatives
  • Operating companies acquiring clean shell companies
  • Companies pursuing Form 211 transactions
Alex Lubyansky, Managing Partner at Acquisition Stars
"The hardest part of any reverse merger law engagement is not the documents. It is reading the relationship across the table early enough to structure around it. By the time the purchase agreement is on the table, half the meaningful negotiating leverage is already gone."
Alex Lubyansky, Managing Partner On reverse merger law structuring

M&A counsel since 2013 Senior counsel on every engagement Admitted in Michigan, practicing nationwide

Reviewed by Alex Lubyansky on . Read full bio

Questions to Ask Any M&A Attorney Before Hiring

Use these before you call any firm, including ours.

1. "Who will actually handle my transaction?"

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.

2. "How many M&A transactions has the lead attorney closed in the past 12 months?"

Volume indicates current, active deal experience, not just credentials from years ago.

3. "What is your experience with my deal size and industry?"

A $500K SBA acquisition and a $50M PE deal require different skill sets. Make sure the attorney has handled transactions similar to yours.

4. "Will you coordinate with my CPA, financial advisor, and broker?"

M&A transactions require a team. Your attorney should work with your other advisors, not in a silo.

5. "How do you handle post-closing disputes?"

Reps, warranties, and indemnification claims surface months after closing. Ask whether the firm handles post-closing litigation or refers it out.

6. "What is your fee structure, and what drives cost?"

Ask how the engagement is scoped, what is included, and what factors drive cost increases. Defined scope with a retainer gives the clearest cost picture.

Reverse Merger Attorney Locations We Serve

Major Markets

New York
New York
Los Angeles
California

Additional Markets

Austin
Indianapolis

Service Areas by State

Browse Reverse Merger Attorney service areas by state. Each state page lists all cities and suburbs we serve in that state, plus the state-specific legal framework that affects reverse merger law transactions there.

Arizona
33 locations
California
63 locations
Florida
59 locations
Indiana
12 locations
Kentucky
12 locations
Maryland
16 locations
Michigan
33 locations
Missouri
15 locations
New York
7 locations
Oregon
11 locations
Texas
53 locations
Virginia
19 locations

Related M&A and Securities Services

Acquisition Stars handles M&A transactions nationwide and works with securities counsel on securities matters. Alex Lubyansky leads every M&A engagement.

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Reverse Merger Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

What does Acquisition Stars handle for reverse merger law matters?

Donald Hateley serves as Of Counsel to Acquisition Stars and handles the securities law work. Alex Lubyansky leads the M&A work, with an associate supporting the engagement.

Who does Acquisition Stars typically represent in reverse merger law engagements?

The firm represents private companies seeking faster public market access, international companies entering u.s. public markets, companies unable to complete traditional ipos, along with other parties involved in mid-market and lower-middle-market transactions. Engagements range from single-buyer acquisitions to multi-party recapitalizations.

Does the firm represent clients outside Michigan?

Yes. While the firm office is in Novi, Michigan, Alex Lubyansky represents clients nationwide on M&A transactions. Most engagements involve out-of-state buyers, sellers, or target companies. The firm regularly admits pro hac vice in other states when matters require it.

Who will work on my deal?

Donald Hateley serves as Of Counsel to Acquisition Stars and handles the securities law work. Alex Lubyansky leads the M&A work, with an associate supporting the engagement.

How does the firm price reverse merger law engagements?

Pricing varies with deal size, complexity, and timeline, so Acquisition Stars does not publish a fee schedule. After a brief initial conversation about the deal specifics, the firm provides a written engagement scope, typically as a bundled engagement or with a not-to-exceed budget, so clients can plan the matter with confidence.

Ready to Discuss Your Reverse Merger Law Engagement?

Donald Hateley serves as Of Counsel to Acquisition Stars and handles the securities law work. Alex Lubyansky leads the M&A work, with an associate supporting the engagement.

M&A counsel since 2013. Nationwide practice. LOI through closing.

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