James D. Garbus

James D. Garbus is a Shareholder of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.. He is Chair of the Corporate Law Department and Chair of the Corporate Finance Practice. Mr. Garbus provides outside general counsel to entrepreneurs and middle-market businesses at all stages (startup, emerging/development, mature, and exiting). He provides day-to-day legal and business advice to management on operational matters as they arise such as employment, executive compensation, term sheet review and negotiation, as well as preparation of IP licenses, employment, confidentiality, manufacturer services and distributor agreements, compliance and governance issues (including as corporate secretary) as well as counsel in strategic business decisions (strategic partnerships, complex joint ventures, and succession planning).

For his corporate clients, Mr. Garbus also manages the use of multiple practice disciplines outside of the Corporate Department including litigation, tax, intellectual property, real estate, employment, bankruptcy, and ERISA (and including use of special counsel outside of the Firm).

He focuses his practice on industry agnostic middle-market mergers and acquisitions representing buyers and sellers in financial and strategic transactions including distressed transactions and 363 sales.

He concentrates on corporate finance transactions representing issuers and investors in seed, emerging and venture capital transactions, and borrowers and lenders in bank and alternative lending transactions (including revolving credit and asset-based lending facilities, mezzanine and acquisition financings).

Notable experience includes:

• Represented private equity firm in roll-up acquisition of multiple international semiconductor businesses and subsequent sale to an international public company
• Represented manufacturer of products for the aerospace and military markets in sale to a private equity firm
• Represented private multi-generational family-owned business in ESOP transactions
• Represented national bank in the restructuring of secured debt to corporate borrower in connection with its sale to a private equity firm
• Represented two digital media advertising firms in their sale to a major mobile and social app publisher

In 2021 and 2022, Mr. Garbus was named in the Global Awards by the Leaders in Law as the Business Law Expert of the Year in New York. From 2019-2021, Mr. Garbus was named to the New York Super Lawyers list. In 2019, Mr. Garbus was awarded Long Island Business News’ Executive Circle Award. He is a founding member and co-chair of the Middle Market Alliance of Long Island, Inc. Since 2010, Mr. Garbus has been recognized annually as a top corporate attorney in Long Island Business News’ Who’s Who in Corporate Law.

Mr. Garbus is also the co-founder of a film finance and production company. He is the producer of several independent films and other productions. He is also a former member of the Board of Naked Angels theater company in New York City.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Garbus was in private practice. Before that, Mr. Garbus was a Partner at Parker Chapin LLP and an Associate at Breed Abbott & Morgan LLP where he practiced in the Corporate Department.