Laurent Campo is a distinguished strategic advisor with three decades of diverse legal experience, driving corporate success across a broad range of industries. As a seasoned M&A and securities lawyer, he has expertly navigated hundreds of acquisitions, mergers, strategic alliances, and securities offerings. Laurent's unique perspective is shaped by his extensive in-house experience, having served over a decade as general counsel for a fast-growing technology company with significant operations in defense contracting (US and foreign military), software development, and electronic device manufacturing.
His expertise extends beyond traditional external counsel roles, encompassing successful acquisition integrations, strategic alliance life cycle management, and the design of scalable compliance frameworks. These frameworks are tailored not only to navigate complex regulatory environments but also to enhance enterprise value in future transactions. Laurent's distinctive skill set is particularly sought after by VC and PE-backed companies in highly regulated industries, including government contracting, manufacturing, biotech, communications, and cybersecurity.
Representative Experience
Strategic Advisory & Outside General Counsel Services
Serve as primary outside counsel to companies across all stages of growth, from seed to expansion, providing comprehensive legal and strategic guidance on:
- Strategic planning for debt and equity financings across multiple rounds
- Implementation of equity incentive programs, including stock options, RSUs, profits interests, and phantom equity plans for employees, consultants, and strategic partners
- Development and negotiation of strategic commercial relationships, including joint ventures, licensing deals, and complex service agreements
- Creation of scalable legal and compliance frameworks to support rapid growth in regulated industries
- Strategic guidance on corporate governance, risk management, and exit planning
Technology & Software
- Lead M&A counsel in $210+ million sale of cyber resiliency, business continuity and disaster recovery services provider to private equity fund buyer
- Lead M&A counsel in sale of certain manufacturing and technology assets from Insolcorp, a phase change memory technology company, to Armstrong World Industries for $2.4 million.
- Lead securities counsel in numerous early-stage software and SaaS companies in seed financings (SAFEs, convertible notes, common and preferred equity), with individual raises typically ranging from $1 million to $15 million. Recent transactions include enterprise software, cybersecurity, and data analytics platforms
Defense & Government Contracting
- Lead corporate counsel in strategic spinout of specialized government contractor, including complex IP licensing, financing, and novation of SBIR contracts in transaction valued at over $40 million.
- Lead M&A counsel for government contractor in strategic investment transaction involving sale of 40% stake to strategic buyer for $4 million
- Lead M&A counsel in acquisition of specialized FPGA developer serving U.S. military end users in $11+ million transaction including performance earn-out
Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals
- Represented clinical-stage cardiovascular therapeutics platform company in its $292 million sale (including assumed debt and earnouts, plus potential global sales royalties) to newly-formed acquisition group backed by major life science funds. Transaction included pre-acquisition equity restructuring. Major academic medical center's venture arm was significant investor and majority owner at closing
- Lead M&A counsel to Innovus Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB: INNV) in its merger with Aytu BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ: AYTU), transaction consideration including stock and contingent value rights tied to revenue and profitability milestones
- Lead corporate counsel in formation of joint venture among six leading U.S. pharmaceutical and life sciences companies
Healthcare Services
- Lead M&A counsel to private equity fund in $60+ million acquisition (plus rollover equity) of specialized wound care business, and subsequently represented the portfolio company in $30+ million add-on acquisition of complementary business, which included up to $10 million in earnout consideration
Energy & Infrastructure
- Lead M&A counsel for AtSite Energy in its strategic acquisitions of Vergent Power Solutions and LoneStar Power Solutions, expanding its presence in the power solutions and energy infrastructure sector
- Represented private equity fund in multiple renewable energy company investments and follow-on investments.
Financial Services & Investment Management
- Lead M&A counsel in multi-party sale of investment management business segments ($1.2+ billion AUM) involving both public and private buyers with contingent payment structures
- Structured Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund formation and subsequent acquisition of specialized transportation services company
Consumer & Miscellaneous
- Lead M&A counsel to SPY Inc. (OTC: XSPY) in its merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bollé Brands, Inc.
- Lead securities counsel on multiple private placements for emerging growth company developing Cuban market-focused content and partnering with Latin American cable infrastructure provider to deliver programming to Cuban viewers
Publications and Speeches
- Controversial New Hedge Fund Strategy Reveals Unintended Consequences of Recent Patent Law Changes, published in Japanese translation by the Intellectual Property Lawyers Network, December 2015
Civic Involvement
- Pro Bono representation of asylum seekers. Recognized for successful service by Human Rights First.
Memberships and Affiliations
- FINRA, Arbitrator
Languages
- French
News, Events & Insights
Education
Duke University School of Law, J.D.
- Editor-in-Chief, Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law
Cornell University, B.A.
- Phi Beta Kappa, Distinction in All Subjects
Previous Experience
- Voxtec International, Inc., Vice President and General Counsel
- Howrey LLP, Corporate and Transactional Group
- Dow Lohnes (merged with Cooley LLP), Corporate Practice Group
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
- Corporate and Transactional
- Corporate Governance
- Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group
- Ethics and Compliance
- General Counsel Services
- Government Contracts
- Intellectual Property
- International
- Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Technology Transactions
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York