Business counsel with an eye for detail.
When your business is on the line you need to know that things will be done right. We offer reliable and insightful business and legal advice, designed to help you solve challenges and pursue opportunities. Whether your business is just starting up, growing or planning an exit event, we can provide the guidance and support that you need. We have a wealth of experience representing technology-based businesses, but represent clients of all sizes and in various industries.
Practice
We provide business legal counsel through all phases of the business cycle, from start-up through exit, often acting as general counsel for businesses who are not yet ready to hire their own or special counsel to advise in areas where in-house counsel needs a helping hand.
Start-Up
When building a new business, you want to make sure that your foundation is strong. To do that, you need to have the right organizational structure, you need to build the right team and you need the financial resources to set everything in motion. At Swan Law PC, we can help you to choose the right form of business entity and design a governance structure that will provide a firm platform upon which to grow your business. When you are ready to assemble your team, we can help you to create an incentive plan that will help you to attract talent. And, whether you are looking to fund your endeavor through equity or debt, we will be there to guide you every step of the way.
Growth
As your business grows, so do the challenges that you face. When starting relationships with new customers and vendors, one of the first things you may do is to enter into a commercial contract. This will likely happen before you even have the opportunity to show them how well you can execute. Each new relationship must start on the right foot. Your legal counsel needs to understand the importance of building trust and that both the content of your legal documents and the process through which they are negotiated will reflect not only upon your business culture, but also the degree to which you will stand behind your work. In those cases, we take a collaborative approach to negotiations to help you to protect your interests while being mindful of the needs of your customers.
Exit
At some point the time may come for you to ride off in to the sunset. Whether you are selling your business in a strategic sale, your business is being courted by private equity or you want to hand it off to the next generation, we will be there to provide expert advice. We can assist you with all aspects of your transition, from engaging investment bankers to closing the deal and beyond. We work closely with your team and collaborate with your other professional advisors in an effort to ensure that your transaction goes as smoothly as possible. Even before negotiations begin, we can help you to prepare for your exit event by identifying and minimizing any problems that might otherwise put your transaction in jeopardy.
Profiles
W. Eric Swan
Shareholder
I practice in the area of business and corporate law, representing both established and emerging businesses and the angel and institutional investors who fund them.
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With respect to businesses, I often fill the role of outside general counsel. I advise with respect to important transactional events such as equity and debt financings, acquisitions, business transitions and exit events and guide my clients through the day-to-day challenges that must be met to ensure their success, such as structuring and negotiating domestic and international development and manufacturing agreements, services agreements, intellectual property licenses and distribution, reseller and OEM agreements. I am a trusted advisor to my clients, working with individuals at all levels in an organization to provide business and strategic guidance, while taking a pragmatic approach to legal services. My goal is to maximize the value of the services I provide by helping clients to efficiently realize their business objectives.
I leverage my background in engineering to better understand my clients’ products and services and to ensure that each business transaction is structured with proper attention to the particular needs of the technology at hand.
Publication: "Private Equity: What Counts and What Doesn't" (co-authored with Joseph W. Bartlett and published in the University of Iowa Journal of Corporate Law, 2001)
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Education: JD, New York University School of Law
BSME, Purdue University, West Lafayette
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Bar Admissions: Massachusetts / U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Eric is one of (if not) the best corporate attorneys with whom I have worked. His energy and drive are second to none and he has that unusual ability to understand the technical and commercial aspects of the business so that he can effortlessly guide contractual discussions toward the strength of his client (me). Eric has even flown to major clients to resolve issue first hand (and first class) - his approach and attitude are exemplary. I doubt there is a lawyer that has as great an understanding of technology AND a keen understanding of corporate and contract law.
David Traynor, CMO at Aspider-NGI
Andrew Branz
Of Counsel, Retired
After years of practice in mid-sized firms, I began my own firm in 2007 in order to ensure personal attention and efficient legal services to privately held businesses in a multitude of industries.
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In my years of private practice, I have handled all the day‑to‑day legal needs for numerous clients, including a number of private equity companies. I often assisted clients with business formations, agreements among owners, employment agreements, equity awards, distribution agreements and other commercial contracts, leases, and bank financings – and added particular value to clients buying or selling businesses, entering into joint ventures, or needing advice and legal assistance with other business transactions.
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In 2019 when I decided to transition to a part‑time role, I joined Swan Law PC because I was confident that Eric Swan would continue to provide the personal, cost effective services to which my clients had grown accustomed. At Swan Law PC, I will continue to work with clients on strategic matters and to coordinate client communications.
Education: JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School
MBA, Wharton Graduate Division, University of Pennsylvania
BA, Clark University
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Bar Admissions: Massachusetts (Retired)
Get in Touch
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Swan Law PC
One Boston Place, Suite 2600
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
617-275-7620