Andrew Comer advises companies on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, and other corporate matters affecting their formation, financing, and operation. He has assisted clients of various sizes as they’ve grown, negotiated with vendors and customers, and prepared for acquisition. His clients include software and application developers, cloud services companies, creative and advertising agencies, manufacturers, cannabis businesses, retailers, and service providers. He works with various personnel—from founders to boards of directors to investors—to ensure compliance with the range of laws that affect their investments and operations. He also leads the firm’s trademark practice group, advising companies on registrations and brand protection.

Prior to joining the firm, Andrew practiced law at another Denver law firm and served as in-house counsel for a global nonprofit organization.  Andrew takes pride in taking the time to understand each client’s business and goals so he can help them achieve the best results.   He is accessible and flexible and works to ensure that transactions are conducted in a timely, thorough manner.

Practice Areas

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Commercial transactions
• Real Estate transactions
• Cannabis transactions
• Technology development, transfer, and licensing
• Debt and equity financings
  
  • Including angel investments, venture capital, and private equity
• Employment and Equity Compensation
• Partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic alliances

• Corporate governance matters

• Trademark prosecution, licensing, and transfers

• Brand development and protection

Bar Admissions

• Colorado

Education

• Juris Doctor, University of Denver
• Bachelors of Arts, University of Colorado, Boulder
  
  • Magna Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Colorado Bar Association
  
  • Business Law Section

• Denver Bar Association
• Boulder Bar Association
• Blackstone Entrepreneurs’ Network
  
  • Growth Advisor
• Galvanize
  
  • Mentor
• University of Denver
  
  • Venture Law Society
    
    • Supervising Attorney
• Commons on Champa
  
  • Advisory Board
• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
• Firestorm
• Business Network International (BNI)

Honors & Awards

• Finalist, GenXYZ Top 25 Professionals Award, 2023
• Named a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star  – 2018

Community Activities & Personal Interests

Andrew likes spending time with entrepreneurs and other professionals that support the Denver/Boulder startup and venture community.  He has helped organize events to promote entrepreneurs in Denver and Boulder, spoken to entrepreneurs in various settings, and mentored at various company-focused organizations across Colorado.

In his free time Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, being outdoors, reading, and rooting for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Speeches and Publications

• Author, “How the Hermes NFT Case Will Impact Expression and Enterprise,” Bloomberg Law, Feb. 2023
•  Interviewed,  Latte With a Lawyer podcast – Jan. 2022
• Quoted, “Business Lawyers Give Recap of 2022, Lookahead to 2023,” LawWeek Colorado – Dec. 2022
• Quoted, “Robust sales, expanding legalization lead to increased mergers, acquisitions in Boulder County cannabis industry,” – Daily Camera – September 2020
• Quoted, “Shutting Down a Startup: How to Protect Yourself and Your Investors from Liability,” Silicon Valley Bank – September 2020
• Quoted, “Federal coronavirus loans slow as Colorado businesses wonder if they’ll actually be forgiven,” The Colorado Sun – May 2020
• Quoted, “Small businesses in Colorado’s high country say the federal coronavirus stimulus has left them empty-handed” The Colorado Sun – April 2020
• Featured, “The Herd: New hires, departures and promotions 4.7.20” BusinessDen – April 2020
• Author, “INSIGHT: Investments in Colorado Companies in Advanced Industries Eligible for Tax Credit” Bloomberg Tax – March 2020

Representative Transactions

• Assisted a client in the agriculture industry software business with the purchase of a competitor.
• Advised a CBD distribution business in its acquisition of a competitor.
• Assisted and negotiated several M&A deals for clients of various sizes, including through the representation of buyers, sellers, and individual equity owners in technology, manufacturing, oil and gas, cannabis, construction and other industries.
• Represented financial services companies, mobile application companies, and others in their series financings.
• Represented dozens of companies in debt financings, including SBA, SAFE, and convertible debt.
• Advised software company in its $25 million sale to a strategic buyer.
• Advised global nonprofit in the $35 million acquisition of another nonprofit’s assets.
• Assisted developer in debt financing and development of a $47 Million multi-use real estate project in Colorado.

• Represented cloud services company in the $17 million sale of its majority interest to a private equity firm and subsequent debt financing and acquisition of other cloud services companies.

• Represented pharmacy in $3 million sale to national medical organization.
• Advised on structuring and raising millions in equity and debt financing for several hemp operations and CBD businesses in Colorado and Wisconsin.
• Assisted a leading strategic business consulting firm in a complex recapitalization, succession planning, employment agreements and sophisticated equity incentive plan.
• Advised CBD and consumer product companies in structuring, negotiating and closing multi-million SAFE financings.
• Assisted nonprofit in restructuring, sale of real estate, and renegotiation of its debt obligations.
• Represented owners of apartment buildings in restructuring and recapitalization of holding companies and negotiation of debt financing.
• Represented major Colorado cannabis processor in the formation of joint ventures in Colorado, Maryland, Oregon, and California.
• Represented medical products manufacturer in the formation of joint venture with industry partner.
• Represented clothing manufacturer in a series of equity investments, formation of affiliates, and restructuring.
• Represented a national home rental company in the sale of three of its subsidiaries.
• Advised a Denver-based food manufacturer/retailer in the sale of its wholesale business to a national wholesaler.