M. Samuel M. Shafner
Avocat des affaires, 
Burns & Levinson

Texte seulement disponible en anglais.

Mr. Shafner has concentrated his practice exclusively in the area of transactional corporate and securities law for more than twenty years. Mr. Shafner has particular expertise in assisting emerging technology companies, both domestic and international, in their capital formation as well as in basic business contract needs. Most of Mr. Shafner's clients are high-technology businesses and venture capital firms specializing in high technology investments. Consequently, Mr. Shafner frequently negotiates software licenses, distribution arrangements, strategic partnerships and similar IP (intellectual property) sensitive matters. However, he also represents a number of low-tech manufacturers and distributors nationwide. A major portion of Mr. Shafner's practice deals with corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He frequently counsels domestic and international clients in IPO's and other public securities offerings, venture capital transactions, private placements, and strategic partnering arrangements. He regularly negotiates and closes acquisitions and sales of businesses, divisions and product lines in major industries, particularly (but not exclusively) high-technology oriented. As a result of his knowledge of the investment banking industry, Mr. Shafner often co-counsels with litigators in securities law disputes, particularly broker-investor disputes, and represents underwriting firms in regulatory matters. Burns & Levinson LLP (www.burnslev.com) is an entrepreneurial, full-service Boston-based law firm with sophisticated practices, representing a broad range of clients in their domestic and international operations. Our 125 attorneys are located in New England, but our practice is truly international in scope.  Many of our lawyers are recognized leaders in their fields, who have trained in large national and international law firms. In addition, our wholly-owned subsidiary in Montreal helps us serve our many Canadian clients, including cross-border business consulting and investment. Our “Canada Pipeline” program is in its seventh year of bringing together young Canadian companies and US financing sources. 

Burns & Levinson represents venture funds, private equity firms and other investors in all phases of raising and deploying capital. We structure and organize funds, formulate investment terms, assist in due diligence, and close portfolio investments. We have helped organize and represent venture capital funds based in China, Japan, Israel, Russia, Brazil and Belgium, as well as in the U.S. We also represent in-house corporate venture funds. Our representation often extends beyond legal advice, to providing industry and financing contacts and business advice generally.

The firm also provides full service corporate representation to operating companies, from startup to publicly traded enterprises. Such representation includes private and public equity and debt financing, intellectual property protection and enforcement, licensing, commercial contracts, employment and regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business litigation, and local and international taxation.  For our clients, we frequently provide business advice and appropriate strategic and financial introductions. Our M&A practice extends throughout the globe, and our general expertise in acquisitions is sought even in deals where no U.S. legalities are involved. We take pride in our international reputation in corporate and M&A transactions.

An unusual aspect of Burns & Levinson is our firm structure. Unlike most law firms our size or larger, we have as many partners as we do associates. This in turn enables us to provide a more personal level of attention than do most firms our size, whose partners are typically under pressure to fully utilise their heavy ranks of associates.  Also, having as many partners as law firms several times our size enables us to magnify our reach in terms of referrals, contacts and networking on behalf of those funds, companies and entrepreneurs whom we undertake to serve.