David Johnson is a corporate attorney representing middle market, sponsor-backed companies from the initial platform acquisition through exit, and privately held companies selling to sponsor-backed companies. David also represents lead investors, family offices, and companies growing through venture capital investment or private offerings of debt and equity, and governance issues related thereto.

Drawing upon his experience as a corporate and mergers and acquisitions attorney, David represents individual shareholders and companies experiencing complex shareholder/ownership disputes (sometimes called "business divorce"). Combining his multidisciplinary experience negotiating sophisticated transactions and litigating complex disputes, David brings a unique perspective that is both strategic and pragmatic.

David represents clients in Illinois and Wisconsin in a wide range of industries that include software and technology companies, satellite and aeronautical companies, industrial manufacturers, medical practice groups and practitioners, medical device companies, and transportation companies. David often functions as his clients’ outside general counsel, serving as a trusted advisor on their legal, business and strategic matters and advising them in a manner that mitigates risk and supports growth. He also provides guidance when troubled situations arise.

In addition to his general corporate practice, David regularly advises businesses on privacy and data security issues, including data breach response.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Represented a client in the $30 million purchase of a multi-state automobile dealership, and in subsequent acquisitions, divestitures and ongoing operational and strategic matters.

  • Represented a client in the purchase of a series of oil collection and processing facilities with values up to $9 million.

  • Represent clients in various health care related sales and acquisitions, including in the sale and purchase of physician practices and surgery centers, and the sale of a series of health insurance third-party administrator organizations.

  • Represented various entities in both the sale and acquisition of software companies.

  • Represented a propane distributor in a series of growth acquisitions.

Business Divorce

  • Represented 50% partner in deadlocked dispute over control of multigenerational HVAC company.

  • Represented minority shareholder of private surgical practice who was frozen out of control of the company.

  • Represented law firm in dispute with exiting partner over separation terms.

  • Represented manufacturing company in cash-out merger of minority shareholders.

  • Represented insurance agency in sale over objection of dissenting shareholder.

  • Represented majority partner of consulting agency in contentious buyout of business partner.

Corporate Finance

  • Represented start-up and growth companies in early and middle stage private placements, fundraising rounds, and capital raises.

  • Represented a distressed industrial manufacturer in a million-dollar private debt offering.

  • Represented borrowers in the negotiation of senior loan, junior loan, mezzanine, and floor plan financing.

  • Represented an investment fund in private equity offerings and structuring offerings in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 with values up to $15 Million.

  • Represented a new age fitness center in a private equity offering.

  • Represented a spirits company in a multimillion-dollar private equity offering.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

David joined Aronberg Goldgehn as an associate in February 2017 and was promoted to Member in January 2019. David is active in firm leadership and serves on the firm's Marketing Committee.

Since 2019, David has been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer in Closely & Privately Held Business Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers, a designation awarded to less than 2 percent of Illinois attorneys 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 or fewer years. He also has been named a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers, a designation awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of Illinois attorneys 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less (2017-2020). In 2022, David was honored in Crain's Chicago Business 2022 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law list.

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

A sampling of David's presentations includes:

  • “The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act Impact on Business,” a program for the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Jan. 30, 2020.

  • “Starting and Running a Home Based Small Business" at The Law Project's workshop co-sponsored by the IIT Stuart School of Business Knapp Entrepreneurship Center and the Women’s Business Development Center, May 2, 2017.

  • "Corporate Structures" at a Pro Bono Law Evening co-hosted by The Chicago Inventors Organization and IIT Chicago Kent College of Law Patent Hub, April 25, 2017.

  • “Business Liability & Insurance” and “Corporate Structures” at The Law Project’s “Starting and Running a Home Based Business” workshop, May 2016.

A sampling of his publications includes:

  • "Expansion of Private Equity Into the Accounting Industry: Some Considerations When Representing the Seller," The Counselor, December 2022.

  • “Governance Issues,” Chapter 1 in “Disputes Involving Closely Held Companies 2020 Edition,” published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Feb. 2020.

  • "Liability Under the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act," Business Law Alert, Feb. 20, 2019.

  • “Overview of Lender Liability Under Environmental Laws,” Associate Editor, Chapter 11 in “Environmental Issues in Business Transactions,” published by the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2011.

  • United States v. Apex Oil Co., Inc.: The State of the Law Regarding Discharge of Environmental Injunctions,” in the ABA’s Business Law Section’s Environmental and Energy Business Law Reporter, Spring 2010.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Fellow, The American Bar Foundation (June 2023)

  • Village of East Hazel Crest, Village Trustee (May 2003-Feb. 2007)

  • East Hazel Crest Library District, Trustee (Aug. 2003-April 2005); Treasurer (Aug. 2003-April 2005)

  • Volunteer Firefighter with the East Hazel Crest Volunteer Fire Department (Jan. 2003 – Aug. 2006)

  • East Hazel Crest Fire Department Association, President (May 2003-April 2005) 

LEADERSHIP ROLES

  • Chicago Bar Association's Business Transactions Committee, Chair (2023-2024)

  • The Illinois State Bar Association's Business Advice and Financial Planning Section Council, Vice President (2023-2024), Secretary (2022-2023); Former Co-Editor of the Section's Newsletter, The Counselor.

  • The Environmental Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division, Former Co-Chair/Legislative Liaison (2010-2011).

RELATED NEWS



Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2009

University of Illinois, Chicago, B.A., Economics, 2005



BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois, 2009
  • Wisconsin, 2011
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), 2010
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2011

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  • Emerging Lawyer in Closely & Privately Held Business Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers (2019-2021)
  • Rising Star in Business and Corporate Law by Illinois Super Lawyers (2017-2020)
  • David C. Hilliard Award for Outstanding Committee Service from the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association (2010-2011)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence
  • CALI Award for Excellence for the Future Award in Bankruptcy

PERSONAL

In his free time, David enjoys attending White Sox and Blackhawks games, golfing, making noise on his guitar, and spending time with his family.

What is your favorite thing about being a lawyer?
I went to law school because I wanted to help real people with their problems. A family business may be someone’s most valuable asset and the sole source of their livelihood, and in my practice I have the opportunity to help solve the stresses a business owner faces, to help those businesses compete and remain an employer in their community, and help ensure that those business owners can sleep at night.
What is the best vacation you’ve ever been on? My honeymoon to Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
What is your favorite restaurant? Aurelio’s Pizza in Homewood, Illinois