Practice areas
Corporate & Securities
Startups & Venture Capital
Mergers & Acquisitions
Education
New York University School of Law
(Executive LL.M. 2020), TaxationVanderbilt University Law School
(J.D. 2014), Law and Business Certificate ProgramAuburn University
(B.S./B.A. 2011), Economics & Spanish
Bar admissions
Tennessee
Florida
Biography
Chandler Waits is a corporate and securities attorney based in Nashville, TN. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs and watching his dad operate and ultimately sell his small business while Chandler was in law school were formative experiences and ultimately led Chandler to focus his law practice on working with entrepreneurs and their investors. Chandler has seen business formation and growth have a significant positive impact on not only the entrepreneur and his family, but also on the employees, investors, community, and other stakeholders that business is connected to. Chandler is passionate about seeing new businesses grow and thrive and is trusted by many businesses to advise them on their most critical transactions.
For startups, Chandler works with companies on their debt and equity financing transactions, key employee compensation plans, IP protection, securities and tax compliance matters, and exit transactions. Chandler has significant experience working with startups backed by the largest Silicon Valley venture capital funds and routinely advises high-growth companies on how to structure their startups to attract investments from professional investors.
For investors, Chandler works as outside corporate counsel to private equity and venture capital funds to provide comprehensive transaction services from negotiating the LOI, advising on structure, performing due diligence, and closing the transaction.
Representative Transactions
Startups & Venture Capital
Represented healthcare startup in its $75M Series B financing.
Represented biotechnology startup in its $25 million Series A financing.
Represented software startup in its $17 million Series B financing.
Represented venture studio in its incorporation and funding of its portfolio companies.
Represented software startup in its $4.5 million Series A financing.
Represented fintech startup in its $3.3 million Series A financing.
Represented healthcare technology startup in its $12 million Series A financing.
Represented consumer products startup in its $4 million Series A financing.
Represented investor in its $1 million investment in a software startup.
Represented numerous early-stage companies in pre-seed and seed financing deals ranging from $100,000 - $4 million.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Structured and negotiated a $20M investment for a real estate private equity fund in its joint venture acquisition of a prime office tower in downtown Nashville, TN.
Negotiated a $15M investment for a real estate private equity fund in its joint venture acquisition of a mixed used building in San Diego, CA.
Negotiated a $6M investment for a real estate private equity fund in its joint venture acquisition of a portfolio of mobile home parks near Raleigh, NC.
Represented health care company in its asset sale valued at $400 million+.
Closed an asset sale of a technology business to a publicly traded, strategic buyer valued at up to $6M (depending on post-closing earn-out results).
Represented seller in its asset sale of newsletter business for $4 million (depending on post-closing earn-out results).
Closed an asset sale of a veterinary clinic to private equity buyer for $6 million.