Ryan
Wertman
Esq.
Ryan represents startups and emerging growth companies as their general counsel and helps them to execute strategic transactions during their entire life cycle. He believes deeply in giving counsel that balances both the legal and commercial considerations at hand, recognizing that his clients rely on him to inform their business decisions in the real world. Ryan serves as fractional GC to several growth-stage companies ranging from $2M to $200M in annual revenue and as Chief Operating Officer to Irrational Capital LLC.
Prior to co-founding GrowthCounsel, Ryan founded Wertman Law (2010) and started his career in the M&A department of an Am Law 100 law firm (2007-2010). Ryan also served as general counsel to Skipta LLC (2011-2017), a tech startup in the social networking space, representing the company through several rounds of financing and a successful exit to a publicly-traded company. Ryan is a proud member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
Geoff
Schwartz
Esq.
Geoff has extensive experience working with companies at all stages, from pre-revenue startups to growth-stage and mid-market businesses. His clients regularly turn to him for advice regarding financings, equity, organizational and founder matters, commercial contracts, employee and human resources support, intellectual property, and M&A. Geoff also serves as outside general counsel to many of his clients.
Prior to co-founding GrowthCounsel, Geoff spent ten years in the corporate and securities departments of two Am Law 100 law firms. Geoff was one of the leaders of his prior firm’s emerging company practice group, spearheading its outreach to the startup and tech communities.
Ted
O’Connor
Esq.
Ted has broad and deep in-house and transactional experience. Ted serves as a lawyer and business advisor to his clients, frequently serving as outside general counsel to mid-market and emerging companies, as well as guiding his clients through M&A transactions. Ted is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional and advises clients on privacy and information security issues.
Ted started his legal career at a Philadelphia-based Am Law 100 law firm. He then spent over seven years as in-house counsel for private equity-backed, tech-enabled B2B marketing services companies, where he advised C-suite executives as well as sales and operations teams from across the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. His extensive in-house experience makes him particularly qualified to provide timely, practical and actionable advice to his clients as they seek to grow and protect their businesses.
Kimon
Hatza
Esq.
Kimon has more than 35 years of experience representing clients in a broad array of commercial and transactional matters. His combination of legal and business acumen has established Kimon as a trusted advisor to technology companies, life sciences companies, health care providers, manufacturers, private equity and venture capital firms, commercial lenders, professional services firms and others.
Kimon’s experience includes: (i) domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, (ii) complex contract negotiation and preparation, (iii) third-party legal opinions in connection with M&A and financing transactions, (iv) securities, corporate governance and corporate compliance matters, (v) private equity and venture capital transactions, and (vi) advising both public and private companies on legal aspects of day-to-day operations.
Kimon joined GrowthCounsel from MillCrest Law LLP, where in addition to his practice he served as the firm’s managing partner. Previously, he was a partner at Blank Rome LLP in its Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Group. Prior to joining Blank Rome, he served as Chairman of the Corporate Law and Health Care Transactions practices at De Cotiis, FitzPatrick & Gluck, and as the Corporate and Health Care Transactions lead in Cohen Shapiro LLP’s New Jersey office.
Esuga
Abaya
Esq.
Esuga is a corporate attorney with experience representing a wide range of clients, from startups and early-stage enterprises to Fortune 500 companies. His practice includes advising clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters. His experience spans numerous industries, including software technology, life sciences, insurance, and financial services.
More than just an attorney, Esuga prides himself on being a trusted advisor to his clients, employing a holistic approach to the practice of law that requires an understanding of the business issues and goals that drive legal decision-making.
Esuga loves spending as much time as possible with his wife and children. He is a huge fan of music of all kinds. He also enjoys the fine arts, traveling and being in nature.
