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Ben Straughan

Profile photo for Benjamin D. Straughan
Profile photo for Benjamin D. Straughan
Partner

Ben Straughan

  • Firmwide Co-Chair, NewSpace Industry Group

Ben advises high-growth technology, space, and consumer product companies in early-stage and venture financings, governance, mergers and acquisitions, and spinouts.

As co-chair of Perkins Coie’s NewSpace practice, Ben Straughan assists startups and early-stage companies in addressing the unique issues our clients face when doing business in the space economy. Ben understands corporate financial matters, routinely counseling clients on angel and venture capital transactions. His clients span industries in which intellectual property is a key component, including space, software and SaaS, consumer packaged goods; food and beverage; gaming, e-commerce, cloud migration, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML).

Ben is a regular speaker on emerging companies, financing, and M&A. Prior to law school, he worked as a certified public accountant. Ben is in the unusual position of having trained as a transactional tax lawyer at the beginning of his career. As a result, he particularly enjoys corporate transactions in which tax or financial matters play a key role.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • University of Washington, B.A., Accounting

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington

Related Employment

  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Washington D.C., Associate
  • Martin/Grambush, Kirkland, WA, Staff Accountant

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2017-2025

  • Named a Greater Seattle Technology Ecosystem “Top Corporate Lawyer,” iInovate Leadership Network, Study & Entrepreneur’s Guide, 2017

  • J. Shan Mullin Annual Community Leadership and Service Award, Perkins Coie, 2022

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
    (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Washington State Bar Association (WSBA), Executive Committee of the Business Law Section, Immediate Past Chair, 2011-2012, Chair, 2010-2011; Chair, 2009 Mid-Year Meeting; Secretary, 2007-2008
  • WSBA, Partnership/LLC Law Committee of the Business Law Section, Member

Community Involvement

  • Plymouth Housing Board of Trustees, Chair
  • University of Washington, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, Advisory Board Member

Professional Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions

Represented ThankView LLC in its Merger with EverTrue Inc.

Served on the deal team representing ThankView LLC in its merger with EverTrue Inc. and combined strategic investment by Rubicon Technology Partners.

Acquisition of Assets from Regional Medical Center

Represented buyer, an S corporation in the health services industry, on acquisition of occupational medicine practice of regional medical center. Drafted and negotiated asset purchase agreement and related agreements, including lease assignment agreement and assignment and assumption agreement.

Acquisition of Software Development and Integration Companies

Advised international technology consulting company in connection with acquisitions of various software development and integration companies. Advised on a variety of agreements in these transactions, including letter of intent. Drafted and negotiated asset purchase agreement, employment agreement, escrow agreement and software technology license agreement.

Sale of Software/Internet Company

Advised owner and founder of internet and software development business, an S corporation, on sale of division assets to national cable television and internet entertainment company, a private equity-backed LLC. Negotiated letter of intent, merger agreement and related documents, including employment agreements and employee compensation plan.

Sale of Retail Company

Advise controlling shareholder on sale of retail company to publicly-held national retail chain. Edit and negotiate Asset Purchase Agreement, Lease Agreement, Escrow Agreement, Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement and Contribution Agreement.

Merger of International Wire Transfer Company

Represent international wire transfer corporation in its merger/acquisition by a private equity backed rollup company, with former Western Union personnel among the management team members. Negotiate various agreements in these transactions including the letter of intent, merger agreement, employment agreements, processing agreement, agent agreement, bank agreement, consulting agreement and escrow agreement.

Acquisition by Meteor Solutions, Inc.

Represented Meteor Solutions (f.k.a. Fyreball) in the acquisition of Reach Machines, Inc.

Sale of assets by Westover Scientific Inc.

Represented Westover Scientific in the sale of its Fiber Division assets to JDS Uniphase Corporation.

Acquisition of TreeHugger Inc.

Represented TreeHugger Inc. in its acquisition by Discovery Networks.

Acquisition of WorldClass Strategy Inc.

Represented WorldClass Strategy Inc. in its acquisition by Halyard Partners.

Sale of Escapia, Inc.

Represented Escapia, Inc., an on-line travel with an enterprise business selection and consumer application, in the sale of its business to a venture-backed portfolio company.

Sale of Inhabitat.com

Represented Inhabitat.com, a weblog devoted to sustainable architecture and sustainable design, in its sale to Internet Brands Inc.

Sale of Radiant Imaging, Inc. and ZEMAX Development Corporation

Jointly represented two sellers in the electronic display and optical instrument industry in the sale of their businesses to a private equity fund. Negotiated terms of sale and resulting limited company structures.

Westover Scientific, Inc. dba Advanced Microscopy Group

Represented medical device company and sole shareholder in sale of all the outstanding capital stock to publicly-held acquiror.

Meteor Solutions

Represented Meteor Solutions, Inc. in its asset sale to Covario, Inc.

Suffirm Media Ltd.—Acquisition of Carolean Capital Partners, LLC.

Represented Suffirm Media Ltd. in the acquisition of assets of Carolean Capital Partners, LLC.

Emerging Companies

Virtual Therapeutics Corporation

Represented Virtual Therapeutics Corporation in its Series A financing.

Door To Door Storage, Inc. Financing

Represented Door To Door Storage in a Series B preferred stock financing.

Escapia, Inc. Financing

Represented Escapia in a preferred stock financing.

Meteor Solutions, Inc. Financing

Represented Meteor Solutions (f.k.a. Fyreball) in a Series A preferred stock financing.

Wishpot, Inc.

Represented Wishpot, Inc. in its preferred stock financing.

nuun & Company, Inc. Preferred Stock Financing

Represented nuun & Company, Inc., a manufacturer of electrolyte replacement and hydration beverage products, in a preferred stock financing.

nuun & Company, Inc. Convertible Note Financing

Represented nuun & Company, Inc. in its Convertible Note Financing.

Motiga, Inc. Preferred Stock Issuance

Represented Motiga, Inc. in its issuance of Series A Preferred Stock.

Venture Capital

Series A Investment for private equity fund

Represented private equity fund/limited partnership on series A stock purchase agreement. Negotiated financing term sheet, series A stock purchase agreement, investors rights agreement, voting agreement, contribution agreement, invention agreement and employment agreement. Supervised due diligence process.

Investment in Venture Fund Spinoff

Represented venture capital fund and limited partnership on series B investment in software development company creating user interfaces with cross-device and platform functionality. Negotiated term sheet, voting agreement, stock purchase agreement, warrants, software acknowledgement letter, proprietary inventions agreement, investors rights agreement, escrow agreement and legal opinion.

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