Daniel G. Straga
Dan’s practice focuses primarily on complex M&A and private equity transactions, with particular experience in cross-border, special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and carve-out transactions. He has advised on business transactions touching over 60 countries throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and South America. His experience with a diverse array of transaction types allows him to effectively negotiate, coordinate, and complete even the most complex business transactions.
Dan has significant experience working with founders of early-stage companies and investors seeking to make investments in such companies. As their counsel, he leverages this experience to advise on a wide spectrum of legal and business issues commonly facing entrepreneurs, including entity formation, structuring, partnership arrangements, employee hires and terminations, intellectual property protection, financial modeling, and capital raising. As counsel for investors, Dan assists in the drafting and negotiation of investment documents and the oversight of investments following closing. He is an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, an organization focused on highlighting and promoting the growth of the region’s emerging companies.
Prior to joining Venable, Dan spent several years working for a construction company and a real estate investment fund. He frequently leverages this experience to advise clients on the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real property, the formation of development partnerships, and the formation of private equity funds focused on making real estate investments.
Related Practices
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented a special-purpose acquisition company in its merger with a provider of space-based data and analytics in a transaction valued at approximately $1.6 billion
- Represented California’s largest cannabis producer in its merger with a Canadian special-purpose acquisition company in a transaction valued at more than $1 billion
- Represented an investment fund in its acquisition of a propane and heating distillates retailer for $500 million
- Represented an investment fund in its acquisition of car and commercial vehicle dealership business
- Represented a publicly traded electric vehicle and fintech company in acquisitions of a title insurance company, a wireless charging station manufacturer, a solar tractor company, and a manufacturer of power conversion systems
- Represented a technology solutions company in connection with its $10 million Series A financing round
- Represented an agriculture technology company in connection with Seed, Seed-II, and Series A financing rounds
- Represented a venture capital fund focused on the cannabis industry in connection with minority investments in several companies across the entire cannabis supply chain
- Represented an investment fund in its acquisition of a 50% ownership interest in an East Coast real estate developer
- Represented a real estate developer in connection with securing a €45 million preferred equity investment to finance the development of an office park
- Represented an investment fund in connection with its entry into a joint venture with a senior housing developer
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. with honors The George Washington University Law School 2010
- Honors, American Bankruptcy Institute Award for Excellence in Bankruptcy Studies
- B.A. Criminal Justice summa cum laude University of Delaware 2007
- Winner, 2006 Legal Studies Writing Competition
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association
- Member, Board of Directors, Esther’s Friends Memorial Foundation
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2025
- Legal 500, M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), 2023