Carolyn Landis is an experienced executive and transactional attorney focused on mid-sized businesses and individuals in California, Illinois and New York. In addition to her legal expertise, Caroyn’s prior experience as an executive and corporate development leader with multiple high-performing industry leaders provides her with the business knowledge to assist her clients in managing and growing their businesses from formation to time of sale. Carolyn advises clients on all stages of their businesses including fundraising, Board communications, organizational management and restructuring, executive compensation, employment and customer relationships. She also works on all stages of the sale of businesses (representing buyer or seller) in both asset and stock sales. Carolyn has a keen interest in structuring deals and diligence from the outset to holistically address the needs of her clients. Through her M&A practice, Carolyn has regularly negotiated and closed deals in the eight and nine-figure range.
Carolyn’s primary philosophy with her clients is a balance among assisting with sophisticated business decisions, maximizing client efficiencies from a legal perspective and risk mitigation. From a young age, Carolyn has been involved with various family businesses and brings those small business values to her commercial practice. She partners with her clients to ensure their success on multiple fronts in an effort to always be solution-oriented.
Prior to her legal career, Carolyn taught, trained and managed the law school admissions exam program for a nationally recognized test preparation company. She received her law degree from Wake Forest University and went on to manage a department of staff attorneys at Winston & Strawn LLP supporting the antitrust, commercial litigation and bankruptcy practices. From there, Carolyn pivoted to managing and advising a multi-million dollar dermatology practice in Southern California. Prior to re-joining the firm, Carolyn served as the Executive Vice President for Poplar Homes’ Corporate Development and M&A division.
As both a rare homegrown Californian and New Yorker at heart, Carolyn is very active in her professional communities. Outside of her law practice, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, expanding her culinary knowledge, and growing proficiency in playing the piano.
