David Willbrand

At Thompson Hine, I am the Chairperson of the firm’s Early Stage & Emerging Company Practice.

I primarily work with tech and biotech:
• Entrepreneurs and emerging companies,
• Accelerators and incubators,
• Early-stage investors and venture capital funds, and
• Research institutions and corporate innovation teams.

Prior to joining Thompson Hine, I worked in the software industry, holding the dual role of CFO and General Counsel at a series of venture-backed companies. Prior to that, I practiced law in Boulder, Colorado.

I combine broad and deep legal knowledge with real-world business and transactional experience. I drive, facilitate and close deals. I graduated from Harvard University (BA) in 1992 and the University of Cincinnati College of Law (JD) in 1996, where I was Valedictorian and also the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.

I teach “Mergers & Acquisitions” at the University of Michigan Law School. I also teach “Startups & Venture Capital” at the Syracuse University College of Law and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Prior to that, I taught “Agency & Partnership” at UC. I am a lecturer at the nationally-ranked Miami University Institute for Entrepreneurship, where I also serve as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

Last but not least, I am very active on LinkedIn, posting frequently on matters of entrepreneurship, technology, economics, culture, self-improvement and, on Fridays, music!