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Brian H. Axelrad Partner | Board of Directors
  • D 312.606.3242
  • F 312.267.2227
baxelrad@hmblaw.com
Brian H. Axelrad
“Entrepreneur. MBA. Lawyer. Advisor. Mentor. Investor. He is the first person I call when making any significant decision.” - Entrepreneur & Startup Advisor Client

Brian is a partner in HMB’s Business and Finance Group. He is also a leader in the firm’s Venture Capital and Technology practices, founded HMB’s Social Impact practice (philanthropy and impact investing) and serves on the firm-wide Executive Committee. In addition, Brian leads the firm’s ETA/Search Fund efforts. He serves his company clients as day-to-day general counsel and regularly advises companies, investors, acquirors and executives on strategic and milestone transactions, often including venture capital and private equity transactions and mergers & acquisitions.

Brian partners with investors, entrepreneurs and executives on the legal and business issues they face at every stage, from startup through growth to exit. He coaches and guides his clients as they explore different strategies, transactions and opportunities.

The companies Brian works with are often technology driven or enabled and connected to a host of industries. His institutional clients include venture capital funds, private equity funds, family offices, search funds and fundless sponsors.

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In a cross-practice group collaboration through HMB’s Social Impact practice, Brian helps clients deploy capital to support social impact and philanthropic outcomes. In addition to being a social impact lawyer, he is an active member of the global community and also serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Beyond Capital Fund, an impact investment fund that invests in for-profit social enterprises in East Africa and India. More locally, he served as the inaugural Impact Investor in Residence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business from 2015-2018.

Lawyer, Impact Investor, Tech Investor, Entrepreneur, Kitchen Sink

Brian has a reputation for pragmatic, solution-oriented outcomes, efficient and effective problem solving and technical expertise.

Experience

  • Startup and early stage companies (particularly, technology driven and enabled),
  • Angel investors
  • Venture capital funds
  • Inbound C-suite executives
  • “Old-line” middle market businesses
  • Banking institutions
  • Private equity funds and mezzanine and specialty finance (e.g., equipment lenders) companies

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, M.B.A. with honors
  • University of Michigan, B.A. in Economics and History

Admissions

  • Illinois

Community Involvement

  • Chief Investment Officer of Beyond Capital Fund
  • Teacher, Venture Capital Investing for Social Impact at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Events

News

blog

  • Cybersecurity PreparednessJanuary 29, 2020

    As 2020 kicks off, cybersecurity remains ever present in the news whether its predictions for cyberattacks in conflict between state actors, such as the United States and Iran, or the recent New York Times report regarding a possible hack at the Ukrainian gas company at the heart of the impeachment investigations.

  • SEC Proposes Changes to Accredited Investor Standard and Assesses its Impact on the MarketplaceJanuary 9, 2020

    In December 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed amendments to the definitions of “accredited investor” and “qualified institutional buyer”.

Education
  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, M.B.A. with honors
  • University of Michigan, B.A. in Economics and History
Admissions
  • Illinois
500 West Madison Suite 3700
Chicago IL 60661

Phone: 312-606-3200 Fax: 312-606-3232
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