Photo of Frank D. Ballantine

Frank D. Ballantine Member

Areas of Practice

Industries

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Education

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Judicial Clerk to Hon. Nathanial R. Jones

University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, J.D.

Columbia University Graduate School of Fine Arts, New York, New York, Work toward MFA in Film

Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, Honors in English, B.A.

Manchester College, Oxford University; Junior Year

Frank Ballantine is a trusted advisor and counselor to senior management, boards of directors, and investors in public and private companies based in the United States and abroad, across a wide range of industries. Active client sectors include information technology—including AI, mobile apps and solutions—food, health care, business services, manufacturers, distributors and lenders.

Frank serves innovative and rapidly growing businesses and the investors who fund them. He also serves family and owner-operated businesses at transformative moments. Frank is outside general counsel to numerous businesses. He is lead transaction counsel to investors and management in venture and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and debt financings. He also assists clients in joint ventures, marketing alliances and licensing. Frank has served or is serving ex officio on the Boards of 26 clients, as well as the advisory board of two venture funds.

Frank frequently speaks on topics involving private equity and venture capital finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities transactions, and high-growth developmental companies.

Frank has been AV Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and recognized by Chambers America’s Leading Lawyers. He has been named one of America’s leading mergers & acquisitions attorneys in Best Lawyers and an Illinois Super Lawyer in securities & corporate finance.

Experience

Frank has been outside general counsel of multiple private equity backed clients, including for a private equity backed industrial business headquartered in the U.S. with multiple foreign operations.

Frank was the principal strategic counsel to a pioneer in the market for on-site, employer-based healthcare clinics and wellness programs from the time of its growth capital investment from a New York based private equity fund through its successful sale to a global private equity firm.

Frank has represented a Global 100 industrial company in distinctive commercial arrangements.

Frank is representing a second-generation family business in governance and succession matters and a shareholder of a third-generation family business who is being bought out.

Frank represented Chicago’s Center for Neighborhood Technology in the sale of its innovative car sharing affiliate I-GO to the largest US rental car company, Enterprise Holdings. The MacArther Award recognized Center for Neighborhood Technology founded, funded, and was the sole member of I-GO, which enables effective city living without owning a car.

Frank has led the following cross border engagements: representing a $300 million revenue specialty chemical company in acquiring its Mexican distributor; representing a U.S. business in connection with its distributorship arrangements for an Italian OEM, the client's market entry into Belgium, Netherlands, and Canada, and its alliance with its Colombian distributor; represented a UK-based specialty material business in two U.S. acquisitions, its UK IPO, and in a joint technology development agreement with a global market leader; represented a venture-backed real-time provider of specialty business information in connection with software development in Serbia and market entry in Canada and Brazil.

Frank is currently and recently has been representing startups and emerging growth businesses in strategy development, business organization and capital raising, including a mobile e-currency business, a mobile health informatics business, a big data analytics business providing financial risk management assessments, and a specialty menswear business.

Frank is representing and has represented multiple CEO's of private equity, family office, and venture capital portfolio companies in their equity incentives and other employment arrangements.

  • Presenter, “Key Terms in LBO and Venture Investments,” Private Equity Lab course of the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter: “Ecovative Designs: A Case Study in Fundamental Innovation,” DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, ”Effective Boards of Directors,” CFO Round table of the Illinois Technology Association, University of Michigan Ross School of Business Chicago Alumni Association, Financial Executives International, the CFO Leadership Group, and Executive Oppo
  • Presenter, “Equity Based Executive Compensation: Assuring The Bargain Sticks,” Executive Opportunities Forum
  • Presenter: "New SEC Regulation A+: Access to Capital for Growing Businesses"
  • Chaired, Global Finance Accounting and Risk Management Conference
  • Moderator, “Growing Through Acquisitions: M&A in the Middle Market Food Industry,” the Food Industry Forum: Key Dynamics and Opportunities
  • Moderator, “Current Dynamics in Venture Capital and Angel Investing,” University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business Entrepreneur Roundtable
  • Moderator, “The Outlook for Venture-Backed Company Exits to Strategic Buyers,” Midwest Venture Summit
  • Presenter, “Attracting Investors to Your Business,” DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, “Analyzing Series A Venture Termsheets,” courses at the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business; the J.L. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; and the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, “Venture, Angels and Entrepreneurs: A Heady Stew?” courses for J.L. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; the University of Illinois, Chicago Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies; DePaul Kellstadt Graduate School of Business;
  • Presenter “Lessons Learned by Experienced Investors” and, ”Closing the Deal and Contributing to Post Closing Success of the Business,” sessions of the Angel Investor Academy, DePaul University Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
  • Presenter, ”Entrepreneurs, You’re Not the Three Musketeers,” courses at the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, ”Ten Attributes of Successful Entrepreneurs,” courses at the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business; and the University of Illinois, Chicago Liautaud Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, ”Structuring and Financing a Start-Up,” DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
  • Presenter, ”Angel Investing Terms and Term Sheets,” Hyde Park Angels
  • Panel Member, “Changing Capital Markets: Raising Debt and Equity in Uncertain Times,” Annual International Growth Conference of the Association for Corporate Growth
  • Panel Member, “Recovery 2011-How Entrepreneurship, Startups and Venture Capital Can Lead the Way,” University of Michigan Ross School of Business Chicago Alumni Conference
  • Author, ”Paying Up For Management,” Private Equity Manager (UK)
  • Author, ”Management Teams Reap Rewards of Endurance,” Private Equity News
  • Author, ”Forces Shaping European Buy Outs and Venture Investing,” White Paper, University of Chicago International Forum
  • Author, ”The Chicago Shakespeare Theater: An Entrepreneurial Success,” Illinois Venture Capital Association News
  • Author, “Non-Profit Entrepreneurship: The Astoria Motion Picture and Television Center,” The Journal of Arts Management and Law
  • Quoted in the Chicago Tribune on the Citibank-led private equity buyout of skin-care products developer H20 Plus LLC
  • Quoted in "List-en to my Fund" in Private Equity Europe on the pros and cons of publicly listing private equity funds
  • Quoted in "Capital Opens Up Breathing Space," in the Chicago Tribune, on financing for international contracts won by developmental businesses
  • Quoted in "A Different Way to Fund Venture Cap," in Pensions & Investments, about using the London stock exchange's AIM for venture capital fundraising

Memberships & Involvement

Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Board of Directors

Re/Cast: Advisors in Ownership Succession; Advisory Board Member

Two Venture Funds; Advisory Board Member

The Nature Conservancy in Illinois; Founding Chair; Corporate Advisory Committee

Chicago Innovations Mentors; Lead Mentor

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2021. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC