Valerie Barton

Expertise Val Advises Career History

Partner

Corporate / M&A

Expertise

Valerie is an experienced corporate and M&A attorney, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, venture and growth-stage investments, and strategic exit planning. She has over 24 years of experience advising founders, entrepreneurs, and growth companies on complex corporate transactions, financing structures, governance, and business strategy. Valerie has led and executed a broad range of sophisticated transactions, including stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, venture and strategic financings, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships, with deal values ranging from early-stage investments to multi-million-dollar transactions. She is recognized for her strong technical execution, strategic judgment, and ability to structure and negotiate sophisticated, high-stakes transactions that drive value and manage risk.

Val Advises

– Advises founders, C-suite executives, and management teams of early-stage, growth, and established middle-market businesses, as well as family-owned and privately held companies
– Particular focus on the franchise ecosystem, advising franchisors, multi-unit operators, and growth-stage franchise platforms on expansion, investment, and exit strategies
– Works across a range of sectors, including technology, professional services, healthcare, logistics, and franchising
– Advises on the full lifecycle of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture and growth capital financings, joint ventures, and strategic exits
– Recognized for hands-on execution leadership, with a practical, commercially driven approach and a strong track record of guiding complex transactions through to successful close

Career History

Previous Law Firms

  • Barton Law Firm LLC – Founder / Corporate Counsel (2022 – Present)
  • Trusted Counsel (Ashley) LLC – Partner, M&A (2018 – 2022)
  • Stillman Welch, LLC – Senior Corporate Counsel (2015 – 2017)
  • Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP – Corporate Counsel (2014 – 2015)
  • Krevolin & Horst LLC – Senior Corporate Associate (2011 – 2012)
  • Locke Lord LLP – Senior Corporate Associate (2007 – 2009)
  • Friend, Hudak & Harris LLP – Corporate Associate (2005 – 2007)
  • Dentons – Associate (2002 – 2005)

Memberships

  • Member, State Bar of Georgia

Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)

Education

  • J.D. (with Honors), Emory University School of Law
  • Master of International Business, University of South Carolina
  • B.A., magna cum laude, University of South Carolina

 

Other (Publications & Speaking)

  • Published author and co-author on corporate and securities law topics, including articles in Mercer Law Review and other legal publications
  • Speaker on business transactions and exit planning topics (including podcasts)

Expertise

Back to top

Valerie is an experienced corporate and M&A attorney, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, venture and growth-stage investments, and strategic exit planning. She has over 24 years of experience advising founders, entrepreneurs, and growth companies on complex corporate transactions, financing structures, governance, and business strategy. Valerie has led and executed a broad range of sophisticated transactions, including stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, venture and strategic financings, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships, with deal values ranging from early-stage investments to multi-million-dollar transactions. She is recognized for her strong technical execution, strategic judgment, and ability to structure and negotiate sophisticated, high-stakes transactions that drive value and manage risk.

Val Advises

Back to top

– Advises founders, C-suite executives, and management teams of early-stage, growth, and established middle-market businesses, as well as family-owned and privately held companies
– Particular focus on the franchise ecosystem, advising franchisors, multi-unit operators, and growth-stage franchise platforms on expansion, investment, and exit strategies
– Works across a range of sectors, including technology, professional services, healthcare, logistics, and franchising
– Advises on the full lifecycle of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture and growth capital financings, joint ventures, and strategic exits
– Recognized for hands-on execution leadership, with a practical, commercially driven approach and a strong track record of guiding complex transactions through to successful close

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law Firms

  • Barton Law Firm LLC – Founder / Corporate Counsel (2022 – Present)
  • Trusted Counsel (Ashley) LLC – Partner, M&A (2018 – 2022)
  • Stillman Welch, LLC – Senior Corporate Counsel (2015 – 2017)
  • Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP – Corporate Counsel (2014 – 2015)
  • Krevolin & Horst LLC – Senior Corporate Associate (2011 – 2012)
  • Locke Lord LLP – Senior Corporate Associate (2007 – 2009)
  • Friend, Hudak & Harris LLP – Corporate Associate (2005 – 2007)
  • Dentons – Associate (2002 – 2005)

Memberships

  • Member, State Bar of Georgia

Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)

Education

  • J.D. (with Honors), Emory University School of Law
  • Master of International Business, University of South Carolina
  • B.A., magna cum laude, University of South Carolina

 

Other (Publications & Speaking)

  • Published author and co-author on corporate and securities law topics, including articles in Mercer Law Review and other legal publications
  • Speaker on business transactions and exit planning topics (including podcasts)