Our Mission
Starting or sustaining a business can be frustrating. Our founder and principal attorney, Joe Shanley, has been there. It is Joe’s mission to create a new paradigm for legal services. One where the client can expect transparent billing, efficient service, and great results. Whether you are starting your first company or a large enterprise, we can change this model together. Check out Joe’s story below.
Joe’s Story
Joe’s Early Years
Joe was born in Ann Arbor and has been a Michigander most of his life. As a young boy, he was known as a “disrupter” — negotiating “contracts” with his parents for pizza nights and coming from an extended family of lawyers. He went on to graduate from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, then attended James Madison College at Michigan State University, studying Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy — a foundation that still shapes how he approaches complex problems as a lawyer and entrepreneur today.
Career Beginnings
After college, Joe moved to Chicago, where he spent nearly three years as a project assistant at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, leveraging relational databases to analyze case materials for some of the largest civil and criminal litigations in history. He went on to graduate from Wayne State University Law School with a concentration in corporate law and entrepreneurship, and consulted for two early-stage, venture-funded biotech companies during his time as a student — his first real exposure to the legal and business foundations startups need to get off the ground.
Joe’s Professional Path
After law school and being admitted to the State Bar of Michigan, Joe founded Awen Innovations and co-founded two software companies that developed payments and music technology . Over the following years, he grew Awen into a national law firm trusted by emerging technology companies, SMB enterprises, and sophisticated private equity firms alike — drawing on lessons learned as both a practicing attorney and a hands-on operator to help clients avoid common pitfalls and reach the outcomes that matter most.
Joe’s Life Beyond Work
When Joe is not serving clients, he is an avid guitar player and songwriter. He loves to travel and try new restaurants throughout the world as a devout foodie. He regularly lectures on venture capital, corporate law and entrepreneurship at Wayne State University Law School. And most important of all, he loves spending time with his wife Nadine and their daughter, Emma.
Industry Experience
Private Equity
Served as outside counsel for the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, vendor agreements, and NDAs for national and international private equity funds with AUM ranging from $500 million to $205 billion — handling high volumes of routine agreements on flat-fee terms.
Medical Devices
Served as corporate counsel for venture-backed medical device companies in the diagnostic sector.
Payments & Blockchain Technology
Co-founded and lead a payments technology startup in the live entertainment industry. Drafted and negotiated employment contracts, contractor agreements, shareholder agreements, and vendor agreements for several payments and blockchain technology companies.
AI & Robotics
Served as corporate counsel for AI-enabled prefabrication company. Drafted and negotiated employment contracts, contractor agreements, and master service agreements.
Renewable Energy
Provided general counsel services for novel solar shingle technology company ranging from entity formation to contract negotiation on behalf of management and the company’s stakeholders.
Marketing & Advertising
Provided corporate and employment law counsel to advertising agencies, marketing firms, interactive producers, and web developers. Drafted and negotiated employment contracts, contractor agreements, and strategic vendor agreements.
Sommelier & Entertainment
Established legal entity, operating agreement, and corporate governance standards for sommelier company. Drafted and negotiated employment contracts, contractor agreements, and strategic vendor agreements. Served as corporate counsel for hospitality startup.
Music Technology
Formed corporate entity and established governance standards for music technology company utilizing artificial intelligence. Helped organize business and operations planning as part of the founding team.