Will Stafford

Will Stafford

Crain, Caton & James PC
  • Business Law, Securities Law, Energy, Oil & Gas Law ...
  • Texas
Badges
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Will Stafford is Of Counsel in Crain Caton’s Corporate, Business Transactions and Tax Group. With over a decade of legal experience, Will has developed a broad corporate practice, with an emphasis on securities offerings, business transactions, and general corporate governance. He has extensive experience representing individuals, public and private companies, financial institutions and local governments in a wide variety of matters including capital markets transactions, mergers and acquisitions, early-stage and venture capital investments, technology transactions, commercial contracts, securities regulation and compliance, corporate structuring and formation, and general corporate matters.

Will has represented corporations in the issuance of debt, equity and convertible securities (both public offerings and private placements), as well as the underwriters and purchasers in securities transactions. Both public and private companies have chosen Will to represent them in the sale of their businesses, and strategic and financial purchasers have looked to Will to help them strengthen their company portfolio. Will has helped to guide new businesses through their entity formations and early-stage investment transactions, including angel rounds, and Series Seed, A, B, etc. investments from venture capital firms. Most importantly, Will is a trusted business advisor to his clients who often rely on as their outside general counsel.

Prior to joining Crain Caton, Will served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a financial services technology (FinTech) startup in Houston, Texas. Will held the Series 7, 24, 66 and 79 licenses (currently inactive) from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and received a Certificate in Business and Public Policy from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Practice Areas
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Securities Law
Energy, Oil & Gas Law
Utilities
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Texas
State Bar of Texas
ID Number: 24070662
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Of Counsel
Crain, Caton & James PC
- Current
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
NextSeed
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Associate
Schwartz, Page & Harding, LLP
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Associate
Haynes and Boone, LLP
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Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School
J.D. (2009)
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Tulane University
M.A. (2006) | Policy Economics
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Tulane University
B.S. (2005) | Economics
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Professional Associations
State Bar of Texas
Member
Current
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Houston Bar Association
Member
Current
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Houston Young Lawyers Association
Member
Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Developments Involving Shareholder Access and Proxy Statement Disclosure
Journal of Securities Law, Regulation & Compliance
Websites & Blogs
Website
Firm Website
Contact & Map
Crain, Caton & James PC
1401 McKinney St
Suite 1700
Houston, TX 77010
Telephone: (713) 752-8658
Monday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed