Raetzer PLLC
Driven by Excellence Powered by Experience
Providing business legal and consulting expertise for businesses navigating complex transactions and challenges.
Joseph J. Raetzer, MBA, JD
Founding Partner, New York Licensed Lawyer
With 20+ years professional experience as a Corporate Lawyer and Business Consultant, Joe’s background as an M&A, securities and corporate transactional lawyer allows him to provide legal advice and commercial advisory services to businesses at every stage. Joe has worked on domestic and international transactions large and small with various companies including corporations (public and private), venture capital funds, private equity funds, hedge funds as well as high net worth individuals.
In addition, Joseph Raetzer has worked on hundreds of deals from a $30 million domestic membership interest redemption to complex multi-billion dollar cross border transactions across diverse sectors. Furthermore, he has been part of many start-up, legal and other business ventures and has consistently shown that he can develop and execute complex engagements and transaction models.
Joe’s journey as a corporate lawyer started in NYC in 2004 at Thacher Proffitt & Wood in, the leader in asset backed securitization, where he specialized in Structured Finance and Corporate transactions. He was subsequently recruited to global powerhouse Clifford Chance in Manhattan to work in their Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions department. In 2013, he ventured out to help entrepreneurs launch startups and scale existing businesses with Raetzer PLLC.
At Raetzer PLLC, Joseph’s goal is to leverage his legal and business expertise to work closely with leadership and stakeholders, to achieve their business objectives.
A member of the New York State Bar since 2007, Joseph Raetzer works directly with clients and commands a team of seasoned professionals with diverse professional backgrounds when larger objectives are sought.
deal experience*
Represented a group of 12 global financial institutions with $13 billion exposure to wrapped MBS in connection with the client group’s negotiation to mitigate losses due to such exposure
Represented Deutsche Bank in several acquisitions and dispositions of multi-billion dollar portfolios of assets with both domestic and international counterparties, including several distressed transactions.
Represented Victorian Funds Management Corporation, an Australian investment manager with $36 billion assets under management, in a transaction involving the redemption of all of its units held in a publicly traded Australian fund holding $2 billion of assets.
Represented European based Mapfre S.A. in its $2.6 billion acquisition of The Commerce Group, Inc., a publicly traded US based company.
Represented Ambac and Assured in the restructuring of a $2.1 billion securitization, including the replacement of lead investment manager.
Represented Munich Re in a structured transaction involving its formation of an Irish listed SPV and subsequent issuance of Rule 144A notes.
Represented JP Morgan and others as the underwriters in MBIA’s $1.1 billion common stock offering and $1 billion surplus note offering.
Represented Fortis in its potential consortium transaction with several private equity firms to acquire The BISYS Group, which was a US-based publicly traded company.
Represented JP Morgan and others as the underwriters in MBIA’s $1.1 billion common stock offering and $1 billion surplus note offering.
Represented Morgan Stanley and others as the book-running managers in MBIA’s $1.1 billion Rule 144A unsecured subordinated notes offering.
Represented Apollo Management in its potential acquisition of a $3.4 billion portfolio of assets.
Represented IXIS in launching a $600 million offshore fund.
* Past results do not guarantee future success. Matters handled prior to Raetzer PLLC.
Professional Experience
Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, NY
Corporate / M&A Lawyer, May 2006 – August 2013
Managed a corporate and M&A practice with expertise in both transactional and regulatory matters, representing top global financial institutions in a variety of complex, multi-billion-dollar international and domestic deals. Clients included investment banks, publicly traded companies, private equity funds, and hedge funds. Collaborated directly with principals to efficiently achieve their goals within deadlines.
Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP, New York, NY
Structured Finance & Corporate Lawyer, June 2004 – May 2006
Maintained a corporate practice with a focus on handling multi-billion-dollar corporate and asset-backed securities transactions. His expertise includes managing complex deals and providing strategic counsel in these areas.
Raetzer PLLC
Sep 2013 – Present
Advise businesses on negotiating, structuring and closing deals to achieve their objectives by providing legal solutions and proven deal management techniques. Provide legal and business advisory services at every stage of a venture. Assisted launch of multiple startups such as:
- online subscription box service that we grew to a customer base in 19 countries
- retail chain that we grew to over a dozen stores nationwide
- online/retail hybrid company offering freshly butchered whole cows by establishing national distribution channel.
Education
University of IOWA College of Law, J.D., 2005
Ranked top 20% of 200 US law schools & top 15% in Business/Corporate Law
• Law Review
• Jessup Moot Court International Law Competition
• Attended on full tuition merit-based scholarship for all 3 years
• Graduate Legal Research Assistant for 4 semesters; researched corporate and securities law issues in connection with various published works including “Gatekeepers, Disclosure, and Issuer Choice” and “Delaware’s Good Faith”
• Founded organization PALS: People Accompanying Law Students
University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business, M.B.A., 2002
Ranked top 20% of 1,000 US business schools
• Graduate Research Assistant for 2 semesters; researched various business related issues and taught courses
• 3-time College of Business Dean’s Graduate Student Honor Roll
University of Texas at San Antonio, B.A., 2000
• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
• Dean’s List
• Honor Roll
• Supplemental Instructor for 3 semesters; tutored students and helped with research
Other Experience
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, June 1993 – June 1996
- Honorable discharge
- Overseas Short Tour & Long Tour Ribbons
- National Defense Service Medal
Andrea M. Raetzer, MBA (Pending 2025)
Client Relations
Following her graduation from the University of Texas – San Antonio in 1999, Andrea obtained her New York real estate license and focused solely on luxury leasing quickly gaining a reputation for superior client relations and effectively executing deals. Andrea caught the eye of a Manhattan real estate developer who recruited her to lease out a new large luxury development with several hundred in New York City.
After successfully marketing that development and leasing the majority of the units, the President of Gucci North America recruited Andrea to work in the Store Planning Department at Gucci’s US HQ on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Andrea helped oversee Gucci’s entire North America portfolio (~120 locations) of real estate. She did such a fantastic job negotiating with contractors and managing clients that she was selected for the team working to build out the new Flagship Gucci HQ at Trump Tower in Manhattan. During this buildout period Andrea successful managed dozens of contractors across various trades.
Andrea subsequently left Gucci Corporate to focus on starting and operating her own business startups with her husband Joe. She is currently completing her MBA (pending 2025) while she works to manage our teams as well as develop and manage client relations.
Key Highlights
Andrea’s Approach
Building meaningful connections with clients and understanding their needs is at the heart of effective legal service.