Varnum partner Jacob Whately has been recognized as an Up & Coming Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. This award honors attorneys in their first 10 years of practice who have established themselves as future leaders through their ambition, accomplishments, and dedication to the legal profession.
Whately is a member of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Practice Team. With a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), he counsels both buyers and sellers on transactions of all sizes, providing thoughtful guidance and practical solutions in high stakes matters. His practice also covers a full range of general corporate work (from governance and commercial contracting to the entity lifecycle) across diverse industries.
Whately is also a member of Varnum’s Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Practice Team and an active participant in Varnum’s MiSpringboard program, a firm initiative that helps remove barriers to starting a business by providing free legal services to startups. He advises founders, emerging companies, and investors on capital fundraising, including SAFEs, preferred equity, and securities law compliance, and supports both startups and established businesses from early formation through more established operations.
Beyond his legal practice, Whately serves on Varnum’s Associate Recruiting Committee and participates in the firm’s law student outreach activity. He is also active in the Detroit Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and helps coordinate Varnum’s support for local investor groups. Whately and other Up & Coming honorees will be recognized at a luncheon on March 27 and profiled in a special section of Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
