Austin L. Goodnight

With practical advice, skilled drafting and a business-focused and comprehensive approach, Austin helps clients navigate the transaction process to maximize return and minimize risk.

Austin has expertise in facilitating mergers and acquisitions for businesses of all types, serving as lead or associate counsel on over 40 deals of varying size and structure with an aggregate value exceeding $1 billion. He also routinely assists clients with contract review and advice, business law compliance and a wide variety of other commercial transactions, including business formation, drafting organizational documents such as operating agreements and buy-sell agreements, securities transactions, and corporate reorganizations and recapitalizations.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• $375 million sale of a traffic control services company
• $175 million sale of an IT marketing company
• $110 million sale of a healthcare software company
• $85 million sale of a healthcare products company
• $76 million acquisition of an ag machinery parts and equipment distribution company
• $74 million acquisition of a label manufacturing company
• $49 million “carve-out” sale of an obstetrics product division
• $45 million sale of a behavioral health services company
• $34 million sale of an insurance brokerage firm
• $33 million sale of power and separation equipment manufacturing company
• $31.5 million acquisition of a food ingredient manufacturing and distribution company
• $27 million acquisition of a data analytics and fundraising company
• $24 million acquisition of a lawn and pest management company
• $23 million acquisition of a telecommunications engineering company
• $20 million acquisition of a telecommunication product distribution company
• $20 million acquisition of a IT marketing company
• $16.5 million acquisition of a traffic control services company
• $10 million sale of an agricultural equipment fabrication company
• $9.5 million acquisition of a liquid waste treatment company
• $8.4 million acquisition of a trash and recycling hauling company
• $8 million acquisition of a marketing and search engine optimization company

Corporate Governance

• Facilitated a corporate recapitalization for a national provider of consumer healthcare products
• Assisted a national retailer of protective apparel and equipment in a corporate reorganization
• Assisted an international food services company in a corporate reorganization with a U.S. affiliate
• Assisted a telecommunications engineering company with a corporate reorganization and brand consolidation
• Drafted and negotiated LLC operating agreements for various property development entities

Other

• Drafted a product reseller agreement for a manufacturer of cosmetic products
• Drafted a form branding services agreement for a provider of content marketing services

Education

• University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 2019, with high distinction
• University of Northern Iowa, B.A., 2016, cum laude

Admissions

• Iowa, 2019

• Order of the Coif
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, 2023

Professional Activities

• Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute—Community Connect Program, Member of Young Professionals Connection, 2021
• Altoona Area Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Iowa State Bar Association, Member
• Journal of Corporation Law, Note & Comment Editor, 2018-2019
• Iowa Legal Aid—Pro Se Divorce Clinic, Pro Bono Volunteer, 2016