Corporate & M&A
We structure, negotiate, and close deals, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and recapitalizations, with counsel that protects value from letter of intent through integration.
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Established 1994 · Tampa, FL
Corporate Counsel Built for What's at Stake
From boardroom transactions to high-stakes commercial disputes, Caldwell Sterling LLP delivers institutional-grade legal strategy to businesses that cannot afford second-best.
Practice Areas
Available Now: (813) 255-0100 Mon to Fri 8am, 7pm · Urgent matters after hours
- Corporate & Mergers and Acquisitions
- Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
- Securities & Capital Markets
- Employment & Labor Counsel
- Commercial Real Estate
- Intellectual Property & Licensing
Available Now: (813) 255-0100 Mon to Fri 8am, 7pm · Urgent matters after hours
Recognition
Super Lawyers
Corporate, 12 Consecutive Years
Peer Rating
AV Preeminent®
Martindale-Hubbell, Highest Peer Rating
Global Ranking
Chambers USA
Band 1 · Corporate / M&A
Established
1994
30+ Years of Business Law
Recognition
Best Law Firms®
U.S. News, Tier 1, Tampa Region
Practice Areas
Comprehensive Corporate Legal Services
We counsel businesses at every stage, from emerging companies securing their first financing to established enterprises navigating multi-jurisdiction transactions and complex disputes.
Commercial Litigation
When disputes escalate to litigation, we bring experienced trial lawyers and a rigorous case-management approach to federal courts, state tribunals, and arbitration proceedings.
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Securities
From private placements and IPO readiness to SEC investigations and shareholder disputes, our securities practice navigates the full scope of capital markets law.
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Employment Law
Executive agreements, non-competes, workforce reductions, and EEOC defense, we represent employers in matters where employment law intersects with business strategy.
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Real Estate
Commercial acquisitions, ground leases, financing, zoning, and development disputes, we handle the full lifecycle of commercial real estate matters with efficiency and precision.
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Intellectual Property
Patent strategy, trademark portfolio management, IP licensing transactions, and trade secret enforcement, protecting the intangible assets that drive enterprise value.
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30+
Years of Practice
About the Firm
Credentialed Counsel. Decisive Strategy.
Caldwell Sterling LLP was founded on a straightforward premise: that mid-market and growth-stage businesses deserve the same caliber of corporate legal counsel as the largest companies in the country, delivered with personal accountability and without unnecessary overhead.
Our team of 24 attorneys brings deep experience across every dimension of business law. We integrate into your operations as a trusted partner, not just outside counsel, and we staff matters leanly so the attorneys who win your trust are the attorneys who do your work.
Marcus A. Caldwell, Managing Partner
A former Wall Street mergers attorney, Marcus founded the firm after recognizing a gap in serious corporate representation for Florida's fastest-growing businesses. He has led counsel on more than 400 transactions exceeding $6.5B in combined deal value, and serves as chair of the Florida Bar's Business Law Section. He is ranked in Chambers USA Band 1 and is a consistent selection to Florida Super Lawyers.
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Transactions Closed
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Client Retention Rate
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Years in Practice
Notable Matters
Results That Speak to Our Capability
A sample of representative matters. Identifying details are generalized to protect client confidentiality.
M&A
$340M Cross-Border Acquisition, Manufacturing Sector
Lead acquisition counsel for a Florida-based private equity firm acquiring a Canadian precision-manufacturing group with operations in three provinces. Coordinated multi-jurisdiction due diligence, negotiated seller representations and indemnities, and closed in 74 days.
Litigation
Breach of Contract Defense, $85M Claim Dismissed
Secured summary judgment for a regional logistics company facing an $85M breach-of-contract and tortious interference claim from a former national distribution partner. The court adopted our framing in full; no settlement paid.
Securities
Series B & C Financing, $62M Total Raise
Served as issuer's counsel through a $24M Series B and subsequent $38M Series C for a healthcare technology company, structuring preferred equity terms and navigating SEC Reg D and state Blue Sky requirements across 12 investor jurisdictions.
Employment
Non-Compete Enforcement, Preliminary Injunction Granted
Obtained a preliminary injunction within 17 days of filing, restraining a former C-suite executive from soliciting the client's top 40 customer accounts and joining a direct competitor during a 24-month restriction period.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each matter is fact-specific.
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
"We've worked with large-firm counsel before, but Caldwell Sterling is the first firm where the partner who pitched us actually ran our deal. The M&A team understood our business from day one and moved with a speed and discipline we've never seen."
R. Patel
CEO, Regional Distribution Group
"When a former partner filed an $85 million claim against us, we needed confident, experienced litigators, not a firm learning our industry on our dime. Caldwell Sterling neutralized the threat and we never wrote a settlement check."
K. Morrison
CFO, Logistics Services Company
"Marcus and his team guided us through our Series B and C raises with a level of sophistication and investor-side empathy that made every negotiation more productive. Our VCs specifically commented on the quality of our deal documents."
T. Walsh
Founder & President, HealthTech Startup
Firm Insights
Perspectives from Our Attorneys
Practical analysis of legal developments that affect businesses operating in competitive markets.
M&A
Rep-and-Warranty Insurance in Mid-Market Deals: What Buyers Need to Know in 2026
The RWI market has tightened. We break down current carrier appetite, exclusion trends, and how to structure your deal to still get coverage at reasonable premiums.
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Commercial Litigation
Forum Selection Clauses After the 2025 Supreme Court Term: Enforcement Outlook
A pair of decisions has clarified when federal courts will enforce contractual forum selections over objection. Here's what commercial drafters should update now.
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Securities
Navigating the SEC's Updated Reg D Disclosure Expectations for Private Offerings
Recent enforcement actions signal a shift in how the SEC approaches private placement disclosure. We outline the practical steps issuers should take before their next raise.
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Get in Touch
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your matter. An attorney will respond within one business day.
Contact Caldwell Sterling LLP
Our Tampa office is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For urgent matters outside business hours, call our direct line and select the after-hours option.
- Phone
- (813) 255-0100
- Office Address
- 400 North Ashley Drive, Suite 2800
Tampa, Florida 33602 - Office Hours
- Monday, Friday: 8:00 AM, 7:00 PM
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