Overview
Galen represents companies, founders, management, and investors in entrepreneurial endeavors – many of which involve building enterprises that have never before been built. He works with clients across the country, involved in all manner of go-to-market strategies – B2B, B2C, marketplace, SaaS, manufacturing, and distribution – and across numerous industries.
Galen advises on topics that touch a company's cap table or an investor’s equity position and further serves as outside general counsel for his clients, discarding trivial issues and identifying and marshaling resources for the issues that really matter. He carefully builds and manages a team of Michael Best subject matter experts who provide first-in-class, proactive, and efficient guidance, the delivery of which Galen adjusts with the growth of the business. This includes legal and business counsel from formation and early financings to growth stage employment, tax, intellectual property, and regulatory matters, later stage financings, commercial agreements, rapid and discreet dispute resolution, secondary transactions, and ultimately, an exit transaction. Galen fosters meaningful relationships with investors, board members, and fellow service providers across the country – accountants, bankers, advisors, and consultants – to help ensure that the professional expertise a business needs is fully aligned with the resources and objectives at hand.
Passionate and curious about entrepreneurial endeavors, Galen has deep roots in Midwest venture and technology markets. In addition to his nearly 20 years as an attorney, he also designed and co-founded a prominent early stage co-working space and he founded and oversees the Midwest arm of a very active venture index fund – participating in a Midwest Series A financing every few weeks alongside many of the most prominent investors in the country. Before joining Michael Best, Galen practiced law at a large international law firm.
Experience
Solutions in action
Credentials
- University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Juris Doctor (J.D.), 2002
- St. Olaf College, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), 1998, cum laude
- Illinois
- Selected to Securities & Corporate Finance, Employee Benefits Rising Stars, Super Lawyers®, 2016
- 40 Under 40, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2015
- Tech 50, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2015
- Chicago’s 40 Under 40, National Law Journal, 2013
Engagement
Member, American Bar Association
- Former Board Member, BUILD, Inc.
- Co-founder and Former Board Member, Catapult Chicago
Insights

1202 Flip Technique After Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
This article was previously published as a blog post on the Michael Best & Friedrich LLP website on September 13, 2024. It is being updated…Read
Aug 1, 2025

Webinar Recap Navigating the New Administration’s Impact on Higher Education Institutions
On Wednesday, February 12, Kelly Fortier, Greg Hartwig, Sarah Helton, Daniel Kaufman, Galen Mason, Carrie Meigs, Emi Passini, and Kevin Terry hosted a complimentary live webinar, “Navigating the New Administration’s Impact on Higher Education Institutions.”Read
Mar 3, 2025

Navigating the New Administration’s Impact on Higher Education Institutions
Please join us for a complimentary webinar covering the impact the new White House Administration might have on higher education institutions in 2025 and beyond.Watch
Feb 12, 2025
