Jacob B. Derenthal

Jake is a partner in the Cleveland and Akron offices of Vorys and a member of the corporate group.  He has decades of experience working with public and private companies, private equity firms, entrepreneurs, and financial institutions in a broad range of corporate and securities transactions.  Jake’s experience includes assisting clients on matters involving mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity issuances, corporate restructurings, fund formation, venture capital and angel investing, strategic alliances, and corporate governance.

Jake also counsels management, directors, and shareholders in connection with entity formation, contract negotiation, operational and employment issues, commercial leasing, financing, and exit strategies.  He has assisted clients in a wide range of industries including financial services, health care/dental, real estate, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, cannabis, and aerospace sectors.

Jake frequently writes and presents on corporate law-related topics.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. 

Career highlights include:

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represented a private equity fund in a leveraged buyout of a metal processing company
• Represented a public company in the acquisition of polymer manufacturing division
• Represented financial advisory firm in corporate restructuring and add-on acquisition
• Represented DSO in acquisition and dispositions of dental practice portfolio
• Represented an ESOP-owned aerospace parts manufacturer in an asset sale to private equity purchaser
• Represented vertically integrated cannabis company in sale of dispensary portfolio
• Represented privately owned technology company in sale to private equity purchaser
• Represented real estate developer in disposition of commercial and industrial property through contribution and sale of equity interests
• Represented a private equity firm in its acquisition of a physical rehabilitation services company
• Represented a privately held industrial equipment dealership in an asset disposition

Securities

• Represented family office sponsor in blind pool investment fund formation in connection with acquisition of multi-family property portfolio
• Represented a medical device company in a private placement of convertible preferred stock
• Represented a mezzanine investment fund in subordinated debt financing transactions
• Represented healthcare holding company in issuance of debentures on Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
• Represented manufacturing company in private placement of secured notes and warrants
• Represented a management consulting company in the issuance of common stock
• Represented health care company in private placement offering of convertible promissory notes
• Represented a biotech company in the issuance of senior preferred stock
• Represented a software development company with the issuance of convertible preferred equity
• Represented commercial real estate developer in negotiation of preferred equity joint venture and Reg D offering of limited partnership interests

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2026

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association, Member

Ohio State Bar Association, Member

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member

GriefCare Place, Board of Trustees

Greater Cleveland Partnership LEAD Program, Former Participant