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Going Public: Public Offering Legal Services for Growth Companies

The Law Offices of James G. Dodrill, P.A., can help your business (whether located in Boca Raton, Florida or anywhere in the US) prepare for—and successfully complete—public offerings. Whether you're pursuing a traditional IPO, a Selling Shareholder registration, or a self-underwritten (direct) offering, we deliver tailored legal support with decades of high-level securities experience and a business-minded approach that understands your growth goals.

Expert Guidance for Public Offerings—Built for Growth Companies

Whether your company is pre-revenue, or generating $100+ million in annual revenue, if you're exploring capital markets for expansion, liquidity, or investor exit strategies, let me design a path specifically for you. I work closely with private companies throughout Florida—from Boca Raton and Palm Beach to Tampa, Miami or Orlando, and the entire United States—and am here to chart the right public offering path, structure your deal, and maintain compliance throughout the process.


Comprehensive Legal Support for IPOs and Public Offerings

IPO and public offering services include:

🔷 Traditional IPOs with Underwriters

Assistance with all aspects of a full-scale underwritten IPO. This includes negotiating underwriting agreements, preparing and filing your S‑1 registration statement, navigating SEC comment letters, managing due diligence processes, and handling listing applications with exchanges like NASDAQ or NYSE. I’m here as your legal and strategic partner from planning through post-offering compliance.

🔷 Self-Underwritten (Direct) Offerings

A self-underwritten or “direct” public offering means your company sells shares directly to investors without using an investment bank as an underwriter. This approach offers significant flexibility, lower fees, and more control over pricing and timing—but also places the responsibility for marketing and distribution on your company. Legal requirements and practical considerations, include:

  • Drafting and filing your S‑1 or Form 1‑A (Reg A+)

  • Preparing offering materials and investor presentations

  • Ensuring compliance with federal and Blue Sky laws

  • Advising on transfer agent selection and DTC eligibility

  • Providing Rule 144 and legal opinion letters

Self-underwritten offerings may be ideal for companies with an established investor base or industry visibility, and for those looking to go public without giving up equity or control to an underwriter.

🔷 Selling Shareholder Registration Statements

A Selling Shareholder registration allows your current investors—founders, early-stage VCs, friends and family, or angel investors—to sell their shares to the public using a registered S‑1 (or Form 1-A for Reg A+). These offerings don’t raise new capital for the company, but they can:

  • Provide liquidity to early investors

  • Support secondary market trading

  • Improve your company’s visibility and credibility

I’m here to assist in structuring these offerings to meet SEC requirements, prepare the registration statements, and coordinate with broker-dealers and transfer agents to ensure a smooth process.


Which Path Is Right for You?

Underwritten IPO

  • ✅ Strong investor marketing and distribution

  • ✅ Institutional investor access

  • ❌ High underwriting fees

  • ❌ Less control over pricing and timing

Self-Underwritten / Direct Offering

  • ✅ Full control over offering process

  • ✅ Lower costs and fees

  • ❌ Greater burden on company to market shares

  • ❌ May limit investor reach

Selling Shareholder Offering

  • ✅ Offers liquidity without diluting ownership

  • ✅ Easier to implement than a full IPO

  • ❌ No new capital raised

  • ❌ Requires SEC registration and ongoing reporting

Each path has trade-offs—and we’ll discuss and evaluate which best matches your business’s current stage, financial needs, and future goals.


Post-Offering Compliance and Support

Once you’re public, the assistance doesn’t stop. Ongoing compliance support is available for:

  • SEC reporting: 10-Ks, 10-Qs, 8-Ks, Forms 3, 4, 5

  • Insider trading compliance and reporting

  • Annual meeting documents, proxy statements, and governance support

  • S‑8 filings and equity incentive plan structuring

  • Responding to SEC inquiries or comment letters

  • Uplisting from OTC to national exchanges

  • Providing legal support for secondary offerings or PIPES


Your Boutique Securities Law Partner

James Dodrill also co-founded and took a company public himself, and is uniquely positioned to understand both the legal and business challenges of public offerings. As your partner, you’ll have access to:

  • Decades of securities law experience

  • A boutique, cost-efficient model

  • Highly responsive, hands-on counsel

  • Deep knowledge of business and legal environments

Whether you're looking to raise capital, offer liquidity to shareholders, or build market visibility, we’ll help you do it right.


Let’s Talk About Your IPO Strategy

If your company is exploring going public—through an IPO, direct offering, or selling shareholder registration—get in touch. We’ll help you understand your options, avoid common pitfalls, and develop a strategy that aligns with your business goals.

Schedule a consultation today to take the first step toward your company’s next growth chapter.