Andrew Longcore

Principal and Outside General Counsel @ The Business Law Group

About

Tired of M&A hype, “no money down” schemes, and advice that doesn’t work in the real world of SMBs? If you’re ready to stop building a job and start building a valuable, sellable business asset (without the fluff) you’re in the right place. The SMB M&A landscape is crowded with: • “Easy acquisition” myths and passive income fantasies that waste your time and money. • Unsellable businesses, built entirely around their owners, with no transferable value. • Ineffective growth tactics, chasing trends instead of leveraging strategic acquisitions. • Costly mistakes—from flawed LOIs and sloppy due diligence to poor integration and retraded deals. I help SMB owners, acquisition entrepreneurs, and investors avoid these traps and build companies that grow faster, run smoother, and are actually worth something when it’s time to exit. My work is grounded in real-world experience. I focus on: • Acquiring the right business the right way, with disciplined deal strategy. • Creating sellable companies that operate independently and command strong valuations. • Managing the full M&A lifecycle, from opportunity sourcing and negotiation to post-close integration and growth. • Engineering “good deals”, built on fair terms, transparency, and sustainable success. The result? 🚀 Exponential growth through smart transactions. 💰 Increased business value and better exit options. 🛡️ Fewer mistakes, better outcomes. 🎯 Strategic clarity and long-term confidence. I’m here to help you make M&A work (for real). No gimmicks. No hype. Just strategy, structure, and execution that delivers results. Let’s talk. Message me here on LinkedIn or reach out directly at Andrew@cecilsterling.com.

Country

United States

City

Grand Rapids

Industry

Executive Office

Skill

Mergers & Acquisitions, Small Business, Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Law, Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation, Contract Law, Small Business Law, General Business Litigation, Property Law, Litigation, Business Strategy, Corporate Governance, Legal Compliance, Legal Advice, Employment Law, Private Equity, Start-ups

Experience

Principal and Outside General Counsel

The Business Law Group

2012-6 - Present · 14 yrs 4 mos

Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area

I serve as the primary legal executive (Fractional General Counsel) for a portfolio of growth companies, ranging from Series A technology startups to established manufacturing and commercial enterprises. My practice is built on the belief that legal should be a business accelerant, not a bottleneck. I embed directly with leadership teams to build durable governance frameworks, close complex revenue deals, and navigate regulatory landscapes without the overhead of a traditional heavy legal department. Core Areas of Practice: Commercial Transactions & SaaS: Structuring and negotiating enterprise MSAs, SLAs, and Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) that balance speed-to-close with long-term risk mitigation. Product & Regulatory Counsel: Partnering with Product and Engineering teams to launch compliant features in regulated sectors (FinTech, EdTech, Hospitality Tech), including SMS/marketing compliance (TCPA) and digital accessibility. Corporate Growth & M&A: Managing the full lifecycle of strategic transactions, from capital raising and equity incentive planning to buy/sell-side M&A execution (100+ transactions closed). Data Privacy & Governance: Operationalizing privacy programs (GDPR, CCPA) and AI governance frameworks for data-intensive business models. Industries Served: B2B SaaS, Marketing Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing/Hardware, Real Estate Development, and Professional Services.

Managing Partner

Cecil Sterling & Co.

2017-11 - Present · 8 yrs 11 mos

Consulting + Corporate Development + Investor. Cecil Sterling & Co. was formed as a consultant group to work with business owners looking to exit and investors looking to acquire privately-owned businesses. It has since added a private investor arm of its own and consulting practice working with businesses that seeking to grow and become more efficient. We are looking to partner with or acquire small businesses that we see a high potential for growth. We love all things deal-related and so give us a call.

Chairman of the Planning Commission

Allendale Charter Township

2013-1 - 2023-1 · 10 yrs 1 mo

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

As a planning commissioner, we worked on finalizing the Townships Master Plan as well as helping draft zoning laws, ordinance law and Township policy. The Planning Commission also reviews and evaluates site plans.