CHICAGO - Gould & Ratner is pleased to announce that Sevan Avakian has rejoined the firm as a partner in our Corporate Practice. Sevan returns after a few years as general counsel for a venture capital firm.
“Sevan’s return is a terrific start to 2025 for us,” said Rob Chidester, chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, especially in mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity and venture capital. He will contribute significantly not only to the greater depth of our practice but also the overall success of our clients.”
Sevan has proven to be an indispensable resource for many notable privately held and family-run entrepreneurial businesses, guiding his clients in a full range of legal matters throughout their life cycle. In addition to M&A, PE and VC matters, he also routinely handles a variety of other complex transactional and governance matters, fund creation and financings, investment review and negotiation, divestitures, corporate formations and reorganizations, and debt financings.
Sevan brings unique, invaluable experience that stems from his tenure as general counsel of Protagonist, a venture capital firm focused on emerging technologies, where he oversaw legal and operational matters. Moreover, Sevan is a co-founder of his own venture capital firm, Jordan Avakian Group.
Several community, charity and professional organizations benefit from Sevan’s time and talent, including the Assyrian American Bar Association, the Assyrian American Chamber of Commerce, the Juice Hoops Foundation and Assyrian Advisors. Sevan also coached Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Thomas Tang National Moot Court Team, which won national championships in 2017 and 2018 during Sevan’s tenure.
Sevan earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his B.B.A. from Loyola University Chicago, with a double major in economics and accounting.
