External GC Services
Practical legal support for leadership teams and boards of directors, from day-to-day issues to significant business decisions.
Independent legal counsel · New York
Business perspective.
Sound legal judgment.
Legal counsel for the decisions that shape a business.
Ives Lake Advisory brings a practical approach to the legal issues facing growth-stage business across a variety of industries.
Outside General Counsel, Transactional and Contracting ServicesSamuel W. Berry · Attorney
Areas of counsel
Ongoing advice. Focused engagements.
Commercial and Technology Agreements; Data Privacy
Drafting and negotiation of a broad range of commercial agreements, including MSAs, SOWs, supply and manufacturing agreements, SaaS and services agreements, DPAs and strategic vendor contracts. Guidance on data privacy, cybersecurity and information security matters, including GDPR and CCPA.
IP Licensing
Drafting and negotiation of complex intellectual property license agreements and related agreements. Deep experience working with the world’s top companies, government agencies, universities and research institutions.
M&A
Due diligence, structuring and drafting of documentation for acquisitions and dispositions, including via merger, stock purchase, asset purchase, exclusive sublicense.
Equity and Debt Financings
Comprehensive legal support for a broad range of equity and debt transactions for public and private companies.
Equity & Employment Matters
Drafting of a broad range of equity and employment documentation, including restricted stock/RSU award agreements, options, incentive plans, employment agreements, offer letters, separation agreements; support for capitalization issues, employment matters and workplace policies.
Corporate Governance
Advice to boards, committees, and management on fiduciary duties, corporate approvals, policies, and governance.
Your counsel
Samuel W. Berry
Managing Principal
Sam brings 14 years of experience as a corporate lawyer with a broad-based practice. From 2016 to 2026, he served as chief legal officer of Fortress Biotech (Nasdaq: FBIO), a public biopharmaceutical company, advising its executive leadership, board, and operating subsidiaries. He held the General Counsel title from 2018 to 2026 and also served as Corporate Secretary. At Fortress, Sam led six company sales with aggregate transaction value exceeding $1.5 billion and personally drafted and negotiated more than 60 intellectual property license agreements with the world's top companies, government agencies, universities and research institutions. His responsibilities also included commercial and technology contracting, SEC reporting, equity and debt financings, privacy and cybersecurity guidance and litigation oversight. Sam established Ives Lake Advisory in 2026 to provide external general counsel services with a direct, practical approach. Earlier in his career, Sam was an associate attorney in the Corporate & Securities group of Mayer Brown LLP, advising on M&A, capital markets transactions, PE/VC fund matters and general corporate matters.
B.A., Georgetown University, cum laude
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, cum laude
Get in touch
Let’s discuss
what comes next.
sam@iveslake.com
For inquiries about a potential engagement, please email a brief description of your needs. Please do not send confidential or sensitive information before the firm confirms it can consider your matter.