Mr. Chris Wegner is a highly accomplished attorney specializing in corporate law, private equity, and tax law. With a strong educational background and extensive experience in both the legal and business worlds, Chris brings a unique perspective to his clients, offering innovative solutions and strategic advice.
Biography
Chris Wegner earned his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Florida Gulf Coast University. He then graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law, followed by an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.
Private equity funds and investors from the U.S. and Europe have come to rely on Chris’s ability to bring value to businesses. They frequently turn to him for the legal needs of portfolio companies nationwide due to his proven problem-solving skills and his knack for discovering areas for improvement or opportunity that others often miss.
His reputation in the investment community led to recognition from the Naples Accelerator, a Collier County-based public-private partnership dedicated to cultivating local startups and attracting companies globally to Naples and Immokalee. Shortly after openning to the public, Naples Accelerator engaged Chris to provide essential legal services to growing companies, recognizing his unique legal skill set and approachable manner
In addition to providing general business and corporate law services to emerging and established companies in Southwest Florida, Chris works with multinational corporations on complex domestic and international tax issues, including multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions, transfer price exams, and other high-stakes IRS audits.
Chris served as lead counsel on a $100 million merger involving parties in seven countries across North and South America, where he not only handled intricate tax law issues but also created a new type of security that allowed the acquirer to monetize intellectual property and complete the merger without resorting to debt.
Chris also advises physician’s offices in Naples and throughout Southwest Florida on business, tax, and healthcare law issues. His tax law background uniquely positions him to understand and apply healthcare regulations, and his familiarity with the local healthcare industry allows him to address the specific challenges and opportunities confronting local doctors.
Education
juris doctorate, magna cum laude
(top 5% of graduating class)
LL.M. (Taxation)
B.A. Computer Science
Member, Mens' Vasity Tennis
Member, Mens' Vasity Tennis
Work
Founding & Managing Attorney
Partner
Partner in Charge, Florida
Chair, Corporate Law Practice
Attorney, Corporate & Tax
Middle District of Fla. (Tampa Div.)
Clerk
Asscoiate, Securities
Chief Operations Officer
Personal
While in college, Chris co-founded a small technology company that eventually went public and was sold over the counter on the NASDAQ. This experience provides him with a unique ability to see problems and opportunities from the perspectives of both a business owner and an experienced attorney. Having grown up around the Naples healthcare industry, Chris has a deep understanding of the local community and its needs, which enhances his ability to serve his clients effectively.
Between his time at Stetson and New York University, Chris played semi-pro tennis (emphasis on the semi), where he went 1-26. If asked to describe this time of his life, Chris will proudly say that he lost to the people who lost to the people that you see on television. Today, Chris still enjoys playing tennis, working out at the Greater Naples YMCA, and spending time with his wife Elyse, two dogs, and three cats.
Chris is a native of Naples, Florida, where he attended Seacrest Country Day School and Naples High School before going to Eckerd College on a tennis scholarship (he later transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University to finish his undergraduate degree). Between college and law school, Chris worked as an accountant and business consultant for his father’s accounting firm on Tamiami Trail.