Basswood Counsel is a boutique law firm providing hands-on, strategic corporate, mergers and acquisitions, tax, and transactional counsel—designed to navigate complexity with ease. Founded to prioritize meaningful client relationships over formalities, we collaborate with bold leaders across industries, tailoring our advice to support your unique goals and growth.

Navigating Legal
Complexities With Care

Built for what's next

At Basswood, we set out to build a different kind of law firm—one that’s personal, practical, and built around lasting relationships. Get to know who we are, why we started, and how we work side-by-side with clients to move business forward.

Business & Finance

Strategic, cross-practice counsel for complex business and finance matters—tailored to your goals from day one.

Tax

Smart structures and creative tax strategies to optimize every stage of your deal.

Family Office

Guiding families in building offices that protect, grow, and sustain wealth across generations.

Highlight

What does it actually take to build a compliant broker-dealer from the ground up?

In the latest episode of the Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Basswood Counsel co-founder and securities attorney Jephte Lanthia sits down with Erik Dolan, outsourced CCO and compliance consultant at Kyan Compliance, to discuss the regulatory foundations of broker-dealer operations. Part 1 of this broker-dealer compliance series covers written supervisory procedures (WSPs), supervision, capital requirements, recordkeeping obligations, and the core compliance infrastructure firms need to establish and maintain.

News and Insights

IRS Refund Delivery Changes for 2026: Guidance for U.S.‑Based and International Taxpayers

March 18, 2026

The IRS will phase out most paper refund checks for U.S.-based taxpayers starting September 30, 2025, mandating electronic direct deposits.

The SEC Updates Its Enforcement Manual

March 16, 2026

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently updated its Enforcement Manual for the first time since 2017, introducing procedural changes

The Fundraising Strategy Nobody Talks About: Being Ready Before You Raise

March 4, 2026

The smartest founders don’t start preparing when the term sheet arrives -they build fundraising leverage months in advance by making

Legal Readiness Isn’t Overhead. It’s the Leverage You’re Missing.

March 2, 2026

Legal readiness isn’t overhead—it’s the strategic edge that keeps your business investor-ready, risk-proof, and ahead of the game before anyone

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