Jennifer Steiger advises clients on complex M&A and investment transactions, with a focus on practical, business-minded solutions. She represents business owners, founders, independent sponsors, and investors in private company acquisitions, equity financings, joint ventures, and exits across a wide range of industries.

She earned her J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, where she served as Co-Editor in Chief of the Texas Journal of Women & the Law. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and began her legal career as a paralegal at Irell & Manella LLP in California.

Prior to joining Vela Wood, Jennifer practiced at leading international law firms—including Katten, DLA Piper, and Morrison & Foerster—where she advised private equity funds, family offices, and portfolio companies in U.S. and cross-border transactions. She also served as in-house counsel to the investment management division of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and spent two years practicing in Tokyo.

Jennifer is known for her steady, solutions-oriented approach and deep experience on both sides of the deal table. Her background allows her to translate big-firm experience into accessible, strategic advice tailored for entrepreneurs and growth-stage businesses.

Select Representations

*Some transactions reflect Jennifer’s work at prior firms.

  • Represented sellers in the $230M sale of an IT services company to a private equity fund*
  • Represented an independent sponsor in its $31M acquisition of a marketing and communications agency*
  • Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of fifteen fast food restaurants*
  • Represented private equity funds in the purchase and sale of portfolio companies priced between $36M and $425M across a variety of industries, including commercial landscaping services and home health services*
  • Represented private equity-backed portfolio companies in more than twenty add-on acquisitions priced between $6M and $70M across a variety of industries, including software services, forensic engineering services, commercial landscaping services and disaster recovery and restoration services*
  • Represented a technology company in its Series A, Series B, and Series C preferred equity financings*
  • Represented venture capital funds and family offices in preferred equity investments in several medical services companies and technology companies*
  • Represented a Japanese trading company in its Series D investment in a clean energy company*
  • Represented an institutional investor in its GP stakes investment in an infrastructure and energy GP*

Fun Facts:

  • Experienced a magnitude 9.1 earthquake while on the 29th floor of a Tokyo skyscraper.
  • Beekeeper.
  • When it was time to sell her first home, got her real estate license and did it herself.

Education:

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, M.B.A.
  • Stanford University, B.A. in Political Science