Jim Baer

Jim brings decades of exceptional legal acumen and strategic business leadership to CMBG, and served as a trusted outside general counsel and leading business advisor to a diverse portfolio of companies around the country. His distinguished career spans venture capital financing, corporate restructuring, and executive leadership, making him an invaluable asset to organizations navigating complex business transformations.

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With masterful precision, Jim orchestrates corporate strategies while safeguarding legal interests, guiding companies through sensitive, high-profile restructuring matters with both efficiency and empathy. His rare combination of legal expertise and business intelligence provides him with a distinctive perspective that seamlessly integrates ethical considerations with business imperatives. Boards of directors, C-suite executives, and business owners regularly seek Jim's counsel on corporate matters, including structured loan transactions, complex mergers and acquisitions, multi-faceted restructuring operations, and intricate corporate securities issues.

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Beyond his exemplary legal practice, Jim has distinguished himself as an executive officer and strategic business advisor across numerous industries, demonstrating versatility and depth of understanding in varied business environments. His extensive exposure to complex business conflicts has established him as an exceptional mediator with remarkable dispute resolution capabilities. Before founding the prestigious Baer, Negrin & Troff, and CMBG Advisors, Jim led the Corporate Department at Katten, Muchin & Zavis in Los Angeles, following his tenure with the internationally renowned Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP.

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In addition, Jim hosts the successful podcast, The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond -- a podcast exploring the intersection of business, economics, and leadership, featuring conversations with top thinkers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers shaping the future.

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Jim's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.