Liam Reilly
Advisor, Counsel & Builder
Most of my work sits close to a raise, sometimes months ahead of one and just as often once a process is already underway. That work runs through BlackOak Partners. A round is an examination, and I spend that period on the fixing, cleaning up what sits in a company's records and agreements before an investor finds it and treats it as a reason to pass. Fundraising is the bulk of what I do. The rest arrives as the decisions a founder has to get right the first time, which ask for the same patience with detail.
Separately, at Reilly Law, I act as fractional general counsel for a handful of companies whose contracts I have been handling for years.
Four years at KCRise Fund as General Counsel and Investment Principal put the investment judgment and the legal work in the same seat. I managed over 100 investment transactions there and watched what happened to those companies in the years after the wire cleared. I also write Field Notes for Founders.
Founders outsource everything else and have never had anyone to call about capital, which is the gap I have spent a career running toward.
What I'm building
BlackOak Partners
Work with founders raising money or preparing for a sale, and with the operating work that has to happen before either one goes well.
Reilly Law
Outside general counsel for a small group of companies. The work is mostly commercial contracts.
Field Notes for Founders
Short pieces on the legal and money decisions founders run into while building.
Tiny Travelers
Local-led baby-equipment rentals, backed by curated content that spotlights nearby events and short "Adventures."
Stealth project
Exploring an automated, curated path to the right attorney, built on double opt-in intros.
Mini timeline
I advise founders and CEOs on raising money and on what happens after. That covers getting ready for a round, building the investor materials, modeling the business, tightening how the company runs day to day, and preparing for a sale. Four years on the investor side means I know what gets looked at.
I act as outside general counsel for founders and leadership teams at venture-backed and growth-stage companies. Most of the work is commercial contracting. I draft and negotiate the agreements a company signs, and I stay close enough to the business to answer quickly when something comes up.
Deal support on local mid-market sell-side transactions in healthcare and technology; corporate formation and commercial contracting.
First in-house counsel across 3 funds, a portfolio of 50+ companies, and $100M AUM; managed over 100 investment transactions for the fund.
Advised growth companies on SaaS, IP, and data licensing, and on strategic partnerships across regulated and emerging tech.
Co-founded and ran operations for a student bike-rental startup; grew the fleet to 30+ bikes and led community engagement around cycling in Manhattan, KS.
Where I try to be useful
Startup & venture ecosystem
Support founders, investors, and operators across the region; frequent collaborator with local venture and innovation groups.
Alumni & community engagement
Active in alumni, legal, tech, and nonprofit communities; organizing meetups and intros that turn into real relationships.
Let's build something practical
If you're exploring a deal, building product, or want a warm intro in KC, I'm happy to help.