Profile
Scott Searl serves as the Chair of the firm’s Business & Corporate Transactions section. He draws from his broad general counsel experience to advise business owners and managers on a wide variety of corporate legal matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, commercial contracts, corporate governance, media law, ethics and compliance, and dispute resolution.
Scott previously served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for BH Media Group, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary which owned over 230 print and digital media publications. He also served as general counsel for a technology data center and systems integration firm. Scott works collaboratively with business owners and managers to help them effectively and efficiently achieve their goals.
Since 1998, Scott has been “AV” rated (highest legal and ethical rating) by Martindale-Hubbell.
Areas of Practice
Education
- Creighton University Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, 1989
- College of the Holy Cross, B.A., History, 1985
Bar & Court Admissions
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Nebraska, 1989
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Nebraska State Bar Association (1989 – Present); Member of Executive Committee of the Corporate Counsel Section (2008 – Present); Elected Vice Chair (2020)
- Omaha Bar Association, Member (1989 – Present)
- American Bar Association, Member (1989 – Present)
- USLaw Commercial Law Practice Group (2019 – Present)
- Boys Town Fundraising Board of Directors (2014 – 2021)
- Ronald McDonald House Charities – Omaha Board of Directors (2015 – 2020); Member of Board of Directors and President of RMHC Omaha Real Estate, Inc. (2018 – Present); President (2017 – 2018)
- Durham Museum, Board of Directors (2014 – 2018)
- Association of Corporate Counsel, Member (1997 – 2018)
- Omaha World-Herald Company, Board of Directors (2009 – 2011)
- Opera Omaha, Board of Directors (2004 – 2010); Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee and Member of Executive Committee (2008 – 2010)
- United Way of the Midlands, Board of Directors (2007 – 2009)
- Creighton University School of Law Alumni Advisory Board, Member of Academic and Curriculum Committees (2004 – 2009)
- Creighton Prep High School, Parent Advisory Board (2004 – 2011)
- Wenceslaus Parish, Finance Committee (2001 – 2004); Chair (2003 – 2004)
- Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Omaha (1994 – 1995)
Selected Practice Highlights
- Representing buyers and sellers of businesses in mid-market transactions in the banking, fintech, transportation, staffing services, manufacturing, media, internet services and software development industries
- Representing companies and ownership groups in corporate governance matters, including buy-sell agreements and resolution of shareholder disputes and buy-outs
- Representing banks and bank holding companies on regulatory matters and filings, including Change In Bank Control filings
- Advising businesses on critical commercial contracts and contract disputes
- Training management, sales and procurement teams on contract negotiation and review, and antitrust risk and compliance
- Serving as lead counsel for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its subsidiary, BH Media Group, Inc., in the sale of all BH Media Group publications to Lee Enterprises for $140 million and $576 million single lender secured credit facility to Lee Enterprises
- Serving as chief legal officer for technology services firm with operations in the U.S., Brazil, India, Ireland and Mexico, with responsibility for all contract negotiations and intellectual property work
- Representing client in 13 acquisitions and two divestitures closed in a three-year period
- Serving as ethics and compliance officer for business with 4,500 employees
- Representing client in sales and leasing activity for business with 119 locations
- Serving as corporate secretary responsible for corporate governance, minutes and record-keeping for client with over 40 subsidiaries
- Serving as member of retirement plan committee for pension plan with $2.9 billion in assets
Selected Recent Publications
“What Does the Nebraska Financial Innovation Act Mean for Banks?,” Nebraska Banker Magazine, August 2021
Recent Speaking Engagements
- “What Do We Need to Know About the Explosion of Cyber Insurance,” USLaw General Counsel Forum, Charleston, NC, February 2024
- “The Corporate Transparency Act — It’s coming! What do you need to know?,” Nebraska State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Omaha, NE, October 2021
- “Regulation or De-Regulation: What is on the Horizon and What to Watch Out for,” USLaw Fall Conference, Colorado Springs, CO, September 2021
- “The Role of In-House or General Counsel,” guest lecturer webinar for Augustana University MBA Business Law class, September 2021
- “Corporate Law Update,” Baird Holm In-House Counsel Webinar, December 2020
- “Economic and Legal Impact of COVID-19 on Nebraska Businesses,” Panel Moderator for Nebraska State Bar Association webinar, October 2020
- “Corporate Law Update,” Baird Holm In-House Counsel Seminar, Omaha, December 2019
- “That’s Not Fair: Unfair Business Practices and What You Can Do About Them,” USLAW Fall Conference, Washington, D.C., September 2019
- “How to Prevent and Respond to Unauthorized Use of Your Company’s IP,” Association of Corporate Counsel Mid-America Chapter, Omaha, July 2019