Mr. Vaughn is the founder of Guardian M&A and a seasoned business advisor and attorney with more than 30 years of experience serving privately held businesses. His background spans general counsel services, governance, strategic planning, succession matters, risk management, and strategic and private equity transactions, with a consistent focus on helping owners build, protect, scale, and transition their companies.

Over the course of his career, Justin has served as general counsel to hundreds of companies and has advised on more than 30 transactions, with experience in deals ranging from lower middle-market transactions to transactions exceeding $700 million in enterprise value. He has worked closely with business owners, boards, and C-level executives to help them solve problems, make sound decisions, and navigate important moments in the life of a company.

Justin’s early career included substantial litigation experience, which continues to inform his approach to negotiations, risk analysis, and high-stakes decision-making. Over time, his work increasingly focused on helping owners build, protect, scale, and transition privately held companies. That experience now shapes the way Guardian M&A serves clients facing growth decisions, exit preparation, and transactions.

His professional experience includes founder and owner of The Vaughn Law Offices, service within an Am Law 200 firm, leadership roles in governance and advisory settings, and ongoing work with boards, entrepreneurs, and ownership groups. He is licensed as an attorney in Colorado and Arizona and has also pursued governance education through the Private Directors Association and the National Association of Corporate Directors.