Robert’s practice focuses on representation of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and individuals in business and corporate law matters, with an emphasis on securities, mergers and acquisitions, and technology issues.
Representative Matters
Represented Botanical Laboratories, Inc., an FDA-regulated manufacturer of nutritional supplements and homeopathic products, and its shareholders in connection with the sale of that company to a group of venture funds.
Represented the owners of the Mann Building, a historic property in downtown Seattle that is the new home of the Wild Ginger restaurant. We assisted the company with a complex restructuring that involved two securities offerings (a multi-million-dollar offering of one class of limited liability company interests and a separate offering of another class of interests to investors who made cash investments in exchange for an allocation of historic rehabilitation tax credits resulting from the renovation of the building), construction and permanent financing, negotiation of commercial office leases with several tenants, and a myriad of other issues.
Special securities counsel to Doghouse Productions, LLC, a developer of sophisticated web sites for major health care industry companies. We assisted Doghouse in two related transactions involving First Consulting Group, Inc. ("FCG"), a publicly-held corporation: (i) the sale of Doghouse's web development business to a subsidiary of FCG, including a stock purchase agreement, registration rights agreement, and related documents; and (ii) the creation of a subsidiary of Doghouse to pursue the development of a related but distinct set of web design tools, with a venture capital investment by an affiliate of FCG in Series A preferred stock of the new subsidiary.
Represented Ferrous Corporation, a Washington distributor of fuel additives, in its acquisition by Bycosin AB, a Swedish corporation, and in the resolution of various shareholder matters.
Counsel to Envision Telephony, Inc., which develops and markets computer telephony software products. We assisted Envision's founders in the formation of the company in 1994, and we have since represented the company in a wide range of matters, including software license agreements, employment issues, and several rounds of early-stage financing and related securities issues.
Counsel to a group of angel investors who came together several years ago to make seed capital investments in technology companies. We have assisted the founders in the formation of a series of limited liability companies, in legal issues regarding potential investments, and in the negotiation of the terms of those investments.
Professional and Civic Involvement
King County Bar Association (Technology Section)
Washington State Bar Association (Business and Intellectual Property Sections)
American Bar Association (Business Law Section)
Citizens for Pike Place Market, Board of Directors, 2008-present
First Place School, Board of Directors, 2005 - present
Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority ("PDA"), Council member and former Chair, 1998-2006
Honors / Awards / Unique Recognition
Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator John C. Danforth, with responsibility for defense, foreign policy, and budget matters, 1982 to 1986
Education
J.D., University of Virginia, 1989
Executive Editor, Journal of Law & Politics, 1988-1989
B.A., Princeton University, 1982
Bar/Court Admissions
Washington State Courts
Personal
Trying to keep up with my son and daughter. I also like to spend time outdoors, especially cycling and skiing. Other priorities include promoting the Pike Place Market and the abolition of the designated hitter.
