Richard A. Lyons
Richard is highly experienced in corporate, securities, and intellectual property (IP) law. He co-founded the firm’s intellectual property and green business practice groups and has deep insight in a broad range of business and legal matters. Richard is passionate about helping visionary companies meet their objectives.
Corporate
Versed in all aspects of the “business of business,” Richard guides clients in legal matters related to operations, organization, financing, and mergers and acquisitions. He assists clients in entity formation, corporate governance, shareholder agreements, equity and debt financing, distribution and vendor agreements, covenants not to compete, and employment agreements, and has represented companies and investors in venture capital rounds and private equity transactions.
Securities
Richard has represented both companies and professional investors in countless exempt private securities transactions, including founders, accredited investors, venture capitalists, private equity, family offices, and strategic investors. He is experienced with disclosure and registration requirements under state Blue Sky and federal securities laws. He has advised clients on private placement memoranda, stock purchase agreements, structuring investor preferential returns, representations and warranties, and related ancillary agreements.
Intellectual Property
Richard is experienced with trademarks, trade secrets, copyright and patent licensing, and advises clients concerning the selection and clearing of trademarks, the protection of trademarks, and infringement issues. He has represented retail brands and businesses involved in digital entertainment and production services. With a background in computer programming, Richard has substantial legal experience advising software companies and, developers of enterprise products, including cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS).
Food and Beverage
For more than two decades Richard has guided food and beverage companies, including natural and organic businesses and investors, in matters related to growing, manufacturing and production, co-packing and contract manufacturing, distribution, retail and online retail, food service, consumer brands, FDA labeling requirements, and third party certifications, such as Organic, Non-GMO and Fair Trade. He has also worked on product recalls and product recall insurance coverage issues.
Education
- J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
- B.A., University of California, Irvine
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Our business and finance attorneys represent national, regional and local clients participating in significant transactions.
Our business attorneys recognize and appreciate the value of entrepreneurship and innovation, and are committed to providing efficient, straightforward and business-oriented solutions that facilitate success and avoid pitfalls while recognizing early capital is precious and expensive.
The trusted partner for legal and regulatory counsel in the food & beverage industry.
Driven by a deep connection to the sustainability of our environment, our practice group serves those clients who seek to combine social and environmental responsibility with business success.
Create. Protect. Thrive.
Your Technology and Intellectual Property Assets Are The Lifeblood Of Your Business: We Partner With You To Protect Your Critical IP —and To Identify and Implement IP Strategies To Help You Thrive.
Fennemore boasts a large and sophisticated client-focused Mergers and Acquisitions practice.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
- Natural & Organic Products
Representative Cases
- Represented investor in sports equipment manufacturing company in sale to Dutch public company for $150+ million.
- Represented seller of software as a service to major U.S. public cable company.
- Represented investor in Canadian natural food company in $100+ million sale to public U.S. company.
- Represented venture capital fund as lead or co-lead investor in 15 financings in the natural foods and products industry.
- Represented real estate entrepreneurs in connection with offerings by 12 LLC’s raising approximately $50 million from investors.
- Represented consumer products company in $5 million Series A offering.
- Represented organic food company in $5+ million Series A offering.
- Represented organic food company in $3+ million Common Stock offering.
- Represented natural online retailer in convertible debt offerings.
- Represented buyer in leveraged buy-out of ingredient supply company.
- Represented CGI-based creative services company in more than 30 transactions with major and independent film studios, advertising agencies and game companies.
- Represented major land owner in Altamont Pass in connection with $100+ million repowering wind projects.
- Represented municipal utility in contracts with power suppliers and users of substation facilities.
- Represented fair trade organic food company in $5 million Series B offering.
- Represented organic and fair trade food manufacturer in acquisition of North American trademark rights and worldwide trademark registration matters.
- Represented largest West Coast distributor of natural food in merger that created the largest U.S. distributor of natural food
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Past President, Alameda Chamber of Commerce
- Director, Alameda Chamber of Commerce
- Director, Trans Pacific National Bank
- Director, Inner City Advisors
- Co-Chair, Silicon Island Technology Consortium (SITCON)
- Director and Corporate Secretary, California Jazz Conservatory
- Member, Corporations Section, California State Bar Association
- Member, Intellectual Property Section, California State Bar Association
- Member, Alameda County Bar Association
- Member, Wakefield Jazz Sextet
Admissions
- California