DENNIS SPATES is a transactional attorney with more than 35 years of corporate and securities law experience. Having served as both in-house and outside corporate counsel to a number of companies, he has developed a strong practical approach to business transactions and related legal issues.
Mr. Spates structures and forms corporations, LLC’s, and partnerships for start-ups and small to medium-sized mature businesses, and prepares, negotiates and advises on all types of agreements relating to business ownership, operation, employment, financing and governance. He also represents buyers and sellers, and their respective equity owners, in connection with mergers, acquisitions, sales, reorganizations and joint ventures of businesses, preparing, negotiating and advising on related agreements.
In addition, he represents issuers of equity and debt securities in private investment offerings, including Regulation D offerings — preparing, negotiating and advising on private placement memoranda (PPM’s), subscription documents, LLC operating agreements, and partnership agreements. He has also counseled public companies in connection with their initial SEC registration filings and public reporting compliance.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Spates served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Ridgewood Energy Corporation, an energy investment company, and as counsel to Schoeman Updike & Kaufman, LLP. He began his legal career at Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O’Donnell & Weyher in New York City. Mr. Spates earned a J.D. from Fordham University Law School and an A.B. from Princeton University.
Mr. Spates serves as counsel and a member of the Board of Directors of The Haven Community Foundation (US) Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization which, together with its Irish affiliate, The Haven Community Foundation (www.havenpartnership.com), helps build sustainable communities in Haiti by providing housing and emergency relief and implementing community development and training programs.