Rodger I. KohnMember
Professional Experience
Rodger's practice focuses on new and growing businesses. As a former business owner, Rodger understands first-hand the issues commonly faced by businesses and their owners from start-up, through operations, to exit strategies.
For the past two decades, Rodger has teamed with his clients to capitalize on opportunities they have and craft practical solutions to challenges they face, including the purchase and sale of businesses and business interests; raising debt and equity capital; negotiating, analyzing and drafting contracts, leases and licenses; protecting confidential and proprietary information, processes and designs; creating and enforcing non-competition agreements; forming business entities; hiring and terminating employees; and dispute resolution.
Representative Matters
General Business Matters
Counsel to a start-up business developing, manufacturing and distributing patent-pending safety products for the construction industry. Services have included developing strategies for raising capital, managing intellectual property, establishing dealer and distributor contracts, and engaging with the American National Standards Institute to include the product concept within new safety protocols for roadwork safety (ANSI A10.47).
Counsel to a network of dental offices with collective annual production exceeding $30 million. Representation includes all aspects of business operations including employment matters, office leases, practice ownership and vendor relations.
Counsel to local lifestyle magazine in documenting business processes for advertisers and free lance writers and photographer and assisting in raising equity capital for expansion.
Business Purchase and Sales
Represented IT support firm in multiple aquisitions which doubled the size of the firm in an eight month period.
Represented two key employees in $1 million stock purchase transferring the ownership of a privately held medical device company from its existing owners to the key employees.
Represented a software and financial consulting company and its principals in the sale of its assets and in negotiating on-going consulting agreements between the principals and the purchasing company.
Multiple transactions representing purchasers in the acquisition of existing multi-location franchise businesses.
Leases and Licenses
Negotiated lease renewal for restaurant in Pike Place Market allowing for expanded operations while reducing annual lease expense by over 20% and recovered $10,000 in overpayments of rent.
Advising local CrossFit affiliates regarding terms of leases for gym space and issues related to operation of gyms.
Negotiated and documented licensing and professional services agreements for software development company to design, implement and support fleet-wide tracking systems for a multi-national cruise line.
Audits
Represented a local company in an Employment Security Department audit, saving the company over 70% of the assessment, penalties and interest levied.
Represented trucking company in a Washington Department of Revenue audit, reducing the audit amount by over $100,000, eliminating significant penalities and interest and eliminating potential personal liability for the principal owners of the company.
Represented local company in I-9 audit conducted by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Other Matters
Multiple representations for business owners in contested buyouts of departing business partners.
Obtained insurance coverage and additional damages for property damage and lost revenue suffered when business premises was flooded by neighboring property. Client recovered 150% of actual damages plus all legal fees and costs.
Publications and Presentations
Author and Program Chair: "Advising Businesses on the Securities Laws" Advising Small and Mid-Sized Businesses, King County Bar Association (2011)
Author and Presenter: "Employee vs. Independent Contractor" IRS Form 1099 Reporting: What You Need to Know, Lorman Education Services (2008 - 2011)
Instructor, Highline Community College - StartZone and Small Business Development Center programs; courses include "Entity Selection," "Contract Basics" and "Hiring Workers."
Professional and Community Involvement
Mentor and Adjunct Professor, Seattle University Law School/Albers School of Business, Community Development and Entrepreneur Clinic.
Honorary Fellow and Guest Lecturer, University of Washington - Bothell, Center for Student Entrepreneurship.
FareStart, Member of Committee Implementing Service Expansion Model
Counsel to the Lenny Wilkens Foundation
Washington State Bar Association
Executive Committee, Business Law Section (May 2011 - Present)
King County Bar Association
Chair, Advising Small and Mid-Size Businesses (presented May 2011)
Wellspring Family Services (f/k/a Family Services of King County)
Chair, Capital Campaign Steering Committee (2007-2009)
Distinguished Service Award - 2008
Board of Directors, 2000-2006 (Board Chair 2004-2005)
Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2007
Education
J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
Admissions
Washington
Texas (inactive status)