As part of its General Counsel services, Kaleo Legal regularly negotiates and drafts commercial leases, manages informal landlord/tenant disputes and serves as counsel in lease related litigation matters. Our partners have drafted and negotiated commercial leases as part of Kaleo’s practice for the last twelve years, and we have litigated commercial lease disputes for the last twenty years. We negotiate leases, estoppels, and SNDAs for small startups and for our public company clients, ranging in value from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars, for clients located in office spaces, warehouses and shopping centers.

In addition to commercial leases, our entire team has experience negotiating and drafting other types of sophisticated commercial contracts, including equipment purchase and lease agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase and sales orders terms and conditions, and a wide array of other commercial contracts. We are equally experienced in advising on the legal aspects of instruments commonly associated with such transactions, including parent guarantees, letters of credit, and other forms of security.

Commercial Transactions Team:

Brian A. Wainger

Position: Principal
Phone: 757.965.6804
Email: bwainger@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Commercial Transactions, Complex Commercial Litigation, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Entertainment Law, Insurance, Labor Employment, Local Counsel, Municipal and Civil Rights Litigation, Toxic Tort Litigation
Undergraduate Degree: University of Virginia
Law School: University of Richmond

About:

Brian’s diverse experiences from twenty-five years practicing law provide a unique background for his work as a true general counsel.He began his career as an Assistant Attorney General and state prosecutor, before working in the commercial litigation department of an Am Law100 firm. From there, Brian served as the Chief Legal Officer of a NASDAQ-listed entertainment company, and started Kaleo Legal in 2008. Brian started Kaleo Legal to offer an innovative, lean approach to the practice of law. Although Brian has been named as a “Best Lawyer in America” from 2018-2023 for Commercial Litigation, he devotes an equal part of his practice to handling corporate and commercial transactional work for our clients on a fractional in-house counsel basis.

Years of Experience: 25

Awards & Honors: Best Lawyers Commercial Litigation 2018-2024

Bar Admissions: Virginia

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Brian A. Wainger

Principal

About: Brian’s diverse experiences from twenty-five years practicing law provide...

Tina McRae

Position: Principal
Phone: 757.963.7261
Email: tbingham@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Business Organization, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Employee and Executive, Financing Transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Securities Law, Startups, Transportation Law
Undergraduate Degree: University of Virginia
Law School: University of Virginia School of Law

About:

As an experienced attorney specializing in corporate and securities law, Tina has broad experience advising public and private company clients on a broad range of regulatory and transactional matters. After graduating from law school at the University of Virginia, Tina practiced as an in-house corporate and securities attorney at Norfolk Southern Corporation, a Fortune 500 NYSE company, until becoming one of the founding members of Kaleo Legal.  In addition to advising public companies, Tina assists individual founders, startups and growing companies on debt and equity financings, and on a variety of strategic corporate transactions.  She also routinely advises investors and investor groups on potential investment portfolio opportunities.  Tina is the Vice Chair of 757 Angels, a member of the Board of Directors of Women in Venture, and just finished her term as Chairman of the Board of the d’Art Center.   Tina is recognized in Virginia for Corporate/M&A law by Chambers and Partners.

  • Tina has served as advisor for boards of directors of public companies, including as special advisor to the audit committee, and as counsel to directors in their roles as board members and committee chairmen of public companies.
  • Tina has experience with all areas of compliance and corporate governance, including drafting and implementing policies and education programs, and conducting investigations and reviews.
  • Tina has extensive financing experience including seed, angel and follow on rounds of private placements.
  • Tina has acquired particular expertise in facilitating corporate structure and strategy decisions, and in counseling growing companies on financing and growth decisions.
  • Tina has experience structuring and drafting executive compensation programs.

 

Years of Experience: 20

Past Work Experience: Norfolk Southern Corporation

Professional Affiliations: VBA, Women in Venture Board Member, 757 Angels Board Member

Awards & Honors: UVA Z Society Shannon Award, Order of the Coif, Raven Society, Chambers USA; Inside Business Women in Business Achievement Award, Best Lawyers 2024 Edition

Bar Admissions: Virginia

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Tina McRae

Principal

About: As an experienced attorney specializing in corporate and securities...

Mike McCollum

Position: Partner
Phone: (804) 396-3305
Email: mmccollum@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Business Organization, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Employee and Executive, Financing Transactions, Intellectual Property, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Securities Law, Startups, Venture Capital Transactions
Undergraduate Education: Middlebury College
Law Scool: JD – University of Richmond School of Law; LLM – Duke University School of Law

About:

Mike’s practice is focused on start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. Following his graduation with honors from the Duke Law School Masters of Law program in Law and Entrepreneurship he has been providing outside counsel services for a wide range of early stage and high-growth clients in the greater Richmond area. He advises and assists business clients with corporate and intellectual property law issues as well as startup companies raising capital through private equity offerings, from pre-seed startup capital to later stage venture capital offerings. In addition he serves as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Richmond where he teaches courses in business and intellectual property law, including Advising the Entrepreneur and Drafting Intellectual Property Transactions.

He is committed to helping clients build their innovative ideas into successful businesses. Mike also serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, volunteering with Startup Virginia, Lighthouse Labs to provide support for the startup community.

Mike received his B.A. from Middlebury College, followed by a Master’s degree from Norwich University before attending the Richmond University School of Law, graduating with honors and awards for excellence in the studies of Intellectual Property.

Awards & Honors: Best Lawyers 2024 Ones to Watch

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Mike McCollum

Partner

About: Mike’s practice is focused on start-up businesses and entrepreneurs....

Brad Embree

Position: Partner
Phone: 757-214-9177
Email: bembree@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Commercial Transactions, Technology and Software, Transportation Law
Undergraduate Education: University of Virginia
Law School: Tulane University School of Law

About:

Prior to joining Kaleo in February 2020, Brad Embree served as Senior Counsel at Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE; NSC), where he was responsible for a wide variety of commercial contracts critical to business operations, procurement, and IT infrastructure. Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, for seven years Brad was Corporate Counsel at PRA Group (NASDAQ: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring nonperforming loans. At PRA, Brad specialized in review, analysis and negotiation of PRA’s core portfolio acquisitions and purchase and sale agreements. Previously, he worked as an attorney at Vandeventer Black LLP. Brad graduated cum laude from the Distinguished Majors Program at the University of Virginia, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University School of Law. At Tulane, he served as managing editor of the Environmental Law Journal and as a law clerk for the Chief Judge of New Orleans Criminal District Court.

Brad has consistently been named as a Corporate Counsel “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business Magazine, as well as one of the “Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia” for Corporate Law. Prior to law school, Brad lived in Los Angeles, where he co-authored “Going Corporate”, a book published by St.Martin’s Press and reviewed favorably in USA Today, New York Post and the Chicago Tribune. Since returning home to Virginia, he has volunteered countless hours to various community organizations, including serving as chairman of the United Way Workplace Giving Campaign.

Years of Experience: 13

Past Work Experience: Vandeventer Black, PRA Group (Nasdaq: PRAA), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC)

Professional Affiliations: Va. Bar Association, Virginia State Bar, Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association

Awards & Honors: VA Legal Elite, Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia, Best Lawyers 2024 Edition

Bar Admissions: Virginia

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Brad Embree

Partner

About: Prior to joining Kaleo in February 2020, Brad Embree...

Kristine Schulte

Position: Partner
Phone: 401.288.1548
Categories: Commercial Transactions, Technology and Software

About:

Kristine has a broad background in commercial transactions, regulations and litigation.  Prior to joining Kaleo Legal, she was with Swimways Corp. and its parent company, Spin Master, Ltd., a global innovative toy and entertainment company. Kristine was responsible for reviewing, drafting and negotiating all retail and distributor agreements for Spin Master worldwide. Her ability to analyze complex contracts and regulations led to a significant reduction in fines and penalties assessed by retailers and licensors, and minimized corporate legal liability. In addition, she was the primary support for Spin Master’s Outdoor GBU in the areas of IP, commercial agreements, licensing compliance, and M&A.  Previously, after graduating from Hamline University School of Law, she started a general practice firm in Minnesota where she practiced commercial and family law, until she joined the firm of Gray Plant Mooty as a contract attorney focusing on legal malpractice defense in the area of complex commercial litigation.

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Kristine Schulte

Partner

About: Kristine has a broad background in commercial transactions, regulations...

Jennifer H. Burnett

Position: Partner
Categories: Business Organization, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Partner
North Carolina State Bar: Admitted 2008
Virginia State Bar: Admitted 2012

About:

Jennifer Burnett’s practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, including commercial leasing, commercial real estate development, and the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, and general business and commercial law and related transactions, including contract negotiations, entity formation, corporate governance, financings, commercial loans, credit facilities, and capital raising. She advises and assists a diverse client base on a wide range of matters within her practice areas, and particularly enjoys being an integral part of her client’s team, providing them with trusted legal and business counsel through each life cycle of their business. Jennifer has considerable expertise in mergers and acquisitions deal strategy and related contract drafting and negotiations, in drafting and negotiating complex commercial leases, and in navigating her clients through the purchase and sale of businesses, interests related thereto, and commercial real estate.

After graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2008, she began her career as an attorney with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP (now Womble Bond Dickinson), practicing in their Greensboro, NC office. Before joining Kaleo Legal in November 2021, Jennifer was a Shareholder with the firm of Clement & Wheatley, located in Danville, VA. Prior to law school, Jennifer was a Corporate & Securities paralegal for 10 years, working in the in-house legal departments of Burlington Industries, Inc. and VF Corporation, and with the law firm of Womble Carlyle. She graduated *magna cum laude* from Meredith College in 1994.

North Carolina Bar Association: Member; Member of Business Law Section and Real Property Law Section

Virginia Bar Association: Member; Member of Business Law Section and Real Property Law Section

Virginia Museum of Natural History: Member, Board of Trustees (Governor-appointed position) since July 1, 2015 – Term Expires June 30, 2025; Chair, Board of Trustees – July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

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Jennifer H. Burnett

Partner

About: Jennifer Burnett’s practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions,...

Greg Pimentel

Position: Partner
Phone: 804-852-3180
Email: gpimentel@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Business Organization, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Technology and Software

About:

Greg joined Kaleo in June 2022 and focuses his practice on commercial transactions, corporate law, and technology transactions. As commercial counsel, Greg works with companies of all sizes to achieve the right balance of risk mitigation and business imperatives in their interactions with customers and vendors alike. Greg specializes in technology transactions, including SaaS, PaaS, IaaS agreements, software licensing, and cloud-connected devices. Additionally, Greg assists smaller to mid-size companies by acting as fractional general counsel. In this part of his practice, Greg provides counsel to clients on a variety of topics, including all manner of commercial agreements; corporate formation, governance, and operations; strategic counseling; and managing outside counsel.

Prior to joining Kaleo, Greg had almost 20 years of legal experience helping individuals and companies of all sizes with their transactional needs. While at Capital One, Greg negotiated complex transactions across business units, including technology, HR, brand, bank, and credit card, all with an eye on mitigating financial, legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. During his time at CarLotz, Inc., Greg served as the point person for commercial contracts, while also advising leaders and retail units on corporate real estate, HR and customer dispute matters. Greg’s career also included advising small and medium-sized companies on corporate formation matters, commercial real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

Undergraduate Education: Washington & Lee University

Law School: University of Richmond School of Law

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Greg Pimentel

Partner

About: Greg joined Kaleo in June 2022 and focuses his...

Dan Lee

Position: Partner
Email: dlee@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Commercial Transactions, Intellectual Property, Technology and Software, Trademarks
Law School: University of Richmond School of Law

About:

Dan focuses his practice on commercial contracting, licensing, and intellectual property matters. He assists clients with reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a broad array of commercial contract types, including SaaS agreements, master services agreements and related statements of work, software licenses, procurement and supply agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and other outsourcing and technology agreements. Dan also helps clients with trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and licensing.

Dan earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law where he also earned a Certificate in Intellectual Property with distinction. Prior to joining Kaleo Legal, Dan was a member of the Global Technology and Outsourcing team at Hunton Andrews Kurth, an AmLaw100 firm, and previously served as senior contracts counsel for a large nationwide staffing and consulting firm.

Years of Experience: 7

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Dan Lee

Partner

About: Dan focuses his practice on commercial contracting, licensing, and...

Amy Steacy

Position: Partner
Email: asteacy@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions
Law School: Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University

About:

Amy is a results-driven legal advisor and thought partner with exceptionally broad-based experience, with her current practice being similarly broadly based. Amy provides fractional general counsel services, which include counseling clients regarding corporate matters, compliance matters, intellectual property matters, dispute resolutions, and a wide variety of technology and commercial transactions. Following the completion of a judicial clerkship after law school, Amy began her legal career as a corporate attorney at the international law firms of Morrison & Foerster LLP and Cooley LLP. As a corporate attorney, Amy counseled private and public companies across a range of industries, with her practice having a heavy focus on mergers and acquisitions, while also including private financing transactions (from early-stage convertible debt to private equity) and general corporate matters. Following private practice as a corporate attorney, Amy established and built out the legal function at CustomInk, LLC, a leading e-commerce company, where she remained for a decade handling all of the company’s legal matters before joining Kaleo Legal in September 2022.

Amy earned her J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, where she graduated *magna cum laude*, and her B.S. in Political Science from Truman State University.

Years of Experience: 19

Past Work Experience: CustomInk, LLC, Cooley LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Law Clerk – Fairfax County Circuit Court

Awards and Honors: Former appointed faculty member for the Virginia State Bar’s Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course (taught ethics and professionalism to new members of the Virginia State Bar); 2020 “Corporate Counsel Star” Award via DCA Live (award within the Washington D.C. legal community for exceptional performance as a corporate leader and for demonstrated contributions to the growth and success of the company during the challenging pandemic period); graduated *magna cum laude* from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University

Bar Admissions: Virginia

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Amy Steacy

Partner

About: Amy is a results-driven legal advisor and thought partner...

Ryan Hanson

Position: Partner
Email: rhanson@kaleolegal.com
Categories: Business Organization, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Financing Transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity

About:

Ryan Hanson advises clients regarding various corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private equity deals, entity reorganizations, financings, and strategic investments.

Prior to joining Kaleo Legal, Ryan practiced at an Am Law 200 law firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Throughout his practice, Ryan has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, real estate, and financial services.

Ryan is listed in Virginia Super Lawyers – “Rising Star” (2023-present), Best Lawyers® – “Ones to Watch” (2021-present) and Virginia Business – Legal Elite, Young Lawyer (2022-present).

Ryan received his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law and earned an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University (Beta Gamma Sigma). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce degree from Washington and Lee University, where he served as captain of the varsity swim team.

Active in the community, Ryan currently serves on the board of directors of An Achievable Dream Virginia Beach, Inc. and the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk. He is a member of CIVIC Leadership Institute Class of 2023 and previously served on the board of directors of the Virginia Beach Division of the Chamber of Commerce.

Representative Experience:

  • Represented a private equity investment firm in its acquisition of a mental health and substance use disorder treatment provider serving patients across multiple states.
  • Represented a public company in multiple domestic and international reorganizations and consolidation transactions.
  • Assisted a solid surfaces manufacturer with multiple capital raises from investors.
  • Assisted a real estate investment conglomerate with several corporate restructurings and buyouts.
  • Represented a buyer in its cross-border acquisition of a global healthcare company’s medical products business.
  • Represented a private equity-backed behavioral health treatment provider in a joint venture transaction involving the acquisition of Chapter 11 liquidation assets.
  • Assisted a wholesaler in the sale of its logistics business to a publicly traded consumer goods company.
  • Represented a marina owner and operator in its sale to a large owner and operator.
  • Represented a group of privately held companies in the sale of their waste disposal business and related real estate assets.
  • Assisted a buyer with the acquisition of stock of a broadband internet service provider.
  • Advised the special committee of the client’s board of directors regarding investigation of sensitive regulatory and compliance matters.

Years of Experience: 8

Past Work Experience: Williams Mullen

Bar Admissions: Virginia

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Ryan Hanson

Partner

About: Ryan Hanson advises clients regarding various corporate transactions, including...