Robert G. Copeland practices in the area of corporate law with an emphasis on corporate finance, securities, real estate and mergers and acquisitions law. His clients have included startup business ventures, private and public U.S. and offshore manufacturing, construction and service corporations, venture capital and private equity firms, media firms, real estate developers and syndicators.

Mr. Copeland has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America every year since 1987 and in The Best Lawyers in San Diego (San Diego Magazine, April 2008, April 2007, April 2006, April 2005 and Fall 2001 editions). He was named a Super Lawyer for San Diego (May 2007 and 2008) and was selected as a San Diego Top Attorney (San Diego Daily Transcript, Spring 2007 and 2006).

Mr. Copeland is a member of the Negotiated Acquisitions Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the San Diego Chapter of ACG. Mr. Copeland is a 1966 graduate of the University of Southern California Law School and a graduate of Occidental College.

Representative Matters

Represented niche defense contractor in $90 million sale to Honeywell International, Inc.
Represented sellers of major international irrigation equipment and products manufacturer in $82 million sale to John Deere.
Represented Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc. in $116 million sale to Heary International, Inc. (Balfour Beatty)
Lead counsel in numerous acquisitions of technology assets and shares of technology companies over a period of 20 years.
Lead counsel for the buyer in the +$128 million cash share acquisition of SourceOne Healthcare Technologies, Inc.
Lead counsel for tempest technology and neural network product-based corporation in its $12 million secondary offering.
Leads the Duane Morris team that has acted as counsel for the University of San Diego for a number of years.
Represented software company purchaser of Internet filter technology in $2 million tax deferred exchange.
Led $40 million exchange of shares of Intelligent Medical Systems Inc., a medical instrument manufacturer, for shares of American Home Products, utilizing California Department of Corporations Fairness Hearing and Securities Act of 1933 § 3(a)(10) exemption
Represented Enerflo, Inc. in its purchase of assets of the industrial pumps and valves businesses of Johnston Pump Company and General Value, Inc. for $20 million, funded in part via asset-based loan facilities.
Represented Matthew Hall PLC in the purchase of assets of the industrial and chemical plant construction and maintenance businesses of Barnard and Burke Inc. and Iberville Services, Inc. for $20 million cash.
Represented buyer in $30 million purchase of public U.S. manufacturer of electronic test and measurement equipment on SEC S-4 registered tax-free exchange of common stock.
Represented seller in $25 million exchange of shares in Space Electronics, Inc., a manufacturer of radiation shielded orbital satellite micro components for shares of Maxwell Technologies utilizing California Department of Corporations Fairness Hearing and Securities Act of 1933 § 3(a)(10) exemption.
Represented buyer in $5 million acquisition by Netter Digital Entertainment of television studio lighting technology developer.
Represented selling shareholders in $120 million tax deferred merger of circuit board manufacturing group to Teradyne Inc.
Represented buyer in $10 million purchase of intellectual property relating to licensing of sporting equipment and clothing, including Hang Ten trademarks.
Represented seller in $50 million tax deferred merger of Southwestern Ice Company with Redi Ice.
Represented San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club $5 million acquisition of real estate, negotiation of $20 million construction and permanent financing, and $10 million offering of memberships via permit from California Department of Corporations.
Represented United Services Automobile Association in $60 million acquisition and development of San Diego Regional Service Center site and resubdivision of excess real property.
Represented Prudential Insurance Co. in providing $120 million construction and permanent financing for fleet of five 400 ton tuna purse seine fishing vessels.
Led $10 million IPO for Netter Digital Entertainment, a television production company, producer of the "Babylon 5" television series.
Represented Calbiochem Corporation, a manufacturer of medicines for treatment of dwarfism and psoriasis in sale to American Hoechst Group.
Represented seller in $30 million cash sale of ChipSoft, creator of Turbo Tax, to Warburg Pincus private equity group.
Led $80 million recapitalization and reorganization of privately-held logistics company utilizing California Department of Corporations Fairness Hearing and Securities Act of 1933 § 3(a)(10) exemption.
Led Energy Factors, Inc. IPO for $12 million in common stock and $24 million in subordinated debentures, and concurrent acquisition of San Diego Gas and Electric Company cogeneration projects for $50 million.
Lead counsel to Special Committee of Board of San Diego based Electric Company in evaluation of acquisition proposals received from Southern California Edison.

Professional Activities

San Diego County Bar Association
American Counsel Association
American Bar Association
- Business Law Section
-- Negotiated Acquisitions Committee
Association for Corporate Growth, San Diego Chapter
- Judge, 2005 Deal Maker Awards

Admissions

California

Education

University of Southern California School of Law, J.D., 1966
Occidental College, A.B., 1963

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2004-present
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
- Partner, 1995-2004
Gray, Cary, Ware & Friedenrich LLP
- Partner, 1974-1995
- Associate, 1966-1974

Board Memberships

Thomas C. Ackerman Foundation
San Diego Yacht Club Sailing Foundation
St. Bernard Software, Inc.

Civic and Charitable Activities

University of San Diego Business Link Executive Committee
American Cancer Society Community Partnership
University of San Diego Law School Board of Visitors

Honors and Awards

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 1987-present

Selected Publications

Co-author, "Patent Issues Facing Universities," Research Management Review, Fall/Winter 2006