As an Associate Attorney in Coleman & Horowitt’s business transactions and real estate practice groups, Nick Phillips brings years of business consulting and transactional experience to his clients. Since 2015, he has acted as in house general counsel to companies located in the U.S., China, and Japan, including the Tokyo Stock Exchange traded, global #1 by market share, brushed DC electric motor manufacturing company, Mabuchi Motor Co. Ltd. (6592:TYO), helping them draft domestic and international agreements that include terms and conditions of B2B purchases, software and licensing, vendors, marketing, confidentiality, liability waivers, legal services, employment, and executive compensation. He also has broad-based representative experience in the areas of corporate governance, risk management, employment law counseling, dispute resolution, and commercial real estate.

Nick’s practice currently focuses on the needs of the Central Valley’s closely-held businesses, as well as lower middle market mergers and acquisitions (M&A) throughout California, where he brings to bear his legal training and practical business experience to close deals, most frequently the primary objective of his M&A clients. He represents sellers and buyers of businesses, conducting due diligence and drafting stockholders or buy-sell agreements, operating agreements, NDAs, LOIs, and definitive and ancillary agreements to consummate stock and asset purchases. Deal sizes range from under One Million Dollars to over One Hundred Million Dollars in aggregate purchase price.   Focusing on long-term relationships and client interests, where appropriate Nick will direct the client to address other key issues prior to engaging his firm. Nick is a valuable connector to other vetted M&A resources, including investment bankers and transaction focused accountants.

Nick works with his clients to negotiate contracts, litigate disputes, and develop their businesses on a global scale. He is an expert communicator with proficiencies in some of the most commonly spoken languages in the world. In addition to his native English, he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and speaks conversational Japanese and Spanish. These language skills allow him to represent his clients and their interests globally, helping them connect and work with other businesses as they confront cross border M&A, international business transactions, compliance, securities, real property, and other corporate challenges.  As a law student, he clerked for a family law judge, and he now occasionally assists with dissolution of marriage issues for high-net-worth individuals.

Practice Areas

  • Business Transactions
  • Banking & Finance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Real Estate
  • Construction Law
  • Agricultural Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Labor & Employment Law
  • Family Law

Education

  • Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List, Honors in Legal Writing, Research and Advocacy, Editor (The Elder Law Journal), University of Illinois College of Law, Urbana-Champaign
  • Master of Arts, University of Oregon, Eugene
  • Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Honors in History, Brown University, Providence

Admissions

  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Oregon
  • State Bar of Minnesota
  • State Bar of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association (Member: Business Law & International Law Sections)
  • California Bar Association (Member: Business Law Section)
  • Fresno County Bar Association (Member: Business Law Section)

Representative Deals

  • Represented the founder of a national property management and investment company with thousands of single-family rental homes in a de-SPAC transaction. Deal size $312MM.
  • Represented an Illinois electrical supply company in its strategic acquisition by a construction, industrial and utility market supply corporation in North Dakota. Deal size $120MM.
  • Represented the founder of an underground utilities company in a seller-financed stock transaction. Deal size $71MM.
  • Represented sellers of a direct mail company to a world-class envelope manufacturer and printer for cash at close and rollover equity. Deal size $41MM.
  • Represented an aerospace and defense printed circuit board manufacturer in its cross-border securities purchase by a Canadian public corporation. Deal size $18MM.
  • Represented a pipe fittings manufacturer with a unionized workforce and pension plan in its asset sale to a competitor. Deal size $17MM.
  • Represented a mobile security systems manufacturer and federal government prime contractor in an asset deal in which it was the target. Deal size $16MM.
  • Represented a manufacturer of water management products for drainage, sub-irrigation, wetlands, ponds, and lakes in an equity and commercial real estate sale. Deal size $15MM.
  • Represented a U.S. healthcare technology company in its acquisition of a U.K. software company. Deal size $12MM.
  • Represented a swimming pool supply company in the sale of all or substantially all of its assets. Deal size $9MM.