David C. Kim
Based on his prior experiences as an investment banker, David brings a unique balance between the law and business into his practice, which centers heavily around representing businesses and entrepreneurs in a wide range of areas including manufacturing, engineering, bio-science, financial and agricultural industries. Through his financial and legal career for over twenty years, David has accumulated expertise in corporate and commercial matters and regularly advises clients on $200 million to $500 million transactions each year. David, a partner at Gislason & Hunter, often leads complex transactions across the U.S., as well as growing markets overseas such as Central and South America and Asia.
David’s practice focuses on all transactional aspects in corporate mergers and acquisitions, sales and acquisitions of business interests and assets, debt, equity and mezzanine financing, LBO transactions, domestic and international joint venture formation and operation, technology licensing, IP protection, licensing and administration, trademark and copyright registration, prosecution and enforcement, regulatory compliance for production and manufacturing, antitrust law compliance for production and distribution, including RPM and minimum price controls, complex tax planning and dispute resolution and domestic and international trade clearance and general contract matters.
David’s practice focuses on all transactional aspects in corporate mergers and acquisitions, sales and acquisitions of business interests and assets, debt, equity and mezzanine financing, LBO transactions, domestic and international joint venture formation and operation, technology licensing, IP protection, licensing and administration, trademark and copyright registration, prosecution and enforcement, regulatory compliance for production and manufacturing, antitrust law compliance for production and distribution, including RPM and minimum price controls, complex tax planning and dispute resolution and domestic and international trade clearance and general contract matters.
Areas of Expertise
Agriculture Law & Agribusiness
- Agriculture Contracts
- Ag Financing & Debt Restructuring
- Agribusiness Formation & Transactions
- Employment Matters
- Environmental Regulation
- Estate & Succession Planning
- Food Safety & Animal Rights Controversies
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Planning, Zoning & Land Use
- Purchase & Leasing
Business & Corporate Law
- Business Entity Law & Formation, including LLC’s, Partnerships and Corporations
- Business & Succession Planning
- Commercial Real Estate
- Contracts
- Creditors' Rights
- Data Privacy & Security
- Employment & Human Resources
- Investment Management
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Partner & Shareholder Agreements
- Purchase or Sale of Business
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Copyrights
Finance & Banking
- Business Planning & Administration
- Commercial Lending
- Employment & HR Consulting
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Loan Transactions
- Loan Workouts
- Portfolio Management
- Regulatory Compliance
Litigation
Real Estate, Environmental Law & Land Use
- Compliance & Permitting
- Eminent Domain
- Financing
- Utilities
Trusts & Estates
- Business Succession Planning
- Estate & Gift Tax
- Farm Estate & Succession Planning
- Health Care Directives & Living Wills
- Wills, Trusts, Codicils & Powers of Attorney
Experience
$400 Million Project Joint Venture
David Kim represented an electric automobile company in the U.S. in conjunction with its joint venture for the production and distribution of electric buses in a $400 million project by negotiating and drafting Shareholders Agreement for the joint venture.
Technology Licensing Agreements
David Kim represented a client in transactions involving Technology Licensing Agreements with various public universities in the U.S., Toll Manufacturing Agreements with custom manufacturers in the U.S. and foreign countries, patent applications, patent prosecutions, and trademark registrations in nine jurisdictions including the U.S., various countries in the E.U. through EPO, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Canada.
Commodity Future Claim
David Kim represented clients in commodity futures claims over $100 million in conjunction with MF Global bankruptcy.
Reverse Triangular Merger
David Kim represented a bioengineering company in a reverse triangular merger for its acquisition of target stock, regulatory clearance, and minority shareholder claim resolutions by negotiating and drafting the Agreement and Plan of Merger and all related documents and instruments.
Acquisition of DNA Gene Cloning and Storage Services Provider
David Kim represented a client in a reverse triangular merger for its acquisition of the world's biggest DNA gene cloning and storage services provider.
$60 Million Asset Acquisition
David Kim represented a client in a $60 million asset acquisition for domestic production assets by negotiating and drafting the Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Understanding and Asset Purchase Agreement therefor, and performing due diligence, the Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance, WARN Act compliance, permitting process and post-closing litigation.
$80 Million Asset Acquisition
David Kim represented a client in an $80 million asset acquisition in conjunction with the competitive bidding process, leading the initial negotiations with the seller and seller's investment bankers and attorneys, drafting the Letter of Intent and performing due diligence in three states in the U.S. and advising the client in conjunction with a Section 363 Sale proceeding.
$330 Million Debt Financing
David Kim represented a client in conjunction with $330 million debt financing.
Joint Venture Transaction in China
David Kim represented a client in a joint venture transaction in China for the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products in China.
Joint Venture Transaction in Korea
David Kim represented a client in a joint venture transaction in Korea for the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Korea.
Share Exchange Transaction of $60 Million+
David Kim represented a biotech client in a share exchange transaction focusing on the business valuation of IP rights of the target company—over $60 million.
Development of Dealer Agreement and Sales Representative Forms
David Kim advised a client in developing their dealer agreement and sales representative forms in compliance with state laws and regulations over dealership and sales representative relationship in over twenty states in the U.S.
Shareholder Dispute Involving $30 Million Equity Investment
David Kim represented a majority shareholder client in a shareholder dispute involving $30 million equity investment, leading the matter to a favorable settlement and negotiating and drafting a Release and Settlement Agreement.
Technology Licensing and Manufacturing Agreements
David Kim represented a client in procuring and administering overseas production capacities through Technology Licensing and Manufacturing Agreements, together with advising client for foreign government permitting process and clearing the U.S. export control laws and regulations.
$20 million+ Joint Venture
David Kim represented a joint venture formed by U.S. investors for a foreign asset investment in over $20 million, advising on the formation and administration of the joint venture, the formation and registration of its foreign subsidiaries and its U.S. tax reporting compliance.
$25 Million LLC Break-Up
David Kim represented the major member in a $25 million LLC break-up case, negotiating and drafting the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, Release and Settlement.
$1 Million AR Collection
David Kim represented a client in a $1 million AR collection matter in Vietnam.
Ownership of Source Code
David Kim represented a group of banks and financial organizations in a dispute on the ownership of the source code used to build their financial transaction platforms online.
$100 Million Commodity Futures Claims
David Kim represented clients in commodity futures claims over $100 million in conjunction with MF Global bankruptcy.
U.S. Subsidiary
David Kim represented a European client in conjunction with their business launch in the U.S. by forming a U.S. subsidiary and advising the parent and subsidiary regarding the U.S. Federal and State laws and regulations on production and distribution.
Tax Exempt Status
David Kim represented a client in an IRS action challenging the tax-exempt status on the client's $9 million IDRB issued to finance a production facility.
Company Restructuring
David Kim represented a client in company restructuring with focus on the Section 108(a) COD income analysis and avoidance.
Partnership Loss Allocation for Tax Purposes
David Kim represented a client in conjunction with a dispute regarding partnership loss allocation for tax purposes and application of the at-risk rules and substantial economic effect rules.
Trademark Portfolio
David Kim represents clients in registering and managing trademark portfolio with over 600 trademarks; work includes trademark application, prosecution with examiners, trademark opposition proceedings, Section 8&15 Acknowledgements and Declarations, Section 8&9 Declarations and Renewals and trademark Cease and Desist notices and litigation.
Contracts in Conjunction With Distribution of Products
David Kim represents clients in drafting, reviewing and revising contracts in conjunction with their distribution of products in the U.S. and foreign countries.