Colleen Pleasant Kline is a firm Principal and assistant chair of the firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group. Ms Kline's acts as outside general corporate counsel and trusted advisor to clients ranging from business owners and entrepreneurs as well as their officers, directors and shareholders for entities of all sizes covering a broad range of legal and business issues.
Colleen's comprehensive corporate experience is anchored in a solid transactional practice including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and private placements and encompasses the more complex issues surrounding angel investment, venture capital financings and leveraged recapitalizations. Her diverse client base includes privately held companies, portfolio companies, private equity firms, American subsidiaries of foreign owned entities and public companies, government contractors, manufacturers, distributors and real estate entities.
Colleen's holistic approach is focused on providing practical legal solutions to the issues that companies face day to day, in a manner that allows them to be solidly poised and supported for growth.
General Corporate Representation
The core of Ms Kline's practice lies in her passion for advising privately- held companies on all corporate legal matters related to the entire life cycle of their business including:
· Business succession plans
· Formation
· Growth, financing and recapitalization
· Operation
· Internal owner disputes
· Partnership dissolution as well as other exit strategies
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisition counsel is a substantial part of Ms. Kline's practice. Much of Ms. Kline's work is centered on the effective representation of buyers and sellers in transactions of both privately and publicly held industries of up to $100 million.
Past and present industries represented include:
· Construction and Construction related services
· Government contractors
· Industries co-owned by foreign and domestic parties
· Professional Services
· Manufacturing and Distribution
· Transportation and Logistics
· Technology
· Waste and Recycling
Advertising, Sweepstakes & Social media
Ms. Kline is versed in advertising and promotional legal issues. She routinely advises clients on a variety of matters related to the use of social media and compliance with the Federal Trade Commission in regards to advertising and promotions. Ms. Kline has facilitated the successful launching of several regional and national contests as well as sweepstakes and rebate programs. She has also negotiated underwriting and sponsorship agreements and provided assistance in developing various joint marketing or sales programs and helped several clients in developing and adopting solid and compliant social media policies and programs.
Colleen Pleasant Kline enjoys being a legal advocate for women owned businesses and emerging companies.
Credentials
ACTIVATE® Advisory Board Member (2009-2010)
American Bar Association
Association for Corporate Growth
Baltimore Bar Association: Member of the Business Law Section
Baltimore Junior Association of Commerce, Inc.: Legal Counsel (2003-2008)
Friends of Southwest Baltimore, Inc.: Director/Officer (2002-2005)
Greater Baltimore Technology Committee
Maryland State Bar Association: Chair of the Mid-Market and Small Business Subcommittee of the Business Law Section
National Association of Women Business Owners: Member (2007-2012)
Walters Art Museum Development Committee Member (2009- Present)
Walters Enthusiasts, Chair (2012)
William T. Walters Association with the Walters Art Museum: Member (2007-Present); Co-Chair (2009)
Women in Business, Center Club (2011-Present)
Women Presidents Organization (2012- Present)
Publications
"Summary of the JOBS Act," Miles & Stockbridge News Brief (Co-Author) (April 2012).
"Expanding Globally," MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (December 2011).
"Preparing to Sell Your Business," MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (November 2011).
"Selecting An Attorney," MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (October 2011).
"Business Succession Planning Basics, " MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (March 2011).
"Choice of Entity- A Basic Primer on the Common Types Used by Small Businesses," MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (February 2011).
"Top 10 Things to Avoid as You Start Your Business," MyCity4Her, Inc. (Blog) (February 2011).
Speaking Engagements
"Alternative Forms of Funding for the Entrepreneur- a Discussion about Crowdfunding," Baltimore Tech Group (March 9, 2012).
"Common Sense for the Business Lawyer," MyCity4Her Radio (October 17, 2011).
"Investment Offerings and Term Sheets," Funding University (November 2, 2010).
"Social Media is Here to Stay," Bar Association for Baltimore City (September 29, 2010).
"Business Succession Planning: Practical Strategies and Planning," in connection with PNC Wealth Management (May 26, 2010).
"A Panel Discussion: The Legal Risks and Potential Rewards Implicated by Company, Employee and Third-Party Use of Social Media," Association for Corporate Counsel (May 11, 2010).
"Business Succession Planning: Practical Strategies and Planning Opportunities for Women and Minority Owned Business," in connection with PNC Wealth Management (April 28, 2010).
"Setting Social Media Policy," IMRE, LLC (webinar) (December 15, 2009).