David G. Bates

David G. Bates is a shareholder and the former chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. He is currently a co-chair of the firm’s Emerging Company Practice Group and Technology Practice Group.

David regularly counsels clients in business law, mergers & acquisitions, technology law, venture capital, licensing & distribution and corporate finance & securities.

Articles written by David about the Internet, venture capital, issues facing emerging companies and general businesses topics appeared in The South Florida Business Journal, Urban Land Institute, The Daily Business Review, the World eBusiness Law Report and other publications.

Representative Matters

Structured, negotiated and documented mergers and acquisitions and
divestitures for public companies and privately held businesses
Prepared investment agreements for venture capitalists and angel investors
Drafted stock option plans, phantom stock plans and employment agreements
Prepared document retention policies
Represented high-tech companies in connection with licensing agreements
and transactions
Negotiated and drafted Internet, wireless and technology related agreements
Coordinated the expansion of national and international franchisors
and franchisees
Drafted domestic and international distribution agreements
Advised on settlement negotiations with the Business Software Alliance
Negotiated and drafted non-competition and confidentiality agreements
Represented movie and television production companies
Negotiated and drafted software licensing agreements and hardware
purchase agreements
Advised on compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003
Structured, negotiated and documented the purchase and sale of aircraft
and yachts

Education

Tulane University, M.B.A., 1991
Tulane University, J.D., cum laude, 1991
Moot Court Board Justice
University of Florida, B.S.B.A., 1987

Honors

University of Florida Outstanding Male Leader Award - selected the Outstanding
Male Leader graduating in December, 1987 from the University of Florida
University of Florida Hall of Fame
Included in The Best Lawyers in America, for Technology Law, 2007-2008
Named the South Florida Business Journal’s Key partner for Business Law, 2007
Named the South Florida Business Journal’s Up & Comer Attorney
under the Age of 40
Featured on the cover of Florida Lawyer
Selected as a “Heavy Hitter” in Technology by the South Florida Business
Journal
Included as 1 of 15 Lawyers in the South Florida Business Journal’s Special
Report on the “Corporate Elite”
Included as 1 of 25 individuals in the Daily Business Review’s list of
“Faces to Watch”
Selected as one of the “Florida Legal Elite” by Florida Trend, 2004-2008
Named a Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide in the categories of
Corporate Law and Technology Law, 2005-2007
Voted by attorneys as “Best of the Bar” in the South Florida Business Journal in
categories of Business Law and Technology Law, 2004-2007
AV Rated (highest rating given by Martindale Hubbell)
Featured in the Florida edition of Super Lawyers, 2006-2008

Civic & Community Service

Gold Coast Venture Capital Club, president 1996-present, vice president 1995
Enterprise Development Corporation, chair, 2004-2006
Board of Directors of Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy, 2005
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, director 2003
Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 1999
United Jewish Committee National Young Leadership Cabinet

Seminars and Presentations Since 2002

“Investing in Biotechnology Companies,” Palm Beach County Business
Development Board, 2007
“E-Discovery”, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 2005
“Valuing Intellectual Property,” Lorman Educational Services, 2004
“Confidentiality Agreements,” Internet Coast Legal Seminar, 2003
“Valuing Intellectual Property,” Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
2003
“Building an E-Commerce Foundation in Florida,” National Business Institute,
2003
“Is Your Business Ready for Angel Investors,” Enterprise Development
Corporation, 2003
“Internet Security,” Lorman Educational Services, 2002
“Personal Jurisdiction and Defamation on the Internet,” National Business
Institute, 2002