Christopher M. McNeill

Biography

Chris McNeill focuses on providing top-notch legal services to clients in a broad range of industries, including biotechnology, online gaming and social media, software and software as a service (“SAAS”) solutions, hospitality and entertainment, private equity, manufacturing, retail and distribution, logistics, construction and related services, and automotive sales and services. He works closely with his clients as a true partner and resource, using his experience advising entrepreneurs to help his clients navigate today’s business environment in order to take advantage of opportunities and mitigate risks.

Chris assists clients at all stages of the corporate life cycle, including entity formation, corporate restructuring and expansion, securities financing (including private placements and private equity rounds), traditional commercial debt financing, and mergers and acquisitions. His goal is to get deals done and ensure they are done properly, with an emphasis on providing his clients with the information they need to make informed business decisions.

Outside the Firm

Although Chris’ family roots are from small town Mississippi, during his childhood he traveled the country and the world as an Army brat, including living in Brazil and graduating high school in Nairobi, Kenya. He earned his Eagle Scout while living in Kenya and today is actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America with his sons. 

When not working, Chris’ favorite hobbies include all things outdoors such as fishing, kayaking, camping, and hiking.
 

Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Represents publicly reporting and private clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions.
  • Represented clients in both buy-side and sell-side middle market transactions across multiple industries.

Securities and Blue Sky Law

  • Represent publicly reporting clients in preparing and filing registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to public offerings.
  • Represent publicly reporting clients in preparing and filing annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements, current reports and press releases, tender offer statements, and other required filings.
  • Represent publicly reporting and private clients in offerings of securities exempted from registration under SEC regulations and state blue sky laws, including drafting private placement memoranda.
  • Communicate with representatives and/or counsel at the SEC, state securities commissions, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), and Nasdaq on behalf of clients relating to compliance with regulations and listing requirements.

Financial Transactions

  • Represent lenders and borrowers in financing transactions relating to credit facilities, amendments to existing credit facilities, and private placements (“PIPE transactions”).
  • Represent fund managers in structuring and launching private equity and venture capital funds, and represent issuers and investors in connection with venture capital and private equity financings, including structuring and negotiating rights and preferences of preferred security holders.

Corporate Governance

  • Advise clients relating to corporate governance requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley, state law, SEC regulations, and NYSE and Nasdaq regulations.
  • Represent clients in the formation of for-profit and non-profit corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships.

Outside General Counsel

  • Represent clients in reviewing and negotiating commercial lease agreements.
  • Represent clients in structuring and preparing employee incentive plans and arrangements, including stock option plans, restricted stock awards, and phantom equity/synthetic stock plan.

Recognitions

2021, Rotary International District Ethics Award

Affiliations

Memberships

  • Dallas Bar Association
Professional Activities

Chris serves as a deacon and chairman of the personnel committee and has volunteered in many additional capacities at First Baptist Dallas, and is a member and officer of the Rotary Club of Park Cities. He previously served for six years on the planning and zoning commission and four years as a town councilman in a Dallas suburb.

He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.
 

Credentials

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Eastern District of Texas - Texas

Education

  • Harvard Law School, JD
  • University of Mississippi, BA, summa cum laude
Languages
  • English