On March 1, 2010, Petillon Hiraide & Loomis LLP and Zagzebski Brothers LLP announced they have combined their practices to form Petillon Hiraide Loomis Zagzebski & Zagzebski LLP.
The new firm will continue its predecessors' practices in corporate finance on behalf of early stage and middle market companies, public and private offerings, including IPOs and alternative financing techniques, mergers and acquisitions, securities and general litigation, SEC and FINRA enforcement proceedings, and related matters.
Sander C. Zagzebski and Roger D. Loomis, Jr. will work out of the firm's downtown Los Angeles office. Lee R. Petillon, Mark T. Hiraide and Walter R. Zagzebski will practice in the firm's Torrance office.
Petillon Hiraide Loomis Zagzebski & Zagzebski LLP will co-sponsor monthly meetings of The Monday Club on July 19 and August 16, 2010. The Monday Club is a group of high tech executives and professionals in Southern California who meet once a month to help new start-up companies raise their first investment capital and build a new growing enterprise. Members of Monday Club give feedback on business plan presentations, suggest business strategies, and make introductions to people who might be able to help the businesses be successful. Members come from a broad range of high tech experience, including lawyers, accountants, investment bankers, successful entrepreneurs, CEOs of high tech companies, and private investors. Many of the members are also members of the Tech Coast Angels and the Forum for Corporate Directors.
On August 19, 2010, Mark Hiraide and Francis Ryu conducted a program on Business Law for the Beverly Hills Bar Association / Barristers' 10th Annual Practical Aspects of Practicing Law. Mark instructed business lawyers about securities law issues in practicing business law. The business law program is part of a comprehensive 9-week series on various areas of law including, Business Law, Entertainment Law, Real Estate Law, Criminal Law, Immigration Law, Family Law, Probate & Conservatorship, Civil Procedure/Discovery and Law Office Management.
In June 2010, Roger Loomis conducted two webinars for ExecSense Webinars, "Getting Your VC-Funded Company to an IPO – What It Takes to Get There, Deciding Whether It Makes Sense for Your Company & New Rules and Regulations Regarding the IPO Process" and "Getting Your Portfolio Company to an IPO in 2010-2011 – What It Takes to Get There, Deciding Whether It Makes Sense for Your Portfolio Company & New Rules and Regulations Regarding the IPO Process." Roger discussed the most important practical, strategic, legal, and financial considerations surrounding IPOs for CEOs and Venture Capitalists, including the impact of the current economy, the role of venture capitalists, investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, and other professionals in the lead-up process, and the most up-to-date strategies for how to navigate the IPO registration and offering processes.
In July 2010, Lee Petillon authored an article entitled, "Securities Laws Governing Private Offerings in California," for the 2010 Issue No. 2 of the Business Law News, a publication of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California. The State Bar's Business Law Section serves as a forum to educate attorney members on recent developments and current issues in all fields of business law and provides a vehicle for the business bar to communicate with the general public, the California Legislature, regulatory agencies, business trade associations, and other interested groups.
In April 2010, Roger Loomis conducted a webinar for ExecSense Webinar entitled, "What CEOs of VC-Funded Companies Need to Know About Getting the Most Out of Their Board of Directors." Roger discussed the role of venture capital investors on boards of directors and strategies for leveraging the contacts, expertise and network of each board member, keeping board members more engaged, and strengthening relationships with board members. ExecSense is the world's largest publisher of webinars led by top business executives, legal executives, and industry experts. ExecSense webinars feature C-Level executives from hundreds of blue chip companies, senior Partners from the largest law firms, and thought leaders from some of the world's most prestigious firms. Speakers are selected by the ExecSense editorial board based on their expertise.
The January, 2010, issue of the Minority and Small Business Review features an article by Lee Petillon that discusses equity financing of start-up and emerging growth companies and the related federal and state securities laws applicable to financings. The Minority and Small Business Review is published annually by the Center for the Study of Minority and Small Business and the Department of Business Administration at the University of the West. The Review features articles on various aspects of business operations, including accounting/tax issues, problems in management, strategies to deal with competition and sources for financing.
On February 24, 2010, Lee Petillon lead a panel of experts in early-stage financing in the Maverick Angels Academy Program entitled, "Secrets to Negotiating Successful Valuations and Win-Win Term Sheets." Maverick Angels is an innovative angel investor network based in Southern California, which focuses on funding and mentoring early-stage companies.
On January 21, 2010, Mark Hiraide joined Paul Weisbrich, Senior Managing Director of McGladrey Capital Markets, Gail Bernstein, Executive Vice President, PNC Business Credit, Linda Curtis, Partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Paul Wolf, Managing Partner, Century Park Capital Partners and Darya Allen-Attar of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney on the Program, "How to Survive and Capitalize in this Tumultuous Period." Mark discussed the current state of public equity markets and current financing structures for middle-market companies.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2009, Mark Hiraide and Roger Loomis were panelists at a luncheon meeting of the International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association at the offices of the Bar Association in Los Angeles, 261 S. Figueroa Street. The topic of the meeting was "Structuring International Transactions," and Mark and Roger discussed corporate and securities issues along with an outstanding panel of experts who reviewed finance, tax, accounting and other issues concerning clients engaged in international transactions."
Lee Petillon, a partner of the firm, participated as a judge in the First Annual Business Plan Competition on January 23, 2009, sponsored by the College of Business and Public Policy at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
The competition was open to all students on campus. There were seven finalists selected by four judges including Lee.
In addition, Petillon Hiraide Loomis Zagzebski & Zagzebski LLP donated ten hours of the firm's time to the first prize winner.
CSUDH student newspaper article describing the competition. [click here]