Tom Zeigler helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful companies. The head of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group and chair of its Intellectual Property Practice, Tom is keenly aware of the two primary challenges that startups face: how to build a profitable business from scratch around a concept, and how to protect the trademarks and other intellectual property that are critical to business success.

Tom has extensive experience guiding businesses through all forms of corporate and business transactions, both nationally and internationally, including mergers and acquisitions, financing and securities transactions (including Regulation D private offerings), and negotiating and drafting complex LLC agreements, employment agreements, and licensing agreements. He has helped startups structure and manage a variety of outside investments, from seed capital to angel investor funding to venture capital financing.

Tom also works with a variety of businesses, with a particular focus on the alcohol, food, and beverage industries, to ensure protection of their trademarks and other intellectual property assets, including through enforcement action when their rights have been infringed. He monitors trademark portfolios for many clients and routinely represents them before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

For many years Tom has advised businesses involved in the cannabis industry starting under the Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215).  As medicinal and adult recreational use of cannabis was legalized in California, Tom has assisted many clients in obtaining state and local licenses for manufacturing, distribution, testing, and retail operations.  He works closely with CPA’s in offering business structures that best suit the client’s needs.  Moreover, he advises his clients on the new regulations promulgated that impact those in the industry particularly with respect to advertising, labeling and product distribution through social media platforms.

Tom is very active in the community, assisting a number of non-profits, most of which relate to childhood education, or services for abused and at-risk children. He is a Board Member and head of the Finance Committee at Olive Crest, an organization operating in California, Nevada, and Washington that is dedicated to transforming the lives of abused, neglected, and at-risk children.

Transactions
Intellectual Property
Retail, Food & Beverage
Education

Representative work includes:

• Representing a California-based craft distillery on a broad range of activities, including business strategy, company formation, city and state licensing, capital raising, real estate leases, equipment purchasing agreements, international sales and distribution contracts, and more.
• Assisting a privately held, large surf wear company on all legal matters, including in particular licensing and trademark issues.
• Representing a Mexican conglomerate involved in the supermarket industry in the divestiture of its U.S. grocery operations
• Representing an international producer of meat products in connection with importation, distribution, licensing, corporate governance, and regulatory matters.

Public Speaking:

• “Legal Issues for Small Business Enterprises” – Rancho Santiago Community College