Of Counsel
David Lee is an accomplished corporate and transactional attorney with decades of corporate deal experience with a special emphasis on mid-cap mergers and acquisitions. David served as corporate counsel to a diverse range of clients — representing buyers, sellers, lenders and issuers in transactions valued from six to nine figure deals. He has led deals from due diligence through closing and advised clients on capital raises across multiple funding stages (up to F series raises). His client base has regularly included private equity groups, sovereign fund-connected angel investors, Fortune 500 companies, and businesses in healthcare, technology (e.g. AI, SAAS, and fintech), alternative energy, oil and gas, retail, manufacturing, international investments and professional services.
While David has long been a trusted primary point of contact for institutional and private clients, he remains highly engaged in the legal execution of matters — negotiating, drafting, structuring, and problem-solving at every stage of a transaction. His experience spans corporate governance, compliance, employment, real estate, non-profit, and international transactions. He is known for bringing a steady, strategic presence to deal teams navigating complex business and legal challenges, including preparing platform and add-on companies to re-organize prior to acquisition negotiations to maximize valuation of his clients’ businesses.
David received his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at the University of California of San Diego, with an emphasis on Socratics and Comparative Religion. He received his Juris Doctorate at the University of San Diego School of Law.
Background
David started his legal career at one of the oldest law firms in California, with its origins dating back to 1897. He later built a robust law firm based in La Jolla, California, with deep experience across mergers and acquisitions, angel investments, private equity, securities, commercial development, technology and healthcare matters.
- Licensed by the State Bar of California
- Licensed in the Southern and Central federal courts of California
- Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell’s® peer review process
- Member of the Korean American Bar Association
- Past Member of the Enright Inn of Court
- Past Vice President for the Barristers of Riverside
- Served on the Board of Directors for the Barristers of Riverside
- Past Board Member of the La Jolla Masonic Temple Hall Association (non-profit)
Representative Matters
- General counsel for asset manager with multiple portfolios valued over ten figures. Duties included preparation and review of private placements (all documents/NVCA), capitalization tables, business plans, due diligence, mediation, C-level executive employment agreements, commodities transactions, trademark analysis and formation, and related matters. Proxy for clients on board meetings, including observational rights, government bids, local, state and federal.
- General counsel services for Fortune 500 Company and various other high-profile companies (e.g., Stater Bros. Markets, California Speedway, March Air Force Base, Security Bank, Physical Rehabilitation Network, Pollo Campestre, and Acme Oil & Gas), including corporate governance, dispute resolution, real estate and compliance services.
- Corporate counsel services for venture capital funds, angel investors, and board members for various companies. Duties included capital calls, dilution, series funding (up to F series), fiduciary duties, securities, warrants, options, corporate compliance, and related matters.
- Corporate counsel services for oil and gas company, dealing with public private placements, government contracts, due diligence, refinery agreements and sub-contracts, shipping contracts, and related matters.
- Representation of Purchaser regarding series of acquisitions of various physical rehabilitation clinics – Purchase prices ranging from 6-figure to 8-figure deals.
- Representation of Sellers regarding acquisition of medical practices by various private equity companies.
- Representation of various healthcare and related companies for various transactional matters, including HIPAA and Anti-Kickback compliance.
- Representation of various app-based technology companies for transactional matters, including contract negotiation and compliance matters.
- Representation of Seller in a 6-company F Re-Organization and 8-figure sale to private equity firm.
- Representation of financier for 7-figure secured loan for a solar power transaction.
- Representation of Seller regarding 8-figure acquisition of medical cost reimbursement app to private equity group, inclusive of preferred stock rights in parent company.
- Representation of Seller regarding a 7-figure acquisition of a door/window manufacturing company to Anderson Door and Windows.
- Finance counsel for multiple series raises for various companies, including 8-figure series F raise for Internet based business.
- Managed over 100 leaseholds for Stater Bros. Markets.
- General counsel for 130k sq ft multi-tenant industrial warehouse park filled with flex space, including syndication thereof.
- General counsel for dividing approximately 50k sq ft multi-tenant industrial building and adding of partners amid complex litigation.
- Representation of landlords and tenants in commercial leasehold disputes.
- Represented investor in a public-private placement for a hotel development.
- Represented various clients for employment and business investment immigration visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, EB-1, E-3, PERM, I-140 E2, and EB5).
- Representation of oil and gas company for various commodity transactions.
- Representation of various companies regarding licensing, trademark and franchising matters, including representing largest chicken manufacturer and retailer in El Salvador.
- Representation of non-profit entities, including formation and corporate governance matters.
- Representation of auto-body company in acquisition campaign of five target companies, including acquisition strategy, holding company formation, and franchise negotiations.
- Expert witness in business transactions for former Orange County Treasurer in a malpractice case (8-figure award for client).