Biography
Robert S. Lee is a business lawyer with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, contracting, and regulatory matters. He is particularly well known for his long-time involvement with the utility, mining, transportation and financial services industries. Bob is a skillful negotiator of business deals and very experienced contract draftsman.
He also has broad experience in dealing with a wide array of regulatory agencies and other governmental bodies. Major steel companies, mining companies, cement manufacturers, truck and bus lines, warehousing companies, financial institutions, and electric and gas utilities benefit from Bob’s advice.
On corporate and general business issues, Bob also is active in forming new businesses, not just corporations, but also limited liability companies and partnerships.
Every year since 1991, Bob has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America.
Representative Experience
Banking & Financial Insitutions:
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Acted as general counsel for a banking trade association for more than 18 years providing advice on new legislation and regulations on both the state and federal levels, as well as assistance to member banks on specific regulatory and corporate governance matters.
Business & Corporate Matters:
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Represents numerous companies in the formation of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships.
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Drafts corporate transactional documents, control agreements, stock restriction agreements, non-compete agreements, stock option plans, phantom stock plans, and other employee and executive incentive plants.
Mining, Energy & Regulated Industries:
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Represents taconite, gold, and copper/nickel mines, paper and pulp mills, oil refineries, steel mills, and cement manufacturers on a broad array of energy matters including representation in retail rate cases, negotiation of utility contracts, advice with respect to energy-related legislation and regulations, and rulemaking proceedings.
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Negotiates coal and unit train railroad contracts for utilities, and mining companies.
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Has negotiated the purchase and sale of power plants and transmission facilities.
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Has litigated more than 30 major electric and gas rate cases.
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Has represented Appellants and Appellees on the appeal of energy-related issues to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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Has represented major railroad customers in coal transportation rate proceedings.
Mergers & Acquisitions:
- Has represented both buyers and sellers in the sale of taconite mines, and related industrial and real estate assets.
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Has acted as seller’s counsel on the sale of a regional chain of retail stores.
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Has acted as seller’s counsel on the sale of a food products distributor.
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Has acted as local counsel in the acquisition of a major paper and pulp mill.
- Has represented both buyers and sellers in the sale of several truck and bus lines.
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Has acted as local or special counsel in many transactions in support of multi-state transactions.