Bio

Robert John Lystad is a business advisor who regularly advises public and private companies, private equity sponsors, ESOPs, and others in connection with mid-market domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, debt and equity financings, corporate governance matters, and complex commercial matters. Rob takes a pragmatic business- and service-oriented approach to his client’s legal issues, and he gains a deep understanding of his clients’ businesses and legal concerns. As a result of his approach and his broad transactional experience, Rob regularly serves as “outside general counsel” to growing privately-held companies. With respect to employee stock ownership plans (or “ESOPs”), Rob regularly advises trustees, stockholders, and companies in the utilization of ESOPs for shareholder liquidity, including the sale of stock to ESOPs (both partial sales and complete change of control transactions) and mergers and acquisitions of ESOP-owned companies. Rob also advises ESOP-owned companies on all matters of corporate governance and go-forward operations. With respect to complex commercial matters, Rob provides strategic advice and counsel regarding the commercialization of products and services and the negotiation of various domestic and international agreements for clients in the food and beverage, financial technology, creative advertising, and professional services industries.