Evan Coobs is a shareholder in Meyer Capel's business and transactional practice group. A practicing attorney since 1989, he has been with Meyer Capel since 1996, and a shareholder of the firm since 1998. He regularly works with other lawyers as cost-effective and trusted co-counsel and local counsel.

Experience

There is no substitute for experience. Mr. Coobs' experience ranges from assisting developers of affordable housing, to in-house work for a multinational manufacturing company, to helping start-up clients negotiate their first commercial lease, to parsing through the details of complex financing arrangements, including syndicated loan transactions.

Mr. Coobs practice is focused in the following areas:

• Representing corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships in connection with a wide range of legal matters, including initial organization, contracts, state and federal tax planning and compliance, employee issues, real estate, and securities issuances
• Assisting owners in connection with the negotiation and documentation of the sale of their business
• Assisting buyers with due diligence, negotiation and documentation of the purchase of a business
• Representing borrowers and lenders in connection with debt financing transactions, including investments in syndicated loan transactions
• Advising business owners on corporate governance, buy-sell and succession planning issues, partnership agreements, and LLC operating agreements
• Advising clients in connection with private equity and debt transactions, including private placements and venture capital investments

Transactions

• Represented selling shareholders in connection with the sale of a $100,000,000+ central Illinois manufacturing company
• Represented purchasers in connection with $55,000,000 acquisition of fast food restaurants
• Represented selling shareholders in connection with disposition of large distribution company in a leveraged ESOP transaction
• Represented sellers in connection with the sale of software development company
• Represented numerous buyers and sellers in smaller transactions ranging in size from $250,000 to $10,000,000
• Represented numerous real estate development ventures in connection with private placements of common and preferred securities
• Served as local counsel in connection with syndicated mortgage loan financings

Education

• 1989, J.D., University of Iowa College of Law, with high distinction
• 1989, M.A. - Accounting, University of Iowa College of Business
• 1986, B.B.A..- Accounting, University of Iowa College of Business, with distinction
• 1986, CPA - Iowa (exam only)

Professional Activities

• Speaker, "Non-Tax Aspects of Buying and Selling a Business," Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (2006)
• Speaker, "Pitfalls and Opportunities: What Entrepreneurs Should Know," EnterpriseWorks, Research Park at the University of Illinois (2004)
• Speaker, "Initial Structuring and Organization For Your Business," TechCommunity (2000)
• Speaker, "The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit," Minnesota Multi-Housing Association (1992)
• Speaker, "Tax Aspects of Real Estate Transactions - A Primer," Minnesota State Bar Association (1992)
• Speaker, "Passive Activity Loss Rules: The New Regulations," Minnesota Institute of Continuing Legal Education (1989)
• Institute of Illinois Business Law (2005-)
• Illinois Secretary of State Business Organizations Acts Advisory Committee Member (2002-2005)
• Graduate Assistant / Course Instructor, Taxes and Business Decisions, University of Iowa College of Business (1987-89)

Bar Admissions

• Illinois State Bar Association (1995-)
• United States Tax Court (1993)
• United States District Court (Minnesota) (1991)
• American Bar Association - Business Law Section, Tax Law Section (1989-)
• Minnesota State Bar Association (1989-)
• Ramsey County (Minn.) Bar Association (1989-1994)

Personal

Mr. Coobs has lived in Champaign-Urbana since 1995; prior to that, he and his wife Karen lived in Minneapolis/.St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was involved in private practice. The Coobs have three children: Drew, Abigail and Katherine.