Chad J. Richter

Chad is a shareholder and member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group. His practice focuses on working with privately held businesses and their owners, acting as corporate counsel to help them with the various legal issues they face in operating and expanding their businesses.As part of his practice, Chad has considerable experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and frequently works with businesses on ownership transition events. He prides himself on providing efficient, practical legal advice, and consistently finding ways to “get deals done” amid all the various challenges that deals demand. Over the years, Chad has assisted numerous corporate clients that are involved in dealership/distribution and franchise systems, and has counseled them on the unique contractual and business issues they face as dealers/franchisees.Chad Assists Clients WithMergers and AcquisitionsShareholder transitions and disputesCommercial contract negotiation and draftingGeneral business organization and structuringFranchise and dealership legal mattersCommercial Real Estate transactionsLitigation and dispute resolution involving businesses and franchisesExperience/Representative Client WorkRepresented numerous local and regionally based businesses in acquisition and sale transactions ranging from $1,000,000–$220,000,000Represented a manufacturer of custom-designed industrial cooling solutions in its sale to a publicly held multinational corporationRepresented a design and engineering firm in its sale to a publicly held global businessRepresented a custom automation manufacturer in its sale to a German based global businessRepresented one of Wisconsin’s largest regional independent dental service providers in its sale to a Top 10 Dental Service OrganizationRepresented US interests for a Canadian large equipment manufacturer in its sale to a European businessRepresented a premier provider of fire alarm and detection systems in its sale to one of the largest fire protection companies in the MidwestRepresented a cloud-based software company in its sale to a nationally recognized leading provider of government software and integrated payment solutionsRepresented a custom product and tool online retailer in its sale to a regional private equity groupRepresented a local capital group in its acquisition of multiple US-based businessWorked with well over 400 different franchise and dealership models across the U.S. and internationally in varying product and service based industries for both business-to-business and consumer based businesses, including startups, sales, transitions, roll-ups, shut-downs and various franchisor dispute mattersProfessional Associations and AffiliationsWisconsin Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association, Forum on FranchisingMidwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries, Board Member–Past PresidentInternational Franchise Association, Former Member/SupplierAwards/DistinctionsSelected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2019–presentSelected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine, 2014–presentSelected for inclusion in 2008–2013 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee MagazineMartindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™–AV, reflecting an attorney who has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrityMidwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries, Outstanding Leadership Award, 2012EducationMarquette University Law School (J.D., cum laude)Marquette University (B.S.–Business Economics and Philosophy, cum laude)

Chad is a shareholder and member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group. His practice focuses on working with privately held businesses and their owners, acting as corporate counsel to help them with the various legal issues they face in operating and expanding their businesses.As part of his practice, Chad has considerable experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and frequently works with businesses on ownership transition events. He prides himself on providing efficient, practical legal advice, and consistently finding ways to “get deals done” amid all the various challenges that deals demand. Over the years, Chad has assisted numerous corporate clients that are involved in dealership/distribution and franchise systems, and has counseled them on the unique contractual and business issues they face as dealers/franchisees.Chad Assists Clients WithMergers and AcquisitionsShareholder transitions and disputesCommercial contract negotiation and draftingGeneral business organization and structuringFranchise and dealership legal mattersCommercial Real Estate transactionsLitigation and dispute resolution involving businesses and franchisesExperience/Representative Client WorkRepresented numerous local and regionally based businesses in acquisition and sale transactions ranging from $1,000,000–$220,000,000Represented a manufacturer of custom-designed industrial cooling solutions in its sale to a publicly held multinational corporationRepresented a design and engineering firm in its sale to a publicly held global businessRepresented a custom automation manufacturer in its sale to a German based global businessRepresented one of Wisconsin’s largest regional independent dental service providers in its sale to a Top 10 Dental Service OrganizationRepresented US interests for a Canadian large equipment manufacturer in its sale to a European businessRepresented a premier provider of fire alarm and detection systems in its sale to one of the largest fire protection companies in the MidwestRepresented a cloud-based software company in its sale to a nationally recognized leading provider of government software and integrated payment solutionsRepresented a custom product and tool online retailer in its sale to a regional private equity groupRepresented a local capital group in its acquisition of multiple US-based businessWorked with well over 400 different franchise and dealership models across the U.S. and internationally in varying product and service based industries for both business-to-business and consumer based businesses, including startups, sales, transitions, roll-ups, shut-downs and various franchisor dispute mattersProfessional Associations and AffiliationsWisconsin Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association, Forum on FranchisingMidwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries, Board Member–Past PresidentInternational Franchise Association, Former Member/SupplierAwards/DistinctionsSelected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2019–presentSelected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine, 2014–presentSelected for inclusion in 2008–2013 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Law & Politics and Milwaukee MagazineMartindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™–AV, reflecting an attorney who has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrityMidwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries, Outstanding Leadership Award, 2012EducationMarquette University Law School (J.D., cum laude)Marquette University (B.S.–Business Economics and Philosophy, cum laude)

Chad is a shareholder and member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group. His practice focuses on working with privately held businesses and their owners, acting as corporate counsel to help them with the various legal issues they face in operating and expanding their businesses.

As part of his practice, Chad has considerable experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and frequently works with businesses on ownership transition events. He prides himself on providing efficient, practical legal advice, and consistently finding ways to “get deals done” amid all the various challenges that deals demand. Over the years, Chad has assisted numerous corporate clients that are involved in dealership/distribution and franchise systems, and has counseled them on the unique contractual and business issues they face as dealers/franchisees.

Chad Assists Clients With

Experience/Representative Client Work

Professional Associations and Affiliations

Awards/Distinctions

Education