Overview
"I take pride in working extremely hard to achieve excellent results for my clients. But the real measure of my success is that my clients view me as a trusted legal and business advisor and member of their team, and not just as 'the lawyer.'"
For nearly 25 years, Rod has counseled businesses on a wide array of legal issues, principally involving mergers and acquisition (M&A) transactions as well as ongoing day-to-day business operations. He exclusively works with middle-market, privately held companies and their owners, whether individual founders, management teams or private equity groups.
In M&A transactions, Rod regularly helps both buyers and sellers structure and complete important acquisitions, and works closely with clients throughout the entire process, from overseeing due diligence to negotiating and drafting all documents relating to the acquisition or sale of the business, including letters of intent, stock and asset purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, non-competition agreements, stockholder agreements, and employment agreements.
Rod also frequently serves as outside general counsel to businesses across numerous different industries, providing sound, practical advice and guidance in connection with day-to-day business operations, such as employment law issues, review and negotiation of key business contracts, and other general business matters.
As a senior member of Hirschler’s employment law group, Rod regularly counsels regional and multi-state employers of all sizes on compliance with various federal and state employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, wage and hour, FMLA and COBRA. He assists clients in responding to EEOC, DOL, VEC and other agency complaints and investigations, supports clients in investigating and defending sexual harassment claims or other complaints of discrimination or workplace misconduct, prepares and reviews employment handbooks and policies, employment agreements, non-competition agreements and other employment documents, and coordinates employment-related litigation with other firm lawyers.
Finally, Rod also provides M&A and general counsel expertise to clients in the renewable energy industry, and has represented companies with biomass, solar and landfill natural gas projects.
Recognition
Named to “Legal Elite” (Business Law), Virginia Business, 2006 - 2010, 2013 - 2014, 2016 - 2022
Virginia Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” 2007
Experience
Experience
Represented Utility Services Associates, Inc., an energy infrastructure holding company, in connection with the sale of its operating subsidiaries to First Reserve, a global private equity firm. The sale by the ESOP-owned holding company benefitted over 1,000 ESOP participants.
For many years, served as outside general counsel to Revolution Golf, a New York-based direct-to-consumer digital golf content provider, and ultimately represented the company when the business was acquired by NBC Sports Group.
Assisted Syntronics, LLC, a developer and manufacturer of missile guidance systems and related software technologies, in connection with the sale of the business to General Atomics.
Represented the founding owners of A-T Solutions, Inc., a government contractor providing analytical and training services for the detection, identification and defeat of IEDs and weapons of mass destruction, in the sale of the company to CoVant, a private equity firm.
Served as primary outside counsel to a private equity portfolio company in the insulation products industry, with over 2,000 employees and 100 facilities across 26 states nationwide. In just a 4 year period, Rod assisted the company in closing a $440 million roll-up and recapitalization transaction, securing a $280 million senior and mezzanine credit facility, completing over 40 strategic acquisitions and finalizing an exit transaction with a public company.
Served as counsel to an industrial water treatment chemical company in a $435,000,000 stock sale to a public company buyer. The company was majority-owned by an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and the sale was structured as a part sale / part redemption of minority shareholders.
Represented several closely-held federal government defense contractors in the sale of their businesses to strategic buyers or private equity funds, including both cash transactions and acquisitions involving roll-over equity.
Participated in the structuring, contract negotiations and financing for numerous other merger and acquisition transactions ranging in size from $5,000,000 to $500,000,000.
Perspectives
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Community
Beyond the Law
Beyond the Law
Outside of work, Rod loves spending as much time as possible with his family, whether it be simple nights at home playing uber-competitive board games ranging from chess and Settlers of Catan to Chutes and Ladders, or going on bigger adventures such as snorkeling trips to the Caribbean, horseback riding at Colorado dude ranches or trips to Asia to visit his daughter who attends college in Singapore.
In his remaining spare time, Rod enjoys shooting sports of all kinds, watching mixed martials arts competitions and feverishly trying to finish workouts not too far behind everybody else at his CrossFit gym. An inveterate prankster, Rod is frequently the cause of amusement (or consternation), both at home and at work, and views a practical joke which cannot be traced back to him as an achievement of the highest order.
Services
- Business Planning and Organization
- Intellectual Property & Technology
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
- Employment
- Employment Counseling and Training
- Estate Planning
- Estate Planning and Fiduciary Services
- Fiduciary Services
- General Counsel Services
- Government Contracts
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Education
William & Mary Law School, J.D.
- Board Editor, William & Mary Law Review
University of Virginia, B.A., Government, with High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
- Virginia