Mr. Soderstrom's Practice

Mr. Soderstrom concentrates his practice on counseling small and medium sized businesses in all aspects of their operations. This typically concerns issues involving contracts, negotiations, personnel issues, ownership transition, acquisitions, divestitures and financing.

He has represented companies in hundreds of mergers and acquisitions in Wisconsin and throughout the United States, as counsel for both buyers and sellers. This has included acquisitions of publicly held companies in federal bankruptcy court, and as a result of foreclosure and secured lender sales. His emphasis is on getting the deal done quickly at sensible cost and minimal disruption. The value of mergers and acquisitions that Mr. Soderstrom has been involved in during his career total several hundred millions of dollars.

As part of his business practice, Mr. Soderstrom has represented dozens of companies in obtaining financing from all sources, including banks, insurance companies, and private investors. This has included obtaining the use of proceeds from bonds issued by governmental units and agencies in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. He has also represented companies and prepared documentation for private placements totaling tens of millions of dollars, and has represented underwriters in effecting both private placements directed primarily at accredited investors, and IPO's.

Mr. Soderstrom has also represented the presidents and other top level officers of publicly held companies and large privately held companies in employment disputes with their employers, arising from both written and oral contracts. He prides himself on negotiating significant recoveries without resorting to litigation unless absolutely necessary. He has drafted innumerable employment contracts while representing both businesses and employees.

Over the years, Mr. Soderstrom has been involved in drafting, or having voided those drafted by others, dozens of covenants not to compete. This has particularly been an emphasis in his Wisconsin practice, given Wisconsin's unique law governing the enforceability of covenants not to compete.

He has developed a significant commercial real estate practice, representing companies in the acquisition of finished structures including factories and apartment complexes, and vacant development land in many states. This practice includes representing developers in implementing business and commercial parks, negotiating with private owners and public entities regarding financing and zoning issues, preparing and implementing condominium declarations, negotiating and enforcing construction contracts, and obtaining Industrial Revenue Bond financing in various states for clients' projects. Often these transactions have occurred simultaneously with business transactions.

Currently, he represents clients located throughout Wisconsin and the United States. He also represents foreign manufacturers in their transactions in the United States and Europe.

Primary Practice Areas

Acquisitions and Mergers
Financing
Contract Negotiations
Private Placements
Employment contracts and covenants not to compete
Real Estate acquisition and Development
Business Transactions
Construction

Professional Summary

Education

University of Wisconsin, J.D. 1978
Graduated Cum Laude
University of Illinois, B.A 1975
Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Fraternity

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Pro Hac Vice in various states

Biography

Mr. Soderstrom was born in Streator, Illinois, the youngest of 5 children. He worked at various service jobs while going to school at the University of Illinois, as well as two stints as a line worker at the Owens-Illinois glass factory in Streator, in order to help pay for his college expenses. During law school he worked at the Wisconsin Department of Justice and at the former LaFollette Sinykin law firm in Madison, and interned at the Wisconsin Supreme Court with Justice Shirley Abrahamson.

He met his future wife, Lorna Granger, at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and they were married a few days after their law school graduation. They have three children, Nathan (1982), Annie (1984) and Lucas (1988).

His legal career began as the law clerk for presiding Judge Robert Cannon on the newly created Wisconsin Court of Appeals. After a year clerkship, he accepted an associate position with Fox, O'Neill & Shannon, S.C., where he has practiced ever since. He became a shareholder in 1983, and Managing Shareholder in 2001.

Mr. Soderstrom has been active in the community over his career. In addition to civic activities, he has been, at various times, a little league and soccer coach, a member of the little league board of directors, and he founded and served as president for the Shorewood Girls Softball League, which provides competitive play annually for over 160 girls living or attending school in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He was also instrumental in having girls softball added as a varsity sport at Shorewood High School.