ROBERT J. STEMLER


Robert J. Stemler

OVERVIEW

Robert J. Stemler is a shareholder with Keesal, Young & Logan.  Bob has approximately 30 years of experience as a business/corporate real estate lawyer, culminating in his present transaction-focused practice, which includes corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, entity formation, corporate finance, commercial transactions, licensing agreements and technology transfers.

Bob counsels companies at all stages of their evolution–from business creation to day-to-day governance, exit strategies, liquidity events, and dissolution.  He has advised clients in operational, strategic, employment, corporate governance and commercial matters, including business combinations, recapitalizations, and reorganizations.  In addition, Bob has significant experience structuring and negotiating joint ventures and partnerships as well as secured lending facilities.

AREAS OF FOCUS

Commercial Agreements

On behalf of clients, Bob has negotiated nearly every form of commercial contract, including employment, licensing, investor rights, registration rights, services and franchise agreements, debt instruments, and indentures.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Bob represents buyers and sellers in a broad range of mergers, acquisitions, and other business combinations.  His clients include both international and domestic clients.  Clients rely on Bob’s sophisticated judgment and advice in structuring joint ventures and other strategic alliances.

Real Estate Transactions

Bob handles real estate work on the transactional side, including sales, purchases, leases, and property development.  Bob takes an integrated approach to offering substantial value, drawing on his experience with the many legal dimensions of the real estate industry, from transactional real estate, to corporate issues, to government relations, to land use and zoning issues and the litigation that can arise from the ownership and management of real property.

Education

  • J.D., University of Southern California (1987)
  • B.A. (1984)

Bar Memberships/Admissions

  • California (1987)

Recent Representative Matters

  • Representation of a company that provides information technology solutions for hospitals, medical groups, and individual physicians in a deal which closed in July 2016. The transaction value was in excess of $75,000,000.
  • Representation of a consumer products company in Northern California in a deal which closed in February 2016. The transaction value was in excess of $15,000,000.
  • Representation of the owner of two commercial buildings in California in a deal which closed in December 2015. The transaction value was in excess of $80,000,000.
  • Representation of a beverage equipment manufacturer located in California and Florida in a deal which closed in December 2015. The transaction value was in excess of $25,000,000.
  • Representation of the borrower in a collateralized mortgage transaction in California in a deal which closed in June 2015. The transaction value was in excess of $10,000,000.
  • Representation of an industrial clothing company in Tennessee in a deal that closed in June 2015. The transaction value was in excess of $150,000,000.
  • Representation of an industrial clothing company in California in a deal that closed in January 2015. The transaction value was in excess of $100,000,000.
  • Representation of the purchaser of a commercial industrial property in Chula Vista, California in a deal which closed in 2015. As part of the transaction, KYL formed the acquisition entity and assisted the buyer with the private placement.  In addition, KYL put together the tenancy in common structure on the buy side and the facilitation of a 1031 exchange by one of the tenants in common.  The transaction value was approximately $10,000,000.

Articles

  • Data Privacy Law: Challenges and Practical Solutions for Businesses in 2018 (October 18, 2018), Lawdragon
  • Strengthening Trust and Market Share with Strong Privacy and Data Security Practices (July 2018), Western Independent Bankers magazine
  • California Lawmakers Approve Groundbreaking Privacy Law (linked here) (June 28, 2018) (client alert, KYL website)
  • Comment letter to Securities and Exchange Commission re: “Regulation Best Interest” (June 12, 2018)
  • Comment letter to FINRA re: Regulatory Notice 18-13 and proposed amendment to FINRA Rule 2111 and Regulation Best Interest (June 11, 2018)
  • GDPR is Here:  Why U.S. Companies Should Care and Five Tips Toward GDPR Compliance (linked here) (May 25, 2018) (client alert, KYL website)
  • Are U.S. Records Retention Requirements on a Collision Course with the GDPR’s “Right to Erasure?” (linked here) (May 2018), Cybersecurity Law & Strategy; Law.Com
  • Privacy and Data Protection Claims in Arbitration (linked here) (March 26, 2018) (client alert, KYL website)
  • Comment letter to FINRA regarding Regulatory Notice 17-42 (proposed changes to expungement procedures) (February 1, 2018)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Data Privacy Law:  Challenges and Practical Solutions for California Businesses in 2018” (July 25, 2018) (speaking engagement, Continuing Legal Education seminar)
  • “Adding Value in 2018:  Privacy and Data Security in the Financial Services Industry” (May 31, 2018) (speaking engagement, Western Independent Bankers Women in Banking Forum)

Recognitions

  • Selected to Southern California Best Lawyers in America© List (Corporate Law and Real Estate Law) (2020)
  • Selected to Southern California Super Lawyers List (Thomson Reuters) (2021) (a designation limited to 5% of attorneys in a geographic region)

Currently serving on the boards of:

 

  • The California Conference for Equality and Justice
  • FuturePorts
  • The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
  • The Long Beach Community Foundation
  • The Molina Foundation