Stephen L. Palmer

Partner

Boston

+1.617.951.9211

Fax +1.617.261.3175

Primary Practice

Corporate

Secondary Practices

Education

J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1983, (Law Review: Editor in Chief, The Tax Lawyer)
A.B., Harvard College, 1978, (cum laude)

Admissions

Bar of Massachusetts
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Mr. Palmer represents public and privately held companies in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, private equity and venture capital, debt and equity financings, joint ventures, technology licensing, business planning, securities and general corporate law. In nearly 30 years of practice, Mr. Palmer has completed dozens of public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, financings and joint ventures. He has a particular focus on the representation of emerging growth companies. Representative industries of his clients include natural products, including natural and organic food companies; consumer products; high technology; biotech; and direct mail/advertising.

Professional Background

Mr. Palmer has been advising growth companies for over 25 years. He formerly served as General Counsel to the Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee. Prior to law school, Mr. Palmer held positions with the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services and the Executive Office of Human Services in Boston; and the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in Washington, D.C.

Professional/Civic Activities

Mr. Palmer formerly served as director of a U.S. based cross-community program in Belfast, Northern Ireland and as a director and team leader of a non-profit organization building housing and running medical clinics for the poor in Guatemala. He also served as an Advisory Board member of Catholic Charities in Boston for more than 15 years.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Represented ADVO, Inc. in its $1.2 billion merger with Valassis Communications, Inc.
Represented Stonyfield Farm, Inc. in sale of a majority interest to Paris based Danone
Represented Crane Co. in its acquisition of Telequip Corporation
Represented Crane Co. in its sale of assets of Powers Process Controls Ltd. and Mark Controls Corp. to Webster Valve, Inc. and Watts Industries (Canada) Incorporated
Represented CardScan, Inc. in its sale to Newell Rubbermaid
Represented Leeman Labs, Inc. in its sale to Teledyne Tekmar
Represented Crane Co. in its acquisition of Streamware Corporation
Acquisition by Stonyfield Farm, Inc. of Brown Cow West Corp.
Represented Tea Forté, Inc. in its sale to Sara Lee Corporation
Merger of Homegrown Naturals, Inc. and Annie’s Homegrown, Inc.
Acquisitions by Annie’s, Inc. of Fantastic Foods, Inc. and Napa Valley Kitchens, Inc.
Acquisition by Annie’s, Inc. of Annie’s Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Annie’s Naturals
Sale of Fantastic Foods, Inc. by Annie’s, Inc. to United Natural Foods, Inc.
Represented Kettle Cuisine, Inc. in its merger with affiliates of Arlon Food and Agricultural Partners, LP and Rabobank

Public Offerings and Private Financings

Represented Annie’s, Inc. in its initial public offering and listing on the NYSE
Represented various clients in more than a dozen other initial public offerings, secondary offerings and follow-on offerings
Venture capital financings for a variety of clients in high technology and consumer products industries
Seed round, friends & family and angel investor private financings for many growth companies in a variety of industries
Multiple preferred round financings for Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Venture capital financing for O Beverages, Inc. d/b/a Owater
Venture capital financings for Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Inc.
Private equity recapitalization of Annie’s Homegrown, Inc.
Equity financing for Peak Organic Brewing Company, LLC
Convertible debt and equity financings for O’Naturals, Inc.