Christopher M. Hazlitt
Christopher M. Hazlitt
Christopher M. Hazlitt
Biography
Chris Hazlitt is Partner in Charge of BCLP’s Boulder office, and focuses his practice as outside corporate counsel to companies. He provides guidance to companies, board committees, and investors in connection with structuring and negotiating transactions, risk management, governance and dispute resolution. Chris also helps executives with employment, investment, severance, and non-compete matters.
He regularly counsels enterprises ranging from emerging and start-up ventures to middle market enterprises in various corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, and dispositions of businesses, operating units, and assets.
Chris frequently advises clients on capital formation strategy, private placements of debt and equity securities, strategic partnerships and joint ventures. He leverages the experience of fellow BCLP attorneys to represent companies in other key areas affecting business operations.
His broad-based business practice spans a variety of industries, including software and technology, manufacturing, business services, and consumer products and services. He has successfully handled dozens of private and public merger and acquisition deals and securities financings for public and privately held businesses.
Civic Involvement & Honors
- The Community Foundation Serving Boulder, Board Chair
- Boulder Economic Council; Member, Board Chair 2007-2008
- University of Colorado President's Leadership Class, Selection Committee
- University of Colorado Flagship 2030 Strategic Plan, Steering Committee
- Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Past Board Member
- Esprit Entrepreneur; Past Event Chair
- Outdoor Industry Association, Member
- Boulder Presidents' Seminar, Co-Founder
- Boulder B-cycle, Board Chair
- Boulder Valley Rotary, President
Spoken Languages
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German
Admissions
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Colorado, 1988
Education
University of Notre Dame, J.D., 1985
Indiana University, B.S., with distinction, 1981
Related Capabilities
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Strategic Alternatives & Corporate Reorganization
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AdTech
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PropTech
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Retail & Consumer Products
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Corporate
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Higher Education
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Start-Up & Venture Capital Practice
Experience
Chris has successfully handled dozens of private and public merger and acquisition deals and securities financings for public and privately held businesses. Significant recent transactions include the following:
Private Equity Transactions
- Representation of national yogurt brand founder in sale to private equity.
- Representation of private equity team investor in organic and sustainably sourced apparel brand investment.
- Representation of private equity team investor in healthy snack meats brand investment.
- Representation of private equity team investor in national sustainable beef brand investment.
- Representation of private equity team investor in organic and gluten free baked goods brand investment.
M&A Transactions
- Sale of machined parts manufacturing company to national strategic buyer.
- Sale of outdoor industry consumer research company to national strategic buyer.
- Sale of industrial market research company to national strategic consulting firm.
- Cross-border acquisition of European software company division.
Strategic Growth Transactions
- Development of strategic global equipment development and supply relationship with European equipment manufacturer.
- Restructure of large early-stage platform software company in connection with private equity investment.
- Restructure of international outdoor industry equipment brand in connection with private equity investment.
Resources
Speaking Engagements
- “Pioneers of Boulder’s Outdoor Industry,” Boulder Economic Council, June 2014
- “Crowdfunding Forum,” with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and others, Colorado Technology Association, Colorado State University Denver Center, 2013
- “SEC Private Placement Rules and Crowdfunding,” Outdoor Industry Association, Executive Rendezvous, San Diego, 2013
- “Crowdfunding – A Fresh Capital Source for Financing Projects and Business Growth,” Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Salt Lake City, 2013
- "Equity Crowdfunding and the JOBS Act," University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, 2012
- "Legal Considerations in Funding Early Stage Companies," Colorado Emerging Ventures conference, 2012
- "Private Equity," SBA Small Business Development Center, 2012
- "Private Equity," Ski Industry Association's Snow Show in Denver on funding options for emerging companies, 2012
- "Legal Issues in Outdoor / Active Living Industries," Boulder Economic Summit, 2011
- "Innovations in New Technologies," Rocky Mountain New Energy Markets Summit, 2011
- "Innovation Clusters," CleanTech LA Investor Series, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, 2010
- "Clean Technology," Small Business Development Center, Boulder Chamber, 2010
- "Raising Capital Via Private Offerings," Venture Capital Conference, Vancouver and Victoria, B.C., 2010
- "Accessing International Markets," Canadian Technology Regional Boot Camp, 2010
- "Technology Company Panel," Esprit Entrepreneur Technology Alliance Breakfast, 2010