Robert Hudson, Butzel Long Photo

With decades of experience navigating complex business matters, Robert A. Hudson brings a wealth of insight to clients. From helping foreign-based companies establish and grow their US operations to guiding high-tech startups through formation and capital raising, he delivers strategic counsel across a wide range of areas—including corporate law, finance, securities, international trade, contracts, and mergers and acquisitions.

Overview

Mr. Hudson’s practice spans representation of domestic and international public and private companies, particularly in the high-technology sector. He is well-versed in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law, having handled numerous public and private equity and debt offerings, venture capital finance transactions, investment management, and corporate governance matters. Clients rely on his guidance in navigating US and cross-border deals, joint ventures, distribution and sales agreements, and global trade compliance. His industry knowledge extends to manufacturing, software, internet and computer services, financial services, and automotive.

As a former Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department, his leadership and legal acumen have been recognized at the highest levels. He has appeared before the United States Supreme Court, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and various other courts and regulatory bodies throughout his career.

Robert Hudson is Of Counsel to Butzel. He serves as the President Emeritus of the Michigan Chapter of the French American Chamber of Commerce. His commitment to excellence has earned him repeated recognition as among Michigan’s leading attorneys by peers, professional organizations, and regional and national legal publications.

Credentials

Education

Wayne State University Law School, J.D.

Wayne State University, B.A.

Admissions

  • Michigan

Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan – Business Law Section
  • French American Chamber of Commerce – Michigan Chapter, President Emeritus

Languages

  • French

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America® - Corporate Law, 1997-2012, 2014-2021, 2023-2025; International Trade and Finance Law, 1997-2012, 2014-2021, 2023, 2024; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2019-2021, 2023-2025

The Best Lawyers in America® - "Lawyer of the Year" – International Trade and Finance Law-Detroit, 2014, 2016, 2020

DBusiness - Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, 2012; Business Law, 2013; International Trade and Finance Law, 2013; Corporate Law, 2014, 2016, 2019; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2013, 2014, 2023; International Trade Law, 2016-2020, 2023, 2024; Securities Law, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020

Michigan Super Lawyers, Business/Corp., 2006-2010; 2012-2023

Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition - International Law

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated - AV Preeminent®

BTI Consulting Group - Client Services All Star Team

Experience

  • Representation of investment adviser for formation of hedge fund of funds.
  • Successfully negotiated dispute with large shareholder including redemption of shares and related tax and financing issues
  • Representation of company for purchase of telecommunications business in over 25 countries.
  • Organized private equity and venture capital funds
  • Securitization of mortgage loan pool
  • Assisted with preparation of investment management agreements, solicitor agreements and other agreements relating to investment advisory business
  • Private equity offering
  • Acted as issuer’s counsel for the initial public offering of software company.
  • Representation of public company in connection with SEC investigation.
  • Representation of technology company in Series A and Series B venture capital financings, including due diligence, bridge financing, investor documentation, employment agreements, etc.
  • Representation of French company in acquisition of troubled assets of automotive supplier with U.S. and Canadian operations.
  • Successfully closed a complex, $50 million private equity financing including a reincorporation merger and a myriad of difficult pre-closing transactions
  • Represented real estate limited partnership in private equity offering
  • Represented manufacturer and supplier to defense industry in sale of stock
  • Represented software company in private placement of common stock
  • Assisted numerous clients with international transactions involving environmental due diligence and permitting throughout South America, Asia and Europe.
  • Represented software development company in sales of shares
  • Represented real estate development in private placement of LLC interests
  • Restructuring of European companies and their subsidiaries in numerous countries to achieve optional organizational benefits
  • Represented a private equity investor in the lengthy and complicated effort to purchase all of Ford Motor Company's glass manufacturing operations in North America
  • Registered equity offering for publicly traded real estate trust
  • Provided regulatory advice for fee structures, advertising activities and other operations matters
  • Private equity offering
  • Venture capital financing for a home health care services corporation.
  • Sale of assets
  • Representation of Fortune 500 company in disposition of two health care subsidiaries. Issues included structuring for tax and regulatory considerations, state licensing transfer requirements and filings.
  • Argued case under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of commodity customer with resulting favorable opinion ruling that implied right of action exists under the CEA.
  • Represented recruiting company in private placement of preferred stock
  • Renewal and expansion of loan to related entity for major mortgage company
  • Organized hedge funds including hedge fund of funds
  • Securitization of mortgage pool for major financial company
  • Acted as counsel for issuers and for participating broker-dealer firms in many private securities offerings pursuant to SEC Regulation D, Regulation S and various state exemptions.
  • Acted as issuer’s counsel for initial public offering and follow on offering for real estate investment trust.
  • Registration of federal only and state investment advisers including assistance with FINRA and state filings, preparation of compliance manuals, privacy policies and compliance procedures
  • Counsel for public companies in manufacturing, bio-medical, technology and real estate industries in going private transactions including all filings with SEC.
  • Acted as counsel in international acquisition of software company. The transaction included multi-jurisdictional asset transfers, export controls issues and special licensing and development agreements.
  • Representation of engineering services client in acquisition of other engineering services company structured share exchange.
  • Organization of hedge funds and private placement of hedge fund LLC interests.
  • Private placement of real estate fund LLC interests.
  • Preparation of numerous dividend reinvestment and share repurchase plans for public companies including all required filings with SEC.
  • Asset acquisition for major international manufacturer
  • Acted as issuer’s counsel for public debt offering for a financial services firm.
  • Representation of broker-dealer firm in SEC receivership proceedings under SIPC resulting from net capital violations.
  • Asset acquisition for publicly traded foreign-based corporation
  • Representation of health services company in reverse merger with a public company as means of going public.
  • Assisted Lakeshore Engineering Services Inc. in their acquisition of Toltest Inc., creating Lakeshore Toltest Corp., one of the largest federal and municipal contracting companies in the Midwest.
  • Assisted venture capital firm with Series A Preferred Stock investment in new start-up company together with organizational work
  • Acted as interim general counsel for publicly-held technology company and supervised company’s adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures and insider trading policy.
  • Representation of French company in joint venture with Japanese company including negotiations and preparation of joint venture agreement, structuring joint venture capital contributions and addressing governance issues.
  • Assisted with purchase and sale of investment advisory businesses

News & Events

News

Alerts & Publications

Publications

  • Publication, Michigan Business Formbook, Co-Editor
    Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE)
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