Robert Hudson, Butzel Long Photo

Robert A. Hudson offers clients vast experience and knowledge with a broad range of business matters. Whether it’s assisting foreign-based companies to establish and maintain their US operations or a helping high tech startup with organization and raising capital, Mr. Hudson provides in depth guidance for corporate, finance, securities, international trade, contracts and mergers and acquisitions projects. His dedication to quality and service have won him numerous recognitions from peers and professional organizations as one of Michigan’s best lawyers.

Overview

Robert A. Hudson Of Counsel to Butzel, practicing in the firm's Troy office. He is a graduate of Wayne State University (B.A. with Distinction, J.D. cum laude), and was on the editorial board of the Wayne Law Review.

Mr. Hudson represents domestic and foreign public and private companies and high-technology companies in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and general business matters. He has extensive experience in securities matters including numerous public and private equity and debt offerings, venture capital finance, compliance, reporting requirements, going private transactions, investment management, and corporate governance matters. He regularly assists foreign-based companies in connection with U.S. and cross-border transactions, joint ventures, distribution and sale arrangements and trade matters. His industry expertise includes manufacturing, high-technology including software, Internet and computer services, financial services, automotive and real estate investment trusts.

Mr. Hudson served as general counsel for a NASDAQ listed company, handling a wide variety of the company's general corporate and regulatory issues. He is a former Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. He has also appeared before the United States Supreme Court, the Securities and Exchange Commission and numerous other courts and agencies.

Mr. Hudson is the President Emeritus of the Michigan Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hudson is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law and International Trade and Finance Law and as Lawyer of the Year in International Trade and Finance Law in Detroit for 2014, 2016 and 2020; in Michigan Super Lawyers (Securities and Corporate Finance Law) and in Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit by DBusiness magazine.  He is an AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

Languages: English, French

Credentials

Education

Wayne State University, B.A.

Wayne State University Law School, J.D.

Admissions

  • Michigan

Memberships

  • President Emeritus of the Michigan Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce

Awards & Recognitions

Awards & Recognitions

Best Lawyers' 2014, 2016 Detroit International Trade and Finance Law "Lawyer of the Year"

The Best Lawyers in America® - Corporate Law; International Trade and Finance Law, 1997-2025, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2020-2025

Michigan Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate Law, 2006-2023

Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition - International Law

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent

Mr. Hudson has been included in The BTI Consulting Group's coveted Client Services All Star Team. This honor is bestowed upon individual attorneys who deliver outstanding client service according to corporate counsel interviewed at Fortune 1000 companies.

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

Experience

  • 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
  • Organized hedge funds including hedge fund of funds
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Assisted with purchase and sale of investment advisory businesses
  • Representation of investment adviser for formation of hedge fund of funds.
  • 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.
  • Asset acquisition for major international manufacturer
  • Private equity offering
  • 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.
  • Represented real estate limited partnership in private equity offering
  • 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.
  • Successfully negotiated dispute with large shareholder including redemption of shares and related tax and financing issues
  • Represented real estate development in private placement of LLC interests
  • Organized private equity and venture capital funds
  • Representation of company for purchase of telecommunications business in over 25 countries.
  • Securitization of mortgage loan pool
  • Assisted with preparation of investment management agreements, solicitor agreements and other agreements relating to investment advisory business
  • Acted as issuer’s counsel for the initial public offering of software company.
  • Venture capital financing for a home health care services corporation.
  • 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
  • Renewal and expansion of loan to related entity for major mortgage company
  • 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
  • Restructuring of European companies and their subsidiaries in numerous countries to achieve optional organizational benefits
  • Counsel for public companies in manufacturing, bio-medical, technology and real estate industries in going private transactions including all filings with SEC.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.

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