John Paris is the leader of the private equity and venture capital team at Williams Mullen. The core of his practice is in the securities area, but his practice also includes tax counseling, structuring, and handling capital transactions. Mr. Paris maintains a corporate practice representing multi-national corporations, private equity investors, growth companies, and emerging growth technology companies handling investment transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, licensing and executive compensation matters. He assists public companies in initial public and secondary offerings, merger proxies, 1934 Act filings, corporate governance and SEC advocacy. He also represents a number of investors and portfolio companies in venture capital and so-called "angel financings." Mr. Paris also has significant experience structuring PIPE transactions for issuers and investors.

Education
University of Virginia, J.D. – 1984
University of Virginia, B.S., with high distinction – 1981

Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association
Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Beach Bar Association
Virginia State Bar

Awards and Honors
Listed in "Legal Elite," Virginia Business magazine
Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers magazine - Securities & Corporate Finance
Hampton Roads Technology Council, Leadership Award, Finalist
Phi Beta Kappa

Publications
Chapter Author, "Turning Ideas into Cash Flow," Inside the Minds: Private Equity and Venture Capital Client Strategies, Apsatore Books, 2008

Representations

1. Represented private and public companies in acquisitions from and sales to such entities as General Electric, Computer Associates, Ionics, Keane, Inc., Symantec, Cendant, Huntsman Packaging, Consumer Portfolio Services, Prosodie, Louis Vuitton, Dorothy Hamill's Ice Capades, Drive Financial Services, e-Luxury, Inc. and a significant number of private companies and buyout firms.
   
   
2. Represented companies and investment banking firms in numerous initial public offerings and secondary offerings.
   
   
3. Recognized as one of the principal authors of Virginia's "Angel Tax Credit." This income tax credit provides an incentive for investing in early-stage companies.
   
   
4. Represented venture capital firms in over 50 investments over the last five years.
   
   
5. Represented founder of a leading national sub-prime automobile lender in litigation regarding his separation and subsequent sale of private position in the company.
   
   
6. Represented the company with the best stock performance on the Nasdaq in 1997 in its secondary offering and subsequent sale in early 1998.
   
   
7. Represented private leveraged buyout private equity firm in $40 million fund raising activites and subsequent business acquisitions.
   
   
8. Represented public company in eight securitization transactions over the last three years.
   
   
9. Represented a vast number of private companies in seed stage, early stage and later stage fund raises from angels, venture capital funds and corporate partners.

Community Involvement
Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame, Chairman and Co-Founder
I-64/I-81 Corridor Committee
Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, Board of Directors
Tidewater Venture Mentors, Co-Founder and Board of Directors
Virginia Beach Vision, Board of Directors
Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation
Virginia Venture Capital Forum, Board Member and Former President
VC Survivor Series of the Virginia Venture Capital Forum, Founder