Christopher Wingard
Chris is an associate in Kleinbard’s Business & Finance Practice. He advises corporations, shareholders, directors and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) trustees on a wide variety of ESOP-related issues. He provides guidance regarding ESOP transactions, corporate governance, business succession planning, ESOP plan design and ongoing ESOP compliance.
He has experience representing middle market corporate clients across a wide range of industries, including engineering, manufacturing, construction and professional services.
Prior to joining Kleinbard, Chris was an associate in an ESOP legal practice based in the greater Philadelphia area.
Chris is a graduate of Boston University, where he earned his JD and MBA, with honors. During his time in law school, he also counseled startups from BU and MIT on various corporate and IP matters.
Representative Matters
- Represented a 100% ESOP owned technology company in its stock sale to a private equity fund portfolio company for $58 million.
- Represented the fourth-generation family owner of a steel fabricator company in a 100% sale to an ESOP.
- Represented a trust company as the ESOP trustee of an ESOP that purchased a manufacturer for $98 million.
- Represented a private credit fund in its investment as a creditor to a 100% ESOP transaction to purchase a commercial construction company.
- Represented a demolition and construction company in a sale of stock to a newly-formed ESOP, including negotiation of new senior credit facilities.
- Represented a construction company in a $166 million sale to a newly-formed ESOP.
- Represented a 100% ESOP owned instrumentation company in its stock sale to a private equity fund portfolio company for $56 million.
- Represented a newly formed holding company in its sale of 25% of its subsidiary, an automation services provider, to a newly-formed ESOP for $15 million.
Professional Associations
- Member, The ESOP Association
- Member, National Center for Employee Ownership
- Member, ESOP Alliance
- Member, the Executive Committee of the Florida Chapter of the ESOP Association
Community Activities
- Eagle Scout
- Contributing Author, National Center for Employee Ownership Legal Digest