Alan A. Sachs

Background

Work History

2010 to present

Member, Alan A. Sachs, LLC

2001 to 2010

Partner, Haar & Woods, LLP

Practice focuses on business transactions and counseling, including the organization of new businesses, the purchase and sale of businesses, financings, minority investments, shareholder and employment agreements, intellectual property licenses and contracts.

1985 to 2001

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri

1981 to 1985

Secretary and General Counsel
The Trane Company, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Chief legal officer of two public companies, one a specialty retailer of footwear and apparel with over 2,800 stores throughout North America, and the other a manufacturer of heating and air conditioning equipment with plants and sales offices worldwide. Responsible for all corporate legal matters, including acquisitions, financings, SEC reporting, litigation, real estate, antitrust, international trade and intellectual property.

1979 to 1981

Paskus, Gordon & Hyman, New York, New York

1971 to 1979

Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New York

Practice involved both corporate and litigation matters (about 30% corporate and 70% litigation, including jury and non-jury trials). Corporate matters included securities issuances, lease financings and loan agreements. Litigation consisted of shareholder suits, governmental investigations and a variety of contractual disputes, including claims regarding failure to fund under a loan commitment, registration rights in a stock purchase agreement, and mismanagement of a pension plan.

1970 to 1971

Law Clerk to Hon. John F. Dooling, Jr.
U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of New York

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Member of its Commercial and Large Complex Case Panels. Service both as sole arbitrator and panel arbitrator (including Panel Chair) in numerous complex business disputes, with claims ranging to over $100 million. Issues have included fraud in the purchase of a business, self-dealing by corporate officers, breach of a partnership agreement, severance obligations under an employment agreement, responsibility for excess inventory under a supply contract, financial and accounting issues under a credit card program, improper foreclosure on commercial real estate, antitrust claims regarding the termination of a dealership, and employment termination.
Arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Matters have generally involved customer claims against brokerage firms.
Mediator in business cases for the federal and state courts in St. Louis.

Education

Columbia University (A.B., cum laude, 1967)
Harvard University (J.D., cum laude, 1970)

Professional Affiliations and Activities

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (Chair, Business Law Section, 2003 – 2007)
American Bar Association (Sections of Business Law and Dispute Resolution)
American Society of Corporate Secretaries (President, St. Louis Chapter, 1993-1994; Member, Securities Law Committee, 1998-2003)

Presentations

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, “Arbitration of Business and Consumer Disputes: Current Developments,” March 2007
American Arbitration Association, “Contractual Arbitration—Can Non-Signatories Be Compelled to Arbitrate,” October 2004 and 2005
American Arbitration Association, “Dealing with Delay Tactics,” April 2005
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, “Choice of Entity: Practical Business and Tax Considerations,” April 2005

Articles/Papers

“Dispute Resolution Clauses in Purchase Price Adjustment Provisions,” M&A Lawyers Library published by the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, August 2011
“Lease Assignment Issues in Retail Business Acquisitions,” The Practical Lawyer, October 2003
“Look Before You Leap: Due Diligence in Buying a Business,” Law Day publication of The Missouri Bar, May 2003

Contact Information