McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) announced today the addition of Michael A. Rule as a partner in MLA’s Corporate practice. Based in Orange County, Rule has a national middle-market practice and regularly serves as lead transactions counsel and outside general counsel to both public and private companies. He is the eighth addition to MLA’s Corporate practice this year.

“We are thrilled to have Mike join the Firm,” said Wayne Bradley, Corporate Department Chairman. “He is an integral part of our continued efforts to strategically expand the transactional services we provide on the West Coast, and in particular, in Southern California.”

Rule represents clients in a broad range of industries, including numerous high profile clients in restaurants, food and beverage, and packaged goods, among others.

Rule’s practice encompasses the negotiation and documentation of both buyer side and seller side stock and asset deals, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, supply and distribution agreements, leases and assignments, and all stages of clients’ IP portfolios, including initial searches and clearance, USPTO pursuit and maintenance of registrations, cease and desist activities, protection of proprietary technology, and related transactions and litigation support. He also actively represents clients in the counseling and development of mass media campaigns, public advertising, internet communications matters, and FDA and other regulatory guidance.Rule spent several years as in-house Transactions and IP counsel and subsequently Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the publicly-traded Prandium, Inc. and Koo Koo Roo Enterprises, Inc. This in-house experience provides him with unique insight on delivering legal services in a practical, business-oriented manner.

“I am excited to join MLA and its Corporate practice,” said Rule. “The commitment to grow the practice to offer increased value to clients is an excellent platform for me to enhance the delivery of quality legal services to them in all aspects of their business.”

“With the integration of Luce Forward complete, we continue our expansion plans in Southern California,” said Jess Bressi, Managing Partner of the Orange County office. “Mike is an important step in this expansion and will take a leadership role in growing the Firm in Orange County.”

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