Christopher J. Milne

Christopher J. Milne practices in the firm’s Corporate and Business Law department. Mr. Milne has over two decades of experience as a corporate attorney. His clients have included businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. He has served as corporate counsel in large Buffalo-area law firms as well as working in-house as corporate counsel for Delaware North Companies. A proven strategic and analytical problem solver, Mr. Milne regularly serves as transactional counsel for buyers and sellers of corporations, limited liability companies and other business entities. He advises clients on corporate formation and restructuring, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, franchise agreements, complex commercial transactions, partnership agreements, and other transactional business-related matters.

Mr. Milne received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1999, where he was the Managing Editor of the Law Review.

Hospitality and Attractions

Mr. Milne also brings a wealth of experience from his position as assistant general counsel for Delaware North Companies, a multibillion-dollar global food service and hospitality company.  First, he oversaw all transactional and operational work for the company’s $350 million Parks and Resorts subsidiary. Most of the transactions for the Parks and Resorts subsidiary involved federal or state government contracts. The subsidiary had contracts with the National Park Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and various state agencies, including a contract worth over $100 million in annual revenues for Yosemite National Park. Later, Mr. Milne managed all aspects of the legal and compliance functions of the company’s global finance, supply management, retail marketing, corporate communications, and information technology operations. In that role he successfully negotiated global supply agreements, equipment purchases and license agreements for the company.

Veterinary Law

Mr. Milne has significant experience in the area of veterinary law, and counsels clients on matters including buying and selling veterinary practices nationwide. Mr. Milne has successfully represented both small and large veterinary practices in the sale of their practices to various corporate aggregators and is well versed in the intricacies of these transactions. He is also highly experienced in all veterinary, small animal, equine, bovine, and exotic animal business-related legal obligations including regulatory matters, employment agreements, non-competes, partnership agreements and lab services agreements.

Cannabis & Hemp

Mr. Milne has significant experience counseling clients in the retail cannabis industry, advising them on the full spectrum of issues facing businesses that cultivate, process, distribute, and sell products. He advises clients on corporate formation and structure, mergers and acquisitions, and partnership and operating agreements. He assists clients in structuring their operations in a manner that is compliant with the various regulatory regimes governing the cannabis industry. His experience gives him insight into the industry’s complex regulatory requirements and ways to structure transactions accordingly.