Attorneys

Attorneys

Carla W. Sledge

Member

Experience

Carla Sledge joined Hutchinson, Black and Cook in 1992 after clerking for a federal judge in Denver. Her practice focuses on the general-counsel representation of entrepreneurs and emerging and growing businesses with an emphasis on corporate law, contract law, intellectual property matters, including, trademarks and copyrights, technology licensing, private financing, mergers and acquisitions, distribution agreements, and employment and consulting arrangements. She has represented a wide variety of companies in the fields of software, hardware, science, education, biotechnology, energy, outdoor recreation and the cable TV industry, as well as professional medical, veterinary and accounting practices, manufacturing and distribution enterprises, restaurants and service organizations. As part of her business practice, she has also assisted non-profit organizations in obtaining their tax exempt status, and in advising on their operations. Since 2001, she has been the firm's representative to LEGUS, an international association of law firms and currently serves on its Advisory Board. Carla was selected for Colorado Super Lawyers.

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell

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Representative Cases and Transactions

General counsel advice to business owners and managers on all legal aspects of business activities and operations
Represents licensors and licensees of technology in a variety of biotechnological, medical and telecommunications industries
Co-counsel to seller in $130M acquisition of manufacturer of wireless devices
Represented seller of semiconductor business in $18M stock acquisition
Represented buyer of information technology project management and staffing services company in $18M equity acquisition
Represented seller of $13M energy consulting business
Represented issuer in $10M strategic partner investment in soy products industry
Represented buyers in business acquisitions in outdoor recreational, food products, medical, high tech, geoscience, amusement and computer industries
Trademark attorney having filed and/or prosecuted over 220 federal trademarks; responsible for trademark portfolio of more than 250 marks in over 120 countries; represented trademark owners in a variety of trademark disputes
Represented landlord in the leasing of new shopping centers in Boulder and Denver and tenants in the leasing of a multitude of office, retail and restaurant spaces
Represented companies (issuers) and investors in private equity financing transactions
Represented a variety of nonprofit organizations in securing 501(c)(3) tax exempt status

Publications and Presentations

Presenter, "When is 'TMI' Really Too Much? Being Ethically Mindful of the Social Media Minefield," LEGUS Annual Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, 2010
Carla in the News... Thomas, Jeff, Copyright Law Makes Its Way Onto Internet, The Boulder County Business Report, July 9-22, 2004.

Community Involvement

Volunteer, Boulder Chamber events; Trebol Soccer Club, 2009-2010 and Boulder County Force Soccer Club, 2007-2009

Areas of Practice

Education

University of Colorado School of Law, J.D., 1991
Order of the Coif
University of Colorado Law Review
Legal Aid Award
University of Colorado, B.A. with Distinction

Bar Admissions / Clerkships

Colorado, 1991
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1991
Law Clerk, Honorable Edward W. Nottingham, 1991-92;
United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Memberships / Awards

American Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Boulder County Bar Association
BCBA Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Section, 2004-06
BCBA Co-Chair, Business Law Section, 1994-96
Selected for Colorado Super Lawyers
Advisory Board, LEGUS, 2011-present
Board of Directors, Boulder Innovation Center, 2005-06
Member, Boulder Economic Council, 2004-06
Lecturer, Boulder Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Center
Graduate, Leadership Boulder
"100 Hour Club" Award for Pro Bono Work, 2001