Carla W. Sledge

Of Counsel

carla.sledge@hbcboulder.com

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Practice Areas

• Business & Corporate Law

  • Business Formation

  • Contracts & Transactions

  • Corporate Governance

  • Employment & Consulting Contracts

  • International Transactions

  • Investment Financing, securities & Transactions

  • Mergers & Acquisitions

• Intellectual Property Law

  • Internet Law

  • Licensing & Other Intellectual Property Transactions

  • Protection of Trade Secrets & Confidential Information

  • Trademarks & Copyrights

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, aerospace, 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. Since 2001, she has been the firm's representative to Legus International, an international network of law firms and has served on its Advisory Board. Carla was selected for Colorado Super Lawyers®.

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• Representative Matters

  • Co-counsel to seller in $130M acquisition of manufacturer of wireless devices.

  • Represented seller of $33M oilfield services business.

  • With HBC partner Justin Konrad, represented sellers of AI software company in a transaction worth over $45M. 

  • Represented seller of construction-related services business in $24M stock acquisition. 

  • Represented seller of semiconductor business in $18M stock acquisition.

  • Represented seller of local Boulder restaurants in sale to employees.

  • Represented seller of online learning course provider.

  • Represented local seller of pet products company.

  • Represented buyer of spa products business.

  • Represented buyer of information technology project management and staffing services company in $18M equity acquisition.

  • Represented seller of $13M energy consulting business.

  • Represented seller/manufacturer of cosmetic products.

  • Represented investor with respect to $5M investment in solar energy company.

  • 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.

  • Represent licensors and licensees of technology in a variety of biotechnological, medical and telecommunications industries.

  • Filed and/or prosecuted over 390 federal trademarks; have been responsible for trademark portfolio of more than 250 marks in over 120 countries; represented trademark owners in a variety of trademark disputes.

• Community Involvement

  • Volunteer, Boulder Chamber events; Trebol Soccer Club, 2009-2010 and Boulder County.

  • Force Soccer Club (team manager), 2007-2009.

• Publications & Presentations

  • Presenter, Legus International Annual Meeting, 2020.

  • Presenter, Legus Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2017.

  • Presenter, Legus Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy, 2014.

  • "Cut, Copy, Complaint," ColoradoBiz, June 6, 2012.

  • 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.

  • Lecturer on Real Estate Leasing Issues, Boulder Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Center.

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

  • Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Section, 2004-2006

  • Co-Chair, Business Law Section, 1994-1996

• Colorado Super Lawyers

  • Selected for Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property, 2006-2007

• LEGUS International, Advisory Board, 2011-2022

• Boulder Innovation Center, Board of Directors, 2005-2006

• Boulder Economic Council, Member, 2004-2006

• Leadership Boulder Graduate

• "100 Hour Club" Award for Pro Bono Work by Boulder County Legal Services, 2001

In the Media