Overview

Richard Leisner is the firm's senior securities lawyer. Since joining the firm in 1972, Richard's broad-based corporate and securities law practice has encompassed virtually all stages of the life cycle for public and private companies and their leaders and owners, including all phases of capital formation and corporate transactions from start-up venture capital and Regulation D private placements through IPOs and ongoing SEC reporting, executive employment and equity-based benefits (stock options, etc.), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, spin-offs and other reorganizations, takeover contests (offense and defense) and SEC and other regulatory body compliance issues. Richard is also experienced in counseling Boards of Directors on corporate governance, fiduciary duty and related party conflict-of-interest transactions, as well as on the conduct of internal investigations.

A substantial portion of Richard's practice is devoted to service as an expert witness in corporate and securities litigation and professional malpractice matters. For more information about Richard's expert witness services, click here.

Honors and Distinctions

• Tampa Magazine's Top Lawyers List, 2020 - 2021
• The Best Lawyers in America (Florida-Corporate, Securities, Capital Markets, Securities Regulations, Corporate Governance and Compliance), All editions 1983 - 2021
  • Lawyer of the Year (Securities Regulation), 2015
• Life Member, American Law Institute
• Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2006 - 2020

Professional Involvement

• SEC Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies, 2005-2006
• National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Legal Advisory Board, 1999-2004
• American Bar Association, Section of Business Law
  • Federal Regulation of Securities Committee
  • Middle Market & Small Business Committee, Chair, 1997-2001
  • Middle Market & Small Business Committee, Securities Regulation Subcommittee, Chair, 1986-1989
• Professor of Law (adjunct), Stetson University College of Law, "Introduction to Securities Regulation," 1976-1979, 1981-1983
• Chair, Business Law Section, The Florida Bar, 1980-1981

News

• Corporate Governance Tales From (Virtual) Open Door Encounters – Part 3
• Corporate Governance Tales From (Virtual) Open Door Encounters – Part 2
• Corporate Governance Tales From (Virtual) Open Door Encounters – Part 1
• Fifty-Four Attorneys from Trenam Law Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021
• Forty Seven Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2020
• Trenam Law Attorneys Recognized as Top Lawyers 2020 by Tampa Magazine
• Can A Fully Executed Contract be Unenforceable?
• Forty-Six Attorneys from Trenam Law Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020
• Richard Leisner Discusses Lessons in Hiring an Expert Witness in Article Shared by The D&O Diary
• Forty-Nine Attorneys Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers 2019

Thought Leadership

• "Private Offerings: Navigating the New Regime," Speaker, TheCorporateCounsel.net Webcast, February 2021.
• Alternatives to Registration Chart, November 2020, updated January 2021, co-authored with Stanley Keller of Locke Lord LLP and Jean E. Harris of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (retired). Also available at www.thecorporatecounsel.net.
• Securities Experts Roundtable, November 17, 2020, Panelist, Webcast Continuing Professional Education Program, “Perspective on Testimony - Points to Ponder.”
• "Corporate Governance Tales from (Virtual) Open Door Encounters - Part 3", November 2020. Published as a Guest Post on The D&O Diary, November 12, 2020, legal blog published by Kevin M. LaCroix.
• "Corporate Governance in the Real World," Speaker, North Tampa Bar Association CLE Webinar, October 2020.
• "Corporate Governance Tales From (Virtual) Open Door Encounters – Part 2,” October 2020. Published as a Guest Post on The D&O Diary, October 14, 2020, legal blog published by Kevin M. LaCroix. Reposted by John Jenkins in the Mentor Blog, November 9, 2020, available at www.thecorporatecounsel.net.
• "Corporate Governance Tales from (Virtual) Open Door Encounters – Part 1," September 2020. Published as a Guest Post in The D&O Diary, October 14, 2020, legal blog published by Kevin M. LaCroix. Reposted by John Jenkins in the Mentor Blog, November 9, 2020, available at www.thecorporatecounsel.net.
• "What Reg BI Does and What it Doesn't," Speaker, Securities Experts Roundtable Webcast, July 2020.
• "Can A Fully Executed Contract be Unenforceable?," September 2019.
• "Your Expert Witness May Not Be an Expert – At Being an Expert Witness," Published as a Guest Post on The D&O Diary, July 10, 2019, legal blog published by Kevin M. LaCroix. Reposted by John Jenkins in the Mentor Blog, July 24, 2019, available at www.thecorporatecounsel.net.
• "Your Expert Witness May Not Be an Expert – At Being an Expert Witness," June 2019.
• Alternatives to Registration Chart, (updated January 2021) The Corporate Counsel (January 2017), co-author with Stanley Keller of Locke Lord and Jean E. Harris of Greenberg Traurig, LLP., Insights: The Corporate and Securities Law Advisor, Wolters Kluwer (April 2017).
• Strafford Publications Webinar, "Redefining General Solicitation for Securities Offerings in the Internet and Social Media Age", Speaker, January 2017.
• "General Solicitation Under Rule 506(b) After Citizen VC," Clearer Guiding Principles Analyzed and Possible Future Best Practices Considered, Vol. 44, No. 2 Securities Regulation Law Journal, 133 (Summer 2016). Published as a Guest Post on The D&O Diary, June 15, 2016, legal blog published by Kevin M. LaCroix; also available on SSRN here.
• Securities Experts Roundtable, Continuing Professional Education Program, "Tutorials: Authoring an Expert Report and Transitioning Expert Practice as You Age," co-authored and co-presented with William J. Murphy and Gordon Yale, August 2015.
• "Update: Crowdfunding and Federal Private Offering Exemptions," 2015 Annual Gregory, Scharer & Stuart CPE Seminar, (guest speaker) June 2015.
• "New Regulation A: The Next Big Thing in Capital Formation, or Just an A+ for Effort?" Trenam Legal Update, Author, June 2015.
• Alternatives to Registration Chart, The Corporate Counsel (March/April 2015), co-authored with Stanley Keller of Locke Lord, LLP and Jean E. Harris of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, May 2015.
• Securities Experts Roundtable, Continuing Professional Education Program, "Tricks, Traps, Tips and Triumphs: SER members share their experiences," co-authored and co-presented with Bruce Foerster and Gordon Yale, August 2014.
• Securities Experts Roundtable, Continuing Professional Education Program, “Brave New World of Rule 506(c): “Private” Offerings with General Solicitation,” August 2013.
• "Dawn of a Brave New World! Advertising in private offerings under new SEC Rule 506(c), but no bad actors," August 2013.
• "SEC Issues Final Rules to Implement Changes in Accredited Investor Definition," Author, Trenam Kemker Legal Update, co-authored with Diana Hayes, March 2012.
• "JOBS Act Update - SEC Proposed Rules for 'Private Offerings' with Advertising Draw Fire",Trenam Kemker E-Mail Legal Update, Author, October 2012.
• "The JOBS Act: Sure, It's a Catchy Name, But Will It Boost Capital Formation and Create New Jobs?" Trenam Kemker Legal Update, co-authored with Diana Hayes and Gary Teblum, June 2012.
• “Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Dodd-Frank & Whistleblower Provisions,” Continuing Legal Education Program, Association of Corporate Secretaries and Corporate Governance Professionals (Southeastern Chapter), Tampa, October 21, 2010.