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Christine Nicholas joined Moffatt Thomas as a partner in 2007. Prior to her joining the firm, Christine was a partner with Batt & Fisher, LLP, a business boutique law firm located in Boise. Ms. Nicholas’ practice focuses on business sales and acquisitions; real estate sales, acquisitions, development, and leasing; finance; general commercial law; and general corporate law.Prior experience includes acting as Associate General Counsel - Finance and Corporate Affairs, and Assistant Secretary, to the J. R. Simplot Company in Boise. As in-house counsel, Ms. Nicholas also provided legal support to other Simplot family-owned businesses, principally involved in real estate development and investment. While at J. R. Simplot Company, her practice focused on business sales and acquisitions; equipment leasing and credit facilities (term, revolving, and private placements); negotiation and documentation of ISDA transactions for interest rate and commodity hedging; real estate sales, acquisitions, development, and leasing; general commercial law; and general corporate law. Ms. Nicholas has received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating her legal ability is very high to preeminent.Ms. Nicholas received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho College of Law, Moscow, Idaho in 1985, and her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1982, cum laude. REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS:Acquisition of frozen potato products manufacturing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan Acquisition of turf-products retail distribution business with assets in 14 states, requiring compliance with requirements of federal anti-trust laws for pre-merger notification. Multi-million dollar acquisition by 3-member buying consortium of turf seed assets and intellectual property (including PVP varieties) located in multiple states, involving approval of a bankruptcy court and compliance with requirements of federal anti-trust laws for pre-merger notification.Represented borrower in $275MM syndicated revolver and $105MM term loan. Represented lender in operating loan to a large trout farming operation, a flooring line to a large group of automobile dealerships, construction loans to real estate developers, and agricultural loan work-outs. $200MM leveraged lease of chemical plant, and lessee representation in other leveraged leases, synthetic leases and operating leases for rolling stock, railroad tank cars, and food processing line equipment. Provide legal support to large residential and commercial master planned subdivision, including covenant preparation (for residential phases and commercial components), development of form residential lot reservation and purchase agreements, negotiation and closing of commercial purchase agreements, build-to-suit leases, in-line retail leases, and pad site leases with local and national tenants. Provide legal support to mixed-use renovated warehouse development, including development of form leases for office tenants, retail tenants and restaurant tenants; negotiate leases with local and national tenants. Provide legal support for the construction, financing and operation of a condo project that included a 4-star hotel, residential condominiums, health club, events center with hospitality suites, restaurants and public parking garage. DMISSIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:Idaho Supreme Court; United States District Court for the District of Idaho. United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Member, Business and Corporate Law Section (Treasurer 1995-1997, Vice Chair 1997-1998, Chair, 1998-1999, Governing Council Member-at-Large 1999-2002) and Member, Legal Opinion, Article 9 Revisions, and Idaho Corporate Code Subcommittees; Member, Real Estate Section Fourth District Bar Association. American Bar Association: Member, Business Law Section, and Member, Negotiated Acquisitions Committee Ms. Nicholas is a past member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and Steering Committee for formation of its Intermountain Northwest Chapter, and a past member of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals. |
