General Counsel and Legal Services

Conatus Counsel focuses on providing strategic value to clients in the form of comprehensive cost-effective business and commercial legal services and work products from one source (check out the OREC Industry page for historic client services and experience).

Practice Areas

  • Comprehensive Commercial Legal and General Counsel Services and Consulting

  • Business Entity Selection, Formation, and Management

  • Investment and Fundraising Documentation

  • Contracts and Related Commercial Documents

  • Liability Analysis and Risk Management

  • Intellectual Property (Registrations, Commercialization, Enforcement, & Portfolio Management)

  • Product Liability & Development (including Instruction Manuals)

  • Mergers, Acquisitions, and Commercial Transactions

  • Corporate Law and Management (including B-Corp)

  • Real Estate, Land Use, and Development

  • Insurance Consultation and Management

  • Employment, Labor, and Independent Contractor Matters

  • Franchising and Related Documentation

  • Municipal and Administrative Law

  • Domestic (USA) Management for International Companies

Illustrative Work and Experience

  • Risk Management Analysis, Recommendations, and Work Product for Services, Products, and Infrastructure.

  • Filing and handling of over 200 trademark applications with the USPTO, as well as a number of copyrights, and actively managing Client IP portfolios to maximize them through protection and commercialization.

  • Product Development Consulting and Instruction & Warning Manuals for risk management and customer satisfaction. 

  • Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiations to maximize opportunities, including supply and manufacturing, distribution and retail, a wide range of services, employment, and more.

  • Fundraising and Investment Consulting, Negotiating, and Document Drafting.

  • Assisting Clients with purchasing or selling businesses and/or assets.

  • Strategic Conflict Resolution resulting in avoiding escalation to litigation, recovery of amounts owed, protection of intellectual property, and more.

  • Helping Clients with geographic expansion of sales and services to new states and countries, including entity, tax, and other filings, including regulated industries.

  • Assisting with review, analysis and securing insurance coverage at optimal cost-benefit structure for the respective needs and risk.

  • A wide range of land and property use, including infrastructure and other development, acquisitions, construction, easements, leases and buildouts.

  • “Forrest's experience across multiple kinds of law is incredibly helpful. I have always felt like I was a partner in the process, vs. being talked down to or made to feel stupid as has been an experience in past attorney relations. Forrest is affordable and worth more than every dollar I’ve invested in his time and resources. I would recommend Forrest 10/10.”

    Stacy Bare - US Military Veteran, Filmmaker, Non-Profit ED, and all around Outdoor Recreation Promoter

  • “Forrest has been an invaluable asset to our team, providing comprehensive legal services tailored to our commercial needs. His expertise has been a significant factor in our successful navigation of complex legal landscapes. Forrest stands out for his ability to make intricate legal concepts understandable and manageable, which has been crucial in helping our team make informed decisions quickly and effectively. His approach to legal counsel is not only thorough but also cost-effective, offering us one of the best returns on investment we have experienced in professional services. Forrest's dedication and proficiency have led us to view him as an integral part of our team. Conatus Counsel has been a key player in our success, and we are more than satisfied with the quality and efficiency of his work and are glad to have him as our legal partner."

    Jason Kraft - Electric Bike Technologies, Liberty Trike, and E-Bike Kit

  • "I've been working with Forrest over the last decade on a variety of legal matters, ranging from contracts to trademarks to acquisitions, and I think of him much more than just a lawyer, he's a business partner who deeply cares about his clients. Not only does he possess a wealth of knowledge and business acumen, he's also genuinely great to work with and he's reasonably priced. As a small business owner, it's comforting having someone like Forrest on my team."

    Bill Johnston - Recover Brands and Blue Ridge Chair Works