Intimate Experience in a Wide Range of Industries

Conatus Counsel provides experienced comprehensive legal and other commercial consulting and implementation services to and for many industries, including products, services, infrastructure, service providers, and creatives.

    Forrest Merithew has a plethora of diverse first hand experiences, personally and professionally, in the many industries in which he regularly works.  Forrest has discovered that he can apply these intimate experiences with his legal abilities, including his previous work as a complex civil and commercial litigator, to secure fortuitous cost-effective results for outdoor recreation and industry clients for their, and the industry’s, growth and success. His experience includes, but is not limited to, regulatory and compliance, manufacturing and distribution, product liability, related intellectual property matters, land use and development, risk management, and technology matters.

    Conatus Counsel has worked with hundreds of businesses, individuals, brands, and causes in its 12 plus years in existence, including new and innovative products (such as Tentsile Tree Tents, Sno Go Ski Bike, and the Lightfoot Scooter), services across all sectors, infrastructure, and other causes (such as economic development and environmental).  Conatus Counsel’s work has helped clients grow up to sustainable eight figure annual revenues, sell their assets or businesses and/or purchase others, increase product distribution and services throughout the country and the world, provide valuable jobs, products, and infrastructure to the public, and generally make the world a better place.

    In addition to the work of Conatus Counsel, Forrest has served as in-house VP and Director of Compliance for the Singletrack Trails conglomerate, which focused on recreation infrastructure in the form of natural surface and feature trail design and construction.  Singletrack Trails was one of the largest natural surface trail building companies in the country, based out of Colorado but designing and building trails in over 20 states with dozens of passioned employees from throughout the country.  This position required Forrest to manage all administrative aspects of the in a regulated industry and be the penultimate project manager of the entire process with a small management team – from bidding, through contracting with multiple stakeholders, to employee, client, and employee management through completion. 

  • Outdoor Recreation, Lifestyle, Mobility, Sport, Equine, and Hospitality Services and Products

  • Recreation, Hospitality, and Mobility Infrastructure

  • Product Design, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Supply

  • Land Use and Planning, Real Estate, Construction, Development, and Leasing

  • Food and Beverage Products, including Alcohol and other Regulated Goods

  • Renewable and Alternative Energy(ies) and Infrastructure

  • Advertising, Marketing, and PR Services and Content

  • Health and Wellness Products and Services

  • Technology Products and Services

  • Art, Film, Photography, and Creative Services and Works

  • Aftermarket Vehicle Parts and Services, including Rentals

  • Events, Travel and Tourism Services and Products

  • Environmental and other Non-Profits and NGOs

  • Natural Resource Management

  • Toys and other Recreational and Skills Building Products

   

  • “Forrest's strong commitment to the OREC industry is evident in his passion for improving public lands, recreation infrastructure, and natural resource management, as well as his active involvement with and passion for trade associations. His extensive outdoor industry experience and general responsiveness make him an invaluable partner to Darby Communications. With Forrest's expert guidance, we have established a well-structured and efficiently run agency. We highly recommend his legal and advocacy services to other outdoor industry professionals, brands, and NGOs.”

    Coral Darby – Founder and President of Darby Communications: PR and Digital Marketing for the Outdoor Industry

  • "Conatus Counsel is a tireless student of the OREC Industry from the big corporations to the small startup. Its knowledge base as to the outdoor recreation industry, related business and legal expertise, and how National legislation can impact business operations is crucial to growing and maintaining an OREC business. When I am buried deep in business management, I know that I can count on Conatus Counsel to keep me informed on the world around me and how it will affect my decisions."

    Greg Mazu - Founder of Singletrack Trails, Founder and Principal of Backslope Tools and Tools for Trails

  • "Forrest’s advice, counsel, and work has always been very much appreciated and continues to protect Tentsile’s brand, reputation, and IP. His outdoor recreation industry network, work, and related commitments, including environmental, are exceptional and part of the value. It has been nothing but a pleasure working with Forrest and Conatus Counsel for the past 10 years. I would highly recommend their services and Forrest as a person."

    Alex Shirley-Smith, Founder and Principal, Tentsile Tree Tents (1% for the Planet Business and Veritree partner)

  • "I have worked with Forrest on a variety of advocacy projects over the last 6 years and he has proven to be an effective advocate for outdoor recreation and conservation. From lobbying policymakers in DC to publishing opinion pieces, Forrest has a very strong grasp of the issues, is connected to an extensive network of advocates, and is always ready to represent and protect the interests of the outdoor recreation community."

    Jason Keith - Managing Director, Public Land Solutions

  • “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 and person

  • "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 - Founder and Manager, Recover Brands and Purchaser and Manager, Blue Ridge Chair Works