Roger Royse
Biography
Roger Royse is a partner in Haynes Boone’s Palo Alto office who advises emerging growth companies, venture capital investors and other businesses on company formation, financing and M&A.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and a former chair of several committees in the American Bar Association’s Business Law and Taxation sections. Roger has taught legal, tax and business topics through the Center for International Studies in Salzburg, Golden Gate University School of Law and Stanford Continuing Studies.
He is also a nationally recognized authority on agtech and the legal issues facing companies in the food production technology sector. His books include "Dead on Arrival: How to Avoid the Legal Mistakes That Could Kill Your Startup" and "10,000 Startups: Legal Strategies for Startup Success" and he has been interviewed and quoted by publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Reuters and Fast Company, and has testified to Congress twice on various issues.
Roger is also a Certified Public Accountant (California non-Attest).
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- Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel
- California Co-Chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
- American Bar Association Business Law Section Liaison to the Section of Taxation
- Board Member, Cancer Patient Lab
- Silicon Valley Advocacy Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN)
- Past Member, Executive Committee, California Lawyers Association, Taxation Section
- Past Chair, City of Menlo Park Finance and Audit Committee (2021-2022)
- Past President, Palo Alto Area Bar Association
- Past Chair, State Bar of California Tax Policy, Practice and Legislation of the Taxation Section
- Past Chair of the Committees on Tax Practice Management and Tax Policy of the ABA Tax Section; Past Chair of the Taxation Committee of the Business Law Section; Past California State
- Past Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates
- Member, Peninsula Family Services Finance committee
- Member, Menlo Park Sister Cities Committee
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- Recognized by The American Lawyer in 2022 as a “West Trailblazer” for his leadership in AgTech
- Recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2011-2023
- Martindale Hubbell® Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™
- Recognized as a “Top Attorney” with a “10.0 Superb” Avvo Rating
- Recipient of The Recorder Legal Innovator Awards 2014 and 2015
- Recognized by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as the “2012 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Man of the Year”
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Education
- J.D., University of North Dakota
- LL.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law
- B.S., Accounting, University of North Dakota
Admissions
- California
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- New York
- South Dakota
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. Tax Court
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Who do you typically represent in your practice?
My practice includes advising emerging growth companies, venture capital clients and other businesses at key stages of development and investment. That work often centers on formation, financing and M&A matters.
How does agtech fit into your work?
Agtech is a significant part of my practice. I am recognized for work involving the legal issues that affect companies developing technology for food production.
What perspective do you bring beyond day-to-day deal work?
In addition to advising clients, I have taught legal, tax and business topics in academic and continuing studies settings, and I have written books focused on startup legal strategy. I am also a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and a Certified Public Accountant (California non-Attest).
Where have your views and work been featured?
I have been interviewed and quoted by outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Reuters and Fast Company. I am also the author of Dead on Arrival: How to Avoid the Legal Mistakes That Could Kill Your Startup and 10,000 Startups: Legal Strategies for Startup Success.
What kinds of companies have you worked with?
I work with companies ranging from newly formed tech startups to publicly traded multinationals in a variety of industries. My work has included companies in sectors such as agriculture technology, healthcare technology and financial technology.
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