Roderick W. Simmons - Attorney

Roderick W. Simmons - Attorney

 

Roderick W. Simmons is a member of the firm's Business Section, handling a broad range of general business and corporate matters. Rod has significant experience in merger and acquisition transactions, representing both buyers and sellers of businesses. Rod also works with closely-held businesses and their owners to advise them on issues ranging from entity structuring, buy-sell agreements, employment-related matters, exit strategies, and personal estate planning.

Additionally, as a member of the Employment Law Practice Group, Rod counsels regional and multi-state employers of all sizes on compliance with various federal and state employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, wage and hour, FMLA and COBRA. He assists clients in responding to EEOC, DOL, VEC and other agency complaints and investigations, supports clients in investigating and defending sexual harassment claims or other complaints of discrimination or workplace misconduct, prepares and reviews employment handbooks and policies, employment agreements, non-competition agreements and other employment documents, and coordinates employment-related litigation with other firm members.

Relevant Experience:

  • Served as primary outside counsel to a roll-up company in the insulation products industry, with over 2,000 employees and 100 facilities across 26 states nationwide. Rod assisted the company in closing a $440 million recapitalization with a private equity fund investor and in securing a new $280 million senior and mezzanine credit facility, and completed over 40 strategic acquisitions for the company.
  • Participated in the structuring, contract negotiations and financing for numerous merger and acquisition transactions ranging in size from $500,000 to $50,000,000.
  • Represented an S-corporation ESOP company in its $435,000,000 sale to a public company buyer.
  • Counseled employers of all sizes on a variety of employment matters, such as drafting employment and non-competition agreements for key sales and other employees, drafting and revising employment handbooks and policies, assisting management in the investigation and defense of sexual harassment claims or other complaints of workplace misconduct, providing employment termination counseling and drafting employment separation agreements.
  • Assisted numerous clients in accomplishing their estate planning and wealth transfer objectives through a variety of planning techniques including life insurance trusts, family limited partnerships and gifting strategies.

Education:

  • Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary, J.D. (Board Editor of the William & Mary Law Review)
  • University of Virginia, B.A., with high distinction (Phi Beta Kappa)

Pro Bono/Community Service:

  • Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia (Board of Directors)
  • Pregnancy Resource Center of Metropolitan Richmond (past Chairman of the Board of Directors)

Recognition:

  • Virginia Business Magazine's Legal Elite - 2006 through 2009

Memberships:

  • American Bar Association
  • Virginia Bar Association

Bar Admission:

  • Virginia, 1995