Charles J. Morton, Jr.

Government Experience

Representative Matters

• Represented a professional engineering firm in its growth and subsequent exit
• Represented RWD Technologies, LLC in the sale of its business that provides human and operational performance improvement solutions, to General Physics Corporation for approximately $28 million
• Representing companies that develop and market battery-operated vehicles; assists with capital formation, licensing, development, and joint venture agreements
• Represented an IT solutions company in the $200 million sale of its software suite to a portfolio company of a private equity firm that specializes in investing in a variety of sectors, including business services, consumer products, media, technology, and telecommunications
• Represented an early-stage, direct-response, online marketing firm as it secured its first round of outside investment
• Represented a bank in the development of its financing efforts to fund solar projects
• Represented a cybersecurity firm in a minority shareholder dispute and recapitalization
• Served as lead counsel in representing a syndication of five banks in a loan of up to $250 million to a leading consumer products company, secured by domestic and international assets
• Represented the borrower in a music publishing transaction, including a $330 million equity investment and a senior subordinated financing of $70 million, in the context of a workout
• Represented an advertising agency in its growth and subsequent exit
• Serving as lead counsel in representing subordinated lenders in transactions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars; these transactions have been secured and unsecured, with equity (including warrants) and without; investments have been made by small business investment companies (SBICs) and private equity groups
• Served as lead counsel in representing an electronics manufacturer in its sale to a Fortune 100 company for $165 million
• Served as lead counsel in representing a private equity firm in its equity investment in a specialty food company
• Served as lead counsel in representing the junior generation in an intra-family purchase of a successful consumer products company with a transaction value of approximately $20 million
• Served as lead counsel in representing a computer gaming company, founded by Sid Meier, in its sale to a publicly traded entity for a value, including earn-outs, of more than $22 million
• Serving as lead counsel in representing the majority shareholders in a multi-year dispute with a minority shareholder
• Serving as lead counsel in representing the junior generation in an intra-family business dissolution involving more than $100 million in assets
• Served as lead counsel in representing the borrower in a $35 million second lien financing
• Served as lead counsel in representing one side in the dissolution of a leading regional accounting firm
• Represented leading life science researchers before Congress, in their approved outside activities; in their departure from government employment and affiliation with a university; and in the development, financing, and growth of their private sector business
• As outside general counsel, represented hundreds of growing firms across the United States

Education

• J.D. University of Maryland School of Law 1990
• • Myerowitz Moot Court Award
  • National Moot Court Team
  • Moot Court Board
  • Cunningham Award
• B.A. University of Vermont 1987

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• District of Columbia

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Clerk Experience

• Honorable Joseph C. Howard U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
• Honorable Deborah K. Chasanow U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Managing Partner, Venable's Baltimore Office
• Member, American Bar Association
• Former chairman, global Board of Directors, Association for Corporate Growth
• Former chairman, Technology Development Corporation of Maryland
• Former general counsel, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, Bar Association of Baltimore City
• Member, Association for Corporate Growth
• Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership, Class of 2005
• Faculty appointment, Johns Hopkins University; teaches Business Law
• Life fellow, American Bar Foundation (The Fellows is an honorary organization of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession. Membership in the Fellows is limited to one-third of one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by Fellows in their jurisdiction and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation.)
• Life fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation
• Life fellow, Bar Association of Baltimore City Foundation

Legal 500 describes Chuck as “extremely knowledgeable … and a great negotiator.” In other publications, clients describe him as “unwavering in his commitment to us” (Chambers USA, 2010), “smart, pragmatic, responsive and creative” (Chambers USA, 2012), and “one of the most skilled M&A attorneys I have worked with, … always astutely prepared and able to frame the issues in a manner that provides comfort to the client, ever mindful of the ‘big picture’” (U.S. News & World Report/The Best Lawyers in America, 2012).

• The Best Lawyers in America
  • Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Technology Law, and Venture Capital Law, 2010 – 2024
  • Lawyer of the Year, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Baltimore, 2015, 2017
  • Lawyer of the Year, Technology Law, Baltimore, 2016, 2022
  • Lawyer of the Year, Venture Capital Law, Baltimore, 2012, 2023
• Chambers USA, Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Maryland, 2010 – 2023
• Legal 500, M&A: Middle Market (sub-$500m)
  • Leading Lawyer, 2012 – 2018
  • Hall of Fame, 2017 – 2023
• Corporate LiveWire M&A Awards, M&A Lawyer of the Year, Washington, DC, 2015
• Super Lawyers, 2008 – 2023
• ALM, Top Rated Lawyer, Mergers and Acquisitions, 2012
• SmartCEO Magazine, Legal Elite, Maryland, 2005 – 2006, 2010 – 2011
• Baltimore Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2002
• The Daily Record
  • Dealmaker, 2022
  • Leadership in Law, 2007
  • Innovator of the Year, 2002
• Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated, 2000 – 2023
• American Bar Association, Meritorious Service Award
• Maryland State Bar Association, Meritorious Service Award
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City, Meritorious Service Award
• Corporate Group, Co-chair, (Venable was named Law Firm of the Year for E-Commerce Law in Maryland by the Global Law Experts Awards in 2013)

Volunteerism

Current Board Service

• Secretary, Bio-Health Innovation, Inc.
• Member, Baltimore Center Stage
• Trustee, Endowment of the University of Maryland
• Member, Maryland Advisory Board, Teach for America, Baltimore

Past Board Service

• Member, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
• Board chair, Association for Corporate Growth (at both the national and global levels)
• Chair, Technology Development Corporation of Maryland
• General counsel, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
• Chair, Pastoral Council at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
• Member, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
• Member, Foundation for Coppin State University
• Member, South Baltimore Learning Center
• Member, Maryland Center for Veteran Education and Training
• President, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association
• Member, Cathedral of Mary Our Queen School Board
• Founder, MoshPit, Greater Baltimore Technology Council
• Founder, B'More Fund Giving Circle
• Member, Baltimore Urban Debate League

The past and current board positions listed above are a representative sample of Chuck’s community service positions – this list is not exhaustive.