Robert R. Rugani

Partner

San Francisco Office
580 California Street, Suite 1200
San Francisco, CA 94104

Santa Monica Office
2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 100E
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Robert’s practice focuses on corporate legal services for emerging growth and mid-cap companies, with an emphasis on equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, sales and divestitures, venture fund representation, domestic and international strategic relationships, corporate governance and other strategic business counseling.

Robert has represented a wide variety of companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 public companies in various industries covering hardware and software, alternative energy, consumer products, entertainment and real estate. Robert takes pride and interest in immediately engrossing himself with his client’s business and management team to support, empower and expand their business objectives.

Prior to co-founding Acceleron Law Group in 2015, Robert was a partner at Fortis General Counsel, LLP, which was recognized by U.S. News & Report as a Tier 1 California corporate law firm and by the Daily Journal as one of the Top 50 boutique law firms in California. Prior to that, Robert developed his corporate and finance practice at the law firms of Sidley Austin LLP, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, and Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, respectively.

Robert also has in-house counsel experience by serving as Assistant General Counsel for a private equity investment firm. His in-house experience adds to his ability for understanding, navigating and mastering the everyday needs and long term goals and opportunities of his clients.

Robert takes pride in being involved with the community. For over ten years, Robert served on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization, NatureBridge-Golden Gate, located in Sausalito, California, and is proud to continuously serve one of the oldest non-profit organizations in San Francisco, Felton Institute, on a pro bono basis. Robert currently serves on the Corporations Committee for the State Bar of California, and has done so since 2010, while serving as its Co-Chair during the 2012-13 term. On behalf of the Corporations Committee, Robert drafted legislation that received bipartisan support and passed into law. Robert serves and contributes on the Model Form Documents committee for the National Venture Capital Association.

Robert enjoys public speaking and teaching, and has served as a guest lecturer and speaker for law school classes, the California State Bar Annual Meetings, and start-up accelerators. Robert served as an Adjunct Professor of Law for the USC Gould School of Law as an instructor for the Mergers and Acquisitions course for the online LLM Program. Robert also works with early stage companies in a business advisory role. Lastly, Robert always makes sure to find time for activities in the great outdoors!


Education

J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law

Santa Clara Law Review, Business Editor
Honors Moot Court

B.A., University of California, Davis


Memberships

The State Bar of California

Italian-American Bar Association

Certified NMSDC

Namwolf

Certified NMSDC     Namwolf

Acceleron Law Group, LLP is certified as a minority-owned business enterprise by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. Acceleron is a member firm of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).