Ronald K. Fujikawa
Partner

Business & Tax

D: 310.201.2003
F: 310.201.2300

Profile

In his corporate/business practice, Ron Fujikawa counsels both public and private companies and high-performance individuals, including Olympic and sport-defining athletes and entertainers, in connection with complex business, mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. 

Client Counsel
Mr. Fujikawa often plays a strategic advisory role in helping to guide clients through the complexities of sophisticated business transactions; as such, he is often called upon at the nascent stages of a deal to ensure its structural integrity and to maximize the chance of a successful closing that accomplishes his client’s primary objectives.  Mr. Fujikawa’s experience includes numerous M & A transactions, public offerings and, more recently, private financings for both start-up ventures and mature companies.  The depth and breadth of Mr. Fujikawa’s practice gives clients unusual access to both his technical expertise as well as his practical advice and wisdom.  

More recently, Mr. Fujikawa has focused on sophisticated licensing arrangements for  high-profile sports and entertainment figures, with the goal of “monetizing” their fame and celebrity status.  In some instances, the license simply affords the licensee the right to use the celebrity/licensor’s name, image and likeness to advertise and promote the licensee’s business or services.  In other instances, the celebrity is active in developing and marketing the products to be sold by the licensee, which generates a whole different set of issues and considerations that must be addressed.    

Known for his quick turnaround and responsiveness to client demands, Mr. Fujikawa prides himself on becoming well-schooled in his clients’ businesses and competitive challenges, and having the creativity and experience to overcome those obstacles to his clients’ ultimate benefit.  Mr. Fujikawa works closely with upper management of his corporate clients as well as the support team of managers, agents and affiliated advisors for his celebrity clients.  Mr. Fujikawa is a firm believer that arming his clients with timely information enhances the chances of completing deals with which his clients are pleased, and vastly improves the quality of the relationship he has with his clients, most of whom have relied on his advice and counsel for more than twenty (20) years.  

Peer Recognition and Pro Bono
Mr. Fujikawa has been recognized by Southern California Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for several consecutive years. He maintains a long-time pro bono commitment to the Los Angeles Fire Department Scholarship Fund, where he serves on its board of directors.

Complex Business Experience

  • Represented a principal shareholder of a privately-held credit card processing company who sold her equity stake to another existing publicly-held shareholder
  • Represented a publicly-held operator of high-end health and fitness clubs in selling selected clubs operating primarily in the East to one of such operator’s shareholders; in connection with that sale, also represented the company in refinancing its real estate-secured debt
  • Represented a privately-held internet video streaming company in a sale to a large, publicly-held media company
  • Represented a publicly-held company in deregistering its securities under applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  • Represented a privately-held financial software developer in a sale to a publicly-held financial services company for a combination of cash and securities
  • Represented separate owners of online webhosting businesses in the sale of such businesses to a larger privately-held company
  • Represented a privately-held food distribution company in acquiring selected operating divisions of a large publicly-held food company
  • Represented a privately-held special effects company in a sale of its business and assets to Apple Computer
  • Represented a private investor in a number of early-round convertible preferred financings
  • Represented a privately-held internet video game publisher in raising capital from existing shareholders in a convertible preferred financing
  • Represented a sports icon in acquiring an equity interest in, and finalizing a multi-year contract to serve as Head Coach of, an NHL hockey team; in addition, have represented this same individual in dozens of endorsement/licensing arrangements with companies as varied as Anheuser-Busch, Ford, McDonald’s and Pepsi
  • Represented an Emmy-award winning actress in connection with a number of endorsement, licensing and branding opportunities in which her name, image and likeness were used to promote the sale of different types of products, from skin care and jewelry products to home furnishings and apparel

Accolades

  • Listed, Southern California Super Lawyers, 2005-2012
  • Listed, Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2012
  • Rated, "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5," Martindale Hubbell

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Fire Department Scholarship Fund, 2007 to Present
  • Former Board Member, Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
  • Former Board Member, Los Angeles Youth Programs
  • Former Member, Windward School Board of Trustees
  • Former Member and Past President, Wildwood School Board of Trustees
  • Former Member, Stanford Athletic Board
  • Former Member, Stanford University Board of Visitors