News
Peter S. Nealis
- E pnealis@taftlaw.com
- T (216) 706-3950
- F (216) 241-3707
Summary
Peter has substantial experience representing both public and private companies and investors in a variety of securities, regulatory, and corporate governance matters. His public company representation has included public equity offerings, sales transactions, and going private transactions. Peter counsels public corporations about SEC disclosure obligations, stockholder communications, board and special committee procedures and governance, and compliance under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Peter has also represented many private businesses, including start-ups and emerging growth companies, in their initial capital raising ventures and subsequent private placements and has substantial experience in the area of partnership and limited liability company formation and governance, and related tax issues. He has represented businesses and their owners in connection with all aspects of the mergers and acquisitions process, and counsels clients on a wide variety of general corporate and business matters, including intellectual property protection and licensing.
In addition, Peter devotes significant time to antitrust and trade regulation issues and is familiar with numerous federal and state statutory and regulatory schemes applicable to businesses in a variety of industries, including the Hart Scott Rodino Act, Sherman Act, Lanham Act, CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, Graham-Leach-Bliley Act, and various consumer lending and consumer protection statutes. He also represents clients in commercial bankruptcy proceedings and has extensive experience preparing, litigating and resolving claims in bankruptcy.
Peter is admitted to practice before the state courts of Ohio and Florida, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He is a former chair and vice chair of the Business and Corporation Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and is also actively involved with the Florida Venture Forum, the Sarasota and Manatee Chambers of Commerce, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, and the Station 2 Innovation Center, among other organizations. Peter is listed in Best Lawyers in America each year since 2018 for Securities/Capital Markets Law.
Awards
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Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
(2018 – present)
Recipient, NBI “Outstanding Faculty Award” (2023)
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Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2005 – 2007, 2009 – 2015)
All Service Areas
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (2000)
- Colby College (1997)
Admissions
- Federal - Northern District of Ohio
- State - Ohio
- State - Florida
Speeches and Publications
Presenter, SOFWERX Small Business Boot Camp, “Raising Capital,” March 28, 2024.
Presenter, SOFWERX Small Business Boot Camp, “Raising Capital,” Sept. 14, 2023.
Presenter, NBI Live Online Seminar, “Preliminary Business Contract Negotiation Necessities, Tips and Tricks;” “Contract Negotiations Gone Wrong: Top Attorney Mistakes;” and “Earnouts, Contributions, Salaries, Distributions, Price and Payments,” June 18, 2021.
Presenter, NBI Webinar, “LLC Operating Agreements: Perilous Provisions,” June 2, 2021.
Presenter, NBI Video Webinar, “Indemnification Traps for the Unwary,” May 6, 2021.
Presenter, NBI Virtual Webinar, “Operating Agreements: Top Traps for the Unwary,” April 27, 2021.
Presenter, NBI Video Webinar, “The Top Ohio Contract Cases Every Attorney Should Know,” Nov. 3, 2020.
Presenter, NBI Live Online Seminar, “Business Contracts: What You Didn’t Learn in Law School,” Sept. 22, 2020.
Present, NBI Live Audio Webinar, “Negotiating Indemnification, Reps, Warranties, and More in Business Contracts,” July 23, 2020.
Presenter, NBI Audio Webinar, “Draft Solid Agreements from Start to Finish,” June 10, 2020.
Presenter, NBI Audio Webinar “Small Business Guide through the Coronavirus Pandemic,” April 23, 2020.
Presenter, NBI Teleconference, “Finance Issues Related to the Coronavirus,” April 15, 2020.
Presenter, NBI Seminar, “LLCs from Start to Finish,” March 18, 2020.
Panelist, Global Entrepreneurship Week’s TiE Talks, “Funding Continuum and Landscape for Startups,” Nov. 19, 2019.
Presenter, NBI Seminar, “Drafting and Reviewing Business Contracts: Put Business Contract Drafting Basics Into Real-World Practice,” July 16, 2019.
Presenter, NBI Seminar, “Negotiating Indemnification, Reps, Warranties and More in Business Contracts,” Aug. 17, 2019.
Presenter, NBI Seminar, “Mitigate Liability Risks for Nonprofit Leadership,” June 19, 2018.
Presenter, NBI Webinar, “Ironclad Indemnification Provisions in Business Agreements,” Jan. 8, 2018.
News
Three Hundred Sixty-Three Taft Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2025 News
Nealis Recognized with NBI "Outstanding Faculty Award" News
Nealis Speaks at SOFWERX Small Business Boot Camp News
Nealis Speaks at SOFWERX Small Business Boot Camp
Past Events
?A Primer on Advising Directors and Officers on Corporate Governance? Nealis to Present at NBI Seminar Partnership and Shareholder Disputes from Start to Finish Diamant and Nealis to Present at 10th Annual Information Security Summit A Checklist to Drafting Business Contracts and Addressing Competitive Issues to be Presented by Nealis at NBI Seminar
Professional Affiliations
- Florida Bar Association
Member
- Florida Venture Forum
Member
- Sarasota County Bar Association
Member
- Bright Ideas on the Gulf Coast
Member, BIG Ideas Team
- Station 2 Innovation Center
Board Member
Community Involvement
- Sarasota, FL Chamber of Commerce
Member
- Manatee, FL Chamber of Commerce
Member
- Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance
Member