JAMES F. CUNNINGHAM
Jim concentrates his practice in the areas of business and corporate law, where he represents clients in a variety of legal matters including entity formation, business and commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, employment matters, corporate governance, and general business law. Jim also has an active real estate practice, where he counsels clients on various matters including real estate acquisitions and sales, leasing, and real estate based lending.

Jim’s experience covers a broad range of industries, including manufacturers, service entities, healthcare providers, contractors and developers. He has represented businesses, business owners, and individuals in various transactions including stock and asset purchases and sales, mergers, joint ventures and similar transactions. He negotiates and drafts numerous types of contracts, including shareholder and partnership agreements, employment agreements, consulting contracts, and manufacturing and distribution agreements. Jim also represents financial institutions in the drafting of commercial loan documents.

In addition to his business and real estate practice, Jim is also experienced in the areas of estate planning and administration, assisting clients with the preparation of Wills, Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and Irrevocable Trusts, as well as the probate of estates upon death.

Jim has been a guest speaker at small business forums, such as Fast Trac Classes sponsored through Robert Morris University, where he has counseled participants in both the legal theory and practical applications of matters affecting business owners so that participants could evaluate the advantages, limitations, and disadvantages of their current legal structure, employment practices, and other legal aspects of their business.

Practice Areas
• Business Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate Transactions
• Commercial Real Estate
• Estate Planning and Administration

Representative Matters
• Represented numerous buyers and sellers in a variety of acquisitions or divestitures,
including acquisition of the assets of a specialty steel fabricator; merger of an
industrial pump distributor; sale of the assets of a home respiratory and
medical equipment business to a publicly traded company; sale of the assets of
a wholesale fence distributor; and sale of the stock of a plastics manufacturer.
• Represented large publicly traded bank in extension of credit for the refinancing
of an office park, a commercial building, and a subsurface parking garage in
downtown Pittsburgh.
• Assisted in the initial capitalization of a molded plastic product manufacturer through
the preparation of its private placement memorandum and corresponding federal and
state security disclosure statements.
• Assisted owner of patented technology in obtaining venture capital funding through
negotiation and drafting of stock subscription and related documentation.

Experience
• 2008  Metz Lewis LLC
• 1993  Morella & Associates, P.C.

Education
• 1993  J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• 1988  B.S., Business Administration (Finance), Pennsylvania State University

Admissions
• Pennsylvania

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Allegheny County Bar Association, Real Property Section