OVERVIEW

Proven leader who has created and developed competitive multi-office professional services practices at two AmLaw 100 law firms, and serving as Managing Partner, Atlanta , and member of the Executive Committee, grown a regional 200 lawyer firm. He has founded significant industry specific regional organizations.
 
 

EXPERTISE

Strategic Planning
Experienced in developing strategic plans, assessing competition, communicating effective solutions within the organization, building consensus, organizing tactics, setting measureable objectives, and executing on plans with successful outcomes.

Business Development
Served as marketing partner at two AmLaw 100 law firms. Built business development departments, generated competitive analyses, developed firm, industry and practice group plans, and led successful high value target teams, generating more than $38M in new personal business origination. Created innovative client product offerings with project priced structures.

Mergers and Acquisitions
Managed dozens of M&A transactions and closed more than 400 private equity and venture capital investments representing either company or investor clients. Active relationships with more than 100 national private equity and venture capital fund management teams.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Tilson Group, LLC Atlanta, GA
Managing Partner 2009 – Present
The Tilson Group is a legal advisory services firm that advises corporate legal departments on operational process, collaboration, and cost reduction.  The Tilson Group provides: 

• The Tilson Group consults with legal departments, professional service firms and large technology companies to measure, analyze and set strategy for internal teaming, marketing ,and execution.
• Mr. Tilson also serves as counsel to companies, venture capital funds, and private equity firms on specific financings including acquisitions, mergers, private offerings and strategic investments.

Burr & Forman Atlanta, GA
Managing Partner – Atlanta 2007 – 2009
Managing Partner-Atlanta for a regional full-service law firm with over 200 attorneys in six offices. Recruited to lead the Atlanta office expansion and provide strategic direction for the firm with the goal of becoming a super regional law firm. Served on the Firm Executive Committee, the Firm Marketing Committee, and the Firm Governance Committee; and built a successful branding/marketing strategy for Atlanta. Originated three project-based national clients for multi-office, multi-practice work.

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP Atlanta, GA
Partner and Chair, Technology Practice 1995 – 2007
Practice Group Partner at Kilpatrick Stockton, a 500 attorney international law firm headquartered in Atlanta. Recruited to become Technology Practice Chair and also served in various firm management positions. Areas of practice included general corporate, M&A, corporate finance, securities, venture and private equity. (Firm grew from 160 attorneys in 1995, through merger to 360 attorneys, and to 500 attorneys by 2007).

• Created and chaired the firm’s international multi-practice, multi-office technology group
• Originated personal practice revenues averaging over $2.4M per year over 12 years
• Corporate Team Leader, Executive Nominating Committee, Strategic Plan Committee, Compensation Committee, and as Marketing Partner (1995-2000), created the business development department
• Originated and managed more than 400 private capital and dozens of M&A transactions

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (f/k/a Long Aldridge & Norman) Atlanta, GA
Counsel 1991 – 1995

• Recruited to develop and grow the firm’s technology practice
• Originated $2M annual practice 
• Practice Development Chair (set firm-wide strategy for business development)

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Birmingham, AL
Director, Office for the Advancement of Developing Industries (OADI) 1986 – 1991
Associate Director, UAB Research Foundation

• Recruited to develop, operate and manage the 36,000 sq. ft. UAB/OADI high tech incubator facility
• Helped organize and launch the UAB Research Foundation (owner of UAB intellectual property)
• Formed and obtained financing for 27 start-up Life Science/Medical Device/Healthcare companies

Sonat Corporation Washington, DC
Senior Government Affairs Attorney 1977 – 1986
(Southern Natural Resources Company was a $3.5B natural gas pipeline and global offshore producer)
Represented Sonat in Washington, D.C., coordinating industry consensus and implementing strategic policy initiatives through direct relationships with Senate and House members and their staffs on legislation, such as the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.

REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS ACROSS VERTICAL MARKETS

• Retained by a Fortune 500 credit processing company CEO to work with his business development team on strategy to source smaller synergistic technology companies, and made multiple investments
• Represented a minority investor in the purchase of 100% of a private company that designs, builds and maintains retail structures, as well as the subsequent purchase of a competitor of equal size, growing to $100M revenue, and the creation of a new international division
• Retained by a Fortune 500 cable network CEO to work with his business development team to set a strategy to source, acquire and invest in technology IP and technology companies
• Represented the CEO/Owner of a $100M private healthcare patient information processing company in the sale to an international private equity fund
• Represented a healthcare software solutions company from initial formation through multiple rounds of venture funding, growth strategy, and managed the initial public offering
• Represented a $14B finance company on strategy to form specific funds. Sourced deals and managed investments in companies for its private equity fund, real estate fund, and venture capital fund
• Organized an intellectual asset management system for a Fortune 1000 financial electronic commerce services company for cost containment, licensing strategy, and coordinated pro-active IP blocking tactics to match company’s five year business plan
• Represented a private Equity Fund starting a private regional vending company from initial formation, through multiple rounds of financing, several acquisitions, equity and debt restructuring, refinancing by additional private equity funds, and successful sale
• Originated and managed dozens of M&A transactions, divestitures, and more than 400 venture capital and private equity transactions, representing either the client company or the investing fund

EDUCATION
JD, The University of Alabama School of Law Tuscaloosa, AL
Law clerk to Secretary of the Treasury William Simon (1975); Chairman, John A. Campbell Moot Court Board; Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society; National Order of the Barristers; Recipient of Dean’s Award for Service to the Law School; Regional Organizing Chairman, 1976 National Moot Court Competition; Distinguished Alumni Lecturer (2004)

BA, Sewanee:  The University of the South Sewanee, TN
Order of Gownsmen, Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), member, Delegate Assembly, Kappa Alpha Order

BAR MEMBERSHIPS
Alabama Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association, M-H: AV Rated

AFFILIATIONS
Current Business Community Leadership

• Metro Atlanta Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Committee (1997-2000) (2008, 2009); Vice Chairman (1997), former Chair, Technology Committee, and member, Healthcare Council (2011)
• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Secretary (2005-2007, 2011), Executive Board (2000-present), Chairman, Board Development Committee (2008-2011)
• Chairman and Founder of the Southeast Investor Group composed of 50 members (venture fund partners, super angels and corporate venture investors ) from eight Southeast states (1995-present)
• Emory Goizueta Business School Board of Advisors (2000-present)
• Farrah Law Society Board Member, University of Alabama School of Law (2007-present)
• Emory Winship Cancer Center Board of Advisors (2006-present)
• Atlanta Venture Forum Member (1995-present)

LEADERSHIP
Industry Leadership

• Southeast BIO Venture Forum (SEBIO), Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors (1998-2007); (largest annual life science venture conference in the Southeast -#150; in 15th year)
• BIO 2009 International Annual Meeting in Atlanta – Original Host Committee
• Georgia CIO Leadership Association (GCLA) – Founding Underwriter, Secretary and Board of Directors (2003-2006); (large company CIO-only peer to peer association)

Academic Leadership

• Sewanee, University of the South Board of Trustees (1977-1986); Class Chair (1974-2006)
• Georgia Tech College of Computing Board of Advisors (2000-2002)
• Atlanta International School, General Counsel and Board of Directors (1993-1998)
• Society of International Business Fellows Board of Directors (1986-2007), Member
• Emory Rollins School of Public Health Board of Advisors (1999-2001)

Civic Recognition

• 2006 Charles R. Yates Award Recipient – Woodruff Arts Center Major Gifts Committee (10 years of development service)
• SEBIO Board of Directors honored and funded the Martin R. Tilson, Jr. Scholarship in 2007
• Tocqueville Metro Atlanta United Way Cabinet (2007-2010)
• Most Notable Atlantans – Georgia Trend Magazine
• “Who’s Who in Healthcare” – Atlanta Business Chronicle
• “Who’s Who in Law and Accounting” – Atlanta Business Chronicle
• “Who’s Who in Atlanta Technology”
• Atlanta Business Chronicle100 Most Influential Georgians