Paul H. Ode, Jr.

Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude

Middlebury College, B.A., cum laude

• Last year, Paul’s projects included assisting Easy Mile Fitness with its acquisition of additional Planet Fitness clubs in Oregon and Alaska and refinancing of its credit facilities, advising The Business Bank in its capital raising efforts and negotiating the sale of franchise rights by an alcoholic beverages distributor.  He also represented clients on the purchase of a brewery, the sale of a specialty animal supplements manufacturer, sale of a cheese manufacturing company and the sale of a precision manufacturing business.
• In 2024, Paul led the work on the sale of an electronic sensors manufacturing business, the purchase of an engineering software company, the combination of two New England-based brewers, recapitalization of a specialty sheet metal manufacturer, transition of several medical practices to new ownership and restructuring of two troubled businesses.  He also assisted Easy Mile Fitness in acquiring Planet Fitness clubs in the Pacific Northwest.  He provided corporate and governance advice to The Business Bank (formerly Bank of Burlington) as it ramped up operations.
• During 2023, Paul assisted clients in the purchase of various businesses, including a distillery, a gardening center, a distribution company and an engineering services company.  He represented the majority owner of a business transitioning to ESOP ownership.  He assisted several family-owned businesses with intra-family ownership transitions, and he represented both legal and medical professional services firms in their transitions to new ownership.  He also assisted several clients with the design and implementation of senior management equity-based and quasi-equity-based incentive plans.
• In 2022, Paul represented Easy Mile Fitness in its acquisition of Planet Fitness franchises in Puerto Rico, Canada and Florida, as well as related financing matters.  He represented New Vitality Holdings, a supplements marketing company, in a process that led to sale of the company to a competitor.  He represented Mass. Bay Brewing Company in its acquisition of the Long Trail, Otter Creek and Shed beer brands, as well as negotiation of several joint venture arrangements with other parties.
• During 2021, Paul has led a team that represented Against the Grain Gourmet Foods, a leading manufacturer of branded gluten free pizza and baked goods, to a strategic buyer. He represented Bolton Furniture, a designer, importer and ecommerce vendor of home furnishings, in its sale to a strategic buyer. He represented Grow Compost of Vermont in its sale of assets to Casella. He also represented Vermont PBS, the Vermont public broadcasting network, in its merger with Vermont Public Radio.
• In 2020, he led a team that represented FoodScience, a supplier of branded and private label human and pet supplements to customers around the world, in its acquisition by Wind Point Partners. He represented Flex-A-Seal, a supplier of specialty mechanical seals with a world-wide market, in its combination with Momentum Engineered Systems. He represented Chippers, a provider of green care services in Vermont and New Hampshire, on its sale to The Davey Tree Expert Company, one of the nation’s largest ESOP companies.
• In 2019, Paul represented the seller in the acquisition of GS Precision, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of critical components for the aerospace and defense industries with operations in New Hampshire, Vermont, California, and Mexico, by a private equity buyer. He also represented the owner of the Reading Plus learning platform in its acquisition by a private equity buyer.
• In 2018, Paul led the team that represented Sonnax Industries, an ESOP company that manufactures specialty automotive aftermarket products, in its sale to a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. He also led efforts to complete the restructuring of a specialty beverages company and its subsequent sale to a strategic buyer, the recapitalization of an apparel company and the sale of an Arizona-based solar generation rooftop mounting systems company to a Dutch strategic buyer.
• In 2017, Paul led teams on the sale of Vermont Creamery, a specialty cheese company, to Land O’Lakes, the sale of NutraGenesis, a nutraceutical ingredients company, to Innophos and Mass. Bay Brewing Company’s acquisition of the Clown Shoes beer brand.
• Paul led a team representing Country Home Products, which is a direct marketer of outdoor power equipment under the DR brand, in its sale to Generac. The comment from the acquiring company’s general counsel was this: “This was probably the smoothest deal I’ve ever worked on. A truly enjoyable experience.”
• Paul regularly represents borrowers and issuers in the placement of secured and unsecured debt, both in traditional bank-led credit facilities, as well as private placements of notes and bond financings. Over the past decade, he has led teams closing on over $1,000,000,000 of debt financings.
• Paul frequently assists clients in developing equity-based and quasi-equity-based incentive programs for their key managers. He enjoys working with clients on joint venture agreements, co-branding agreements and other strategically important contractual relationships.

U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, 1982

Vermont, 1982

Law clerk to the Honorable Albert W. Coffrin, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, 1981-1982

American Bar Association Corporate Laws Committee, member and Vermont State Liaison

Vermont Business Roundtable, former member of Board of Directors

Vermont Bar Association, Business Association Law Section, member and former Chair

Vistage, a CEO peer group organization, former member

Listed in Best Lawyers®, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2005-2026

2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Mergers and Acquisition law, Burlington

2018 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Corporate Law, Burlington

2019, 2015 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Burlington

2010 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” award for Corporate Law, Burlington

Included, consistently since 2003, in the first tier of Vermont lawyers in Chambers USA: Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

Ranked, consistently, among the top five percent of attorneys in Vermont by Super Lawyers® magazine in the areas of business/corporate law and mergers and acquisitions

Holds Martindale-Hubbell’s AV® peer rating, the highest rating attainable

Awarded the 2004 Board Member of the Year Award for his service to the United Way

Awarded the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2003 Community Excellence Award for service to the community

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, member of Board of Directors and former Chair

Parks Foundation of Burlington, member of Board of Directors and Secretary

Honorary Commander, Vermont Air National Guard

United Way of Chittenden County, former member of Board of Directors, former Chair of United Way Campaign

City of Burlington Design Review Board, former member

Greater Burlington YMCA, former member of Board of Directors

Northern Vermont Chapter of the American Red Cross, former member, and Chair, of the Board of Directors