About Mark Tepper

Mark is a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office, but his practice spans the globe.  He represents domestic and international clients in a variety of industries and has a broad range of transactional and advisory expertise.  He is also an experienced advocate in commercial arbitration and litigation matters.  Since joining the firm, Mark has served as outside general counsel for a number of the firm’s clients.

His transactional experience includes documenting, negotiating, and performing due diligence for M&A transactions, early-stage financings, asset purchase and sales, commercial leases, master service agreements, and general business contracts.  He has worked with emerging-growth companies pioneering ride-share applications, work-flow management processes, and fintech-enabled lending, helping launch their businesses, secure debt and financing, and protect their intellectual property.  As part of his corporate practice, Mark forms corporations and limited liability companies in multiple jurisdictions and has counseled shareholders through various agreements and disputes.  As part of his real estate practice, Mark drafts and enforces complex commercial leases for institutional landlords and tenants.  Mark is one of the firm’s go-to lawyers for documenting complicated transactions, including vessel sales and charters, which have peculiar customs and traps.

As a regulatory advisor, Mark counsels his clients on how to navigate state and federal requirements affecting the transportation, logistics, software, finance, and construction industries, and often drafts their terms and conditions to achieve their business and regulatory objectives.  Mark also counsels his clients on insurance coverage and employment matters to avoid these sensitive subjects becoming large-scale problems.

As an advocate, Mark has successfully litigated, tried, and arbitrated cases through final decision in state and federal court, and arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, International Centre for Dispute Resolution, Society of Maritime Arbitrators, and JAMS.  He has also favorably settled hundreds of high stakes disputes for his clients along the way.

Mark has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers for his work in the transportation, maritime, and logistics sectors.  For more information, visit his Super Lawyers profile here.

On a pro bono basis, Mark serves as general counsel to St. James Preschool.  He works closely with the Director and Board to manage employment issues, interface with the parent community on sensitive subjects, and respond to challenging legal issues, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.  Mark was instrumental in helping the school remain open to in-person instruction in compliance with state and federal health and early-education guidelines and regulations.