Richard G. Reinis

Partner

• rreinis@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Century City Office

Richard G. Reinis is a partner in the Century City office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he practices in the Business Solutions and Litigation departments. His clients are from diverse industries, including energy, real estate, consumer brands, apparel, retail, and others. Since joining the firm, he has been involved as lead counsel in mergers and acquisitions of middle market companies and significant commercial litigation. Transactions that have concluded under his leadership include the sale of an LED company, an apparel company, a blanket company, an energy company, and a large California ranch. He has represented buyers in connection with the acquisition of an apparel company, a wind energy generation company, and other businesses. He has served as lead counsel in trade secrets litigation, probate matters, and licensing disputes.

Mr. Reinis commenced his law practice in 1969. Prior to joining Steptoe, he practiced with a law firm of international renown and a law firm he founded. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in business organizations, labor and employment matters, real estate transactions, franchising, licensing, and assisting companies in workouts. He has represented businesses in connection with factoring relationships and has lectured on factoring, as well as trademarks and copyrights. Mr. Reinis has hands-on business experience as a real estate developer, manufacturer and as the largest franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. 

Mr. Reinis has served as an expert witness on apparel-related litigation matters and is a court-appointed Special Master. He previously served as lead counsel in several state court jury trials and has experience with the American Arbitration Association, the ICC, and Federal Court litigation.

He is trustee and secretary of the Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation, a member of the Endowment Investment Committee of the University of California at Riverside Foundation, and lectures nationally to business organizations and business school students.  Mr. Reinis is a former Board member of LAFLA, LA Children’s Museum, and the State Bar Fund. He was the founder of the Compliance Alliance, the nation’s largest volunteer organization dedicated to FLSA compliance. His work in this arena earned him national recognition as a labor reformer. On behalf of the USDOL, he lectured national retailers on FLSA issues. Mr. Reinis was recently appointed to the Judicial Council of California Legal Services Trust Fund Commission.

Mr. Reinis is a nationally recognized speaker on issues related to corporate governance, conduct of work-outs and disposal of assets in non-bankruptcy settings, the conflict between public and private companies in strategic relationships, HR issues that arise in sudden downsizing, and the roots of the current economic crisis. 

Noteworthy

• Southern California Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate, 2012 

Select News & Events

• California ApparelNews.net Quotes Rich Reinis on California's Human-Trafficking Law
• Southern California Super Lawyers Recognizes 12 Steptoe Attorneys
• Steptoe’s Reinis Quoted in dealReporter Article on US Shale Exploration
• Daily Journal Quotes Rich Reinis on Fashion Protection Bill
• Richard Reinis Presents to 2011 National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) Business and Leadership Conference, February 19, 2011
• Richard Reinis to Participate in Panel at Vistage All City International Meeting, September 29, 2010
• Richard Reinis Presents to 2010 National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) Business and Leadership Conference, February 25, 2010
• Steptoe Announces Four New Partners and Six Additional Promotions; Re-elects Chair and Vice Chair of Firm’s Executive Committee
• Law360 Quotes Richard Reinis in Article on Increasing Challenges to CFIUS

Selected Publications

• Employment Update - California Supreme Court Issues Opinion on Employer Meal and Rest Break Obligations
  April 12, 2012
• An Exploration into the Practice of Fashion Law
  2012, Navigating Fashion Law
• Regulation: Forced-Labor Law Binds Business?
  Companies fear state act will spur lawsuits.
  January 30, 2012, Los Angeles Business Journal
• Suppliers Are Not Banks: What to Do When Companies Will Not Pay Their Bills
  October 18, 2011, The Los Angeles Daily Journal
• Recovering Attorney's Fees in Probate Actions
  February 2011, Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
• Secure Transactions
  Practitioners should advise clients that any transaction involving foreign investment may come under the purview of CFIUS
  September 2010, Los Angeles Lawyer
• How to Fix the Judge Salary Problem
  May 20, 2010, The Huffington Post
• "CFIUS and Foreign Investment in the US Wind Energy Industry: A Question of National Security"
  October 2009, Power and Energy Solutions

More Publications »

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Judicial Council of California Legal Services Trust Fund Commission