Al Bright, Jr. counsels public and private companies in a diverse range of corporate law matters, serving as a trusted business advisor and outside general counsel to support his clients’ legal and business objectives.
Al works closely with clients to navigate strategic corporate transactions, including navigating mergers and acquisitions ranging from $5 million to $1.2 billion. He also advises clients through securities offerings and capital raising activities, as well as cross-border transactions. Al leads teams in complex negotiations related to licensing and development collaborations as well as supply, distribution and sales agreements. His clients include biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical device companies, as well as manufacturers, distributors and other emerging companies.
With significant experience handling transactional and corporate law matters, he provides clients with a holistic perspective and practical solutions to efficiently resolve challenges for clients ranging from start-ups to well-established corporations. His practice includes:
Al is a Fellow with New Memphis Institute (formerly Memphis Leadership Academy) and an alumnus of Leadership Memphis’ Executive Class. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Al was in-house counsel for medical technology company Medtronic Inc., and most recently, he was a partner in the Memphis office of Waller, Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP.
Memphis Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association
American Bar Association — Health Law Section
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity — Fellow (2015)
New Memphis Institute (formerly Memphis Leadership Academy) — Fellow (2004)
Leadership Memphis — Executive Class (2014)
Evolve Bank & Trust — Board of Directors (2015-present)
Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE) — Chairman (2012-present), Board of Directors (2012-present)
Seeding Success — Board of Directors (2018-present)
Mid-South Regional Blood Center (d/b/a “Lifeblood”) — former member, Board of Directors (2010-2014)
Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency — former member, Board of Directors (2008-2011)
Representation of Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. (NASDAQ:TNDM), a global insulin delivery ad diabetes technology company, in its acquisition of AMF Medical SA, a privately held Swiss developer of the SigiTM Patch Pump. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Representation of Warp Speed Holdings LLC, a rapidly growing mortgage and technology enabled mortgage solutions company, in its recapitalization from MVB Bank, a subsidiary of MVB Financial Corp (Nasdaq: MVBF), for $48 million.
Representation of AA Medical, which provides offerings for the new and resale medical device equipment markets, in its sale to Shore Capital Partners LLC, a Chicago-based private equity firm, that is focused on microcap investments within healthcare and other industries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
We represented ClearPoint Neuro, Inc. (f/k/a MRI Interventions, Inc.), a global therapy-enabling platform company providing navigation and delivery to the brain, in its $17.5 million strategic investment from PTC Therapeutics, Inc. and Petrichor Healthcare Capital Management, with $10.0 million of notes funded by PTC and $7.5 million of notes funded by Petrichor. With the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to PTC and Petrichor, the ClearPoint Neuro intends to repay in full its existing secured indebtedness, and to fund product commercialization, internal research and development, and general corporate requirements. Additionally, we advised ClearPoint Neuro in the draw of $7.5 million additional proceeds from Petrichor in December 2020. ClearPoint Neuro intends to use net proceeds to continue funding global product commercialization, external strategic portfolio partnerships, and internal research and development efforts.
We represented Shelby County Schools (SCS) Board in a transaction to secure funding bringing laptop computers to nearly 95,000 students in the District. By providing nearly 95,000+ new devices and WiFi access to students in the District, each student will have the proper materials to participate in online learning this year. Students are scheduled to have a laptop or tablet by November 2020. The investment in students, which was announced on June 16, is historic step for the District in bridging the digital divide and builds upon the ongoing Equity in Action Plan, which aims to ensure all students have the same access to academic supports.
COVID-19 highlighted the lack of internet access and technology for many students and families in Memphis, Tennessee. This deal is part of a broader $37 million plan to enable all students to learn online. The transaction was formed through a lease-purchase agreement with Microsoft and Hewlett Packard. The funding included federal coronavirus relief dollars through the CARES Act Fund, as well as government bonds from Shelby County and the City of Memphis.
Memphis Business Journal “Power 100” (2019, 2021-2023)
Memphis Business Journal “Best of the Bar” (2021)
The Best Lawyers in America© — Commercial Transactions/UCC Law (2013-2023)
Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2010-2012, 2014-2017)
Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law — Executive Editor