Michael Pirron V. Impact Makers

Settlement Agreement

Impact Makers  is a Richmond, Virginia-based IT consulting firm with a revolutionary social enterprise model. Founded in 2006 by Michael Pirron with $50 and a laptop, it grew to become a 140-person company last valued in 2018 at $186 million.

From the beginning, Michael built the company on an “all-profit-to-charity” model. In 2015, the B Corp pledged to donate all the company’s equity (at that time worth $13.4 million) to two public charities: The Community Foundation of Greater Richmond and Virginia Community Capital.

Dunlap Law has represented Michael Pirron in numerous legal situations over the years, ensuring that Michael is able to protect the company he created and continue its mission of impacting the community.

The Flower Guy Bron

We meet people every day and it can be hard to predict who will still matter in twenty years.

Tricia met Bron Hansboro about twenty years ago. At the time, she was a history teacher at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA. He was one of roughly 140 students whom she taught that year. From the start, Tricia saw something unique and very special about Bron. He is a big dreamer matched by bold action. He’s funny and full of positive energy. He’s a joy to be near.

Back then, Tricia needed a babysitter, so as many high school teachers do, Tricia asked Bron if he wanted to babysit.  This is one of the perqs of being a high school teacher – great babysitters! For the next several years, Bron babysat from time to time.  He became part of Tricia’s family and she became part of his.

After graduation from Thomas Dale, Bron went to Howard University and Tricia drove up one weekend to visit him. Like Tricia, Bron became a teacher but his real passion was flowers. In 2014, Bron started The Flower Guy Bron, LLC as a side gig. Finally, a few years ago, he left teaching and threw his whole self into his business. Bron is incredibly creative, translating his energy and boldness into flower design. If you need wedding flowers look no further.

Now Tricia and Dunlap Law serve The Flower Guy Bron LLC, providing counsel on a variety of business law issues and helping protect the brand through trademarks.

In 2019, Tricia got married. She told Bron some of her wedding details and what her dress looked like. She gave him creative license to do whatever he felt would be right. Tricia had no idea what the flowers would look like until the morning of the wedding.  She loved Bron’s work that day – he nailed it – and enjoyed being surprised.  Long relationships like this one have a foundation of trust that is irreplaceable.

While Bron and Tricia’s relationship is incomparable, this kind of long-term partnership is exactly what Dunlap Law strives to create with all of its clients.

Paul Saunders Roofing

Paul Saunders Roofing is a third-generation family roofing business and since 2017 Dunlap Law has helped its owner, Graham Aston, protect the business and capture new opportunities.

In mid-2021, Paul Saunders Roofing moved to new headquarters in a historic former auto parts store in Richmond’s Blackwell neighborhood.

Dunlap Law’s attorneys drafted the contract used to acquire the building and Tricia relied on her experience in McGuireWoods environmental law practice group to protect PSR from liability related to potential environmental issues.  In 2018, when it was acquired, the building was truly distressed as the picture below shows. The roof had leaked for years and was partly collapsed.  The interior was littered with debris.  Nevertheless, Graham saw its potential and did not hesitate to buy the property.  Now, with the renovation finished and its tin ceiling restored, the building is a beautiful space for the PSR team.

Dunlap Law also helped Graham create a succession plan for PSR.  In 2018, Graham’s son-in-law Jarrod Frakes joined the company.  Jarrod is poised to carry the family business into the future.  The Dunlap Law team has helped PSR with a variety of business law issues, from employee concerns to contracts and customer issues, we are invested for the long run in PSR’s success.

Shareholder Dispute with a Family Owned Business

A two-generation family-owned small business found itself in court when one shareholder sued two other shareholders for breach of fiduciary duties and conversion.  In her complaint, the plaintiff also included a derivative claim – suing on behalf of the corporation itself.  She sought $2.5 million in damages and asked the court to dissolve the corporation even though it was a sound business with more than 25 employees and 20 years of service in central Virginia.  Tricia Dunlap and Brandy Brown served as defense counsel and successfully negotiated a settlement that bought out the plaintiff-shareholder and freed the business to continue operating under the continued stewardship of the two defendant-shareholders.

Preventing a Shareholder Lawsuit

In the early spring of 2021, the leaders of a legendary Richmond small business reached out to Tricia for advice on officer-director-shareholder relations.  Thanks to COVID-19, long-simmering tensions had exploded to open hostility.  As counsel to the company, Tricia’s goal was to ensure it complied with its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Virginia law while getting everyone refocused on the best interest of the business.  Over several months of board meetings, a more collaborative perspective took root.  All the shareholders attended the annual shareholder meeting which resulted in a disaffected shareholder becoming constructively re-engaged with the company and its needs.  During the meeting, shareholders voted unanimously to approve actions taken by the company’s leaders over the past year.  The company’s leadership now has a more solid foundation to run the business and the risk of shareholder litigation no longer distracts from the company’s needs.