Exhibit 5.1
NEW YORK LONDON SINGAPORE PHILADELPHIA |  | ATLANTA BALTIMORE WILMINGTON MIAMI |
CHICAGO WASHINGTON, DC SAN FRANCISCO SILICON VALLEY SAN DIEGO | FIRM and AFFILIATE OFFICES | BOCA RATON PITTSBURGH NEWARK LAS VEGAS CHERRY HILL |
SHANGHAI BOSTON HOUSTON LOS ANGELES HANOI HO CHI MINH CITY | www.duanemorris.com | LAKE TAHOE MYANMAR OMAN A GCC REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF DUANE MORRIS
MEXICO CITY ALLIANCE WITHMIRANDA & ESTAVILLO SRI LANKA ALLIANCE WITH GOWERS INTERNATIONAL |
March 7, 2022
Protagenic Therapeutics Inc.
149 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500
New York, NY 10010
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-8; 737,040 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, Protagenic Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”). |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to the Company, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, in connection with the proposed issuance of up to 737,040 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), to be issued pursuant to the Protagenic Therapeutics Inc. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 8, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the validity of the Shares.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Plan, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares in the DGCL.
| Duane Morris llp A Delaware limited liability partnership | DAVID A. SUSSMAN, RESIDENT PARTNER |
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Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc.
March 7, 2022
Page 2
It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.
The opinion expressed herein is rendered as of the date hereof and is based on existing law, which is subject to change. Where our opinion expressed herein refers to events to occur at a future date, we have assumed that there will have been no changes in the relevant law or facts between the date hereof and such future date. We do not undertake to advise you of any changes in the opinion expressed herein from matters that may hereafter arise or be brought to our attention or to revise or supplement such opinion should the present laws of any jurisdiction be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.
Our opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Duane Morris LLP |