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Overview
James's business and corporate law practice involves counseling clients through all stages of growth, with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions, and sales of businesses. His experience includes entity formation and structure, corporate finance, commercial law, and contracts.
Many of James's clients are family-owned and other closely held businesses. They span a variety of industries, including distribution, retail, manufacturing, and services.
Having begun his career as a trial lawyer, James has resolved hundreds of business disputes, representing clients in trials, arbitration proceedings, and settlement negotiations. This litigation background gives James a unique perspective when advising his business clients. James's clients value his ability to identify practical solutions to complicated problems.
James regularly represents pro bono clients referred by Legal Aid Services of Oregon, and he chairs the firm's pro bono committee. In 2006, he helped form the Portland chapter of Minds Matter, a national nonprofit dedicated to educating, mentoring, and securing college acceptances for highly motivated high-school students with limited financial means. In law school, he was an extern for the Honorable R. William Riggs, Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.
Many of James's clients are family-owned and other closely held businesses. They span a variety of industries, including distribution, retail, manufacturing, and services.
Having begun his career as a trial lawyer, James has resolved hundreds of business disputes, representing clients in trials, arbitration proceedings, and settlement negotiations. This litigation background gives James a unique perspective when advising his business clients. James's clients value his ability to identify practical solutions to complicated problems.
James regularly represents pro bono clients referred by Legal Aid Services of Oregon, and he chairs the firm's pro bono committee. In 2006, he helped form the Portland chapter of Minds Matter, a national nonprofit dedicated to educating, mentoring, and securing college acceptances for highly motivated high-school students with limited financial means. In law school, he was an extern for the Honorable R. William Riggs, Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.
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Get To Know
A native Oregonian, James is an avid bike commuter. He enjoys camping, hiking, and being outdoors with his wife Tina and three small children.
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Featured Representative Matters
Sale of Big Data Focused Software Company
We assisted with the sale of SnappyData, Inc., a software company focused in the Big Data space that was incubated at Pivotal Software and also backed by GE Digital and GTD Capital. We assisted SnappyData in negotiating and consummating the sale of the Company, including its Indian subsidiary, to TIBCO Software.
Acquisition of Eastern Oregon-Based Beverage Distributor
We assisted our client, Columbia Distributing, in its acquisition of Eastern Oregon-based Graybeal Distributing. This expands Columbia's territory as it continues to grow as one of the largest U.S. beverage distributors.
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Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Guides SnappyData through Equity Sale
Tonkon Torp helped client SnappyData, Inc. to negotiate and complete an equity sale to TIBCO Software. SnappyData is a software company based in Portland that operates in the open-source big data space.
Tonkon Torp Helps Columbia Distributing Continue Expansion
Tonkon Torp partners Ron Greenman and James Hein assisted the firm’s long-term client, Columbia Distributing, in its acquisition of Graybeal Distributing. The transaction adds new beverage brands to Columbia’s portfolio and expands its territory into Eastern Oregon.
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Community Involvement & Activities
Transition Projects, Inc.
Board of Directors
Minds Matter of Portland
Board of Directors
Montessori Children’s House
Board of Directors
OSB Business Law Section
Executive Committee, Member
CLE, Legislative, and Newsletter Subcommittees, Member
Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic
Pro Bono Volunteer
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Pro Bono Volunteer
Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland, Class of 2012
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Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
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Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2021, Corporate Law
2021, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
2021, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Multnomah Bar Association
2020, Pro Bono Award of Merit
Super Lawyers
2018-2019, Oregon Rising Star – Mergers & Acquisitions
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Recent News
8.20.2020
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more…
2.28.2020
James Hein Looks Ahead to 2020 in Thought Leader Forum
Tonkon Torp attorney James Hein was featured in the year-end “Thought Leader Forum” series published by the Portland Business Journal. The Forum interview, conducted in December 2019, looked ahead to 2020 and explored trends in a wide range of topics…
7.16.2019
31 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2019 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-one Tonkon Torp attorneys in nine practice areas have been included in the 2019 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.
5.23.2019
Tonkon Torp Colleagues Together Through the Long Haul
Anna Sortun, Kimberlee Stafford, and James Hein have shared many journeys since starting their law careers together at Tonkon Torp as first-year attorneys in a class of three.
3.6.2019
James Hein Joins Transition Projects Board of Directors
Tonkon Torp partner James Hein has joined the Board of Directors of Transition Projects, Inc. (TPI). Transition Projects provides individuals with services, resources, and tools to help end their homelessness, secure housing, and maintain that…
8.30.2018
James Hein Joins Board of Directors for Montessori Children's House
Tonkon Torp partner James Hein has joined the Board of Directors for the Montessori Children's House. The school was founded in 2010 and serves the diverse community of Portland's South Waterfront. Hein is helping to transition the school from its…
7.24.2018
31 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2018 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-one Tonkon Torp attorneys in 11 practice areas have been included in the 2018 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists. Tonkon Torp partner and bankruptcy authority Albert Kennedy has been once again recognized on the Top 50 list of Oregon…
4.27.2018
Tonkon Torp Makes 2018 Contribution to Small Business Legal Clinic
Tonkon Torp made a donation in support of Lewis & Clark Law School's Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC). The SBLC Pro-Bono Program works to assist small business owners who otherwise cannot afford to pay for legal services.
6.13.2016
James Hein Digs into Acquisition Agreements for CLE Program
Tonkon Torp business attorney James Hein spoke in April at a National Business Institute CLE program titled, "Handling the Sale of a Business." The program touched upon key elements of the full acquisition process from drafting a first summary to…
5.20.2016
Tonkon Torp Sponsors UO Pioneer Awards
Tonkon Torp sponsored a table at the May 19 Pioneer Awards, put on by the University of Oregon at the Portland Art Museum.Ron Greenman organized Tonkon's participation at the event, which honored long-time client and friend of the firm, Harry…
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Recent Alerts
11.17.2011
Dodd-Frank Broadly Expands SEC Whistleblower Program (Part 2 of 2)
As discussed in a previous update, the Securities and Exchange Commission recently issued final rules implementing its new whistleblower program designed to encourage reporting of potential violations of the federal securities laws.
10.27.2011
Dodd-Frank Broadly Expands SEC Whistleblower Program (Part 1 of 2)
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently issued final rules implementing a whistleblower program designed to encourage reporting of potential violations of the federal securities laws to the SEC to enhance its success in enforcement actions.
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Publications & Presentations
Panelist, "Outlook 2020 Thought Leader Forum," Portland Business Journal, December 2019
"Structuring and Drafting the Acquisition Agreement," Handling the Sale of a Business, National Business Institute, April 2016
"Business Entities," SuperSaturday CLE, Oregon State Bar New Lawyers Division, October 2014
"Key Considerations Impacting Choice of Business Form," LLC Workshop: Choose, Draft and Maintain, National Business Institute, August 2014
"Ambush—Waiver of Privilege at Trial," OADC Journal, Fall 2007
"The 'Sound Science' Amendment to the Endangered Species Act: Why It Fails to Resolve the Klamath Basin Conflict," 32 B.C. Envtl. Aff. L. Rev. 207, 2005