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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
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Legal Aid Services of Oregon is a statewide nonprofit organization providing high-quality legal representation and advocacy to vulnerable and low-income communities throughout Oregon. Partner James Hein, current Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Pro Bono Committee, was instrumental in launching the firm’s partnership with Legal Aid Roseburg.
The Ramos Project
In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down non-unanimous jury convictions in criminal cases in Ramos v. Louisiana. A shameful carryover from the Jim Crow era, Louisiana and Oregon were the last two states that allowed non-unanimous criminal convictions when as many as two jurors believed a defendant was innocent. Overnight, more than 260 cases in Oregon became eligible to seek post-conviction relief for unconstitutional non-unanimous convictions. Housed in the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Lewis & Clark Law School, the Ramos Project is a statewide pro-bono initiative providing legal assistance to those seeking redress.
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, Governance Committee Chair
Minds Matter of Portland
Board of Directors
Montessori Children’s House
Board of Directors, Chair
OSB Business Law Section
Executive Committee
Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic
Pro Bono Volunteer
Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Roseburg Office
Virtual Clinic Coordinator and Pro Bono Volunteer
Portland Business Alliance Public Service Training
Class of 2020, Member
Board of Directors, Governance Committee Chair
Minds Matter of Portland
Board of Directors
Montessori Children’s House
Board of Directors, Chair
OSB Business Law Section
Executive Committee
Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic
Pro Bono Volunteer
Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Roseburg Office
Virtual Clinic Coordinator and Pro Bono Volunteer
Portland Business Alliance Public Service Training
Class of 2020, Member
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Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
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Awards & Recognition
Multnomah Bar Association
2020, Pro Bono Award of Merit
Portland Business Journal
2021, Forty Under 40
The Best Lawyers in America
2021-2022, Corporate Law
2021-2022, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
2021-2022, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Super Lawyers
2018-2019, Oregon Rising Star – Mergers & Acquisitions
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Recent News
8.19.2021
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2022 List
Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022
6.28.2021
James Hein Listed in Portland Business Journal’s 2021 Forty Under 40
Tonkon Torp partner James Hein has been honored by the Portland Business Journal as one of its 2021 Forty Under 40 award recipients. The annual award recognizes influential business and community leaders in the greater Portland area who are 40 or…
10.15.2020
James Hein Honored with MBA Pro Bono Award of Merit
On October 14, Tonkon Torp Partner James Hein was honored with the 2020 Multnomah Bar Association (MBA) Pro Bono Award of Merit. The award was presented at the virtual MBA Annual Meeting to five lawyers whose efforts and community spirit have made a…
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…
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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