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James  Hein

James Hein

PARTNER

503.802.2129
james.hein@tonkon.com
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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.
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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, 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

The Best Lawyers in America

The Best Lawyers in America

2021, Corporate Law
2021, Mergers & Acquisitions Law

Multnomah Bar Association

2020, Pro Bono Award of Merit
Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2018-2019, Oregon Rising Star – Mergers & Acquisitions
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Recent News

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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
Read More
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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
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Services

Business Law Corporate Finance & Transactions Mergers & Acquisitions
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Education

J.D., cum laude, Boston College Law School, 2005
Editor in Chief, Environmental Affairs Law Review

B.A., cum laude, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon, 2002, Phi Beta Kappa, Oregon Six
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Bar & Court Admissions

Oregon State Bar
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