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Overview
Justin has a practical, “plain-English” approach to practicing law. He works hard to solve problems creatively, instead of focusing on why outcomes don’t seem possible.
Justin’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures, and other complex transactions. Justin also serves as outside general counsel to dozens of national, regional, and local privately-held companies.
He represents clients in many industries, including auto dealerships, seniors housing, sports, manufacturing, and professional services (engineering, architectural, health care, and legal).
Justin is the past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Business Law Section. He frequently presents legal education courses to lawyers in areas of his expertise.
Outside the office, Justin is passionate about his family, running marathons, backpacking, and fishing. He also enjoys traveling internationally, and speaks conversational Tagalog (Filipino).
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Featured Representative Matters
Represented Moda Health in its corporate restructure and sale of a 49.5% interest in its business for more than $150 million.
Represented 60-year-old family-owned company in its $475 million sale to private equity group.
Structured and provides on-going counsel to joint venture that develops seniors housing facilities across the United States and Canada.
Restructured joint venture and split up assets worth more than $300 million.
Part of team of Tonkon lawyers that developed and implemented Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructure of more than 700 entities with obligations owing to over 90 secured lenders, including the sale of 146 senior living facilities for $1.2 billion.
Represented clients buying, selling, and financing hotels, professional firms, auto dealerships, portfolios of seniors housing facilities, and other types of assets.
Represented borrowers in financing hotels, senior housing facilities and other real estate assets.
Represented group of cardiothoracic surgeons in negotiating a long-term exclusive provider relationship with Providence Health & Services.
Structured and implemented strategic joint venture between pharmaceutical companies.
Successfully collected $20 million reverse-termination fee in failed strategic sale of international company.
Represented retiring owners in sales of majority interests in local, regional, and national companies, including a merchant bank, a crane company, and a uniform manufacturing company.
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Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Pilots Smooth Landing in Columbia Helicopters Sale
Tonkon Torp led one of Oregon's most notable M&A deals of 2019 for its client, Columbia Helicopters. Founded in 1957, Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (CHI) is one of Oregon's most recognizable brands.
Tonkon Torp Leads Moda Health Through Corporate Restructure and $155 Million Sale
Tonkon Torp led client Moda Health through its high-profile corporate restructure and $155 million stock sale to Delta Dental of California.
Tonkon Torp Helps Create Oregon Benefit Companies
Tonkon Torp client Rogue Creamery became the first Oregon enterprise to become a Benefit Company on January 1, 2014, the date Oregon’s new law went into effect. Find details and more featured cases here.
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon State Bar Business Section
Past Chair, Executive Committee Member
Oregon State Bar Subcommittee
Oregon Limited Liability Company Act
Oregon Business Corporation Act
City Finance Committee
Past Member
Youth Basketball Coach
Basketball Referee
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Professional Memberships
Oregon State Bar
American Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
American Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
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Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2014-2020, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
2017-2020, Closely Held Companies & Family Businesses Law
2018-2020, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
2014, Lawyer of the Year – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Portland
2017-2020, Closely Held Companies & Family Businesses Law
2018-2020, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
2014, Lawyer of the Year – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Portland
Super Lawyers
2018-2019, Oregon Super Lawyer – Business/Corporate
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Recent News
10.14.2019
Michael Fletcher and Justin Denton Speak at Northwest Dealerships Seminar
Tonkon Torp partners Michael Fletcher and Justin Denton spoke at the 2019 Northwest Dealerships Seminar.
8.15.2019
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
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.
5.2.2019
Justin Denton Leads Session on Shareholder Agreement for OSU
Tonkon Torp attorney Justin Denton led a session on shareholder agreements at the April 11 "Family Business 360" breakfast event, hosted by the Austin Family Business Program of Oregon State University. Justin shared how a family business can use…
8.17.2018
Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List
Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
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…
7.16.2018
Anna Sortun and Justin Denton Discuss Buy-Sell Provisions at OSB CLE
On June 19, Tonkon Torp partners Anna Sortun and Justin Denton were featured speakers at a CLE presentation that focused on crafting and defending buy-sell provisions. The event was hosted by the Oregon State Bar Business Law Section.
5.21.2018
Justin Denton Discusses Succession Planning for Thought Leader Forum
Tonkon Torp attorney Justin Denton was featured in the latest “Thought Leader Forum” supplement published by the Portland Business Journal. The Thought Leader Forum covered the topic of succession planning and included a profile of Justin as well as…
8.16.2017
Best Lawyers in America® Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2018 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years…
8.15.2016
Best Lawyers in America® Names 44 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2017 List
Forty-four Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 38 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017. Each attorney has been named to the list in past years, and nearly all have been recognized for more than five years…
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Publications & Presentations
"Dealership Sales and Acquisitions," 2019 Northwest Dealerships Seminar, September 2019
"I Have a Family Business to Run – Why Should I Worry About a Shareholders Agreement?" Austin Family Business Program, Oregon State University, April 2019
"Best Practices in Crafting and Defending Shareholder Agreements," OSB Business Law Section, June 2018
Panelist, "Succession Planning Thought Leader Forum," Portland Business Journal, May 2018
"Structuring Equity Compensation in Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships," Business Law 2014: From Private M&A to Cybersecurity and Privacy Law, OSB Business Law Section, November 2014
"Buy-Sell Developments for Auto Dealers," 2014 Northwest Dealership Seminar, June 2014
"Spinning Plates – Giving Back and Finding Balance in Life and the Law," J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Portland Chapter, April 2014
"Carefully Structure LLCs to Avoid Unintended Consequences," Daily Journal of Commerce, March 2012
"Protecting Both Ethnic Minorities and the Equal Protection Clause: Resolving the Dilemma of Language-Based Peremptory Challenges," BYU Law Review, 101, 1997
"I Have a Family Business to Run – Why Should I Worry About a Shareholders Agreement?" Austin Family Business Program, Oregon State University, April 2019
"Best Practices in Crafting and Defending Shareholder Agreements," OSB Business Law Section, June 2018
Panelist, "Succession Planning Thought Leader Forum," Portland Business Journal, May 2018
"Structuring Equity Compensation in Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships," Business Law 2014: From Private M&A to Cybersecurity and Privacy Law, OSB Business Law Section, November 2014
"Buy-Sell Developments for Auto Dealers," 2014 Northwest Dealership Seminar, June 2014
"Spinning Plates – Giving Back and Finding Balance in Life and the Law," J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Portland Chapter, April 2014
"Carefully Structure LLCs to Avoid Unintended Consequences," Daily Journal of Commerce, March 2012
"Protecting Both Ethnic Minorities and the Equal Protection Clause: Resolving the Dilemma of Language-Based Peremptory Challenges," BYU Law Review, 101, 1997