John J. Hentrich

John Hentrich is a senior partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Del Mar Heights office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Hentrich has more than 25 years of legal experience representing public and private companies, both domestic and international, in most aspects of their business affairs. Mr. Hentrich also has extensive experience advising public and private investment funds in transactional and other matters. He has structured and advised with respect to a wide range of complex and significant financings (public and private), mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital, private equity, and other business transactions. He has extensive public company boardroom, corporate governance and board committee experience, having served as outside securities counsel and general counsel to many public companies.

In addition to his deep and broad legal background, Mr. Hentrich brings to his clients the unique perspective of a successful and experienced senior executive, having recently served as Chairman and CEO of a prominent venture-backed technology company which he helped drive towards a successful initial public offering and having previously served as Executive Vice President of a publicly traded technology company. He draws upon this background to fashion pragmatic legal solutions which closely support his clients’ broader business needs and objectives.

From 2000-2003, Mr. Hentrich served as Chairman and CEO Visual Sciences, Inc. a prominent technology company that went public in 2004 and was acquired for approximately $400 million in 2008. During the 1990s, he served as a senior partner in the San Diego office of the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie, where he played a leadership role in the firm’s corporate and securities practice, nationally and globally. During the 1980s, Mr. Hentrich was the Executive Vice President of a leading manufacturer of personal computers listed on NASDAQ, and was also a partner and associate at several prominent Southern California law firms. While serving as CEO and as Executive Vice President, Mr. Hentrich was responsible for the oversight of all aspects of the companies’ diverse legal affairs, including SEC/regulatory compliance, IP, contract management, corporate partnering/joint ventures, employment, and litigation matters.

Education

• J.D., Yale Law School
• Ph.D., Yale University
• M.A., Yale University

Selected Professional Experience

Initial and secondary public offerings (debt and equity), public and private equity fund investments, venture capital financings, debt financings, and restructurings

Public and private mergers/acquisitions

Corporate control transactions/disputes, including proxy contests, tender offers, consent solicitations and going private transactions

Advice to Boards of Directors, Board Committees and senior executives regarding SEC, Sarbanes-Oxley, corporate governance and other compliance and fiduciary issues

Audit Committee and Special Committee investigations

Advice, negotiation and structuring of complex joint ventures/partnerships and complex commercial transactions/licensing agreements

International business transactions, joint ventures, financings, and mergers/acquisitions

Oversight of major litigation

Memberships

• Member, State Bar of California
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association