James J. Scheinkman

Bar Admissions

• California

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of California
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• United States District Court, Southern District of California

Education

• New York University School of Law (J.D.)
• State University of New York, Binghamton (B.A., Economics and Environmental Studies, with distinction)

Awards & Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (2007-2014), Securities Regulation (2007-2026), Corporate Law (2026), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026), Venture Capital Law (2026)
• Orange County Visionary, Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing (2023)
• AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell^®
• Southern California Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions (2006-2010, 2014-2016)
• Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Service, State Bar of California (2013)
• Nick Yocca Award of Distinction & Merit, Association of Corporate Growth, Orange County Chapter (2011)
• Super Lawyers
  • Mergers & Acquisitions – Business Edition (2011)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions – Corporate Counsel Edition (2009)

Representative Transactions

Jim Scheinkman has served as the lead attorney in the following representative transactions:

• Represented Brandman University (part of the Chapman University System) in a 2012 joint venture to create a new college providing Dual Language English Immersion degree programs for native Spanish speakers
• Represented GHD in its 2011 acquisition of Winzler & Kelly
• Represented Intri-Plex Technologies, Inc., in its 2010 sale to MMI Precision Technologies Limited
• Represented largest shareholder of an aerospace company in an $850 million sale to a public company
• Represented buying shareholders in buyout of principal shareholder of an exhaust component company in 2010
• Represented the buying shareholder in buyout of major shareholder in a construction products company in 2009
• Represented the buying shareholder in buyout of major shareholder in RV park and related real estate holding company in 2009
• Represented the sellers in the sale of majority control of prosthetic company to two private equity groups in 2008
• Represented an employee-owned, international architectural firm in a complex corporate reorganization
• Represented the acquirer in the recapitalization and debt financing, as well as in the equity fund formation and equity raise of Pro-Motion Distributing, a leading distributor of branded specialty automotive aftermarket parts
• Represented the seller in the original sale and subsequent repurchase of a provider of construction and maintenance services to the telecommunications industry, to a global industrial equipment and manufacturing company
• Represented a franchisee in roll-up of a large food industry franchisee involving approximately 20 partnerships

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Association for Corporate Growth, Orange County Chapter (2000-Present)
  • Board of Directors (2000-2011, 2015-Present)
  • President (2005-2006)
• American Bar Association
  • Private Target Mergers & Acquisitions Deal Points Studies (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
  • M&A Carve-Out Transaction Deal Points Study (2017)
• Orange County Bar Association, Business and Corporate Law Section
  • Chair (1999)
  • Officer (1996-1999)
  • Corporate Counsel Section, Co-Chair (1994-1995)

Community Involvement

• Orange County United Way
  • Board of Directors
  • Presidents Circle
  • Tocqueville Society
• South Coast Repertory, Audience Development Committee

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “A Nightmare on M&A Street,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (February 24, 2025)
• “Preparing Your Business For Sale Or Other Liquidity Event,” Presenter, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Orange County C-Circle (December 6, 2022)
• “Cultures United: A Conversation Series – The Rise of Antisemitism in Our Community,” Moderator, Orange County United Way (August 23, 2022)
• “M&A Transactions – What’s “Market” and Why Should I Care?“, Host, CalCurrent (June 9, 2022)
• “A Look at Developing Legal Considerations in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Environmental Law Roundtable Series (February 8, 2022)
• “Mergers & Acquisitions: Still Alive and Well,” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE Series (June 22, 2021)
• “M&A 101 for Startups (The Pot at the End of the Rainbow?),” Speaker, SBDC @ University of California, Irvine Beall Applied Innovation Incubator (June 8, 2021)
• “Key Legal and Business Considerations in Selling a Business” Host, CalCurrent (February 25, 2021)
• “5 New Year’s Resolutions for M&A, PE Attorneys,” Quoted, Law360 (January 3, 2021)
• “Distressed Mergers and Acquisitions,” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer 2020 Year-End CLE Series (August 26, 2020)
• “Distressed M&A: Opportunities, Risks and Positioning in the Aftermath of COVID-19,” Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer’s Strategic Opportunities Practice Group Webinar (June 24, 2020)
• “Distressed M&A: Opportunities, Risks, and Positioning in the Aftermath of COVID-19,” Co-Presenter, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Orange County Webinar (May 27, 2020)
• “Mid-Market Business Owners: Exit Your Business on Your Own Terms,” Panelist, Newport Beach, CA (November 13, 2019)
• “Corporate Governance and Board of Directors Issues” (Training Program for Pro Bono Nonprofit Organizations Legal Assessment Clinic), Presenter, ACC-SoCal, Public Law Center, Snell & Wilmer Orange County Office, Costa Mesa, CA (April 4, 2019)
• “M&A Closings: “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 5, 2018)
• “Corporate Governance and Board of Directors Issues” (Training Program for Pro Bono Nonprofit Organizations Legal Assessment Clinic), Presenter, ACC-SoCal, Public Law Center, UCI Law, Irvine, CA (May 10, 2018)
• “Key Strategies in Negotiating Letters of Intent in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Presenter, Lorman Education Services, Webinar (February 14, 2018)
• “The Seaworthy Seller: Preparing for the M&A Voyage.,” Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 6, 2017)
• “Orange County United Way Welcomes James Scheinkman to the Board of Directors,” Snell & Wilmer Press Release (July 19, 2017)
• “Letters of Intent: Tips on How to Properly Start the M&A Process,” Co-Presenter, OC Healthcare Financial Network, Irvine, CA (June 9, 2017)
• “Business Transition Checklist: Key legal (and some business) considerations for a smooth and profitable business transition,” Presenter, Business Transition Symposium, Newport Beach, CA (May 17, 2017)
• “Key Strategies in Negotiating Letters of Intent in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Presenter, Lorman Education Services, Webinar (February 14, 2017)
• “The Tie that Binds: Enforceability of Merger Provisions Against Non-signatory Shareholders,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 14, 2016)
• “What a Drag (-Along)! – Dealing with minority owners in M&A deals,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 9, 2015)
• “M&A Secrets Revealed? Protecting a seller’s attorney communications,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (September 29, 2014)
• “Clinic in a Box^SM Program” (Training Program for Non-profit Entity Intake – Legal Forms and Governance), Presenter, ACC-SoCal, Public Law Center, Corporate Pro Bono (February 5, 2014)
• “Key Strategies in Negotiating Letters of Intent to Buy or Sell a Business,” Presenter, Chapman University, Orange, CA (March 26, 2014)
• “Negotiating Letters of Intent in M&A Transactions,” Presenter, USC Gould School of Law Course, Los Angeles, CA (February 2014)
• “Successful Growth Through Acquisitions,” Author, Orange County Business Journal (September 30, 2013)
• “Enforceable or Unenforceable? Examining Commonly Used Contract Provisions,” Speaker, Association of Corporate Counsel SoCal, Long Beach, CA (June 11, 2013)
• “‘Plan B’ for Rule 10b5-1 Plans,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (April 1, 2013)
• “Negotiating Letters of Intent in M&A Transactions,” Presenter, USC Gould School of Law Course, Los Angeles, California (January 2013)
• “Goodwill Hunting: Enforcing Non-Competes in California M&A Transactions,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (September 24, 2012)
• “Key Strategies in Negotiating Letters of Intent in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Presenter, Lorman Education Services, Audio Conference (May 22, 2012)
• “Private Target M&A Deal Points: An Interactive Case Study,” Presenter, Private Equity Association Los Angeles (PEALA), Los Angeles (March 8, 2012)
• “Key Strategies in Negotiating Letters of Intent to Buy or Sell a Business,” Presenter, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Los Angeles (January 30, 2012)
• “Advising business owners who hate their partners,” Co-Author, Daily Journal (January 19, 2012)
• “Representing Business Owners Who Hate Their Partners: Resolving Shareholder Disputes,” Presenter, Orange County Bar Association, Orange County (November 30, 2011)
• “Buyer Beware: Creditor claims in asset purchases,” Author, Orange County Business Journal (September 19, 2011)
• “The M&A Case Study: Key Strategies for Negotiating Letters of Intent to Buy or Sell a Business,” Presenter, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Orange County (October 1, 2010)
• “Separate and Unequal Treatment in M&A Deals? Director Duties to Different Classes of Shareholders,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (August 23, 2010)
• “Our Orange County Winter of Discontent,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 24, 2008)
• “Private Equity Acquisitions and Directors’ Duties,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal Supplement (August 27, 2007)
• “Reading Between the M&A Lines,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal Supplement (July 31, 2006)
• “Selling Your Business to a Private Equity Firm,” Author, Orange County Business Journal (January 9, 2006)
• “Buying and Selling a Business in California” Lorman Presentation (October 27, 2004)
• “Attorneys and Corporate Governance: Life After Sarbanes-Oxley” Orange County Bar Association Section Meeting (November 19, 2002)
• “Audit Committees: Revising Their Duties and Enhancing Their Effectiveness,” American Electronics Association, Orange County Chapter (October 10, 2002)