Lawyer, Trusted Advisor, & Business Strategist
At Hein Business Law, I provide Oregon businesses and entrepreneurs with practical, strategic legal advice to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build for long-term success. With nearly two decades of experience at a top law firm, I have the expertise and judgment to help take your business to the next level.
As both an experienced trial lawyer and business lawyer, I bring a rare combination of
skills to the table.
Few business lawyers have experience in court, and few trial lawyers have experience drafting complex contracts. My dual experience enables me to deliver strategic counsel that anticipates and addresses risks, resolves disputes efficiently, and supports your business goals.
My Practice
I work with corporate officers, directors, and business owners across industries, helping them navigate each step of the business lifecycle:
Entity selection and business structure
Shareholder and operating agreements
Corporate governance
Drafting and negotiating contracts with key customers, vendors, and other strategic partners
Buying, selling, and transitioning businesses
Pre-litigation dispute resolution
Three things set me apart from most other business lawyers:
First, I have a strong foundation in both litigation and business law. As a result, I draft and negotiate contracts with a litigator’s eye. I have seen firsthand which factors are most decisive in a dispute, and I do not waste time (or my clients’ money) on theoretical risks that have no practical impact.
Second, I think like a business owner. Taking risks is essential to running a successful business. My job is not to say “no.” My job is to help you assess which risks are worth taking, and how to mitigate the rest. I focus on practical, real-world solutions.
Third, I draft in Plain English. I believe that many disputes can be “won” before they begin by drafting clear, concise contracts. Some lawyers prefer legalese because they believe—incorrectly—that it demonstrates their sophistication and precision. It often has the opposite effect. Clear agreements that are easily understood can protect your interests, shape counterparties’ behavior, and reduce risk.
Representative Matters
Outsourced General Counsel
Served as outsourced general counsel for a manufacturing business, providing strategic and legal advice at board meetings
Strategic Agreement Negotiation
Negotiated a multiyear distribution agreement between a national client and its customer, who was also a key competitor
Mergers & Acquisitions
Led a number of M&A transactions, including a $50 million purchase of a commodity business, a $250 million purchase of a distribution business, and a $40 million sale of a warehouse services business
Generational Wealth Transfer Planning
Advised a couple in forming an entity for family wealth transfers, including preparing an operating agreement designed for multi-generational ownership
Corporate Governance & Stakeholder Conflict
Counseled a corporate officer navigating shareholder conflicts within a family-owned business
Buyout Strategy
Developed and executed on a months-long strategy to secure control, and then sole ownership, of a business whose co-founders had reached an impasse
About me
Meet James Hein
After growing up in Hillsboro and graduating from Boston College Law School, I returned to Oregon to practice law and serve my community. During my nearly 20 years at Tonkon Torp, including 10 years as an equity partner, I honed my expertise in corporate and M&A law. In 2024, I founded Hein Business Law to deliver the same top-tier services you would expect from a large firm, but with a more personal touch.
Outside of work, I enjoy building hi-fi speakers and amplifiers, listening to music, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with my wife and three young children—on bikes, hikes, and camping trips.
Education
J.D., Boston College Law School, cum laude
Editor-in-Chief, B.C. Environmental Affairs Law ReviewB.A., Math and French, Clark Honors College, University of Oregon, cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa, Oregon Six
Junior year abroad, University of Bristol, England
Awards & Recognition
Portland Business Journal, Forty Under 40 (2021)
Multnomah Bar Association, Pro Bono Award of Merit (2020)
Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law (2021–2023)
Best Lawyers in America, M&A Law (2021–2023)
Super Lawyers, M&A Rising Star (2018–2019)
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I am passionate about advancing justice and opportunity in Oregon. Over my career, I have performed more than 2,000 hours of pro bono service and supported organizations that make a difference in our community.
Examples of my pro bono matters include securing clemency for a client facing an unjust prison sentence, saving a client’s home through an innovative bankruptcy strategy, and suing the federal government to force it to process a client’s citizenship application after a multi-year, unnecessary delay. I also have many years of nonprofit board experience:
Transition Projects (Oregon’s largest homeless shelter operator), Board Member & Governance Chair (2018-2024)
Minds Matter of Portland (youth mentoring organization), Founding Board Member (2006-2021)
Montessori Children’s House (South Waterfront preschool), Board Chair (2018-2022)
