Jeffrey C. Wolfstone
Shareholder
wolfstonej@lanepowell.com
503.778.2153
Areas of Practice
Jeff Wolfstone focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, commercial
finance, corporate law and governance, venture capital and private equity, sustainability and
nonprofit corporations. He is Co-chair of the Firm’s Corporate Finance and Securities Practice
Group and serves as a leader of the Firm’s Financial Institutions Industry Team. Jeff has been
commended for his work by Chambers USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, which
states, “Clients are universally pleased with his work, describing him as a ‘problem solver’ who is ‘very
practical, very accessible and very responsive.’” Jeff was also named Portland’s 2016 “Lawyer of the
Year” for his work in Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) by Best Lawyers®.
Admitted to Practice
Oregon
Academics
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (J.D., 1977)
Stanford University (A.B., 1974)
Phi Beta Kappa
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
Member, Lane Powell Board of Directors (2010-2012)
Co-director, Business Transactions Department
Co-chair, Corporate Finance and Securities Practice Group
Co-chair, Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group
Chair, Tax-Exempt and Nonprofit Organzations Practice Group
Apparel and Footwear
Business
Education
Financial Institutions Industry Team
Food, Beverage and Hospitality
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Bribery and International Anti-Corruption
Retail
Startups and Emerging Companies
Sustainability and Climate Change
Sustainability Committee
Representative Matters and Clients
Natural and organic foods distributor in corporate and finance matters
Internet-based electronic discovery company and digital information management services company
in corporate and finance matters
Scrap metal recycling company in corporate and finance matters
State retirement fund in corporate and investment matters
Investment banking firm on M&A matters
Research team in biomedical venture investment
Catalog apparel retailer in corporate and finance matters; sale of the company to private equity firm
Organic produce company in restructuring and corporate matters
Outdoor apparel company in corporate and finance matters
Family-owned apparel company in corporate and governance matters
Fresh food company in private equity financing
U.S. subsidiary of foreign printer manufacturing company in corporate matters
U.S. subsidiary of foreign bread company in corporate and finance matters
U.S. subsidiary of foreign trading company on corporate and finance matters
Acquiror of publicly traded restaurant company in going private transaction
Public company in acquisition of nonprofit hospital
Coffee company in acquisition of tea company
Publications
“Lawyers Eye Social Change: A New Class of Socially Responsible Companies May Clamor for a
New Kind of Legal Service,” Portland Business Journal, Quoted (June 29, 2012)
“Push on to Pass Benefit Corporation Legislation in Oregon,” Sustainable Business Oregon, Quoted
(January 30, 2012)
“Inovise Lands $5M,” Portland Business Journal, Quoted (February 25, 2011)
“Legislative Initiatives Encourage Corporate Social Responsibility,” Oregon State Bar Sustainable Future Section newsletter, The Long View, Co-author (Fall 2010)
“Benefit Corporations aim to promote sustainability,” Portland Business Journal, Quoted (September
10, 2010)
“Advising Oregon Businesses,” Oregon State Bar (on Partnership and Corporate matters), Author
and Editor
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Speaking Engagements
“Private Company Governance: Best Practices for Effective Governance,” National Association of Corporate Directors Event, Moderator (April 8, 2015)
“From the Ground Up, Taking Rural Ideas to Urban Landscapes: Oregon Benefit Corporations – Merging Profit and Public Benefit,” University of Oregon Green Business Symposium, Panelist (February 6, 2015)
“Oregon Benefit Companies: Merging Profit and Public Benefit,” Oregon State Bar CLE Seminar (October 2, 2014)
“Oregon’s New Benefit Company Statute,” Oregon State Bar CLE Seminar (June 25, 2013)
“Improving Board Effectiveness: Developing Board Best Practices,” National Association of Corporate Directors Event, Moderator (May 14, 2013)
“Effectively Advising and Representing Boards of Directors,” Oregon State Bar Business Law 2012: From Fiduciary Duties to Social Media CLE Seminar (November 9, 2012)
“Legal Entities for Social Enterprise,” University of Oregon Green Business Symposium, Panelist
(February 9, 2012)
“The New Wave of Corporate Governance Legislation – Moving Beyond Profits to Public Benefits. What Is It?” How Will It Impact Doing Business?” Oregon State Bar Corporate Governance CLE (November 17, 2010)
“Sustainability and Green Building for Commercial and Governmental Growth,” The Seminar Group (October 2009)
“Sustainability in Private Law Practice,” Oregon State Bar Leadership College (2008)
“Elements of a Sustainable Business,” Oregon Law Institute of Lewis and Clark Law School (2008)
“Round Table on Sustainability and Corporate Law,” Willamette University School of Law (2008)
“Risks and Rewards of Sustainable Business; Corporate Governance: Embedding Sustainability in the
Corporation,” The Center on Corporations, Law & Society, Seattle University School of Law, (2008)
“Shareholder Agreement Valuation and Buy-Out Provisions,” Oregon State Bar (2000)
“Mergers and Acquisitions,” Oregon State Bar and Oregon Law Institute (1998)
“Selected Drafting Considerations Under the Oregon Revised Partnership Act,” Oregon State Bar
(1997)
“Amortization of Goodwill, Covenants not to Compete, Purchase Intangibles and Expansion of
Indopco,” Oregon Law Institute (1993)
“Closely Held Corporations,” Oregon Law Institute (1993)
“Creation and Maintenance of a Nonprofit Corporation under the new Nonprofit Corporation Act,”
Oregon State Bar (1990)
“The Revised Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act,” Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law,
(1989)
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Awards and Honors
Named Portland’s “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) by Best Lawyers® (2016)
Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2011-2016)
Recommended by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Corporate/M&A
(2004-2016)
AV Preeminent® in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
Named as “Oregon Super Lawyer.” Super Lawyers® magazine, Mergers and Acquisitions,
(2006-2016)
Professional and Community Activities
Boalt Hall Alumni Association, Board of Directors (2014-present)
Member, Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Lawyers for a Sustainable Future, Corporate Governance Group (2007-Present)
Drafting Committee for HB 2826 (passed by 2007 Oregon Legislature, permitting Oregon
corporations to place in the articles of incorporation provisions regarding environmentally and socially responsible conduct)
Software Association of Oregon, Leader of Start! Team (2005-06); Member Benefits
Committee (2004-05)
Japan-America Society of Oregon
Chair, Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act Task Force (1988-Present)
Portland Tax Forum, Board of Directors (Chair 1996-98)
Congregation Beth Israel (President, 1996-98; Trustee 1990-98 and 2007-Present)
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network; Portland Angel Network
Oregon Jewish Community Foundation (Board of Trustees, 2011-Present; President, 2015-Present)
Member, National Association of Corporate Directors
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