James C. Chapman
Partner
Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, Mergers and Acquisitions, China
Silicon Valley (Menlo Park)
(650) 492-4414
Mr. Chapman focuses his practice on securities law, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and international business transactions. He counsels publicly traded and privately held clients on public offerings, private placements, debt financings, venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and related transactions. Mr. Chapman also represents venture capital firms, angels, and private equity groups in their investments. With 30 years of experience in corporate and securities law, he has represented clients in over 300 mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions.
Mr. Chapman has counseled clients ranging from media to pharmaceutical companies on numerous China-United States transactions. His international transactions work includes assisting Chinese companies in both investing and raising capital in the United States. Mr. Chapman also assists U.S. firms in investing and operating in China and has been involved in negotiating resolutions to some of the most high-profile disputes involving US companies operating in China.
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Representation of the majority owner of Impakt Holdings, LLC in connection with the $329 million sale of the company to Celestica, Inc.
- Representation of 50% owner of the 4th largest US solar power developer in connection with the $90 million buy-out of another 50% owner.
- Representation of Ubistar, Inc. in connection with the purchase of the SNAP division from Lattice Semiconductor, Inc.
- Representation of Financial Navigator, Inc. in connection the sale of the Company to Asset Vantage.
- Representation of A-1 Machine Manufacturing, Inc. in the $20 million sale of a 49% interest to Graycliff Partners.
- Representation of Liquid Agency, Inc. in the repurchase of the shares of a holder of 45% of the company.
- Representation of United Genetics in its sale to Kagome.
- Representation of medical device manufacturer in connection with the sale of the company.
- Representation of PC Board specialty manufacturer in connection with the sale of the company.
- Representation of advertising agency in connection with the acquisition of three companies.
- Representation of investment banker in connection with the $750 million sale of a medical device company.
- Representation of Pigeon Point, Inc. in connection with its sale to Actel.
- Representation of Wrapsidy LLC in connection with the sale of the company to SQAD, Inc.
- Representation of Bellatore, LLC in connection with the acquisition of Capital Asset Management, Advisory Partners and the financial advisory division of Nationwide Insurance.
- Representation of Business Finance Capital Corporation in connection with its merger with First Community Bank.
Venture Financings - Investor Representations
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with the issuance of an equity line of credit to Druggability Technologies holdings Limited in the amount of $10,000,000.
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with the issuance of an equity line of credit to Immunis.AI in the amount of $7,500,000.
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with the $6,000,000 purchase of shares of Series J preferred stock of Aseko, Inc.
- Representation of Sorenson Ventures in connection with the $2,000,000 purchase of shares of Series C preferred stock of OpenPath, Inc.
- Representation of SWC Capital in connection with the $2,000,000 purchase of a convertible note from Drive.ai.
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with its $16 million investment in Druggability Technology Holdings Limited.
- Representation of Blamar S.A. in connection with the $10 million purchase of shares of Series A preferred stock of PowerScout, Inc.
- Representation of Sorenson Capital in connection with its purchase of shares of Series B preferred stock of Open Path, Inc.
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with the $6.5 million purchase of shares of Series G preferred stock of Ancora Heart, Inc.
- Representation of Beaver Creek Intermediate Fund, Ltd in connection with the $7.5 million purchase of shares of Series E preferred stock of Curaseal, Inc.
- Representation of a Chinese publicly-traded pharmaceutical company in connection with its investment in a US privately-held life science company.
- Representation of Konica-Minolta in connection with its investment in Knightscope.
- Representation of Savitr Capital in connection with the $5 million purchase of shares of Series G preferred stock of Aseko, Inc.
- Representation of Savitr Capital in connection with the $2.5 million purchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of NeoSeq, Inc.
- Representation of Savitr Capital in connection with the purchase of a Convertible Promissory Note from NVS Technologies, Inc.
- Representation of Shamrock Ionetix in connection with the $6 million purchase of shares of Series E preferred stock of Ionetix, Inc.
- Representation of Tsuha Capital in connection with its purchase of shares of Series D preferred stock of Fuhu, Inc.
- Representation of Intel Capital in connection with its purchase of shares of Series A preferred stock on Maana.
- Representation of Intel Capital in connection with the purchase of shares of Series AA stock from HealthiNation.
- Representation of Citrix Start-up Accelerator in connection with the seed financing of Zettar, Inc.
- Representation of Citrix Start-up Accelerator in connection with the seed financing of Apakau, Inc.
- Representation of Savitr Capital and its affiliate in connection with the purchase of shares of Series D Preferred Stock of Curaseal, Inc.
- Representation of Savitr Capital and its affiliate in connection with the purchase of shares of Series E Preferred Stock of Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
- Representation of Savitr Capital and its affiliate in connection with the purchase of shares of Druggability Technologies Limited.
- Representation of the Band of Angels in connection with its purchase of shares of Series A preferred in CargoChief, Inc.
- Representation of Whitman Capital in connection with its investment in Coupang, Inc.
- Representation of the Band of Angels in connection with four of its investment transactions in 2011 and five of its investments in 2012.
Venture Financing - Company Representations
- Representation of EnerVenue Holdings, Ltd in connection with the $12,000,000 sale of its series seed preferred stock to Benco International Limited.
- Representation of Washsense in connection with the sale of its Series A preferred stock to Cori Fund.
- Representation of Global Innovations, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Series A-2 preferred stock.
- Representation of Prumentum Group, Inc. in connection with the $12,000,000 sale of shares of Series B preferred stock to BF Global and cynosure Savant Holdings.
- Representation of VersaPeutics, Inc. in connection with the $3,200,000 sale of its shares of Series A preferred stock.
- Representation of Indus Holding Company in connection with the $46 million sale of shares of its Series B preferred stock.
- Representation of EEnovate Technology, Ltd. in connection with the $12 million sale of its Series A preferred shares.
- Representation of DataWiza, Ltd. in connection with its $500,000 sale of Series Seed preferred shares.
- Representation of Modular Biosciences, Ltd. in connection with the $1,350,000 sale of its Series Seed preferred shares.
- Representation of Gopher US Venture Fund I, LP in connection with its $5 million fund of fund investment in Initialized Annex, LP.
- Representation of Gopher Global Harvest FOD II, LP in connection with its $5 million fund of fund investment in Section 32 Fund 2, LP.
- Representation of Global Innovations, Inc. in connection with the $1 million sale of its Series A-1 and A-2 preferred stock.
- Representation of Prumentum Group, Inc. in connection with the $25 million sale of its Series A preferred stock.
- Representation of iCharts, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Series B3 preferred stock.
- Representation of RoboSig in connection with its seed financing.
- Representation of Global Innovations, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Series A preferred stock.
- Representation of Ghangor Cloud, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Series A preferred stock.
- Representation of Washsense, Inc. in connection with its seed financing.
- Representation of iCharts, Inc. in connection with the sale of Series B2 preferred stock in the amount of $5.5 million.
- Representation of Ink Labs, Inc. in connection with the sale of convertible promissory notes in the amount of $2.1 million.
- Representation of Indus Holding Company in connection with the $2.1 million sale of Series A2 preferred stock.
- Represented Wisenstech Ltd in connection with the sale of Series A Preferred Stock in the amount of $5 million.
- Representation of iCharts, Inc in connection with the sale of its Series B preferred stock to Software AG.
- Representation of Senodia Technologies, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Series C preferred stock to DFJ DragonFund.
- Representation of iHookup Social, Inc. in connection with the equity line of credit issued by Beaufort Capital Partners.
- Representation of Cubicon, Inc. in connection with its seed financing.
- Representation of Tiara Pharmaceutical in connection with its seed financing.
- Representation of Ink Labs in connection with its seed financing by Crescendo Venture Management.
- Representation of iCharts, Inc. in connection with its seed and Series A preferred financings.
- Representation of Senodia Technologies, Inc. in connection with its Series B preferred financing.
- Representation of Scent Sciences Corporation in connection with its Series A preferred financing.
- Representation of FiveRun, Inc. in connection with its seed financing.
- Representation of Zippi Networks in connection with an $11 million equity line of credit with Palm Valley Capital.
- Representation of Bellatore, Inc. in connection with its $11 million Series A financing.
- Representation of Fat Spaniel Technologies, Inc. in connection with its Series A preferred and bridge financings.
Fund Formation
- Representation of Rich Global Ventures, LLC in connection with the formation of its cannabis fund.
- Representation of Menlo Asset-Backed Partners II in connection with its investment fund formation.
- Representation of Chinese start-up Republic in connection with its investment fund formation.
- Representation of the Band of Angels Acorn Fund I in connection with its investment fund formation.
- Representation of Menlo Equities and its investment funds in connection with Dodd-Frank Act compliance.
- Representation of Austin Glen Core LLC in connection with the formation and structure of its real estate acquisition fund.
- Representation of TAS Commerce Fund I in connection with the formation and structure of its Asia investment fund.
- Representation of Northwest Fund I in connection with the sale of Series C membership units.
- Representation of Northwest Fund I in connection with the sale of Series A and B membership units.
China
- Representation of 4C Air, Inc. in connection with the formation of a joint venture in China and transfer of technology.
- Representation of a Chinese publicly-traded pharmaceutical company in connection with its investment in a US privately-held life science company.
- Representation of multibillion-dollar technology company in connection with the NDRC anti-monopoly investigation. The investigation was terminated.
- Representation of US publicly traded pharmaceutical company in connection with its China operations.
- Representation of a large multibillion-dollar US semiconductor company in connection with its China transactions.
- Representation of a large US technology company in connection with the sale of a patent portfolio for mobile chipsets to Chinese company.
- Representation of a large US technology company in connection with the license of certain semiconductor patents to a Chinese company.
- Representation of U.S. Fortune 50 company in connection with investment in and technology transfer to company in China
- Representation of Chinese incubator in connection with its legal matters in China.
- Representation of life science SAAS company in connection with the license and distribution of its services in China.
- Representation of clean technology company in connection with a joint venture and license of technology to Chinese partner.
- Representation of US pharma company in connection with research and development agreement with Chinese company.
- Representation of US medical products manufacturer in connection with its joint venture in China.
- Representation of Sierra Asia Partners in connection with the reorganization of its US and China operations.
- Representation of SST Communications (Singapore), as co-counsel with King & Wood, in a joint-venture.
- Representation of Tiens BioTech Group, USA, in its merger with Tianshi International Holdings Group of China.
- Representation of China Agritech (PRC), along with co-counsel King & Wood in PRC, in its US public offering.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- US Clean Tech Attorney of the Year, ACQ Global (Metropolis International Group Ltd), 2018
- US-China Investment Attorney of the Year, ACQ Global (Metropolis International Group Ltd), 2018
- Most Outstanding US Securities Lawyer, Acquisition International (AI Global Media Ltd.), 2018
- China Investment Attorney of the Year, Worldwide Financial Advisor (Productive Media), 2016-2017
- Best M&A Attorney, California, AI Global Media (AI Global Media Ltd), 2016
- China Investment Attorney of the Year, Corporate Live Wire, 2016
- China Investment Attorney of the Year, Finance Monthly (Universal Media Ltd.), 2014-2016
- Best for Public Offerings and Private Placements, Corporate Live Wire, 2015
- China Investment Attorney of the Year in California, Global Law Experts, 2015
- China Investment Attorney of the Year – California, Corporate INTL Magazine (JRS Corporate Limited), 2015
- Top Rated Securities & Corporate Finance Attorney, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters Corporation), 2004–2008, 2012-13
- Top 25 Clean Tech Lawyers in California, Daily Journal, 2011
- Top 500 Mergers & Acquisitions, The Legal 500 Rankings (Legalease Ltd), 2010
- Silicon Valley’s Top Attorneys, San Jose Magazine, 2003–2007
PUBLICATIONS
- Trade Secret Protection in China: A Perspective from China and Hong Kong, publication description Association of Corporate Counsel. Jan. 2013
- Corporate Law Insights: Top Corporate Lawyers Share What They Know Best, Chapter – “Mergers & Acquisitions-What Every CEO Should Know”, publication description ExecuSense. Oct. 2012
- Joint Ventures in China: What Every CEO Should Know, publication description VC Experts. Sep 2012
- 8 Trends in Venture Capital, publication description Law360. June 4, 2012
- Cleantech Patents and Investments: What to Expect in 2012, publication description Law360. Feb. 29, 2012
- Company for Sale: Five Common mistakes to Avoid, publication description Daily Journal. Nov. 10, 2011
- Mergers and Acquisitions in China: Part Two – Anatomy of a Deal in the Middle Kingdom, publication description Corporate Finance Review. Nov. 2011
- Clean Technology Innovation in China, publication description Top Capital Magazine. Oct. 2011
- A Brave New World: Technology Transfer to China, publication description The Licensing Law Journal. Sep. 2011
- Mergers and Acquisitions in China: Anatomy of a Deal–Part 1, publication description Corporate Finance Review. Sep. 2011
- “Jiao Pengyou”-A Guide for Successful Business Relationships in China, publication description American Management Association. Mar. 5, 2011
- Mergers and Acquisitions in China; Trends and Challenges in the Middle Kingdom, publication description Westlaw Business Currents. Feb. 17, 2011
- Mergers & Acquisitions in China: Current Trends, and Challenges in the Middle Kingdom, publication description The Association for Corporate Growth. Jan. 15, 2011
- M&A in China: Ten Strategies for Successful Cross-Border Transactions, publication description Asian Counsel. Sep. 1, 2008
- In the Eye of a Hurricane – Duties of Directors in a Turbulent Environment, publication description Software Developers Forum. Aug. 15, 2008
- The Road to China: Ten Key Lessons for Doing Business in China, publication description The Licensing Law Journal. Aug. 1, 2008
- China IPO’s: An Era of Transition, publication description Asia Counsel. May 15, 2008
- Trends in Mergers & Acquisitions, publication description Band of Angels Newsletter. Mar. 15, 2008
- Trends in IPO’s, publication description Corporate Counselor. Sep. 15, 2007
- Tumultuous Times: Trends in Venture Capital, publication description Daily Journal.
News, Events, & Insights
- CLE Webinar: Structuring Venture Capital Financing: Amended NVCA Model Agreements and Special Issues Faced by Certain Industries, Strategic Investors, and Foreign Investors
CLE December 1, 2020
- ACG C-Circle on Economic Outlook for 2020
Events January 13, 2020
- James Chapman Named US China Investment Attorney of the Year Title by ACQ5 Again
News February 1, 2019
- Rimon Opens Shenzhen Office
News January 24, 2019
- James Chapman, US - China Investment Attorney of the Year by ACQ5
News April 25, 2018
- Rimon Wins Six ACQ5 Global Awards, 2017
News August 11, 2017
