Our transactional practice involves some of the most interesting and cutting-edge transactions in the country.

Firm Represents Iceland America Energy in First Icelandic Geothermal Power Plant and Geothermal Space Heating Projects in U.S.

The Firm, through Tal Finney, Glenn Weinman, and Shaune Arnold, continued to represent Iceland America Energy, LLC, converting it to a C corporation, as it moved forward with the development of the first Icelandic geothermal power plant and space heating district in North America.  IAE’s first geothermal electricity plant will be located adjacent to the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California, having been awarded a $1 billon long term power purchase agreement by Pacific Gas & Electric to develop a nearly 50 megawatt facility.  The plant is slated to produce megawatts into the grid in January of 2010. 

IAE is also developing the first major geothermal space heating project in California at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.  The Mammoth Project is in the second of three phases in the development of a service agreement to provide seasonal visitors, residents, and businesses with green, clean heat for post -skiing activities.

The Firm represents IAE in its corporate, regulatory, and energy legal needs, and is currently assisting IAE in the acquisition of up to six additional geothermal projects.  IAE will help California and North America to help address climate change by providing pollution-free, renewable power that concurrently reduces green house gas emissions.

Firm Represents Big House Entertainment in Completing Phase I in the Development of a Major Motion Picture and Television Studio

Tal Finney, John Lawrence, and Shaune Arnold continued to represent Big House Entertainment, assisting them in completing Phase I of their potential development of the first major motion picture and television studio from a Greenfield in over 70 years.  The project is slated to be over $100 million in size and will have state-of-the art new media facilities.  The Big House team is exploring the development of over four more such facilities, as well as the formation of a new television network.  The Firm serves as outside legal counsel to Big House as it continues with its entertainment production development.

Firm Represents TST, Inc. in the Development of California’s First Industrial Fuel Cell Project

Richard Dongell and Josh Levine served as transactional and regulatory counsel for TST, Inc., a major vertically integrated U.S. processor of secondary aluminum ingot and related products, in the development and construction of the first fuel-cell generation system for an industrial facility in California.  The Firm assisted TST and the California Cast Metals Association in obtaining financing for the project through grants from the California Self-Generation Incentive Program, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the U.S. Department of Defense.  This project, which was officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in October 2006, has been recognized as a groundbreaking step forward in the use of nearly zero-emission energy sources for the production of electricity.

Firm Represents Herhof California in Bringing Solid Waste Conversion Technology to the U.S.

Tal Finney and Shaune Arnold represented Herhof California in the creation of a joint venture with Herhof Gmbh of Germany, the world’s leading solid waste conversion company, to develop waste-to-energy facilities in California.  The state-of-the-art Herhof technology turns household waste into clean electricity and biofuels while also replacing landfills.  Germany closed its landfills in June of 2006 and Herhof operates 50 such plants worldwide.  No such plants are operating in the U.S. today.  Herhof California’s projects will help California meet its new Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals.

Firm Represents Regnus Activist Equity Fund in $50 Million Reverse Merger Limited Partnership

The Firm was recently retained as the transactional law firm to create the Regnus Activist Equity Fund, a $50 million equity fund focused on reverse mergers.  The Regnus Fund’s general partners have over 20 years experience in reverse mergers, having successfully executed over ten such major transactions with extremely high rates of return for its investors.

Firm Represents Kennedy Wilson in Establishing a New Real Estate Fund

The Firm served as transactional legal counsel to Kennedy Wilson’s Bay Area Smart Growth Fund II.  The Fund is a double-bottom line real estate fund that invests in high return real developments in low income communities.  The Firm has also represented Kennedy Wilson in its Real Estate Development Fund I, assisting them in raising $200 million from public pension funds.  Kennedy Wilson has two decades of experience in developing value-added projects across the country.

Firm Assists Software Client to Streamline New Sales

One of  the Firm’s software development clients was spending a significant amount of time signing up new customers because each potential customer wanted to “re-write” the sales contract or, even worse, bring in their own lawyers to review and comment.  Delay and expense was being added to the sales process which the client wanted to eliminate.  Molly T. Shields worked with the client to reformat the sales contract, enhancing presentation of the most relevant terms and conditions to the transaction.  The result has been that new customers are focusing on the business issues and signing the sales contract without attempting to re-negotiate the sale.  This means faster and more efficient sales for the Firm’s client. 

Firm Represents Shareholder in Sale of Business

Molly T. Shields and Glenn Weinman represented the owner of a multi-location preschool provider in a sale of the business to a leading, national operator of private preschools, elementary and middle schools.  The transaction, a stock sale with total consideration exceeding $11 million, transferred ownership of the preschools to a publicly traded corporation.  Our client’s management team was maintained and the smooth transition has allowed our shareholder client to continue the operation of the business, obtain significant return on investment and pursue new ventures.