Profile
Attorney Jefferey A. Wooten represents a broad and diverse client base in the Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 19 years of experience, companies of all sizes, from local start-ups to multi-national corporations, have entrusted Mr. Wooten with their most significant and vital needs for legal representation in Corporate Transactions (Governance, Private Equity Sales and Acquisitions), Intellectual Property Transactions (IP Licensing , IP Management & IP Protection), Business Transactions (Distribution & OEM Agreements, Sales and Marketing Agreements), Employee & Labor Law Compliance, Real Estate Acquisition, Construction & Leasing, and Business Litigation.
Attorney Wooten understands the need to build value in a business. Smart deployment and management of limited legal resources is one of the necessary means of building that value. Value derives first from a properly structured and capitalized business entity. Investors, key employees, and future purchasers will demand it. Second, a business needs to define and protect its core business offerings — whether such offerings are intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks and/or trade secrets), or represent a strongly competitive service or product in the marketplace. Of course, sales represents the fuel that drives the engine; with strong sales, the business moves forward. A good lawyer can help protect the business from liability exposure, make collections and payments of invoices go smoothly, while driving sales. When it comes time to implement an exit strategy, Mr. Wooten is there for his clients, helping them to structure a fair and valuable deal for his clients, with speed, efficiency and effectiveness.
Mr. Wooten has handled and/or managed nearly all legal matters that concern his clients including major business transactions, intellectual property acquisition and management, real estate purchases and development, construction contracts and sub-contracts, design-build agreements, commercial property leases, litigation management, statutory and regulatory compliance and employment practices. While Mr. Wooten’s focus is now clearly on the client’s boardroom and executive suite, his courtroom experience continues to be leveraged successfully by his clients; this includes keeping clients out of trouble. Mr. Wooten has previously served as a court appointed arbitrator and mediator.
Technology Businesses
Jefferey A. Wooten has broad legal expertise in representing technology companies and new ventures in the Silicon Valley. His particular expertise is in structuring and successfully closing technology transactions. These deals include strategic alliances and partnerships, intellectual property licenses, OEM agreements, distributorships/reseller relationships, referral agreements, and sales and marketing contracts. Mr. Wooten’s reputation is one of a tough but fair negotiator who closes transactions quickly, efficiently and effectively.
Business Expertise (Corporate Finance and M&A)
Mr. Wooten’s years of corporate management experience as a General Counsel includes guiding clients through the often difficult and sometimes laborious process of obtaining financing in difficult financial times. Sources of such financings include angels, venture capital, institutional investors, strategic partners and joint ventures. He has worked effectively with a number of Silicon Valley companies and their prospective investors in raising new money under terms and conditions fair to all parties. Mr. Wooten’s track record includes client revenue in the millions of dollars from intellectual property licensing, IP Litigation, and Real Estate Development. Mr. Wooten’s experience in M&A transactions includes businesses in high technology, heavy equipment leasing, and traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses.
Labor and Employment
Mr. Wooten understands the need to retain valuable employees. In this regard, he can provide expert guidance in employee compensation plans to include stock offerings, stock options, and other equity commitments to incentivize employees to work hard and maximize product and business valuations. At the same time, as a former general counsel, Mr. Wooten understands the daily issues that can arise in managing employees. He can advise clients in the best way to maintain a high level of employee morale and otherwise avoid costly employee claims.
Education
Mr. Wooten earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from the University of California, School of Law, Davis, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from the University of California, College of Letters and Science, Berkeley.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Wooten is a member in good standing with the California State Bar Association (Cal. Bar. 154807). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Sunnyvale-Cupertino Bar Association, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clara County Bar Association.