Stuart L. Sorenson practices in the area of corporate law with an emphasis in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings, joint ventures and general corporate matters. In the area of mergers and acquisition, Mr. Sorenson has participated in over $10 billion in transactions in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, medical devices, post-secondary education, publishing, biotech and consumer products. In addition to his M&A and finance experience, Mr. Sorenson regularly advises clients in transactions involving manufacturing and vendor agreements, distribution agreements, corporate governance, strategic alliances, licensing and joint ventures.

Mr. Sorenson is chair of the board of advisors for the family and closely held business group at the Entrepreneurial Management Center at San Diego State University and a frequent lecturer on corporate governance and shareholder/director relations. Mr. Sorenson is a member of the California, Minnesota and San Diego County bar associations. Admitted in Minnesota and California, he is a cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.

Representative Matters

• Completed the sale of Crissair, Inc., a privately held maker of hydraulic, fuel and pneumatic system components for the aerospace industry, to Esco Technologies, a publicly traded industrial products manufacturer, in an all-stock deal.
• Represented San Diego-based medical device company in a $4 million bridge financing.
• Represented buyer college in the acquisition of three schools from Glendale Career College.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of Milan Institute of Cosmetology - Everett, Washington campus.
• Represented seller in the sale of National Loan Servicing Center and Educational Financial Services to an equity fund purchaser.
• Represented buyer in the $12 million acquisition of Contractors Wire & Cable, LLC.
• Represented seller in the $5.7 million sale of its automobile-towing business.
• Represented a San Diego-based company in the buy out of 35 percent shareholder.
• Represented SynergEyes, Inc. in its Series A, B, and C round offerings that resulted in a total of $25 million in venture funding.
• Represented Surebeam, Inc. in $25 million PIPE transaction.
• Represented seller in the sales of its luggage business to VF Corporation.
• Represented buyer in its $10 million acquisition of UVP, Inc.
• Represented buyers in its $10 million acquisition of a Santa Barbara-based surfboard company.
• Represented a San-Diego based consumer product company in the $132 million sale of its business to Wella Corp.
• Represented buyer in $130 million acquisition of an x-ray imaging products distribution company.
• Represented sellers in $93 million sale of biotech company to Serologicals, Inc.

Admissions

• California
• Minnesota

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1996
• University of Minnesota, B.A., 1993

Other Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Partner, 2004-present
• Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
  - Partner, 2003-2004
  - Senior Associate, 2000-2003
• Fredrikson & Byron P.A.
  - Associate, 1996-2000

Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, "Anatomy of an Exit—An Owner's Story," EMC Business Forum's Closely Held and Family Business Retreat, Rancho Santa Fe, California, April 16, 2011