Businesses across various industry sectors seek Mark Heyl’s counsel for complex and sophisticated business law issues.  These include formation, operation, acquisition, and restructuring of business entities, with an emphasis on:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Stock option plans
• Restricted stock sales
• Tax and securities
• Sales and distribution
• Distressed company counseling
• Debt financing
• E-commerce, and
• Technology development, maintenance, protection, and licensing

Prior to joining Hopkins & Carley, Mark had a corporate transaction and bankruptcy law practice.  “It helps our clients that I’m a corporate lawyer with a lot of first-hand experience with debtor-side bankruptcy law,” Mark said. 

“Even though bankruptcy isn’t what I do today, it helps transactional clients to have me in the room when we’re dealing with a scenario that might include bankruptcy or debtor-creditor problems.  They’re able to get a much more realistic view of the what-ifs.”

Loyalty Rewarded
Most of Mark’s clients are private, closely-held businesses in the Bay Area.  These include manufacturers, tech companies, software designers and developers, machine shops, social media entrepreneurs, and a nationally-recognized winery.

“The firm has an estate planning client for whom I started performing corporate work years ago,” Mark added.  “This led to the formation of several closely-held businesses.  Eventually, my client’s business was purchased by a Singapore company and is now international.  “I’m still his corporate attorney.  It’s all based on the relationship.  I understand him, and he trusts me.”

Why a Lawyer?
“My dad planted the idea.  I thought it would be both challenging and fun, and it has been.”

Why Hopkins & Carley?
Mark says he recognized the firm’s name and reputation when he was still in law school.  “It really was my dream to be here.  It’s at a size and stature that allows me to work with great clients and lawyers on intellectually challenging issues…without overwhelming my life.”

Yes, sensei
When he’s not skiing, Mark is a student of martial arts and 2nd degree black belt with West Coast World Martial Arts.

• In 2007, San Jose Jet Center, Inc. and ACM Aviation, Inc., which operated a fixed based operation (FBO) at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport successfully sold the business for over $130 million in an equity transaction.
• In 2008, a successful business serving as qualified intermediary for Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges acquired and became the industry leader in a transaction with JP Morgan Chase Bank.  The transaction was transformative for the client. 
• In 2010, two non-profit corporations, each operating a school within Santa Clara County, California, were successfully merged into one entity.