James
J.
Wheaton
Partner
Practice Group Leader
Virginia Beach
Business Phone:
757.687.7719
Business Fax:
757.687.1501
jim.wheaton@troutmansanders.com
Vcard
Representative Experience
Representation of aquirors and targets in mergers, including transactions in the media, government contracts, financial services, hospitality and internet services industries
Representation of publicly held companies in securities law matters, including consultation with and assistance in the preparation of their periodic reports under the Securities Act of 1934 and their compliance with federal securities laws
Representation of NYSE listed REIT in corporate and securities law matters, including complex recapitalization involving partial self-tender offer exchanging equity for debt securities, SEC going-private filing, listing of new class of securities on NYSE, and delisting of several classes of securities from NASDAQ
Designated underwriters’ counsel for equity and debt offerings by major Southeastern U.S. public utility holding company
Formation of joint ventures in the financial services, publishing, internet services, and cable industries
Representation of underwriters and issuers in private placements of debt and equity securities
Representation of company engaged in retail tax preparation business throughout the United States and Canada in private debt and equity placements, strategic acquisitions, and venture capital negotiations
Representation of issuers in initial public offerings
Participation as underwriter's counsel for regional NYSE member firms in public offerings, including several initial public offerings and transactions involving hotel REITs
Representation of a Scandinavian public company in the divestiture of a major subsidiary to a U.S. public company acquire
Representation of public company in going-private transaction involving multiple stockholder classes
Both the sale and acquisition of network affiliate television stations
Representation of second largest shareholder of a major provider of internet content and services related to the pre-owned vehicle industry in the formation of that entity and the licensing of content to the new entity
Formation of a nationwide publishing joint venture involving operating businesses in more than 30 states
Presentations and Speaking Engagements
Presenter, “The Endless Search for the Perfect MD&A," SEC Institute’s 22nd Annual National SEC Reporting Conference, December 2006 (New York)
Presenter, “The Quest for the Best MD&A”, SEC Institute’s 22nd Midyear SEC Reporting Forum, May and June 2007 (Washington, D.C. and New York)
University of Virginia School of Law, teaching a course on business entities, 1995-1998
Lectured nationally and statewide on e-commerce issues and the subject of limited liability companies as part of legal and accounting continuing education programs
Publications
Several publications related to limited liability company issues and co-author of the "Virginia Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual"
"Virginia or Delaware? No Reason to Leave the Old Dominion," Virginia Lawyer, June/July 2003
Public Service
Chairman, Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Public School Authority, 2002-2008
Member, Trustees Council of the Virginia Symphony, 2004-present
Member, Board of Directors, Virginia FREE, 2000-2006
Board of Directors of the Governor's School for the Arts Foundation
Chair, Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, 2004
Served for almost ten years on the School Board of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia
Other Distinctions
Named to Virginia Business magazine's Legal Elite in Business Law (2002-2007) and Intellectual Property (2000, 2003).
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Securities Law in the 2005 edition; Corporate Law in the 2006 edition; Corporate, Securities, and Venture Capital Law in the 2007 & 2008 editions, and in Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities, and Venture Capital Law in the 2009 edition.
Recognized as one of America's Leading Lawyers for Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions by Chambers USA (2005-2008).
Named to the 2006 Virginia Super Lawyers list for Business/Corporate Law and the 2007 and 2008 lists for Mergers & Acquisitions
Work Experience
Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2001-present
Partner, Willcox & Savage, P.C., Norfolk, Virginia, 1991-2001
Lecturer, University of Virginia School of Law, 1995-1998
Law Clerk, Honorable J. Dickson Phillips, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1985-1986
Practice Group Leader, Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures