Overview

Jonathan Bench assists companies, entrepreneurs, and investment funds in international and domestic commercial transactions. He has extensive experience guiding clients to creative and pragmatic solutions in their mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and foreign direct investments. His global clientele spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Jonathan has worked and consulted in the U.S., Asia, and South America, and he is fluent in Chinese and Cantonese and is working toward Spanish fluency.

He is passionate about diving deep into cutting-edge industries and difficult markets to make sense of the chaos in those fast-paced and often murky legal environments. He represents a variety of manufacturers, brokers, and retailers in their global supply chain structuring and restructuring projects, typically involving China or nearshoring away from China to Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Jonathan has particular interest and expertise in emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. He represents founders who are developing AI tools for a range of industries and use cases across consulting, marketing, education, customer service, and middleware to automate AI processes. His blockchain experience encompasses layer-2 blockchain developers, international DAO communities, NFT artists and studios, metaverse companies, and celebrity brand influencers.

He is a sought-after speaker and writer for national and global organizations on U.S. and international business development. Jonathan has written over 150 blog posts and articles and presented on various business and legal topics over 80 times on four continents. He serves on various boards and dedicates time to mentoring entrepreneurs and students through several nonprofit organizations.

His contributions have earned him recognition as a top author on Lexology and accolades from various industry groups as a prominent lawyer. Most recently, Jonathan was named to Utah’s Legal Elite 100 and described as “an excellent attorney but also a thought leader in two very different industries: international business and blockchain.”

From selling homegrown raspberries and window-washing services to non-emergency medical transportation services, Jonathan understands the entrepreneurial grind from the inside. He describes himself as a businessperson who went to law school rather than a lawyer who studied business. His clients value his ability to think like a business owner as he provides them with pragmatic legal guidance while ensuring that his legal strategies underpin, not undermine, his clients’ larger strategic goals.

In his spare time, Jonathan is often with his wife Mary Ann and their five children, exploring the beautiful Utah outdoors, practicing martial arts, enjoying music, and working on getting his Spanish to be as good as his Chinese.

Experience

Mergers and Acquisitions

Led a team of six attorneys in conducting due diligence for a U.S. private equity group acquiring supply chain management businesses ranging from $8 to $20 million involving subsidiaries, assets, and personnel in various Asian nations and Mexico. Managed discussions with the R&W (representations and warranties) insurer. Prepared asset purchase agreements and related asset transfer documents, including provisions addressing specific risks found during due diligence to capture both known and potential undisclosed international liabilities.

Represented client in three hotel acquisitions over a period of 10 consecutive weeks at a total deal amount of $16 million. One transaction required negotiating complex estate-related issues with the seller. The other two hotels involved a sophisticated international conglomerate seller and simultaneous negotiation of a hotel management agreement with a third-party management company.

Finance and Investment Funds

Represented $50-million Mexican venture capital fund on multiple debt investments into the U.S. real estate market. Loan structuring included extensive due diligence on entities, individuals, and regulatory compliance status. Post-closing work included additional loans, loan upsizing, limited loan waivers, amendments, and side letters.

Advised borrower client with 15+ entities, consisting of affiliated vehicle dealerships and owners, in $20-million real estate refinancing, including negotiating term sheets, credit agreements, and security documents and drafting and negotiating subordination agreement with existing floor plan financing lender.

International Joint Ventures and Licensing

Structured German-owned elevator and escalator manufacturer’s establishment of a joint venture relationship with underperforming Chinese-owned factory. Result included an equity swap with performance triggers, additional potential equity investment by Chinese owners, improvements to the factory, and establishing an exclusive supply relationship to cement ongoing supply requirements.

Represented U.S. importer of unique LED overlay screens in developing preferred distributor relationship with the China manufacturer. Project included drafting end-to-end documents to establish a U.S. sub-distributor network, including sales agreements, product warranties, and other sub-distributor- and customer-facing documentation.

International Supply Chain

Structured $25-million international private equity fund for a Mexican family, focused on nearshoring to Mexico and reshoring to the U.S. The fund included related entities in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil to accommodate investors for tax efficiency purposes.

Functioned as lead U.S. counsel for UK private equity fund buyer in $25-million stock swap acquisition to consolidate buyer’s international supply chain. Led team of six attorneys in conducting extensive due diligence on a U.S. target company in the sustainable outdoor products industry, including reviewing foundational entity documents, international employment and independent contractor agreements, beneficial corporation certification, and its international intellectual property portfolio.

Speaking Engagements

Media Appearances

Practice Areas

Jump to Page

By using this site, you agree to our updated privacy policy and our terms of use.