James L. Hsu

Partner

Languages spoken
English | Mandarin | Spanish

About James

James Hsu serves as the managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office and is a partner in the Corporate Practice. James represents clients in a broad range of corporate finance and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, debt and equity offerings, joint ventures, public finance transactions, tax-exempt financing and fund formation.

With more than three decades of experience, James has represented public and private companies, financial sponsors, investors and entrepreneurs in complex domestic and cross-border transactions. He is particularly recognized for leading strategic acquisitions and divestitures, structuring and negotiating major corporate transactions and guiding clients through critical growth, financing and investment opportunities. His practice spans a wide range of industries, and he is a trusted adviser to global clients navigating complex business and regulatory environments.

James has extensive experience advising clients on transactions involving multiple jurisdictions across North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Clients and colleagues commend him for his strategic judgment, practical approach and unwavering commitment to client success, describing him as an attorney known for his “integrity, commitment to clients and civic engagement” and as “an exceptional lawyer and leader.”

James is active in the community and serves as leader for a number of not-for-profit organizations, including the Center of Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), the UCLA Political Science Board of Advisors and the UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Experience

US

  • Advising on the formation of several venture capital and private equity funds, and serving as investment counsel for subsequent portfolio investments.
  • Representing a major international food conglomerate in its commercial paper offering and strategic investments in various funds and financial products.
  • Representing management buyout groups of various Chinese companies listed on US stock exchanges in going private transactions.
  • Representing one of the world’s largest manufacturers of die cast metal components in a series of acquisitions in North America.
  • Representing a manufacturer of doors and windows in the leveraged buyout of a manufacturer of doors and related products for the residential, commercial and industrial markets.
  • Representing a large China-based furniture manufacturer in the acquisition of a furniture manufacturer in the US.
  • Representing a major auto parts manufacturer in California in an acquisition in Florida.
  • Representing various companies in co-branding and joint marketing agreements and other general commercial contracts.

Asia Pacific

  • Representing a large Singapore-based engineering firm in its acquisition of a US-based Very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) design company.
  • Representing one of the largest Chinese state-owned banks in a series of loan transactions in the US, Europe, Latin America and Africa totaling several billion dollars in value.
  • Acting as issuer or underwriters’ counsel on various corporate reorganizations and listing on Asian stock exchanges.
  • Representing one of the largest China-based automakers in a multibillion-dollar joint venture.
  • Representing an international financial institution in a cross-border syndicated loan transaction to a leading manufacturer of electronics and computer components in Asia.
  • Representing one of the world’s leading computer brands in a cross-border syndicated loan transaction.
  • Representing a leading producer of automated teller machines and security systems for financial institutions in an acquisition in Taiwan and a joint venture in China.
  • Representing Australia’s largest food manufacturer in the stock acquisition of a frozen Chinese food manufacturer.
  • Representing a Fortune 500 company in an asset acquisition in Taiwan and Vietnam.

Latin America

  • Representing the purchaser in the stock acquisition of a manufacturing company in California and its subsidiary in Mexico.
  • Representing an auto parts company in a joint venture in Brazil.
  • Counseling various Spanish companies in corporate, real estate and labor/employment matters in California.
  • Representing a California consumer products company in outsourcing of manufacturing functions to Mexico.
  • Representing a Spanish distributor in arbitration proceedings in California with a US apparel/footwear manufacturer.
  • Representing Argentinean and Spanish exporters of steel products in anti-dumping proceedings in Taiwan.
  • Representing an Asian electronics company in establishing manufacturing facilities in Mexico.

Credentials

Education
  • University of California, Los Angeles, J.D., 1994
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1991
Admissions
  • California, 1994
Memberships & Affiliations
  • Member, Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) Board of Directors
  • Member, UCLA Political Science Board of Advisors
  • Member, UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors

Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2023 for Corporate Law
  • Named a Southern California Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters
  • Named a Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2004 – 2008)
  • Received the California Lawyer’s Angel Award for outstanding pro bono service, 2007.
  • Selected by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) as one of the Best Lawyers under 40, 2005.

Expertise

Services
Restructuring & Insolvency Private Equity Corporate