Benjamin J. Sowards, Esq.

California attorney with substantial experience advising Fortune 500 companies and high net worth individuals. Mr. Sowards' presently serves as outside general counsel to California corporations and LLCs. Mr. Sowards helps affluent clients transfer wealth from one generation to the next.

Mr. Sowards started his legal career as an associate with San Diego's oldest and largest law firm, Luce Forward LLP.  Later, he joined the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP where he focused on business law and complex corporate transactions.  Mr. Sowards' experience dealing with California's Fortune 500 clients taught him how to address critical legal challenges in the most cost-effective manner.  With the Sowards Law Firm, you get "Wall Street experience at Main Street prices." 

In 2011 and 2012 Mr. Sowards was named a Northern California Super Lawyer - Rising Star.  In the past he was recognized by the State Bar of California for his pro-bono service to California's most needy.  He also has provided pro-bono legal services to United States veterans through "Operation Stand Down" - a three day mini-camp designed to help indigent and unemployed former service members.  Mr. Sowards is a member of the California Bar Association, the Silicon Valley Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.  Mr. Sowards resides in San Jose, California with his wife and four children. 

Mr. Sowards attended San Jose State University where he was a President's Scholar - Top 1% of entire student body.  He also was a recipient of the prestigious Huck Schmidt Scholarship while attending SJSU.  He attended law school at the University of California at Davis where he graduated at the top of his class and was a member of the U.C. Davis Law Review and served as articles editor for the U.C. Davis Business Law Journal.  Before graduating from U.C. Davis, Mr. Sowards worked for the Yolo County District Attorney's Office, the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office and the Santa Clara County Superior Court.  He also clerked for the California Resources Agency under Governor Gray Davis in Sacramento.

Mr. Sowards is a member of:

    WealthCounsel - the premier organization for estate planning attorneys

    The Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, Board Member 2009-2010

    The J. Reuben Clark Law Society

    The BYU Management Society, President

    The Surfrider Foundation

    The California Bar Association

          Business Law Section

          Estate Planning Section

    Boy Scouts of America

          Eagle Scout

          Scout Master

Mr. Sowards’ recent corporate matters include:

• Represented ALJ Regional Holdings in its $42 million corporate restructuring.
• Represented Live Nation, the world’s leading concert promoter and venue operator, in its $354 million acquisition of the House of Blues.
• Represented Acon Laboratories in a $175 million cross-border acquisition by Inverness Medical Innovations.
• Represented John Deere in its cross-border acquisition of T-Systems International.
• Represented Greenbook Financial Services in its $25 million acquisition by Advanced Equities Financial.
• Represented Orange 21, Inc. (SPY OPTIC) in proposed acquisition of No Fear, Inc.
• Represented Smith Micro in its $16 million cross-border acquisition of the assets of Insignia Solutions.
• Represented Smith Micro in its $8 million cash acquisition of Ecutel Systems.
• Represented San Diego Magazine in its acquisition by CurtCo Media Publishing.
• Represented Multi-Fineline Electronix in its $500 million acquisition offer of Singapore based MFS Technology.
• Represented Market Creek Partners, a non-profit sponsored community asset-building entity, in its IPO.
• Represented Crdentia Corp. in its $5 million PIPE financing transaction.
• Represented Cell Biosciences in its $27 million Series B financing.
• Represented NovaRx Corporation in its $33 million Series D financing.
• Represented Fuji Food Products in its corporate restructuring and Series A preferred stock offering.
• Represented On The Record Sports in its Series A preferred stock offering.
• Represented Supreme Wall Building Systems in its Series A preferred stock offering.

 Recent Publications:

• Contributing Author, Fiduciary Duties and Other Responsibilities of Corporate Directors and Officers, R.R. Donnelley Capital Markets, 2008 edition.