Joel Weinstein is a member of Greenberg Glusker's Corporate practice and chairs the firm's Restaurant, Food & Beverage industry group.

Joel's hands-on experience and legal expertise enable him to handle the increasing complexities of today's transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, asset and stock sales, private debt and equity financings, license and distribution arrangements, and strategic alliances. He advises entrepreneurs and boards on business entity structures, corporate governance, director and manager responsibilities, and investor agreements.

Joel frequently applies his broad experience as "outside general counsel" for VC and PE-backed businesses. Joel has wide experience representing restaurants in the quick service, fast casual and white linen sectors, as well as celebrity chefs. He helps clients with all facets of operating their businesses, as well as with succession planning and tax planning for ownership transfers.

Professional Affiliations

Awards

  • Rated, "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5," Martindale Hubbell
  • Listed, "Southern California Super Lawyers," in Mergers & Acquisitions, 2006, 2008-2015

Bar Admissions

  • California

Education

  • Cornell University  (J.D.)
  • University of Akron  (B.A.)
    • Mathematics

Experience

  • Represented Stix Holdings in acquisition of Pick Up Stix restaurants
  • Represented Hello Music, LLC in convertible debt and equity financings
  • Represented Lime Energy Co. in underwritten public offering of common stock, sale of subsidiary and line of credit facility
  • Represented clinical research facility in sale to private equity group
  • Represented laser eye surgery centers in sale to United Kingdom corporation
  • Represented Mandarin Holdings in obtaining a senior secured credit facility and in acquisition of the Leeann Chin restaurant group
  • Assisted selling shareholders to structure share buyback of minority interests in family-owned and other closely held businesses with annual revenue ranging from $8 million to $80 million; the successful processes involved business valuation experts and business consultants familiar with the dynamic of owners of closely held businesses
  • Counseled companies and investors regarding preferred stock and convertible debt financings