Mergers & Acquisitions
Strategic counsel through every phase of selling or acquiring a business. Jenny negotiates and advocate for owner-operators starting with the letter of intent to post-closing adjustments.
Business, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Tax Counsel for Founder-Led Businesses
Trusted legal advisor guiding Founder-Led businesses through all stages of the business life cycle, complex transactions, and sophisticated entity tax strategies.
Over 14 Years
Experience
M&A · Tax
Core Focus
Recognized in
Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2016–2023)
Strategic Counsel for Business Owners
Jenny advises Founder-Led businesses on business life cycle events, entity tax strategy, and governance.
Governance Design
Tax-efficient and governance planning for entity formation, restructuring, and ongoing compliance. Jenny collaborates with CPAs, investment bankers, business brokers, and wealth advisors to design strategic solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and operational success.
Outside General Counsel
Relationship-driven legal counsel for Founder-Led businesses that need practical, business-first guidance. Jenny advises on contracts, risk management, and strategic decisions as your trusted external counsel.
Entity Tax
Tax strategy and planning for partnerships, S corps, and complex entity structures, with an emphasis on alignment between business goals, compliance, and long-term growth.
About Jenny
Counsel Built on Experience
Counsel for Founder-Led Businesses
Jenny Tran is a business, M&A, and tax attorney whose perspective is shaped by a lifelong proximity to entrepreneurship. Hailing from an entrepreneurial family conducting an import and international toy distribution business, Jenny delivers well-crafted legal and tax advice backed by an inherent business understanding. Because she understands the realities behind the balance sheet, she advises clients with a focus on practical outcomes. Whether guiding an acquisition or exit, designing an entity structure, or coordinating tax planning, she prioritizes clarity, alignment among advisors, and decisions that work in the day-to-day and on paper.
Education
Chapman University School of Law
LL.M. in Taxation
Merit Scholar
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Juris Doctor
Scott Moot Court
University of California, Irvine
B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior
Background & Practice
Jenny served as a Partner in the Corporate and Securities practice at Stradling Yocca Carlson and Rauth, LP with a focus on Mergers and Acquisitions and corporate governance. She also practiced at Brown & Streza, LLP, where she advanced from File Clerk to Partner.
Selected Career Experience
Roles across teaching, externships, and internships
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Teacher
Adjunct Professor of LawBusiness Planning I: Venture Capital Financing
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Court
Judicial ExternFamily Law Division
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Government
Law Student InternCivil Law Division, Business Litigation Section
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Court
Judicial ExternUnlimited Civil Division
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Selected industry talks, panels, and legal publications
2025
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Moderator
M&A Deal Drivers and Deal Killers2025
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Moderator
View from the Family Office2025
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Panelist
Succession Planning: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly2025
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Speaker
Key Considerations for Selling Your Business with Confidence2025
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Speaker
The Business Owner’s Guide to Wealth, Business Transitions, and Legacy2025
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Panelist
Common Deal Challenges: How to Spot, Address, and Avoid Them2025
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Speaker
Entrepreneur Workshop: How to Maximize the Selling Price of Your Business and Protect Yourself in the Process2025
2024
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“Representation and Warranties Play a Crucial Role in Business Transactions”May 31, 2024
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Moderator
Cardiovascular in 20342024
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Speaker
Civility in the Legal Profession2024
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Moderator
Maximizing Value: Understanding Buyers and How to Negotiate With Them2024
Personal Story
Humble Beginnings and Values
From Family Business to Founder Advocate
Jenny is the child of immigrants, and she watched her parents build their life valuing hard work and family. They started as day laborers and worked in warehouses during the weekday and sold at swap meets during the weekend. Over the years, they saved up and opened a small storefront on 3rd and Wall Street as a wholesaler. Two decades later, they became importers and distributors of toys. The family business was always part of her life and they shared a deep bond over hard work and perseverance.
Every school break and holiday, Jenny was there too. Some of her fondest childhood memories are of her and her family eating dinner with makeshift tables and chairs made from heaps of boxes in the warehouse. She helped wherever she was needed. Acts of servitude was the love language of her family. It taught her what work looks like when it is personal, when the business is the family’s livelihood, and when you do not have the luxury of getting it wrong.
Today, Jenny lives in Orange County, California, raising two children with her supportive husband. Her parents’ journey is still the lens she looks through. It is why she has a deep respect for owners, and why she cares so much about helping founders protect what they have built.
Community
Giving back has always mattered to Jenny, and she tries to do it in ways that are practical and connected to opportunity for the community. She supports scholarship initiatives at UC Irvine, donates to Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and other nonprofit organizations, and also shows up locally through hands on service.
In May 2024, Jenny had the privilege of participating in the Orange County United Way Women’s Philanthropy Fund Centennial Breakfast, which achieved a Guinness World Records title for the most hygiene kits assembled in one hour. Together, participants assembled 6,136 kits for the community.
Who Jenny Serves
Founder-Led, Middle-Market Businesses
Jenny represents founder-led businesses and owner-operators who value practical legal counsel and sophisticated solutions tailored to their industries.
Client Profile
Owner-operators navigating growth, transition, or liquidity events, often coordinating with trusted advisors and internal stakeholders.
- Privately held businesses
- Founder-Led companies
- Family Offices
- Owner-operators
Industries
Aerospace
Building Services
Construction
Digital Media
Energy
Fashion
Food & Beverage
Hotel Franchisees
Insurance Agencies
Pharmacies
Precision Manufacturing
Retail
Jenny's Approach
Practical Counsel
Legal advice, grounded in business reality with clarity, calm, and execution.
Business-Minded
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family that operated an import and international distribution business, Jenny understands the operational challenges business owners face.
Tax-Aware Structuring
Jenny designs structures that address deal economics and long-term planning, coordinating with your CPA to align legal strategy with tax efficiency.
Confidential and Efficient
Transactions move fast. My process emphasizes clarity, responsiveness, and discreet execution from the letter of intent stage to closing.
Private Consultation by Referral
To ensure the right fit and level of service, consultations are available by referral.
Please do not send confidential information until conflicts are cleared and an attorney-client relationship has been established.