Teresa Johnson advises clients on corporate and finance matters, often serving as a trusted advisor to the C suite and board members. Teresa’s experience includes representing wineries and winery owners, and family-owned companies in other industries, in a variety of matters, including mergers and acquisitions matters, corporate governance and other transactional projects. Her practice also focuses acting for lenders and borrowers in commercial credit and finance transactions, project-based finance, cross-border transactions, and debt securities. She is the co-head of the firm's Capital Markets practice.
Ms. Johnson has been recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the top 25 corporate transaction attorneys on the publication's annual list of the "Top 100 Women Lawyers."
Ms. Johnson practiced in London for several years before returning to the United States. Ms. Johnson was a member of the Stanford Law Review.
Experience
- Far Niente Wine Estates, one of the oldest wineries in California, in connection with corporate governance matters and M&A, including the sale of a controlling interest to GI Partners.
- Heitz Wine Cellars, a renowned family owned Napa Valley winery, in connection with corporate governance matters and its sale to Gaylon Lawrence Jr., owner in one of the country's largest family run agricultural businesses. The transaction included 425 acres of vineyards, the winery and the tasting room.
- The Wine Group (third largest wine producer in world by volume) in multiple debt transactions.
- NFL team in the financing of its new $1.8 billion stadium, financed on a project finance basis with multiple entities and public and private financial support.
- Selling shareholder (member of controlling family) in the 2019 initial public offering of Levi Strauss & Co.
- Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. in multiple financing, commercial and other transactions.
- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. in Toyota's support for hydrogen fuel infrastructure. She has advised Toyota in its agreements with FirstElement Fuel to support the long-term operation and maintenance expenses of new hydrogen refueling stations in California, including arrangements with Honda, Mitsui and Air Liquide as FirstElement's other financial backers.
- The Charles Schwab Corporation in multiple debt and securities transactions and securities compliance matters, including recent transactions totaling over $9.5 billion in issuances of senior notes and depositary shares.
- Private equity funds in investment in and restructuring of debt of portfolio companies, including subordinated sponsor financings for portfolio companies and related intercreditor negotiations.
- Privately held food services company in $56 million capital and debt restructuring with Prudential.
- Large private foundation in $40 million limited guarantee of Bank of America syndicated loan to nonprofit.
Perspectives
Recognition
Corporate Governance (2016-2017)
Credentials
- JD, Stanford Law School, 1992
- BA, Harvard University, 1989, cum laude
- California
- New York
- England and Wales
- Texas
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Officer and Board Member, Bar Association of San Francisco
Member, American Bar Association
Member, State Bar of California
Member, New York State Bar Association
Member, State Bar of Texas
- French
- Italian