Find An Attorney
William W. Eigner
Partner
Practice Areas |
Admissions |
|
Corporate and Securities Emerging Growth and Technology Mergers and Acquisitions Franchising |
California |
Contact Information
530 B Street, 21st Floor San Diego, CA 92101 Direct Phone: 619.515.3210 Direct Fax: 619.744.5410 wwe@procopio.com v-Card Download BioProfessional Summary
Mr. Eigner's practice emphasizes venture capital and the financing, governing, operating, buying, selling and merging of growing technology and other businesses. His practice further encompasses corporate and business transactions, including matters relating to telecommunications, electronic commerce, energy, biotechnology, corporate governance, franchising, employment and independent contractor issues, intellectual property protection, competitive business practices, securities, and business structuring and financing. Mr. Eigner also has significant experience in handling contractual and political issues involving telecommunications companies and independent power producers.
Representative Matters
Corporate Governance:
Contract Negotiations:
Mergers & Acquisitions:
Intellectual Property & Competitive Business Practices:
Government Relations:
Representative Matters
Venture Capital & Securities:
- Represented a venture capital fund in funding a telecommunications company
- Represented the founders of a telecom company in a private sale of stock to venture funds
- Counseled a biotech CEO regarding necessary disclosures to venture capitalists
- Assisted a venture capital fund in cashing out its investments in several biotech companies
- Drafted/reviewed stock purchase agreements, restated certificates of incorporation, registration rights agreements, co-sale agreements and other venture capital documents for numerous venture capital financings for biotech, telecom and other companies
- Represented a venture capital company investing in an emerging telecom company
- Represented the lender in a convertible debt and warrants transaction with a diagnostics company
- Represented a wireless Internet service company in raising angel and venture capital
- Assisted a working group conducting an IPO for a telecom services company
- Represented two Series B venture capital investors during the Series C round of financing for a fabless semiconductor company focused on the imaging market for mobile communications devices
Corporate Governance:
- Drafted a buy-sell agreement for an electrical contractor
- Represented the majority shareholders of a retailer in forcing the buy-out of a minority shareholder
- Counseled a corporate general partner regarding the corporate opportunity doctrine and its duties to limited partners
- Counseled a corporation regarding director conflict-of-interest issues
- Advised a venture capitalist regarding potential liabilities as a director and advisor
- Assisted a telecom company in recruiting a Board of Advisors
- Advised a limited partnership and its corporate general partner how to address allegations of a director's conflict of interest
Contract Negotiations:
- Represented a telecommunications services company in negotiating Master Service Agreements involving site acquisition, engineering, and other services
- Represented an integrated circuit design company in drafting its Master Services Agreement
- Represented a Japanese-owned maquiladora in a contract dispute with a Mexican independent contractor
- Advised a franchisor in negotiations with disgruntled franchisees
- Assisted a franchisee in rescinding a franchise agreement
- Advised a number of ex-CEOs of biotech and telecom companies in negotiating severance packages
- Structured agreements for a broadband fixed wireless carrier
Mergers & Acquisitions:
- Represented an Internet retailing company in an electronic commerce joint venture
- Represented the buyer in the merger/acquisition of a wireless engineering company
- Represented the seller in the sale of a metallurgical services company to a subsidiary of a large British corporation
- Represented the seller in the sale of an electrical contracting company
- Represented the seller in the sale of an engineering company
Intellectual Property & Competitive Business Practices:
- Advised a biotech company regarding its NDA
- Advised a software company concerning protection of its intellectual property upon the departure of a key employee
- Advised distributors in a dispute with their supplier
- Advised a venture capital company regarding trademark issues
- Assisted a catering company in a brand licensing transaction and joint venture
- Counseled a company whose newly hired VP-sales had expropriated his previous employer's client list
Government Relations:
- Represented an independent power producer in forcing a major investor-owned utility to buy out its power purchase agreement
- Assisted a wireless service company with municipal land use authorities and other government officials to facilitate the build-out and deployment of a wireless Internet network
- Lobbied government and labor officials to assist a co-generation venture
- Assisted a telecom services company in contracting with governmental entities
Education, Distinctions & Community Involvement
Mr. Eigner received his B.A. from Stanford University in 1981 and law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986. In 1981, Mr. Eigner served as a United States Supreme Court Judicial Intern.
In 2008, The Daily Transcript recognized Mr. Eigner for his selection by area business attorneys as one of San Diego's top corporate attorneys. Also in 2008, San Diego Metropolitan magazine named Mr. Eigner to its “2009 Movers to Watch” list, calling him “the go-to guy for emerging companies.” In 2006, The Daily Transcript selected him as one of San Diego’s 120 Top Influentials--"a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events in San Diego’s business community.” And, in 2004, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce selected him as Volunteer Advocate of the Year.
Mr. Eigner serves as a director of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Chamber’s Public Policy and Government Interface Committees. He is a member of the San Diego Venture Group and a Director of CommNexus. Mr. Eigner serves on the Board of the Mundoval Fund, a publicly traded, global, large-cap, value-oriented mutual fund. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of integrated circuit design firm QuantumThink Group, Inc. (QThink). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of La Jolla Country Day School. Mr. Eigner is also a former trustee and land use chairman of the La Jolla Town Council.
Mr. Eigner is an AV rated attorney, the highest possible rating, by the Martindale-Hubbell legal rating service.
In 2008, The Daily Transcript recognized Mr. Eigner for his selection by area business attorneys as one of San Diego's top corporate attorneys. Also in 2008, San Diego Metropolitan magazine named Mr. Eigner to its “2009 Movers to Watch” list, calling him “the go-to guy for emerging companies.” In 2006, The Daily Transcript selected him as one of San Diego’s 120 Top Influentials--"a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events in San Diego’s business community.” And, in 2004, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce selected him as Volunteer Advocate of the Year.
Mr. Eigner serves as a director of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Chamber’s Public Policy and Government Interface Committees. He is a member of the San Diego Venture Group and a Director of CommNexus. Mr. Eigner serves on the Board of the Mundoval Fund, a publicly traded, global, large-cap, value-oriented mutual fund. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of integrated circuit design firm QuantumThink Group, Inc. (QThink). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of La Jolla Country Day School. Mr. Eigner is also a former trustee and land use chairman of the La Jolla Town Council.
Mr. Eigner is an AV rated attorney, the highest possible rating, by the Martindale-Hubbell legal rating service.
News*, Publications & Events
Mr. Eigner has published a number of articles and given a number of presentations on boards of advisors and other business topics. He is the author of “Board of Advisors: Key Tool for Successful Companies,” which was published in The Daily Transcript. Mr. Eigner is also the author of "Lobbying Guidelines," which was distributed to the San Diego City Council and other San Diego boards and commissions by San Diego City Attorneys, and is co-author of "Lobbying Guidelines and Rules for Ex Parte Contact," which was published in California Real Property Journal. He is also co-author of "Committees of the Board of Directors: An Overview," which was presented to the International Forum for Corporate Directors.