Joshua A. Dean

Partner
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Joshua Dean

Overview

Joshua Dean advises public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and corporate governance matters across a range of industries, with particular depth in the financial institutions sector. He helps boards, management teams and investors execute strategic transactions while navigating banking and securities regulation, disclosure obligations and governance issues.

A significant portion of Josh’s practice focuses on representing banks and other financial institutions in mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations and strategic investments. With more than two decades of corporate transactional experience in the regulated banking sector, he brings familiarity with the regulatory frameworks that apply to these transactions, including coordination with federal and state banking regulators and securities regulators.

Corporate boards and senior executives turn to Josh for guidance on securities law compliance, disclosure obligations and evolving corporate governance requirements. He also advises companies during significant strategic events, including executive leadership transitions, takeover defense, proxy contests and other matters that require coordination among management, directors and investors.

Capital markets transactions are another core component of Josh’s work. He represents issuers and investment banks in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities, including initial public offerings, subordinated debt offerings and exchange listings.

Josh also represents companies in the aerospace, transportation, technology and specialty finance sectors in acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments and other corporate transactions. He serves as outside corporate counsel to family offices and advises on investments, portfolio company transactions and related governance matters.

Experience

Representative Financial Institution M&A Transactions

  • Represented California BanCorp in its merger with Southern California Bancorp.
  • Represented First Foundation Inc. in its acquisitions of First Florida Integrity Bank, Premier Business Bank, Community 1st Bancorp, and certain branch offices of Pacific Western Bank.
  • Represented Pacific Enterprise Bancorp in its merger with BayCom Corp.
  • Represented Suncrest Bank in its merger with CVB Financial Corp.
  • Represented Pacific Mercantile Bancorp in its merger with Banc of California.
  • Represented Bank of Santa Clarita in its merger with Southern California Bancorp.
  • Represented California First National Bancorp in the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, California First National Bank, to DMG Bancshares, Inc.
  • Represented Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings in its merger with Enterprise Financial Services Corp.
  • Represented The First National Bank of Layton in its merger with Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
  • Represented Scott Valley Bank in its acquisition by Mechanics Bank.
  • Represented Plaza Bancorp in its merger with Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.
  • Represented Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings in its acquisition of Capital Bank.
  • Represented The Bank of Santa Barbara in its merger with American Riviera Bank.
  • Represented Ford Financial Fund II, L.P. in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Mechanics Bank.
  • Represented California Republic Bancorp in its acquisition by Mechanics Bank.
  • Represented Plaza Bancorp in its acquisitions of Bank of Manhattan and Plaza Bank.
  • Represented Premier Valley Bank in its sale to Heartland Financial.
  • Represented State Bank Corp. in its acquisition of County Bank.
  • Represented Sterling Financial Corporation in its acquisitions of Commerce National Bank, Borrego Springs Bank, N.A. and the Pacific Northwest operations of Boston Private Bank & Trust Company.

Representative Financial Institution Capital Markets Transactions

  • Represented First Foundation Inc. in its initial public offering of common stock, private placement of common stock and at-the-market offering.
  • Represented Southern California Bancorp in its Nasdaq listing and Exchange Act registration.
  • Represented California BanCorp in its Nasdaq listing and Exchange Act registration.
  • Represented Icon Bancorp in its offering of common stock.
  • Represented California BanCorp in its offerings of subordinated debt.
  • Represented Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings in its offering of common stock.
  • Represented Metro Phoenix Bank in its offering of common stock.
  • Represented California Republic Bancorp in its offerings of common stock and subordinated debt.
  • Represented Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, Inc. in offerings of common stock subordinated debt.
  • Represented D.A. Davidson in offerings of common stock and subordinated debt.
  • Represented Piper Sandler in offerings of common stock and subordinated debt.
  • Represented Raymond James, Inc. in offerings of common stock and subordinated debt.

Other Transactions

  • Represented a private medical billing company in its sale to a private equity-backed buyer.
  • Represented an intermodal transportation company in multiple acquisitions. 
  • Represented a specialty finance company in its sale to Synchrony Financial.
  • Represented an aerospace manufacturing company in its sale to a private equity-backed buyer.
  • Represented a mortgage bank and financial advisory firm in its sale to Flagstar Bank.
  • Represented a veterinary hospital and clinic in its sale to Pathway Vet Alliance, a subsidiary of TSG Consumer Partners.
  • Represented a technology solutions consulting firm in its sale to a private equity-backed buyer.
  • Represented an artificial intelligence-powered procurement company in multiple early stage financing rounds.
  • Represented a leading software company in the mortgage industry in its sale to a technology solutions company.
  • Represented a venture capital company in connection with investments in several of its portfolio companies.
Credentials
Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2000

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1997, summa cum laude

Admissions

California

Honors

Mergers and Acquisitions, Legal 500, 2016