James D. Hovren

James D. Hovren

Professional Status:

Managing Partner of Evans Keane LLP in Boise, Idaho; personal practice concentrated in corporate and business law, securities, commercial transactions and real property law.  Mr. Hovren is a Martindale-Hubble AV® Preeminent™ rated attorney, which signifies the highest possible rating for legal ability and adherence to the highest standard of professional conduct, and is recognized by Chambers USA®, Super Lawyers® and Best Lawyers in America® for his Corporate/Commercial practice. In 2018, Mr. Hovren was honored as a recipient of the Idaho Business Review “Leaders in Law Award” for Firm Partner. Mr. Hovren was named as one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Corporate Lawyers in Idaho: 2023 Edition” by Business Today.

Formal Education:

Graduated summa cum laude in 1980 from the College of Idaho with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Obtained Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Washington in 1985.

Professional Affiliations and Bar Memberships:

Idaho State Bar (Member, Business and Corporate Law Section; Member, Committee to Revise the Idaho Corporate Code).  Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Idaho; the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; and all courts of the State of Idaho.  Evans Keane LLP is the only Idaho member of Meritas®, a premier global alliance of 182 independent law firms in 89 countries working collaboratively to provide businesses with qualified legal expertise.

Professional Instruction; Publications:

  • Mr. Hovren has lectured and instructed on various aspects of corporate and business law. In 2019, Mr. Hovren presented to the Association of Corporate Counsel – Mountain West Chapter on “High Level Best Practices & Tips for Board Members,” and in Palm Springs, CA to the Far West Ski Association on “Corporate Governance for Exempt Nonprofit Corporations & the Unique Issues Presented by 501(c)(7).”
  • Co-author: “Handbook for Idaho Nonprofit Corporations, First Edition,” (Idaho State Bar, Corporate and Securities Section, 1990);
  • Co-author: “Basic Corporate Law in Idaho” (National Business Institute, Inc., 1995);
  • Co-author: “Business Law Developments in Idaho,” 1995 – The Legal Year in Review, (CCM, The American Lawyer’s Corporate Counsel Magazine, 1995);
  • Co-author: “Business Law Developments in Idaho, USA,” 1996 – The Legal Year in Review, (CCM, The American Lawyer’s Corporate Counsel Magazine, 1996);
  • Author: “Dissenters Rights Under Part 13 of the New Idaho Business Corporation Act,” (The Advocate, April 1997);
  • Co-author: Idaho Submission – Global Legal Update for Businesses, 1998 (American Corporate Counsel Association 1998);
  • Author: “Business Entities – What’s Frequently Used Today,” The Messenger, (Idaho Small Business Development Center, Winter 2001).

Community Involvement:

Mr. Hovren is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wyakin Warrior Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit serving post-9/11 wounded and injured veterans. Mr. Hovren has also volunteered for the Small Business Development Center, Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and Pheasants Forever, and is a member of Bogus Basin Ski Club, Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation, Boise Gun Club, El Korah Shrine (providing screening clinics assisting children with admission to Shriners’ Hospitals) and Leadership Boise Alumni Association (class of 1997-98).

In 2017, Mr. Hovren had the honor of being selected to participate in the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Visitor Embark Program aboard the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), and in 2018 was honored to be selected as the first Honorary Battalion Commander for the 1st Battalion – 183rd Aviation Regiment (Attack Helicopter) of the Idaho Army National Guard.

Significant Corporate Finance and Representative Transactions:

  • From 1993 through 2002, preparation of all periodic reports [Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K], and Proxy materials for an NYSE listed corporate client. Prepared and filed various Registration Statements [Forms S-1, S-3, S-4 and S-8].  Coordinated the listing of securities on the NYSE and NASDAQ National Market.
  • Recapitalization, Exchange Offer [pursuant to Securities Act of 1933 §§ 3(a)(9) and 3(a)(10)] and Merger of an Idaho state-chartered bank holding company.
  • Formation of Idaho state-chartered banks and bank holding companies.
  • $31,000,000 Rights Offering with Distribution of Rights to purchase 10,100,000 Units, each consisting of two shares of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. Transaction included the Registration of the Units, Rights, Common Stock and Warrants on Form S-1, and the Listing of the Common Stock on the NYSE and the Rights and Warrants on the NASDAQ National Market.
  • Merger of Parent corporation with Subsidiary to Eliminate $11.94 (Stated Value) Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and Listing of Common Stock and Warrants on the NYSE and NASDAQ National Market. Preparation of related Registration Statement on Form S-4.
  • Preparation of proxy materials and corporate documents for corporate client’s successful 1 for 8 Reverse Stock Split.
  • Successfully represented closely-held issuer in tender offer and follow-on reverse stock split to eliminate minority shareholdings.
  • Represented corporations and limited liability companies in redemption transactions.
  • Represented various issuers in Reg D (Rule 506) offerings.
  • Various business purchase and sale transactions, ranging from $1,000,000 to $130,000,000.
  • Various transactions representing buyers or sellers of commercial properties, including recent transactions valued at $23,500,000 and $24,000,000.
  • Various transactions involving agricultural properties, including the $20,000,000 sale of agricultural property and related assets.
  • Frequently assists out-of-state lenders with secured loan transactions in Idaho.