Jonathan Bench, Attorney
Jonathan is chair of Harris Bricken’s corporate practice group and managing attorney of the firm’s Salt Lake City office, where he helps public and private companies with international and domestic business transactions. His clientele includes companies from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Jonathan has worked and consulted in the U.S., Asia, and South America and is fluent in Chinese and Cantonese. He is also on the board of directors for World Trade Center Utah.
He regularly counsels business owners and presents to national and global trade organizations regarding international business transactions, particularly foreign direct investment. Jonathan is also an emerging expert in the fast-moving and complex Web3 ecosystem, including decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), decentralized finance (defi), cryptocurrencies, coins and tokens, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts.
Jonathan co-hosts Harris Bricken’s Global Law and Business podcast, which covers legal and business developments around the world. He is also a regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and the award-winning Canna Law Blog, where he shares his practical insights into the cannabis trade and doing business internationally.
He describes himself as a businessperson who went to law school rather than a lawyer who studied business. Jonathan’s clients value his ability to think like a business owner as he provides sound legal guidance while maintaining key business issues at the forefront of the discussion.
In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife Mary Ann and their five children, exploring the outdoors, practicing Hapkido, learning guitar, and working on getting his Spanish to be as good as his Mandarin.
More About Jonathan
Speaking Engagements
Leaving China for India or Mexico, Oklahoma World Trade Conference, Oklahoma State University, October 20, 2022.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: Using Blockchain and Smart Contracts Instead of Organizational Documents, Strafford, June 16, 2022.
Trade Winds & Viable Alternatives to China, China Challenge Summit, June 9, 2022.
Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance, Strafford, June 7, 2022.
Global Trends in Psychedelic and Cannabis Law, Washington State Bar Association, International Practice Section Spring Event, June 1, 2022.
The Impact of Cannabis and Web3 Crossover: NFTs, DAOs, and Tokens, MyLawCLE, May 27, 2022.
Web3 Developments from Utah to the World, World Trade Center Utah, May 13, 2022.
Web3, Decentralization and DAOs: A View from India, eSamudaay webinar, May 12, 2022.
The Impact of Cannabis NFTs and Web3 Crossover, MyLawCLE, April 22, 2022.
China Business Q&A, Northern Utah County Chambers of Commerce, March 2, 2022.
The U.S. Legal Landscape for Foreign Investors, Harris Bricken webinar, January 27, 2022.
Legal Issues with Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, Harris Bricken Youtube Chat, January 28, 2022.
Doing Business in the U.S. Market, Chamber of Commerce of Madrid, Madrid, Spain, November 4, 2021.
World Trade Conference And Oklahoma Consular Trade Summit, Oklahoma State University, October 27, 2021.
CFIUS and the Global Venture Capital Funds: Trends, Updates, and Critical Issues Explored, The Knowledge Group webinar, October 7, 2021.
Retail and Multi-Family Real Estate Development for Overseas Investors, Harris Bricken webinar, August 25, 2021.
U.S. Real Estate for Overseas Investors, Harris Bricken webinar, June 30, 2021.
Doing Business in India: An Overview of Legal Considerations, WSBA webinar, July 7, 2021.
Leasing to a Cannabis-Related Business: Banking, Permitting, Zoning, Rent, Indemnification, and Insurance, Strafford, May 27, 2021.
International Business Law for Business Leaders, St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala, India, May 19, 2021.
High Roads: A Twitter Chat, National Underwriter Property Casualty, April 20, 2021.
Where the Money Grows: Learning the Industry Trends in Medical Cannabis, Recreational Marijuana, Hemp, and Beyond, Medical Cannabis Brief, April 20, 2021.
Actionable Advice On What U.S. Businesses Should Do About China, WTC Utah: The China Paradox Webinar Series, April 7, 2021.
How US Companies Can Take Advantage of Mexico Cannabis Legalization: Corporate, Trade, and Immigration. Cannabis Mexico Summit, March 26, 2021.
Counseling Your First Cannabis Client: Marijuana vs. Hemp, State vs. Feds, and Other Key Issues, Washington State Bar Association, February 2, 2021.
The Meandering Path to a Career in Private International Law, Brigham Young University Law School, November 11, 2020.
Regulatory Incentives in Cannabis Markets: The Competing Goals of Sin Taxes, Public Health, Elimination of Illicit Markets, and Revenue Generation, George Mason University Law School’s Symposium on the Economics and Law of Cannabis Markets, October 12, 2020.
International Legal Considerations for Business Executives, The George Washington University School of Business, October 8, 2020.
Investing in India – Business and Legal Considerations – Part 3, FAO Global, August 13, 2020.
Investing in India – Business and Legal Considerations – Part 2, FAO Global webinar, July 15, 2020.
Southeast Asia as an Alternative to China, World Trade Center Utah webinar, May 20, 2020.
Understanding CFIUS: Impacts on Chinese Investment in the United States, FAO Global Webinar, April 9, 2020.
COVID-19, Companies Making Culture Podcast, April 7, 2020.
How to Rebuild Your Asia Supply Chain, FAO Global Webinar, March 26, 2020.
Effects of COVID-19 on Doing Business with China, WTC Utah Webinar, March 19, 2020.
Trade Wars or Truce? Legalities of Doing Business with China in 2020,WTC Utah, February 5, 2020.
Intoxicles and Mug Buddy Cookies, Greenlight Maine, November 18, 2018.
Key Legal Issues for Emerging Companies, Center for Entrepreneurs: TopGun, 2017, 2018.
The Maine Show, podcast guest, April 17, 2017.
Legal Fundamentals for Businesses, Small Business Bootcamp, 2017.
Governance Issues for Startups. Scratchpad Accelerator, 2015.
Media Appearances
Co-Host of Harris Bricken’s Global Law and Business Podcast.
President Biden’s Focus Shifts to China, Inside Sources Podcast, May 19, 2022.
Why did TPCO write down $654M?, Weedweek, April 7, 2022.
Hackers Are Stealing NFTs, and It’s Not As Easy as You Think, HackerNoon, March 14, 2022.
Blunt talk: A Twitter chat on commercial auto risks for cannabis businesses, Property Casualty 360, April 23, 2021.
Time To Get High On Marijuana Investing?, Insurance News Net, April 13, 2021.
Green Screen, National Underwriter Property & Casualty, April 01, 2021.
China is Ready for CBD. But Regulators Might Not Be. The Wall Street Journal: The Future of Everything Podcast, January 29, 2020.
Publications
Regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and the award-winning Canna Law Blog.
A Guide To Web3 Applications In The Cannabis Industry, Law360, April 26, 2022.
Acquiring a Cannabis Business, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, 2021.
As China’s Hemp Industry Suffers, US Hemp Growers Prepare To Pounce, The Fresh Toast, March 4, 2020.
Best Practices in International Business Contracting – Part 2, Rudman Winchell.
Investor Pitfalls: Should I Invest in a Privately Held Company?, Rudman Winchell.
For-profit Director and Officer Standards of Conduct, Rudman Winchell.
Representative Work
Negotiated and drafted collaborative contracts between an NFT venture studio and a creator in the international music industry.
Represented a minority investor in joining ownership group of a prominent national sports team.
Assisted Japanese owned direct sales company in entering the Chinese market.
Represented Russian owned direct sales company in entering the U.S. market.
Represented buyer and seller groups in cross-border PPE (personal protective equipment) transactions exceeding $3.5 billion.
Represented $50MM international venture capital fund on secured debt investment in cannabis real estate.
Represented public Canadian company in $100MM foreign direct investment in U.S. multi-state cannabis operations.
Represented public Chinese company in $3MM acquisition of U.S. technology company.
Represented Australian-owned aviation MRO company in international contracting with European suppliers and customers.
Counseled multiple U.S. companies with China employment matters in Chinese representative offices.
Represented many U.S. issuers in private equity and debt securities issuances under Reg D, including those involving international investors.
Represented U.S. manufacturer in joint venture negotiations with Taiwanese corporation.
Represented Taiwanese-owned fruit orchard partners in partnership dispute.
Counseled Ethiopian-backed U.S. coffee import company with investor relations.
Represented U.S. drone software company in export control and licensing issues relating to European imports.
Recognition/Honors
Legal Elite, Utah Business 2022 (International Law)
Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2021-2022 (International Law)
Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2015-2018 (Corporate Law)
Volunteer Activities
Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington – General Counsel
Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE) – Mentor
World Trade Center Utah – Board Member and MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Committee Member
Junior Achievement USA – Mentor
Certifications
Certificate in Chinese IP Law, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
Practice Areas
Education
- The George Washington University Law School (J.D.)
- The George Washington University School of Business (M.B.A.)
- Brigham Young University (B.A.)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Utah State Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Maine State Bar Association
Languages
- Chinese (Advanced)
- Cantonese (Advanced)
- Spanish (Basic)