Heather G. Wight-Axling

Partner

Heather Wight-Axling focuses her practice on M&A transactions and other complex business transactions, representing financial and strategic buyers and sellers in a range of industries. She also advises privately-held businesses on a wide variety of corporate matters, including corporate governance, board advisory work, and general commercial matters. Heather's industry concentrations include food and beverage as well as manufacturing and distribution.

Buyer Representations

Agriculture Capital Management

Represented ACM in various strategic acquisitions. (2015 – 2017)

Acquisition of Spectrum Rights for Clearwire Corp.

Negotiated Clearwire's acquisition and leasing of 2.5 GHz spectrum in connection with the expansion of its nationwide spectrum footprint, including the purchase in 2007 of AT&T’s portfolio of 2.5 GHz spectrum for $300 million. (2005-2013)

Acquisitions for Microsoft

Represented Microsoft in domestic and international acquisitions of significant logistics equipment. (2012)

Acquisitions for Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.

Represented Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. in its acquisition of SBL Investments, LLC, and Americore Enterprises, LLC, two leading providers of automated school bus arm photo enforcement in the United States. (2012)

Acquisitions for construction services provider

Represented a construction services provider as it evaluated and negotiated multiple acquisitions between 2010 and 2012.

Sell Side Representations

Voodoo Doughnut

Represented Voodoo Doughnut in investment and strategic partnership transaction with San Francisco-based Fundamental Capital. (2017)

Alambic Inc.

Represented California brandy producer Alambic Inc. in its sale of the Germain-Robin brandy business to E. & J. Gallo Winery. (2017)

Beaux Freres LLC

Represented Beaux Freres LLC and shareholders in majority stake sale to Maisons & Domaines Henriot. (2017)

Seven Hills Winery

Represented Seven Hills Winery in sale of winery business assets to Crimson Wine Group. (2016)

PreViser Corporation

Represented PreViser Corporation, a developer of dental health screening and assessment software, in its merger with Northeast Delta Dental (2016)

Corporate Finance and Other Matters

Restructuring of family business

Represented a family-owned business in a succession-driven restructuring to provide equity for key employees. (2014)

Business combination

Represented an investment banking firm in its business combination with a strategic partner. (2014)

Strategic alliance

Strategic alliance between Starbucks Coffee Company and Courtesy Products. (2011)

Equity investments for Clearwire Corporation

Represented Clearwire in a $14.5 billion merger of the Sprint and Clearwire WiMAX businesses, together with the $3.2 billion investment in Clearwire by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Google and Intel. (2008)

Equity investment for Clearwire Corporation

Represented Clearwire in $1.564 billion investment by Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Intel, and Eagle River. (2009)

Admitted to Practice

Washington, 2004

Education

J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law, 2004, summa cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- Editor-in-Chief, Natural Resources Journal
- Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team
- Dean’s Award for Significant Contribution to the Law School Community
- Frederick M. Hart Prize for Excellence in Commercial Law
- Award for Excellence in International Law
M.A., Anthropology, Western Washington University, 2000
- Teaching Assistant, Statistics
B.A., International Studies, Spanish, Willamette University, 1997

Memberships & Affiliations

- Pacific Rim M&A Institute
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Wellspring Family Services
- Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2014
- Board of Directors and Corporate Secretary, Wayfind (formerly known as Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations), 2010-2013
- Volunteer, Washington CASH Legal Clinic, 2010-2013

Professional Recognition

- Selected to "Washington Rising Stars," in the practice of Mergers & Acquisitions, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2014

03.04.25

Insights

Corporate & Business Transactions

UPDATE: What's Happening With the Corporate Transparency Act Read More

2017

News

"Firmwide Response to Trump Administration Executive Order," Davis Wright Tremaine Pro Bono Report Read More

2014

Presentations

"Nondisclosure Agreements – Key Terms and Considerations," DWT Monthly Business CLE Series, Seattle

2011-2013