James K. Dyer
Practice Expertise
Areas of Practice
- Capital Markets and Securities Regulation
- Consumer Financial Services and Mortgage ...
- Corporate Law
- Mergers And Acquisitions
- Start-Ups & Early Stage Companies View More
Profile
James (Jim) Dyer serves as Chair of the Firm's Northern California Corporate Practice Group and is a Partner in Buchalter's Sacramento and San Diego offices. With more than 30 years of experience as a corporate and bank regulatory lawyer and a background in public accounting, Mr. Dyer serves as outside general counsel to a number of business enterprises ranging from privately held businesses to a publicly-traded company, including financial institutions.
Mr. Dyer guides his clients through complex business and finance transactions as an active member of their management teams, and is known for his approachable demeanor, proven judgment, and unwavering client loyalty and dedication. With over four years of experience as in-house counsel for a large, regional bank holding company, he has developed a unique perspective that many corporate lawyers do not possess.
On any given day, Mr. Dyer assists clients with a variety of general corporate matters, including corporate governance, corporate structuring, and shareholder relations. He has an active financial institutions practice that includes bank mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance. When his clients desire to raise money, they turn to Mr. Dyer for assistance with corporate finance and capital strategies. Depending on their approach to expansion, Mr. Dyer assists his clients with organic growth through the development of legal strategies for new products or services or the entry into new markets, drawing up on his extensive mergers and acquisitions experience. With a strong understanding of his clients' businesses, he has a deep bench of experience with general business matters, including contract negotiations, strategic alliances, and the resolution of disputes.
In his role as outside general counsel, Mr. Dyer serves as a trusted advisor and when needed consults with other experienced lawyers in the firm in areas such as dispute resolution, real estate purchases, sales and leasing, intellectual property, employment, and environmental issues.
Honors and Rankings
Mr. Dyer is recognized as a 2026 Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Lawyer. He was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Sacramento by Best Lawyers in 2020 for Corporate Law, and again in 2021, 2023, and 2026 for Business Organizations. He was also honored in 2020 as one of the Best of the Best Top 10% of America's Lawyers, and as one of America's Most Honored Lawyers by The American Registry.
Since 2018, Mr. Dyer has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Business Organizations and Corporate Law. He has also been selected as one of Northern California's Super Lawyers every year since 2016 and has been named among Sacramento Magazine's Top Lawyers since 2015.
Most recently, Mr. Dyer was recognized in the 2026 Legal 500 U.S. Elite rankings in the area of Corporate and M&A.
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Mr. Dyer guides his clients through complex business and finance transactions as an active member of their management teams, and is known for his approachable demeanor, proven judgment, and unwavering client loyalty and dedication. With over four years of experience as in-house counsel for a large, regional bank holding company, he has developed a unique perspective that many corporate lawyers do not possess.
On any given day, Mr. Dyer assists clients with a variety of general corporate matters, including corporate governance, corporate structuring, and shareholder relations. He has an active financial institutions practice that includes bank mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance. When his clients desire to raise money, they turn to Mr. Dyer for assistance with corporate finance and capital strategies. Depending on their approach to expansion, Mr. Dyer assists his clients with organic growth through the development of legal strategies for new products or services or the entry into new markets, drawing up on his extensive mergers and acquisitions experience. With a strong understanding of his clients' businesses, he has a deep bench of experience with general business matters, including contract negotiations, strategic alliances, and the resolution of disputes.
In his role as outside general counsel, Mr. Dyer serves as a trusted advisor and when needed consults with other experienced lawyers in the firm in areas such as dispute resolution, real estate purchases, sales and leasing, intellectual property, employment, and environmental issues.
Honors and Rankings
Mr. Dyer is recognized as a 2026 Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Lawyer. He was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Sacramento by Best Lawyers in 2020 for Corporate Law, and again in 2021, 2023, and 2026 for Business Organizations. He was also honored in 2020 as one of the Best of the Best Top 10% of America's Lawyers, and as one of America's Most Honored Lawyers by The American Registry.
Since 2018, Mr. Dyer has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Business Organizations and Corporate Law. He has also been selected as one of Northern California's Super Lawyers every year since 2016 and has been named among Sacramento Magazine's Top Lawyers since 2015.
Most recently, Mr. Dyer was recognized in the 2026 Legal 500 U.S. Elite rankings in the area of Corporate and M&A.
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Bar Admissions
California
Education
Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D. - Distinguished as an Outstanding Graduating Student in Taxation
California State University, Sacramento, B.A.
Areas of Practice
- Capital Markets and Securities Regulation
- Consumer Financial Services and Mortgage Regulatory
- Corporate Law
- Mergers And Acquisitions
- Start-Ups & Early Stage Companies
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
- Served as outside general counsel to one of the country's largest credit unions and various community banks in the California Central Valley*
- Advised $900 million publicly traded bank holding company on acquisition of $200 million bank in merger transaction valued at $24 million consisting of half cash and half publicly traded stock, including active involvement with due diligence, negotiation of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, advising Board of Directors on fiduciary duties in connection with merger, filing regulatory applications with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the California Department of Financial Institutions, registering the stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission, rendering a tax opinion, and consummating the merger transaction*
- Advised financial institution in $250 million note purchase*
- Advised publicly traded bank holding company in $8 million private equity offering*
- Advised shareholder in acquisition of control of bank holding company, including filing of a Change of Bank Control Application with Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco*
- Advised seller in sale of regionally branded meat packing company*
- Advised buyer in acquisition of petroleum supply company*
- Advised shareholder in purchase of shares in CA Corporate Code section 2000 dissolution action*
- Advised physicians in separation from medical practice as part of a dispute resolution*
- Structure corporate organization for future national franchisor*
- Structure corporate organization for large, family-owned winery and vineyard*
- Advised energy consulting and engineering firm on split-off transaction*
Articles
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: New Treasury PPP Rules Clarify Recent Changes to PPP Program, Extend Time to Obtain a PPP Loan to March 31, 2021
By James Dyer |January 2021Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: New Treasury PPP Rules Clarify Recent Changes to PPP Program, Extend Time to Obtain a PPP Loan to March 31, 2021
By James Dyer |January 2021Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: New Treasury PPP Rules Clarify Recent Changes to PPP Program, Extend Time to Obtain a PPP Loan to March 31, 2021
By James Dyer |January 2021
Newly Enacted California Consumer Financial Protection Law (AB 1864) Reorganizes and Renames Financial Institutions Regulator for Expanded Oversight of Certain Consumer Financial Services Innovation Sector
OCC Issues Final Rule Defining "True Lender" - A Bank is the "Lender" if it is Named the Lender in the Loan Documents or if it Funds the Loan
Federal Banking Regulatory Agencies Issue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Re: the Role of Supervisory Guidance
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: New PPP Changes in the Stimulus Bill: Second PPP Loan for Hardest-Hit Existing PPP Borrowers, Additional Categories of Forgivable Expenses, Tax Deductibility for Expenses Paid with PPP Proceeds, Lender Liability Limitations, Simplified Forgiveness Application for Loans of $150,000 or Less, and Other Changes
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: New Treasury PPP Rules Clarify Recent Changes to PPP Program, Extend Time to Obtain a PPP Loan to March 31, 2021
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: PPP Application Deadline Extended to May 31, 2021
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: PPP Loans Now Available to Otherwise-Eligible Companies That Have Ended Their Bankruptcy Proceedings
OCC and FDIC "Valid When Made" Rule Reaffirmed: Interest Rate Limitations, or Lack Thereof, on Loans Made By National and State Banks and Federal Savings Associations Remain When the Loan Is Sold or Assigned
James Dyer, Speaker at California Credit Union Collectors Council, Sacramento Chapter
Buchalter Presents: StartUp Financing Bootcamp
Jim Dyer, Speaker at the 2023 National Credit Union Conference
Jim Dyer, Speaker at the 2023 Annual Community Banking Conference
Jim Dyer, Panelist at University of the Pacific McGeorge Law School's Sacramento Legal Employer Diversity Collective Pathway Project
Jim Dyer, Speaker at the 2024 Annual Community Banking Conference
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