Derek Zha

Derek Zha advises clients across various industries on mergers and acquisitions, project finance, corporate governance, and pre-merger antitrust regulatory compliance.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Derek served as a finance manager for a media production company and as a senior consultant at a Big Four consulting firm, where he advised financial institutions on risk management.

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2020; Managing Editor, Minnesota Journal of International Law

Washington University School of Law, LL.M., 2014

East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, China, LL.B.

Admissions

Minnesota

New York

Languages

• Represented buyers and sellers in the acquisition, development, and sale of solar, wind, and hydro energy generation projects and battery energy storage projects throughout the U.S. 
• Represented parties to various tax equity and debt financing transactions in domestic wind and solar energy generating assets under development. 
• Represented of a leading investment management firm in its equity investment in a developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale renewable generation projects.
• Advising regarding DIF Capital Partner’s acquisition of a majority interest of Green Street Power Partners, a developer, financier, owner, and operator of over 300 MW of distributed generation solar projects in the U.S. 
• Represented a leading manufacturer and distributor of millwork solutions in its strategic acquisition of substantially all assets of a premier two-step distributor of moulding, millwork, and door products across the Southwest U.S. 
• Represented Hardwoods Distribution Inc. (TSX: HDI) in its acquisition of a leading U.S. distributor of architectural grade building products. 
• Represented a private equity firm in its control equity investment in a U.S. market-leading manufacturer of wild bird feed with a national footprint. 
• Counsel to Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE: LAD) in its acquisitions and sales of automobile dealerships. 
• Counsel to companies in filings to the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission for antitrust review of mergers and acquisitions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Insights & Presentations

• “The Wall on Trade: Reconsidering the Boundary of National Security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962,” 29 MINN. J. INT’L L. 229

• Named a Minnesota Lawyer“Up & Coming Attorney,” 2024
• Stoel Rives LLP Andrew Guy Pro Bono Award Recipient, 2022

Professional

• Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Member

Civic

• Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Emerging Leaders Group, Mentor and Representative, 2021–present
• UMN Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, former Executive Board Member
• LegalCORPS, Volunteer Attorney