Ian Wiener

Ian C. Wiener is a partner at RFZ Law LLP and a member of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on advising startup and development stage companies, entrepreneurs and investors, principally in biotechnology and other hi-tech industries, in connection with transactional and business law matters. His areas of expertise include business formation, venture capital and other financings, mergers and acquisitions, technology transactions, corporate governance, limited liability company and partnership agreements, commercial agreements and executive employment agreements. He also acts as outside general counsel to select clients.

With more than three decades of experience in both private practice and executive leadership roles, Mr. Wiener brings a practical, business-focused approach to helping clients navigate sophisticated legal issues and accomplish their goals. Clients appreciate his creative problem solving and his unwavering dedication to their interests.

Prior to joining RFZ Law LLP, Mr. Wiener served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation RNA therapeutics, personalized medicines and a novel GMP manufacturing platform. In that role, Mr. Wiener oversaw corporate governance, equity and debt financings, patent and trademark matters, commercial transactions and during certain periods the finance and HR functions. He also managed the legal aspects of the company’s 2025 sale transaction.

Before moving in-house, Mr. Wiener spent nearly three decades at Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles, where he became a partner in 1999 and where he represented clients in corporate and securities law matters across numerous industries, including life sciences, healthcare, media and entertainment, semiconductors, and professional sports.

Mr. Wiener earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as Articles Editor of The Georgetown Law Journal. He received his B.A. in Economics, cum laude, from Dartmouth College.

He is admitted to practice in California and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Mr. Wiener currently serves on the board of Eisner Health, a nonprofit community health center, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Finance Committee.

• Represented Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of mRNA therapeutics and a novel GMP manufacturing platform, in connection with its formation, general corporate matters, and over $240 million in preferred stock financings.
• Represented ZetaRx Biosciences Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of CAR T-cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of certain cancers and other diseases, in connection with various preferred stock financings, general corporate matters, and the sale of the company to Juno Therapeutics Inc.
• Represented the majority owners of the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams in the sale of their interests in the team.
• Represented Centinela Freeman Holdings Inc. in connection with its sale of Centinela Hospital Medical Center, a 369-bed general acute care hospital in Inglewood, California, to Prime Healthcare.
• Represented an Asian investment fund in connection with investments in U.S. entertainment and technology companies.
• Represented Crescent Entertainment LLC in connection with the merger of Village Roadshow Pictures Group (owned by Crescent and Village Roadshow Limited) with Concord Music Group.
• Represented Clarity Partners L.P. in connection with Clarity’s $320 million strategic investment in OpNext Inc., an optical components manufacturer, and the spinoff of OpNext from Hitachi Ltd.
• Represented Rondor Music International Inc., a leading independent music publisher, in connection with the $400 million sale of the company to The Seagram Company Ltd.