Til minde om Finn Martensen
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Martensen Wright PC
One Capitol Mall, Suite 670
Sacramento, CA 95814
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I am saddened to report the passing of Finn Martensen, co-founder of Martensen Wright. Finn passed November 28, 2017 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Finn pioneered a practice focused on serving Danes seeking to do business in the U.S. long before any other firm recognized this as a viable niche practice. He understood the Danish entrepreneurial spirit. Indeed, he embodied that spirit. He also understood the allure the U.S. holds for Danish business.
Finn was first trained as a land surveyor in Denmark, and it was in that role that he discovered California. He landed a position with a surveying firm north of Sacramento, and he and his wife, Anna Grethe Martensen, set off to explore this new world. It captured their hearts.
Always up for new challenges, Finn returned to Denmark to study law. He received a Master of Laws from the University of Copenhagen in 1979. In 1980, he was awarded a Ph.D. by the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen. He was admitted to practice law in Denmark in 1981, and in 1987 was admitted to the Danish Supreme Court.
But California still had a hold on Finn. He returned to California to study at McGeorge School of Law, where he received an LL.M. in 1986. Finn qualified to practice law in California in 1992. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001.
I met Finn when he came to work for McDonough, Holland & Allen, at the time one of the finest firms in Northern California. Finn focused on the firm’s international clients, but soon realized his ambitions exceeded what the McDonough firm could offer. He started his own firm and from the start assisted some of the finest of Danish businesses to establish a presence in the U.S.
Finn and I co-founded Martensen Wright in 2000. His drive, marketing prowess and his ability to understand the core needs of Danish business clients made the firm an immediate success. The firm became a key point of entry for Danish companies seeking to reach the U.S. market, especially medium sized businesses already established in Denmark. Finn was a prolific author of articles and treatises focused on “Doing Business in the U.S.”. He was a gifted speaker. And above all, he was a supportive partner to Danes seeking a foothold in the new world. During his many years as a lawyer, first as a principal in the firm, and later as “Of Counsel,” he played a key role in the establishment of many hundreds of Danish subsidiaries in the U.S.
Finn was above all a steadfast friend. His warmth and hospitality among friends and colleagues are legendary. He will be missed.
Respectfully,
Edward Wright
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Det er med sorg, at jeg meddeler, at Finn Martensen, medstifter af Martensen Wright, er bortgået ved døden. Finn døde den 28. november 2017 efter en lang kamp mod kræft.
Finn var den første til at starte en praksis fokuseret på at hjælpe danske virksomheder med at etablere sig i USA. Langt før andre, forstod Finn hvilken betydningsfuld niche dette var. Den danske entreprenørånd forstod han bedre end andre, for han havde den også selv. Han forstod også, hvilke udfordringer der var for danske virksomheder, når de søgte ind på det amerikanske marked.
Finn startede sin karriere i Danmark som landmåler og det var via dette arbejde han stiftede bekendskab med Californien. Han fik et job hos et landmålerfirma nord for Sacramento, og sammen med sin hustru, Anne Grethe Martensen, rejste han fra Danmark for at udforske denne nye verden, som tog dem med storm.
Finn var altid mand for nye udfordringer, så da han vendte tilbage til Danmark, begyndte han på jurastudiet. I 1979 fik han sin cand.jur.-uddannelse, og i 1980 blev han phd.-kandidat fra Den Kongelige Veterinær- og Landbohøjskole i København, hvor han skrev afhandling om professionsansvar. I 1981 blev Finn beskikket som dansk advokat og i 1987 fik han møderet for Højesteretten.
Men Finn var stadig tiltrukket af Californien. Han vendte derfor tilbage, nu for at læse amerikansk jura ved McGeorge School of Law og i 1986 fik han en LL.M. I 1992 blev Finn beskikket som californisk advokat og i 2001 fik han møderet for den amerikanske føderale højesteret.
Finn og jeg mødte hinanden, da han startede hos McDonough, Holland & Allen, som på det tidspunkt var et af de førende advokatfirmaer i det nordlige Californien. Finns fokus var firmaets internationale klienter, men han indså snart, at han havde større ambitioner end firmaet. Han startede derfor sin egen praksis og begyndte straks at bistå nogle af de mest prominente danske erhvervsklienter med at etablere sig i USA.
I 2000 stiftede Finn og jeg Martensen Wright. Hans ”drive”, talent for markedsføring og evne til at kunne sætte sig ind i de danske erhvervsklienters behov, lagde grundlag for firmaet succes. Firmaet blev et nøglepunkt for danske virksomheder, der søgte ind på det amerikanske marked, ikke mindst for mellemstore erhvervsvirksomheder, som allerede var veletableret på det danske marked. Finn skrev mange artikler, som fokuserede på at drive virksomhed i USA. Han var en dygtig foredragsholder, og mest af alt, var han en enorm støtte som partner for danskere, der ønskede at få en fod indenfor det amerikanske marked. Finn spillede en kæmpe rolle som advokat for mange hundrede danske datterselskaber, først som partner i Martensen Wright PC og siden tilknyttet firmaet som juridisk rådgiver.
Finn var først og fremmest en pålidelig ven. Hans varme og venlighed overfor venner og kolleger var legendarisk. Vi vil savne Finn.
Ærbødigst,
Ed Wright
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