Holly Hartman PhD, JD

biography

Holly Hartman, PhD, JD. Dr. Hartman is a Managing Partner at, and co-founder of, Sage Executive Search. Prior to founding Sage, Dr. Hartman was a Senior Associate at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, a middle-market investment bank headquartered in Los Angeles. While at Houlihan Lokey, Dr. Hartman originated, facilitated and negotiated mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances. She provided consulting services, valuations, fairness opinions and IPR&D projects for companies of all sizes.

Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Dr. Hartman worked for Cooley Godward in Palo Alto and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in their Southern California offices. At these law firms, Dr. Hartman focused on intellectual property, patent prosecution, patent litigation and corporate law. As part of a pro bono project, she helped incorporate an educational 501(C)(3) entity sponsored by five corporations to help bring life sciences studies to elementary school children. For her clients, she analyzed their legal needs and business strategies, worked on numerous patent litigation projects, analyzed and consulted on patent portfolio management strategies, facilitated IPO and debt offerings, and helped negotiate numerous strategic alliances.

Dr. Hartman is well-versed in market drivers, how these drivers function differently in small companies versus larger entities, how to build and create long-term value, strategic alliances and business development strategies, mergers & acquisitions, private financings and fundraising. As important, she understands the critical role that the board and senior management team plays in building value and creating sustained growth. Her combined legal and investment banking experiences provides her with a continuum of knowledge from negotiating an event to executing the final vision.

Dr. Hartman received her undergraduate degree in Biological Science with honors, received a Ph.D. in comparative pathology with an emphasis on immunology summa cum laude, as well as a JD from the University of California, Davis with distinctions. Dr. Hartman has been quoted numerous times in the prestigious Mergers & Acquisitions magazine and speaks frequently on industry trends highlighting the crossroads between science and business.