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EXHIBIT 5.1
File Number: F1088-0017
Direct Dial Number: (213) 891-5020
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
August 20, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Office of Applications and Reports Services
Re: Hanmi Financial Corporation
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Hanmi Financial Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration of 22,000
shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Shares") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, (the "1933 Act"), pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"). The Shares will be
issued in accordance with the Company's Year 2000 Stock Bonus Plan (the
"Plan").
This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of
Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act.
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, we have reviewed such
documents and made such inquiries as we have reasonably deemed necessary to
enable us to render the opinion expressed below. In all such reviews, we have
made certain customary assumptions such as the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the lack of
any undisclosed modifications, waivers, or amendments to any documents
reviewed by us and the conformity to authentic original documents of all
documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies. For purposes of
rendering this opinion, we have investigated such questions of law as we have
deemed necessary.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon and subject to
the assumptions, qualifications, exceptions and limitations expressed herein,
we are of the opinion that when the Shares are issued in accordance with the
terms of the Plan, the Shares will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is limited to the present laws of the State of California
and of the United States of America, and the corporate law of the State of
Delaware.
This opinion is solely for your information in connection with the offer
and sale of the Shares by the Company, and is not, without the prior written
consent of this firm, to be quoted in full or in part or otherwise referred
to in any documents nor to be filed with any governmental agency or other
persons, other than with the Commission and various state securities
administrators in connection with the qualification of the Shares, to which
reference and filings we hereby consent.
Very truly yours,
BUCHALTER, NEMER, FIELDS & YOUNGER
