Startup and venture capital

Overview

Our Startup and Venture Capital Practice Group regularly advises tech startups, emerging growth companies and venture capital investors. We advise on every stage of the startup life cycle on a full spectrum of legal issues.

We take pride in our ability to understand the complex technologies and financial strategies that drive our clients’ businesses. Our wide-ranging industry knowledge allows us to represent startups cutting-edge areas of technology, including software-SaaS, e-commerce, biotech, cybersecurity, data analytics, social media, and many others.

At all stages of the startup life cycle, we focus on our client’s ultimate goal and take a practical, commercial approach to meeting our client’s goals, so the client (whether the founders or investors) can focus its most valuable resource – time and energy – on the collaborative work of building the next great startup. Moreover, we have dedicated M&A and capital markets practices that are ready to advise clients when exit and liquidity event opportunities arise.

We have an extensive network of founders, investors and established companies, and will often make value-additive connections to foster relationships, growth, investment and strategic opportunities.

Lifecycle Practices

• Getting started – Entity formation package, including governing documents (certificate of incorporation or formation, bylaws, operating agreements), founders equity and vesting agreements, employment documentation, IP assignment, and Cap Table management via Carta
• Financings – Equity and debt financing, such as Series A, B, C financings, seed financings (SAFEs, Convertible Notes, etc.), angel investments, venture debt financing, and securities law compliance
• Intellectual property – Application, registration and protective filings for all types of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, licenses, terms of use, privacy policies, data privacy
• Employment – Equity compensation, option plans and Section 409A review, employment documentation, non-compete agreements, tax advice
• Outside general counsel – Commercial contracting (templates and negotiation), real estate leases, tax, and litigation