At Sheppard Mullin, we understand the critical role angel financings and venture capital plays in driving entrepreneurial activity and innovation in the U.S. and other markets around the world. Our Emerging Growth/Venture Capital Team lawyers serve as trusted advisors to angel, venture capital and other institutional investors, as well as the emerging growth companies in which they invest. With offices throughout California, including Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Diego/Del Mar, Los Angeles, and Orange County; on the East Coast in New York and Washington, D.C.; and in Chicago, we maintain a strong network of relationships with VCs, entrepreneurs and third party experts in the VC ecosystem.

Our lawyers have advised on numerous debt and equity financings by top-tier venture and other institutional investors in the past several years representing hundreds of millions of dollars in transaction value. We have expertise in venture capital financings, enabling us to structure venture financings with these exits and strategic relationships in mind.

We are familiar with emerging trends and can speak authoritatively as to how proposed terms compare to the current market. Our significant deal flow also aids us in efficiently guiding deals to conclusion. We can assist fund managers with the gamut of organizational and ongoing back office legal needs, including fund formation, fundraising, governance, employment and other operational issues.

We have formed and helped grow thousands of new companies in all major industries, including software and information technology, digital media, internet, telecommunications, semiconductors, life sciences, and clean technologies.

We provide focused expertise in each of these major industries through a variety of cross-disciplinary industry teams, such as our Digital Media Team, Life Sciences Team, Climate Change and Clean Technology Team, among others.

We provide “one-stop shop” legal services including: corporate formation, venture financing, mergers and acquisitions, employee incentive plans, intellectual property protection, licensing and commercial agreements, employment and severance matters, corporate governance, litigation, IPOs, and public company reporting and counseling.

Our Emerging Growth/Venture Capital team members have received top rankings by many prestigious national and international publications including, among others, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Legal 500, and Super Lawyers.