The Firm’s attorneys are experienced in the representation of businesses of all sizes, from start-up companies to multinational public corporations, as well as funds, placement agents and individual and institutional investors, in all manner of corporate, securities and intellectual property matters. The following are representative of the types of clients and matters handled by the Firm’s attorneys (client identity and/or transaction details are disclosed with client permission):
Securities/VC and Angel Investing/Fund Formation /Private Equity/Debt Financing
- Representation of various venture capital funds, private equity funds, hedge funds and other investment vehicles in connection with investments in portfolio companies as well as in general partnership and corporate matters.
- Representation of various public companies for all securities matters.
- Representation of numerous early-stage companies in structuring, negotiating, documenting and closing various rounds of friends and family, angel, seed and VC financing, using a variety of financing instruments and strategies, including convertible notes, preferred equity, SAFEs, crowdfunding and others.
- Representation of numerous high net worth individuals in their investment activities, either directly or through family offices. In some cases, the investor is has good understanding as to the issues involved with the investments in question, appropriate terms, and diligence to be done, if any, and the role of firm attorneys will be limited to reviewing and advising on documentation. In other cases, the investor will be less familiar with angel investing and will look to firm attorneys for advice and assistance in becoming more knowledgeable regarding the investment landscape.
- Representation of a private equity group that invests in early-stage companies in connection with formation activities as well as in evaluating and negotiating portfolio company investments.
- Representation of an industry leader in the development of smartphone-based mobile guides for the travel and tourism industry around the world, in connection with multiple rounds of high-value convertible note financing.
- Representation of a family trust in a complex real estate workout transaction involving the retirement of over $100 million of debt financing. This transaction required the close coordination of real estate finance counsel, tax co-counsel and trusts and estate counsel to identify and utilize the most tax efficient structure while minimizing potential exposure to the trust.
- Representation of a company offering a groundbreaking point-of-sale software program designed for independent retailers in a convertible note financing.
- Representation of a company with innovative proprietary technology in the field of internet video monitoring, in an institutional round of seed-financing. Firm intellectual property attorneys have also advised the company concerning licensing issues.
- Representation of a company offering an online auction-based jewelry marketplace in three rounds of angel financing. In addition, Firm licensing and intellectual property attorneys represent the company with respect to intellectual property protection.
- Representation of a social media company in its angel investment round in a transaction that involved investors from numerous countries.
- Representation of the family office of a major European automotive family in its numerous investments in European and US early-stage companies. Firm attorneys have assisted this client in crafting a strategy to structure investments into early-stage European-based companies in conjunction with relocating the companies to the US, a process which often involves complex structuring to avoid negative tax implications.
- Representation of an investment fund targeting the life insurance settlement industry in structuring, formation and regulatory issues.
- Representation of Wolfprint 3D in a January 2017 financing on equity crowdfunding platform SeedInvest in a transaction hailed by the New York Times as one of the 10 most successful crowdfunding campaigns. As crowdfunding was still a relatively untested financing technique at the time of the closing, the transaction required firm securities attorneys to determine appropriate procedures with respect to securities filings and other compliance activities without the benefit of significant previous learning or precedent.
- Representation of a leading medical information provider in multiple rounds of high-value debt financing.
- Representation of a manufacturer of technology for charging cell phones and other mobile devices in a follow-on round of preferred equity financing.
- Representation of the family office of an Academy award winning actor in numerous investments in early-stage tech companies. As the investment strategy called for numerous investments with a limited budget for diligence and negotiation, firm attorneys worked with the client to devise various investment protocols and standard deal terms intended to streamline the decision-making and negotiation process and limit the amount of legal time required for each investment.
- Representation and formation of venture capital fund dedicated to investing in early-stage companies focused on research into one category of treatment alternatives with respect to a particular disease.
- Representation of a rapidly growing company in the audience measurement and television marketing space in structuring and closing a follow-on round of preferred equity financing.
Mergers & Acquisitions/Joint Ventures
- Representation of the shareholders of a financial services company in the sale of the company.
- Representation of a manufacturer and distributor of cosmetics in negotiating acquisition activity involving the company.
- Representation of an equipment manufacturer in the purchase of one of its principal suppliers.
- Representation of a company offering an online auction-based jewelry marketplace in a merger with a company in a related industry. In addition, Firm licensing and intellectual property attorneys represent the company with respect to intellectual property protection.
- Representation of a company that developed a proprietary employment search technology, in its sale to a larger strategic competitor.
- Representation of Media Behavior Institute LLC, a company specializing in the collection and analysis of consumer media response data, in a financing in which media research heavyweights Nielsen and GfK MRI each acquired a 25% position in the company, the first time that Nielsen and GfK MRI invested in the same company.
- Representation of a manufacturer of medical products in negotiations concerning the strategic acquisition of one of its competitors. Our preliminary diligence review identified concerns with respect to the value of the target in connection with weaknesses in its customer contracting procedures, a factor which ultimately contributed to our client terminating negotiations.
- Representation of a significant investor in its investment into a cloud-based hedge fund analytics provider and, ultimately, the strategic acquisition of that company by one of its competitors.
- Representation of a rapidly growing marketing, advertising and public relations agency in connection with a proposed acquisition. Firm attorneys assisted management in analyzing the proposed transaction terms against industry benchmarks, a process which resulted in the client declining to proceed with negotiations.
- Representation of multi-site provider of special education and clinical services in negotiations in connection with a proposed strategic acquisition.
- Representation of a leading education company in negotiations in connection with an acquisition by a private equity buyer.
- Representation of a co-founder of a highly successful restaurant chain in the buyout of the majority of his equity interest in the company. The transaction was a complicated one, as it was occurring simultaneously with, and was being funded by, a preferred round of equity investment by a VC fund, and the company had a relatively complex capital structure, having previously closed multiple rounds of equity investment. The three-way negotiations among our client, the company and the investment group resulted in an unusually successful opportunity for a co-founder to exit his position prior to other founders and investors.
- Representation of RICG, a NYC-based creative and strategic technology consultancy firm with advanced data analytics capabilities, in its merger of certain of its operations with CCG Marketing Solutions.
- Representation of event registration platform Eventgrid, in its acquisition by leading event marketing platform DoubleDutch.
- Representation of the founder of a premier software development consulting firm in the sale of his interest in the company to a private equity buyer.
- Representation of a foreign cosmetics manufacturer and distributor in the negotiation of a joint venture with a U.S.-based company in a complementary market sector.
- Representation of a business services company with global operations in the negotiation of a strategic minority investment in a competing company which was intended as a prelude to a strategic acquisition.
General Corporate/Start-Up/Intellectual Property/International/Employment/Other
- Representation of numerous co-founders and employees in their negotiations with other co-founders and with current and prospective employers regarding terms of shareholder and operating agreements, terms of employment, appropriate conditions with respect to confidentiality, nonsolicitation and noncompetition and terms of equity grants. Due to the significant amount of work we do in this space, representing both companies and individuals, we are able to advise on appropriate market terms, focusing on key provisions, enabling our clients to apply what at times may be limited negotiating power where it can be most effective.
- Representation of CPM Group, an internationally-recognized research, asset management, consulting and investment banking firm in the commodities and precious metals industry.
- Representation of QE Ventures Inc., the company that maintains the “Quentin’s Friends” community.
- Representation of a developer of Twitter-based applications in his departure from his previous employer, including in the acquisition of rights to software developed during such employment, structuring and formation of a new company and advising with respect to initial financing.
- Representation of a company developing and integrating touch-sensitive and virtual reality technology in structuring, formation and seed financing. In addition, the Firm’s corporate and intellectual property attorneys have advised on the company’s technology transfer agreements with a prominent university.
- Representation of a media research company formed as a collaboration of some of the world’s preeminent specialists in the field of advertising research, in formation, structuring and general limited liability company matters. In addition, the Firm’s licensing and intellectual property attorneys represent the company in its intellectual property matters.
- Representation of QEL System Services, a developer and operator of electronic trading platforms for the financial services industry.
- Representation of a developer of remote surgical and other telemedicine systems.
- Representation of a tech company in reconfiguring its capital structure and employee equity arrangements. The company had grown to a point where the rights granted to initial shareholders were an obstacle to rapid decision-making and continued growth. Meanwhile, employees had been promised equity awards that had not actually been granted, creating potential adverse tax consequences. Firm attorneys worked with the company to negotiate appropriate buyout arrangements of several shareholders and to devise a compensation plan to satisfy the commitments to employees in a tax efficient manner.
- Representation of Swellshark, a full-service media agency.
- Representation of a provider of information agent and depositary services to bond issuers worldwide.
- Representation of Cesar Attolini, an international manufacturer, distributor and retailer of luxury men’s clothing.
- Representation of a company with advanced stakeholder analytical capabilities in connection with drug and medical device approval and commercialization.
- Representation of Petroexport Ltd., a firm involved in oil trading and export activities.
- Representation of Monarchie, the parent company of the New York-based Bierocracy beer hall.
- Representation of Clear Health Analytics, an award-winning company with proprietary technology in the health insurance analytics industry.
- Representation of International Cosmetics & Perfumes, a marketer and distributor of luxury fragrance and skincare brands, including the House of Creed, Hanae Mori fragrances and Beauty by Clinica Ivo Pitanguy.
- Representation of Acclaro Inc., a global translation and localization company.
- Representation of PowerGen, a developer and installer of renewable energy systems in Africa.
- Representation of FullSight Health Analytics, a software company specializing in providing technology solutions for pharmacy inventory control for hospitals and healthcare delivery systems.
- Representation of a company that facilitates insurance premium financing for commercial, personal and assigned risk policites.
- Representation of the Bosco, a developer of cutting-edge photo installations and video booths.
- Representation of Emoticron, an Italian-based early-stage company, founded by Italian Academy Award winner Mario Amura, with an innovative photo-video sharing technology.
- Representation of a company offering a location-based platform to connect last-minute buyers and sellers of event tickets.
- Representation of Goal Group, a UK-based, global provider of withholding tax reclamation and securities class-action recovery services.
- Representation of a company in the conference organization space in internal restructuring and employee equity grants. The company’s business was growing in several directions, and management sought to properly align employee equity incentives with growth opportunities. PELG attorneys worked with management to devise an appropriate corporate and equity compensation structure.
- Representation of DIDWW, a company based in Ireland providing voice origination services to global telecom companies.
- Representation of a manufacturer and distributor of sauces and condiments that are sold at premier natural and gourmet markets across the country.
- Representation of Lab141, an on-demand, made-to-measure contract manufacturer of luxury clothes for designers, retailers and brands.
- Representation of Cybervision, Inc., a software development and integration company with hundreds of personnel spread across US and foreign offices.
- Representation of Tessa International School, which focuses on incorporating best practices in preschool education, including full immersion into a second language.
- Representation of Belair Instrument Company, a medical products and services company.
- Representation of a financial advisory and investment firm in the resolution of a dispute in connection with the payment of an engagement fee.
- Representation of HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, a UK-based company focused on marketing and connecting independent hotels to the Global Distribution Systems used by travel agents and corporate bookers and to travel websites.
- Representation of BestClass, a company with an event discovery and registration platform aimed at the children’s market.