Ready Player Me, a cross-game avatar platform that allows users to explore virtual worlds with one consistent identity, and a client of the firm, has successfully closed a Series B financing round of approximately $56 million led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from other notable investors including David Baszucki, co-founder of Roblox, Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch, Sebastian Knutsson & Riccardo Zacconi, King Games co-founders, sports and entertainment company Endeavor, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures, D’Amelio family, Punk6529, Snowfro, Collab Currency, Plural, Konvoy Ventures, Robin Chan, co-founder of Fractal, and more.

More than 3,000 apps across both Web2 and Web3 already integrate Ready Player Me. The company also works with individual creators and fashion brands such as Adidas, New Balance, Dior, Pull&Bear, and Warner Brothers (Dune movie outfits) to enable cross-game avatar assets across the metaverse. Ready Player Me provides developers an avatar system, allowing the teams to focus on creating worlds and experiences.  PELG was Ready Player Me’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

An investment vehicle managed by EJF Capital LLC, a global institutional alternative asset management firm and a client of PELG, joined a16z (Andreessen Horowitz), Tiger Global, Katie Haun, Multicoin Capital, Coinbase Ventures and others in a $200 million round into Aptos Labs, a Layer 1 blockchain startup. EJF is focusing on venture capital investing that targets early-stage opportunities. PELG represented EJF in its review and negotiation of the financing agreements.

An investment vehicle managed by EJF Capital LLC, a global institutional alternative asset management firm and a client of PELG, joined WestCap, Citi and other prominent investors in a $64 million Series B round into Sharegain Ltd. Sharegain is a leading capital markets infrastructure fintech which has defined a new market category with its unique SLaaS (Securities Lending as a Service) solution. EJF is focusing on venture capital investing that targets early-stage opportunities. PELG represented EJF in its review and negotiation of a suite of investment documents, including a securities purchase agreement.

An investment vehicle managed by EJF Capital LLC, a global institutional alternative asset management firm and a client of PELG, led a round of funding into Prelim. Prelim is a provider of optimized digital banking experiences for financial services firms.  The transaction represents EJF’s strategy of venture capital investing that targets early-stage opportunities and is aimed to substantially support Prelim on the next stage of its growth journey. PELG represented EJF in its review and negotiation of the financing documents.

Wolfprint 3D, the developer and owner of the Ready Player Me avatar system and a client of the firm, has successfully closed a Series A financing round of approximately $13 million, led by investors affiliated with Taavet+Sten, the co-founders of Wise and Teleport, and including investors affiliated with Tom Preston-Werner, the co-founder of GitHub, Samsung Next and NordicNinja and an investment from Konvoy Ventures, among others. Ready Player Me is an avatar platform that functions as a connective passport for the metaverse, bridging a network of thousands of worlds by providing consumers with avatars they can use to travel across many virtual platforms. Ready Player Me’s avatar platform is currently used by 900+ companies, including VRChat, Somnium Space, Verizon and Hiberworld, and has partnered with industry-leading brands, including Warner Brothers, Dior and New Balance. PELG was Wolfprint 3D’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

Congratulations to PELG client TapRm for its ranking among the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America of 2021. Out of 5000 businesses, TapRm was ranked 108 due to its 3,802% 3-Year Growth. TapRm is an online, same day delivery platform for beer and hard seltzer brands. The Inc. 5000 list showcases the most noteworthy examples of company growth and development over the last year.
​

BestEx Research Group, LLC, a client of the firm, successfully closed a $5 million Series A investment round.  BestEx is a provider of algorithmic execution and measurement solutions for equity, futures and foreign exchange.  The round was led by QC Ventures Ltd., a private investment firm affiliated with Quadrature, a quantitative investment manager. PELG was BestEx’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

Eir Ventures, a Nordic-focused investment firm and client of the firm, co-led, together with Soleus Capital, a $64 million equity investment into Galecto, Inc., a Copenhagen, Denmark and Boston, US-based biotechnology company focused on the development of novel treatments for fibrosis and cancer. PELG represented Eir in its review and negotiation of a suite of investment documents, including the securities purchase agreement.

Congratulations to our client, Wolfprint 3D, on the closing of a financing round consisting of the sale of more than $2 million of series seed preferred stock. Wolfprint developed a proprietary 3D body scanning technology used to create precise, customized 3D images for use in a wide range of applications, including gaming, virtual reality and online shopping.​​​

Paul Ellis leads an online panel presentation entitled “Ask the VCs: Startups and Fundraising in the Time of COVID-19.” This panel, presented by the NY Tech Alliance, takes place on April 2nd, 2020. He is joined by a panel of VCs, including John Elton, Partner of Greycroft Partners, Beth Ferreira, General Partner of FirstMark Capital and, Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner of Union Square Ventures.

For the event video, please visit our Resources page.

Like many of you, we at the Paul Ellis Law Group (PELG) have been closely monitoring the current situation with respect to COVID-19. In light of the recommendations given by government and health authorities, and to protect the health and safety of our personnel, our clients and their families, PELG has instituted a work-from-home policy, and we will not be holding in-person meetings for the time being.

Over the last two weeks, many of our clients have been reaching out to us on a variety of matters related to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, including…

Read More

On September 18, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 5 (“AB 5”). The law takes effect on January 1, 2020 with respect to workers’ rights under the state’s Unemployment Insurance Code, the Labor Code and wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, and on July 1, 2020 for workers’ compensation claims.

AB 5 is a worker-friendly law that is expected to have widespread impact across the state by potentially reclassifying millions of California workers as employees rather than independent contractors or consultants. As announced by the California Legislature when it passed AB 5, the new law is designed to “ensure workers who are currently exploited by being misclassified as independent contractors instead of recognized as employees have the basic rights and protections they deserve under the law, including a minimum wage, workers’ compensation if they are injured on the job, unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and paid family leave.”

Companies need to determine whether their business operations are affected by the new law and, if so, they will need to take various measures, including potentially modifying their contractor arrangements and agreements.

Read More

The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) goes into effect on January 1, 2020. Many of our clients who are subject to this wide-ranging law have been moving forward to come into compliance. Even though the CCPA will not be enforced until July 1, 2020, complying is a complex and time-consuming process. The devil is in the details, of which there are many – and even with the recent amendments, the details are not final, since the California Attorney General recently released draft regulations that would change those details and make compliance considerably more onerous.

Read More

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect on May 25, 2018. When it does, it will usher in a new era that changes the data privacy landscape for millions of companies in Europe and around the world. For those that have yet to ensure that they are in full compliance, this alert contains critical information regarding who will be impacted by the GDPR and how they should prepare their business for the new regulatory regime.

Read More

The Paul Ellis Law Group is pleased to announce the expansion of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice with the addition of Bart Breinin as a partner. Bart will lead the firm’s M&A practice and will also provide general counsel-level expertise to clients.

Read More

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Venture Capital Update 2016: Market Outlook and Series A Terms.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council, takes place on March 29, 2016. He is joined by a panel of VCs, including Eliot Durbin, General Partner ofBoldstart Ventures, Ali Hamed, General Partner ofCoVenture, Warren Lee, General Partner of Canaan Partners, and Ryan Ziegler, General Partner of Edison Partners.

For more information, including the event video and powerpoint, click here.

On February 4, 2016, at the 2016 NYTECH Winter Celebration, Paul Ellis was honored for his service to the technology community through his many contributions tothe New York Technology Council. Mr. Ellis co-founded NYTECH in 2009 and has sat on its board ever since. He also organizes the monthly “Legal Track“ series of events dedicated to educating founders, executives and in-house counsel of small and midsize technology companies about the critical legal issues they face. In addition, PELG is a sponsor of NYTECH.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to Clear Health Analytics (“CHA”) on its partnership with Enroll America in the creation of a digital tool to help consumers compare plans on the HealthCare.Gov platform. CHA has developed a unique health insurance decision analysis tool that creates a cost comparison of available health insurance plans for families based upon a customized analysis of their healthcare use, enabling them to choose the best coverage at the best price given their particular needs. Enroll America is the nation’s leading health care enrollment coalition, working with more than 4,600 partners in all 50 states to create cutting-edge toolsin order to maximize the number of Americans enrolled under the Affordable Care Act.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to Clear Health Analytics (“CHA”) on winning the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (“RWJF”) Plan Choice Developer Challenge. CHA has developed a unique health insurance decision analysis toolthat creates a cost comparison of available health insurance plans for families based upon a customized analysis of their healthcare use, enabling them to choose the best coverage at the best price given their particular needs.RWJF is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health and supports research and programs targeting some of America’s most pressing health issues.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to LASTLOOK on the launch of its app in the iOS App Store. Made by creatives for creatives, LASTLOOK makes it easy to privately shre, review and approve photos with other users. PELG has represented LASTLOOK since the company’s inception.

For more information, click here. 

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Long-Range Planning For The Successful Sale Of A Company: “Small’ Decisions Today That Can Result In A Big Purchase Price Tomorrow.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council, takes place on May 29, 2014. Joining Mr. Ellis on the panel areMichael K. Williams, Director – Mergers and Acquisitions, McGladrey, Mitchell S. Rock, Senior Vice President, The Manhattan Group at Morgan Stanley, Anthony Grass, Founder & President, e-Market Intelligence, Inc. and serial entrepreneur, and Dan Ramsden, Managing Director, Oberon Securities.

For more information, including the event video and powerpoint, click here.

Congratulations to Media Behavior Institute (“MBI”) on the closing of a financing in which media research heavyweights Nielsen and GfK MRI have each acquired a 25% position in the company.  MBI is poised to launch its innovative USA TouchPoints product, which will use smartphones and a proprietary app to enable consumers to record their media usage at frequent intervals throughout the day, providing valuable information for marketing efforts.  This strategic transaction represents the first time that Nielsen and GfK MRI have invested in the same company.  PELG attorneys have represented MBI since the company’s inception.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to the acclaimed luxury clothing retailer, Cesare Attolini, on the successful launch of its New York City store.  Founded in the 1930s, Cesare Attolini is renowned for its superb Neapolitan tailoring and bespoke service.  The new Madison Avenue boutique features the debut of the contemporary collection in the United States as well as the company’s custom suits.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations to Toura on the launch of the British Library’s first smartphone app, powered by Toura’s technology platform. The Library’s ‘Treasures’ app will present a rich selection of its collection, providing the opportunity for interaction with the Library’s collections at home, on the move, or within the Library itself. Toura, a leading technology platform for smartphone-based mobile guides for the travel and tourism industry around the world, has partnered with institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Asia Society and the Royal Academy of Arts, and has been featured in such publications as the New York Times and the Washington Post.

For more information, click here.

On Sunday, October 17th, 2010, Paul Ellis delivers a plenary presentation entitled “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Money Transmitter Industry” at the International Money Transmitters Conference, being held from Saturday, October 16th through Tuesday, October 19th in Miami. This conference, the premier international event in the money transmission industry, brings together a wide range of subject-matter experts and includes panels on the latest developments in the rapidly-changing mobile and internet money transfer space.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations to PELG client ShopKeep.com on its successful launch. ShopKeep.com offers a groundbreaking point-of-sale software program designed for independent retailers. A web-based solution for local storeowners to run their registers, track customers and manage inventory, ShopKeep offers a simple, accessible system that is extremely cost-effective. ShopKeep.com has already garnered high praise from industry opinion leaders, including Independent Retailer Magazine, Beverage Dynamics and Women’s Wear Daily, to name a few.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Negotiating Early-Stage Financing Term Sheets: Key Concepts and Market Trends.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council (NYTECH), takes place on April 26, 2010. He is joined by a panel of investors, including Brian Cohen, Vice Chairman of New York Angels, Charles Crockett, a Founding Partner of Ascend Venture Group, and Bob Greene, a Co-Founder of Contour Venture Partners.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis is a co-founder of the recently-created New York Technology Council (NYTECH). NYTECH is a New York City-based association dedicated to promoting and supporting the technology industry. NYTECH’s mission is to promote New York’s technology businesses and to improve coordination and communication among various constituencies in the technology industry, including companies, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, financiers, service providers and others, that are essential to the growth and dynamism of the industry.

NYTECH will conduct regular meetings at which it will present speakers and panel discussions on topics of importance to the technology community and will operate several special interest groups on specific topics related to its organizational mission. NYTECH will also conduct other activities and programs such as a university internship program, venture capital roundtables, networking events and joint activities with other area organizations.

In addition to his role as a board member, Mr. Ellis will also organize and moderate NYTECH’s “Legal Forum,” a bi-monthly panel dedicated to educating executives of small to mid-sized companies about the critical legal issues they face.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis participates in presenting a series of panels entitled “Legal Essentials for Emerging and Entrepreneurial Companies.” This series, which takes place at the New York Academy of Sciences on September 21 and 29 and October 13, 2009 and at Columbia University on September 23 and 30 and October 7, 2009, covers intellectual property protection, business structure and organization, and venture capital and angel financing. Joining Mr. Ellis in presenting the series are attorneys Tom Halket and Ted Weitz.

For more information on the NYAS series click here and on the Columbia series click here.

Ready Player Me, a cross-game avatar platform that allows users to explore virtual worlds with one consistent identity, and a client of the firm, has successfully closed a Series B financing round of approximately $56 million led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from other notable investors including David Baszucki, co-founder of Roblox, Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch, Sebastian Knutsson & Riccardo Zacconi, King Games co-founders, sports and entertainment company Endeavor, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Ventures, D’Amelio family, Punk6529, Snowfro, Collab Currency, Plural, Konvoy Ventures, Robin Chan, co-founder of Fractal, and more.

More than 3,000 apps across both Web2 and Web3 already integrate Ready Player Me. The company also works with individual creators and fashion brands such as Adidas, New Balance, Dior, Pull&Bear, and Warner Brothers (Dune movie outfits) to enable cross-game avatar assets across the metaverse. Ready Player Me provides developers an avatar system, allowing the teams to focus on creating worlds and experiences.  PELG was Ready Player Me’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

Wolfprint 3D, the developer and owner of the Ready Player Me avatar system and a client of the firm, has successfully closed a Series A financing round of approximately $13 million, led by investors affiliated with Taavet+Sten, the co-founders of Wise and Teleport, and including investors affiliated with Tom Preston-Werner, the co-founder of GitHub, Samsung Next and NordicNinja and an investment from Konvoy Ventures, among others. Ready Player Me is an avatar platform that functions as a connective passport for the metaverse, bridging a network of thousands of worlds by providing consumers with avatars they can use to travel across many virtual platforms. Ready Player Me’s avatar platform is currently used by 900+ companies, including VRChat, Somnium Space, Verizon and Hiberworld, and has partnered with industry-leading brands, including Warner Brothers, Dior and New Balance. PELG was Wolfprint 3D’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

Congratulations to PELG client TapRm for its ranking among the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America of 2021. Out of 5000 businesses, TapRm was ranked 108 due to its 3,802% 3-Year Growth. TapRm is an online, same day delivery platform for beer and hard seltzer brands. The Inc. 5000 list showcases the most noteworthy examples of company growth and development over the last year.
​

BestEx Research Group, LLC, a client of the firm, successfully closed a $5 million Series A investment round.  BestEx is a provider of algorithmic execution and measurement solutions for equity, futures and foreign exchange.  The round was led by QC Ventures Ltd., a private investment firm affiliated with Quadrature, a quantitative investment manager. PELG was BestEx’s primary legal representation on this transaction and was involved from the deal’s inception through its closing.

Eir Ventures, a Nordic-focused investment firm and client of the firm, co-led, together with Soleus Capital, a $64 million equity investment in September 2020 into Galecto, Inc., a Copenhagen, Denmark and Boston, US-based biotechnology company focused on the development of novel treatments for fibrosis and cancer. PELG represented Eir in its review and negotiation of a suite of investment documents, including the securities purchase agreement.

Congratulations to our client, Wolfprint 3D, on the closing of a financing round consisting of the sale of more than $2 million of series seed preferred stock. Wolfprint developed a proprietary 3D body scanning technology used to create precise, customized 3D images for use in a wide range of applications, including gaming, virtual reality and online shopping.​​​

Paul Ellis leads an online panel presentation entitled “Ask the VCs: Startups and Fundraising in the Time of COVID-19.” This panel, presented by the NY Tech Alliance, takes place on April 2nd, 2020. He is joined by a panel of VCs, including John Elton, Partner of Greycroft Partners, Beth Ferreira, General Partner of FirstMark Capital and, Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner of Union Square Ventures.

For the event video, please visit our Resources page.

Like many of you, we at the Paul Ellis Law Group (PELG) have been closely monitoring the current situation with respect to COVID-19. In light of the recommendations given by government and health authorities, and to protect the health and safety of our personnel, our clients and their families, PELG has instituted a work-from-home policy, and we will not be holding in-person meetings for the time being.

Over the last two weeks, many of our clients have been reaching out to us on a variety of matters related to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, including…

Read More

On September 18, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 5 (“AB 5”). The law takes effect on January 1, 2020 with respect to workers’ rights under the state’s Unemployment Insurance Code, the Labor Code and wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, and on July 1, 2020 for workers’ compensation claims.

AB 5 is a worker-friendly law that is expected to have widespread impact across the state by potentially reclassifying millions of California workers as employees rather than independent contractors or consultants. As announced by the California Legislature when it passed AB 5, the new law is designed to “ensure workers who are currently exploited by being misclassified as independent contractors instead of recognized as employees have the basic rights and protections they deserve under the law, including a minimum wage, workers’ compensation if they are injured on the job, unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and paid family leave.”

Companies need to determine whether their business operations are affected by the new law and, if so, they will need to take various measures, including potentially modifying their contractor arrangements and agreements.

Read More

The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) goes into effect on January 1, 2020. Many of our clients who are subject to this wide-ranging law have been moving forward to come into compliance. Even though the CCPA will not be enforced until July 1, 2020, complying is a complex and time-consuming process. The devil is in the details, of which there are many – and even with the recent amendments, the details are not final, since the California Attorney General recently released draft regulations that would change those details and make compliance considerably more onerous.

Read More

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect on May 25, 2018. When it does, it will usher in a new era that changes the data privacy landscape for millions of companies in Europe and around the world. For those that have yet to ensure that they are in full compliance, this alert contains critical information regarding who will be impacted by the GDPR and how they should prepare their business for the new regulatory regime.

Read More

The Paul Ellis Law Group is pleased to announce the expansion of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice with the addition of Bart Breinin as a partner. Bart will lead the firm’s M&A practice and will also provide general counsel-level expertise to clients.

Read More

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Venture Capital Update 2016: Market Outlook and Series A Terms.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council, takes place on March 29, 2016. He is joined by a panel of VCs, including Eliot Durbin, General Partner ofBoldstart Ventures, Ali Hamed, General Partner ofCoVenture, Warren Lee, General Partner of Canaan Partners, and Ryan Ziegler, General Partner of Edison Partners.

For more information, including the event video and powerpoint, click here.

On February 4, 2016, at the 2016 NYTECH Winter Celebration, Paul Ellis was honored for his service to the technology community through his many contributions tothe New York Technology Council. Mr. Ellis co-founded NYTECH in 2009 and has sat on its board ever since. He also organizes the monthly “Legal Track“ series of events dedicated to educating founders, executives and in-house counsel of small and midsize technology companies about the critical legal issues they face. In addition, PELG is a sponsor of NYTECH.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to Clear Health Analytics (“CHA”) on its partnership with Enroll America in the creation of a digital tool to help consumers compare plans on the HealthCare.Gov platform. CHA has developed a unique health insurance decision analysis tool that creates a cost comparison of available health insurance plans for families based upon a customized analysis of their healthcare use, enabling them to choose the best coverage at the best price given their particular needs. Enroll America is the nation’s leading health care enrollment coalition, working with more than 4,600 partners in all 50 states to create cutting-edge toolsin order to maximize the number of Americans enrolled under the Affordable Care Act.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to Clear Health Analytics (“CHA”) on winning the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (“RWJF”) Plan Choice Developer Challenge. CHA has developed a unique health insurance decision analysis toolthat creates a cost comparison of available health insurance plans for families based upon a customized analysis of their healthcare use, enabling them to choose the best coverage at the best price given their particular needs.RWJF is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health and supports research and programs targeting some of America’s most pressing health issues.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to LASTLOOK on the launch of its app in the iOS App Store. Made by creatives for creatives, LASTLOOK makes it easy to privately shre, review and approve photos with other users. PELG has represented LASTLOOK since the company’s inception.

For more information, click here. 

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Long-Range Planning For The Successful Sale Of A Company: “Small’ Decisions Today That Can Result In A Big Purchase Price Tomorrow.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council, takes place on May 29, 2014. Joining Mr. Ellis on the panel areMichael K. Williams, Director – Mergers and Acquisitions, McGladrey, Mitchell S. Rock, Senior Vice President, The Manhattan Group at Morgan Stanley, Anthony Grass, Founder & President, e-Market Intelligence, Inc. and serial entrepreneur, and Dan Ramsden, Managing Director, Oberon Securities.

For more information, including the event video and powerpoint, click here.

Congratulations to Media Behavior Institute (“MBI”) on the closing of a financing in which media research heavyweights Nielsen and GfK MRI have each acquired a 25% position in the company.  MBI is poised to launch its innovative USA TouchPoints product, which will use smartphones and a proprietary app to enable consumers to record their media usage at frequent intervals throughout the day, providing valuable information for marketing efforts.  This strategic transaction represents the first time that Nielsen and GfK MRI have invested in the same company.  PELG attorneys have represented MBI since the company’s inception.

For more information, click here. 

Congratulations to the acclaimed luxury clothing retailer, Cesare Attolini, on the successful launch of its New York City store.  Founded in the 1930s, Cesare Attolini is renowned for its superb Neapolitan tailoring and bespoke service.  The new Madison Avenue boutique features the debut of the contemporary collection in the United States as well as the company’s custom suits.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations to Toura on the launch of the British Library’s first smartphone app, powered by Toura’s technology platform. The Library’s ‘Treasures’ app will present a rich selection of its collection, providing the opportunity for interaction with the Library’s collections at home, on the move, or within the Library itself. Toura, a leading technology platform for smartphone-based mobile guides for the travel and tourism industry around the world, has partnered with institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Asia Society and the Royal Academy of Arts, and has been featured in such publications as the New York Times and the Washington Post.

For more information, click here.

On Sunday, October 17th, 2010, Paul Ellis delivers a plenary presentation entitled “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Money Transmitter Industry” at the International Money Transmitters Conference, being held from Saturday, October 16th through Tuesday, October 19th in Miami. This conference, the premier international event in the money transmission industry, brings together a wide range of subject-matter experts and includes panels on the latest developments in the rapidly-changing mobile and internet money transfer space.

For more information, click here.

Congratulations to PELG client ShopKeep.com on its successful launch. ShopKeep.com offers a groundbreaking point-of-sale software program designed for independent retailers. A web-based solution for local storeowners to run their registers, track customers and manage inventory, ShopKeep offers a simple, accessible system that is extremely cost-effective. ShopKeep.com has already garnered high praise from industry opinion leaders, including Independent Retailer Magazine, Beverage Dynamics and Women’s Wear Daily, to name a few.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis leads a panel presentation entitled “Negotiating Early-Stage Financing Term Sheets: Key Concepts and Market Trends.” This panel, which is one of a series that Paul Ellis moderates for the New York Technology Council (NYTECH), takes place on April 26, 2010. He is joined by a panel of investors, including Brian Cohen, Vice Chairman of New York Angels, Charles Crockett, a Founding Partner of Ascend Venture Group, and Bob Greene, a Co-Founder of Contour Venture Partners.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis is a co-founder of the recently-created New York Technology Council (NYTECH). NYTECH is a New York City-based association dedicated to promoting and supporting the technology industry. NYTECH’s mission is to promote New York’s technology businesses and to improve coordination and communication among various constituencies in the technology industry, including companies, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, financiers, service providers and others, that are essential to the growth and dynamism of the industry.

NYTECH will conduct regular meetings at which it will present speakers and panel discussions on topics of importance to the technology community and will operate several special interest groups on specific topics related to its organizational mission. NYTECH will also conduct other activities and programs such as a university internship program, venture capital roundtables, networking events and joint activities with other area organizations.

In addition to his role as a board member, Mr. Ellis will also organize and moderate NYTECH’s “Legal Forum,” a bi-monthly panel dedicated to educating executives of small to mid-sized companies about the critical legal issues they face.

For more information, click here.

Paul Ellis participates in presenting a series of panels entitled “Legal Essentials for Emerging and Entrepreneurial Companies.” This series, which takes place at the New York Academy of Sciences on September 21 and 29 and October 13, 2009 and at Columbia University on September 23 and 30 and October 7, 2009, covers intellectual property protection, business structure and organization, and venture capital and angel financing. Joining Mr. Ellis in presenting the series are attorneys Tom Halket and Ted Weitz.

For more information on the NYAS series click here and on the Columbia series click here.