Cooley LLP stands out as a premier choice for emerging companies and investors across the start-up lifecycle. The firm has expanded its tech and venture capital capabilities with the opening of its Miami office in November 2023, led by Derek Colla, offering enhanced support to Latin American companies and investors. Co-head of the practice, San Francisco-based Peter Werner counsels high-growth entities and their investors on formation, financing, and securities deals. Also leading the team from San Francisco, Matt Bartus is celebrated for his ‘decades of experience’ assisting companies from their initial stages to pre-IPO. Mark Tanoury, located in Palo Alto, is known for guiding Silicon Valley emerging tech companies and venture capital investors through all stages of their development. Sale Kwon, also in Palo Alto, specializes in company formations, venture financings, and mergers and acquisitions. Rachel Proffitt, in San Francisco, offers advice to emerging clients, venture capital companies, and investment banks on venture capital transactions and securities offerings, while New York’s Adam Dinow is noted for his work with tech unicorns.

Fenwick & West LLP, dedicated exclusively to the tech and life sciences sectors, provides ‘world-class support’ to a diverse client base ranging from early-stage start-ups to publicly traded companies and investors. Experts in M&A, capital markets, fundraising transactions, and general corporate matters, the team has a strong presence across various tech niches, including the sharing economy, fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital health. The start-up and venture capital practice is co-led by Dawn Belt, who focuses on start-up formation, venture financings, and exit strategy evaluation, and New York’s Ian Goldstein. Gordon Davidson, who is well reputed for his advice to companies in high tech, clean tech, and life sciences, and Cynthia Hess, who specializes in the mobile, SaaS, social media, and internet sectors, are key contributors. Michael Esquivel brings first-hand sector experience as the former general counsel of a venture-backed health tech company, and Mark Leahy advises early-stage start-up entrepreneurs. Mentioned lawyers are based in Silicon Valley unless otherwise stated.

Goodwin provides a full-service offering to emerging companies and venture capital companies, supporting clients from initial seed financing stages through to exit transactions. The life sciences practice is co-chaired by Mitch Bloom and Kingsley Taft from Boston, and the technology and emerging companies team is jointly led by Kenneth Gordon in Boston and Craig Schmitz in New York. Bill Schnoor, based in Boston, specializes in business and securities law, private equity work, and acquisitions. Danielle Lauzon, who focuses on life sciences and healthcare information technology services clients, and William Collins, who is experienced in formations, capital markets transactions and exit strategies, bolster the Boston team. In Silicon Valley, Caine Moss assists companies in the software, AI, internet, and financial services sectors.

Gunderson Dettmer LLP is highly reputed in the venture capital and emerging companies space, advising clients in cutting-edge industries, including its representation of Colossal Biosciences in a $150m Series B financing round led by the United States Innovative Technology Fund. Leading the entrepreneurs and emerging companies practice from Boston, Marc Dupre serves a wide range of clients, including entrepreneurs, start-ups, and venture capital investors. In New York, Kenneth McVay specializes in advising emerging companies within the media, software, finance, and e-commerce industries. Ivan Gaviria, based in Silicon Valley, focuses on representing venture capital-backed tech companies throughout their growth stages. Founding partners Robert Gunderson and Scott Dettmer are no longer active within the firm.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is celebrated for delivering ‘high-quality advice and service’ to clients in the tech industry and their investors, with a notable presence in the AI sector, representing companies like MosaicML, Casetext, and Paperspace in their exit strategies. John Bautista, based in Silicon Valley, is highly esteemed for his work with high-tech and life sciences companies, covering securities law, venture capital financings, M&A, and IPOs. Co-leading the firm’s global technology companies group from Santa Monica, Josh Pollick specializes in representing venture capital clients and high-growth tech companies; he was recently involved in Dave’s $4bn public transition via a SPAC sponsored by Victory Park Capital. In San Francisco, Amanda Galton assists clients across the corporate lifecycle, from initial formation and financing rounds to IPOs and direct listings. Silicon Valley’s Stephen Venuto offers his expertise to clients in IT, AI, fintech, and media sectors.

Dentons fields a ‘very strong team with solid venture capital credentials’, attracting major corporate strategic investors such as Citi Ventures, Bayer, and PayPal Ventures, along with numerous global venture clients. The group is chaired by Victor Boyajian in New York, who represents emerging growth tech companies, their senior executives, and boards of directors, in addition to venture and private equity houses. Also based in New York, Chris Errico focuses on sectors such as fintech, proptech, digital health, and consumer products, while James Jasaitis specializes in representing emerging growth businesses in capital formation transactions and M&A. The firm has been bolstered by a string of recent hires including LiLing Poh in Silicon Valley, who joined in September 2023 from Reed Smith LLP; Richard Hayes, who joined the New York team in July 2023 from K&L Gates’s Sydney office; and New York’s Daniel Goldberg, who joined in November 2023 from Goodwin.

DLA Piper LLP (US) is a go-to firm for major investors, including corporate venture funds such as Softbank, M12, and Thomson Reuters, assisting emerging companies throughout their lifecycle. The firm played a key role in advising Aumni on its acquisition by J.P. Morgan, having previously supported the client’s Series A and B financings. Leading the emerging growth and venture capital group from Virginia, Jeffrey Lehrer focuses on representing companies from early to later stages in corporate and securities transactions. Acting as vice-chair from San Diego, Richard Bull specializes in advising venture capital and corporate venture investors, as well as emerging growth companies. In New York, fellow practice vice-chair Charles Torres brings his expertise in assisting start-ups through financing rounds and exit strategies. Curtis Mo, based in Palo Alto, is active across the tech, life sciences, clean energy tech, and consumer industries, while Randy Socol in San Diego represents emerging companies and investors in equity and debt financing deals.

The ‘efficient, smart, timely and overall awesome’ team at Latham & Watkins LLP advises emerging companies across their entire lifecycle and is particularly reputed for guiding clients through exit strategies including IPOs, de-SPACs, and M&A. The emerging companies and growth practice is helmed by Benjamin Potter, Brian Patterson, and Haim Zaltzman from Silicon Valley. Potter focuses on sectors including emerging tech, fintech, life sciences, and healthcare, and Patterson, who joined the firm in February 2023 from Gunderson Dettmer LLP, advises emerging growth companies on formation, deal structuring, and financing issues. Stephen Ranere in Boston specializes in early-stage company formations, venture capital financings, and exit strategies, while Alex Voxman in Los Angeles works with a wide variety of high-growth tech companies. John Chory retired from partnership in December 2023.

‘Well versed in the start-up ecosystem’, WilmerHale assists clients from the initial stages of company formation to fundings and exits, whether through sale or IPO. The firm offers a holistic approach to serving emerging companies, leveraging its wide-ranging expertise in intellectual property, employment and regulatory matters, and more. The practice is under the joint leadership of Gary Schall in New York, who specializes in advising tech clients across e-commerce, mobile technologies, software, and life sciences, and Daniel Zimmermann in Palo Alto, who assists Silicon Valley-based venture capital clients with their portfolio investments domestically and internationally. Mick Bain, based in Boston, offers his experience in company formation, governance, securities law, and capital markets transactions. Jason Kropp, also in Boston, focuses on representing emerging and growth-stage companies, as well as venture capital and late-stage investors. Frances Mosley is a notable counsel within the Palo Alto team.

Jones Day supports companies and investors across all stages, from inception through IPOs and mergers, with extensive experience in venture capital financing. The practice is led by Michael Earley, the firm’s global co-head of private equity, who is based in Chicago. Operating from Silicon Valley and San Francisco, Timothy Curry is praised as an ‘attentive partner’ who specializes in venture capital and growth equity financings, M&A, and IPOs for start-ups. In San Diego, Taylor Stevens is active in the technology and life sciences sectors, while Cameron Reese focuses on corporate formation, financing transactions, and M&A. Atlanta’s William Zawrotny guides start-ups, emerging growth companies, and investors in corporate venture capital deals, and Jeremy Cleveland in Silicon Valley brings expertise in venture capital financings, public offerings, and corporate governance. The US team’s offering was enhanced by Alexandre Wibaux’s relocation from Paris to New York in 2023, bolstering the firm’s ability to serve European clients expanding into the US market.

King & Spalding LLP guides early-stage companies in the life sciences, healthcare, and tech sectors, and offers strategic advice to public and multinational corporations on their corporate venture capital tech investments. The team is led by Laura Bushnell from Silicon Valley, known for her expertise in capital raising, strategic transactions, and corporate governance. Tom Knox, based in Washington DC and Northern Virginia, focuses on assisting venture capital-backed companies and their investors with corporate, financing, and technology-related matters. Daniel Kahan, operating from Miami, is actively involved in venture capital and private equity investments within the fintech, blockchain, and cryptocurrency industries, while Charles Katz in Northern Virginia is noted for his ‘deep understanding of the needs of emerging start-up technology companies’. Silicon Valley-based Linda Lorenat advises on the acquisition of emerging companies across all stages of growth.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a key adviser for life sciences companies across all development stages, providing assistance on intellectual property protection, transactions, and regulatory compliance. The firm’s AI practice is expanding, highlighted by its representation of SandboxAQ in its $500m Series D financing. The group also serves the venture capital units of leading corporations, including Samsung, Alphabet, and Comcast. The practice is jointly helmed by Jeffrey Bodle in Philadelphia, who specializes in company formation, angel and venture capital financings, and IPOs, and John Park in Silicon Valley, who concentrates on debt and equity offerings, recapitalizations, and M&A. Princeton-based Steven Cohen offers expertise to investors and emerging growth companies in the Mid-Atlantic region and is recognized for his ‘deep knowledge’ of the lifecycle of emerging companies.

Morrison Foerster, with its ‘very deep bench strength of partners and associates’, supports emerging growth companies from initial financing rounds to exit strategies. Co-leading the practice from San Francisco, Murray Indick brings a wealth of experience in corporate law and investment funds, serving a diverse client base from entrepreneurs to later-stage companies. Michael Glaser, another San Francisco-based practice leader, specializes in guiding start-ups through venture capital transactions and M&A exits. In San Diego, Steve Rowles heads up the corporate practice, with Jim Krenn focusing on venture capital financings and M&A. Timothy Harris, based in Palo Alto, brings expertise in corporate and securities issues to the table.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is noted for its expertise in assisting tech innovators and unicorns in securing venture capital, highlighted by its representation of Netskope in a $401m funding round and Xendit in its $300m Series D financing. Ronald Fleming, based in New York, serves a diverse clientele including entrepreneurs and emerging companies in sectors such as software, healthtech, psychedelics, and AI, and counts AlleyCorp, Meridian Street Capital, and other investors as key clients. Fleming co-leads the practice alongside Steven Kaplan in Washington DC and Stan Lewandowski in Silicon Valley. Justin Hovey, based in San Francisco, engages in early-stage investments and joint ventures, particularly in the video game, social media, and entertainment industries. In Silicon Valley, Allison Leopold Tilley focuses on the tech industry, and Riaz Karamali brings his expertise in blockchain, NFTs, and fintech to the team.

Reed Smith LLP’s corporate team, in close collaboration with the firm’s specialized groups in life sciences, finance, entertainment, and technology, offers end-to-end services to emerging companies from inception, incorporation, and funding to exit strategies. This integrated approach allows the firm to support venture capital and private equity investors in innovative areas such as AI-powered software, NFTs, and Web 3.0 technologies. Co-leading the practice, Michael Sanders in Los Angeles is dedicated to life sciences clients involved in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and drug discovery, while Silicon Valley’s Donald Reinke is experienced in the financing of emerging tech companies, representing issuers, private equity clients, and venture capital funds. In Silicon Valley, Craig Lilly counsels tech entities on venture capital and debt financings, IPOs, and joint ventures. LiLing Poh left the firm in September 2023.

Choate, Hall & Stewart serves investors across the investment spectrum, from initial seed and Series A financings to advanced pre-IPO crossover rounds, with clients gaining from the firm’s notable intellectual property expertise. The firm’s investor-side representation includes its support of Bain Capital Life Sciences in the Series C financing of ADARx Pharmaceuticals. In the Boston-based business and technology group, co-chair Brian Goldstein focuses on supporting high-growth entities in the health IT, life sciences, and medical device sectors with financings, licensing agreements, and M&A activities. He shares leadership with John Pitfield, a private equity specialist. Meanwhile, Tobin Sullivan assists clients with venture capital and growth equity financings, corporate governance, and SEC compliance.

Greenberg Traurig LLP’s multidisciplinary team, praised by clients for being ‘extremely knowledgeable about late-stage venture capital investing’, supports emerging companies and investors across all business lifecycle stages. The practice is led by Boston-based leaders Chinh Pham, who is an intellectual property expert, and Emily Ladd-Kravitz, who serves as outside general counsel for emerging companies and represents investors in venture capital deals. Bradley Jacobson, also in Boston, is lauded as a ‘terrific lawyer’ with significant experience in venture capital transactions, mergers, and stock and asset acquisitions. In Washington DC, Trevor Chaplick specializes in capital market transactions and cross-border acquisitions for tech companies and venture capital funds. Meanwhile, John Owens, based in Miami, offers wide-ranging sector expertise spanning the fintech, medical technology, and media industries.

Holland & Knight provides support to venture capital clients, corporate strategic investors, and angel investors on their funding endeavors into emerging growth companies. The firm also assists these companies through every phase of their corporate lifecycle. Tim Poydenis, who became co-head of the practice upon joining the Century City office in February 2023 from Goodwin, advises companies and investors on formations, fundraisings, exit strategies, and corporate governance. Jeffrey Seul, co-leading from Boston, offers guidance to clients in tech sectors such as digital health, fintech, and autonomous transportation on various corporate matters. Enrique Conde and Danielle Price are key members of the Miami practice.

Katten works in concert with the firm’s intellectual property, financial services, and healthcare specialists to support investors such as corporate venture funds, hedge funds, and family offices. The group provides assistance to a diverse range of companies, from early-stage start-ups to established unicorns, covering initial organization, seed capital, and financings, as well as M&A, liquidity events, and routine operational matters. With a keen focus on businesses at the forefront of technology-enabled innovations, the firm has represented clients such as USITF in significant investments, including a $100m investment in a Series B financing round for Colossal Biosciences and a $30m convertible note investment in Primer Technologies. Matthew Brown guides start-ups through various funding stages, recapitalizations, and exit strategies, and Jeffrey Patt brings expertise from seed capital to late-stage financings. Brown and Patt lead the practice together from Chicago.

Mayer Brown supports early-stage and emerging companies, as well as venture capital clients and strategic investors involved in financing, partnering with, and acquiring the entities. The practice is led by Paul Chen from San Francisco and Palo Alto, who brings experience in investments and corporate transactions across various stages. In Salt Lake City, Mark Bonham advises tech and life sciences companies and their investors on venture capital financings, M&A, and IPOs. Matthew Wells, also in Salt Lake City, offers expertise in company formations, preferred stock financings, and M&A. The addition of Spencer Glende to the Salt Lake City team in January 2023 from Dorsey & Whitney LLP enhances the firm’s capabilities in tech and IP transactions.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. supports traditional venture capital funds, as well as family offices, hedge funds, and private equity funds, in their investments into emerging companies. Entrepreneurs benefit from access to MintzEdge, a program offering fixed or deferred fee structures, and the firm also provides legal services to start-up incubators. The practice is under the joint leadership of Daniel DeWolf in New York, Jeremy Glaser in Los Angeles, and Lewis Geffen in Boston. DeWolf is noted for his expertise in online capital-raising strategies, and Glaser guides tech-based companies from their initial setup through to angel and venture capital financings, IPOs, and M&A, while Geffen represents clients in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and medtech sectors, focusing on capital raisings, technology licensing issues, and strategic alliances.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP fields a ‘very experienced team’ that represents start-ups and venture capital clients across the US and Latin America. Joe Daniels, who co-chairs the practice from New York, brings a wealth of experience in venture capital financings, M&A, and IPOs. Alongside him, co-head Paul Rothstein from Atlanta offers advice to emerging and growth-stage companies in the tech, life sciences, financial, and healthcare spaces, guiding from inception through to exit strategies. Leandro Molina, who operates out of both New York and Miami, supports Brazilian clients entering the US market and US funds looking to invest in Latin American emerging companies, particularly in the fintech industry. Jackson Hwu left the firm in February 2024.

Ropes & Gray LLP is notably active in the life sciences sector, working with clients such as TRexBio, Abata Therapeutics, and Pfizer Ventures. The firm is experienced in guiding emerging companies and investors through the complexities of early, growth, and late-stage venture financings. The group is also able to support clients with complex regulatory and compliance challenges and advised IDRx on securing license agreements as part of a $122m Series A financing. The practice is co-led by Bradford Flint and Marc Rubenstein from Boston, who specialize in serving biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device clients on formations, intellectual property licensings, and devising exit strategies. In San Francisco, Melissa Bender spearheads the firm’s crypto blockchain task force and offers her expertise to both US and international institutional investors.

Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth offers notable experience in representing entrepreneurs and emerging companies during seed capital raises from venture capital funds and angel investors. In Newport Beach, team leader Mark Skaist advises emerging companies, venture capital clients, and private equity funds within the tech and consumer products sectors, and played a significant role in supporting Restaurant365 in its $135m funding round. Fellow practice head Ryan Azlein, based in Los Angeles, supports venture capital and private equity houses with their investments and assists emerging businesses with equity financing and licensing agreements. Pace McCaskill in Newport Beach assists emerging companies with a variety of corporate and transactional issues.

Sullivan & Worcester LLP assists emerging businesses with equity and debt financings, tech license negotiations, IP protection, and liquidity solutions. The firm represents venture capital entities and angel investors focusing on early-stage investments in sectors spanning the software, telecoms, therapeutics, and fintech industries. Utilizing its Tel Aviv office, the team supports Israeli tech companies in venture capital fundraisings, establishing joint ventures, and US stock exchange listings. Co-heading the practice from New York, Scott Kaufman brings ‘exceptional legal expertise’ to the fintech and blockchain spaces. Lewis Segall, based in Boston and also leading the team, advises companies on M&A, financings, and joint ventures.

Wiggin and Dana LLP‘s team of ‘experienced lawyers’ operates across diverse sectors such as the IT, life sciences, fintech, and consumer product industries. In 2022, the firm introduced wiggin(x), a division aimed at offering full-service support to founders, emerging companies, and their investors, featuring specialists in secured finance, intellectual property, commercial contracting and employment work, and more. The practice is jointly spearheaded by Paul Hughes in New Haven, who is well versed in debt and equity financings, M&A, and corporate governance, with notable experience in the healthcare industry; Evan Kipperman, also in New Haven, specializing in venture capital financing, securities law, and licensing arrangements; and New York-based Len Gray, who guides emerging growth companies from their inception through to exit strategies.