David Cykiert serves as outside general counsel to emerging companies across myriad industries, with a particular focus on the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, offering tailored guidance on all matters venture, with particular focus on helping companies and investors structure and execute venture investment and liquidity transactions − from seed to growth to exit. He helps round out early-stage teams, and supplements nearly complete teams with candid and catered advice on growth.

Accessibility, experience, knowledge, creativity and problem-solving form the core recipe for his client-centric approach. David pulls from his experience as an entrepreneur and founder and recognizes that an intimate knowledge of client’s companies is essential to his effective representation, and his process is structured to encourage open and regular communication, facilitating counsel tailored to today, but cognizant of and accounting for Founders’ plans for tomorrow.

In addition to his venture practice, David serves as outside general counsel to venture clients, and others, advising them on a multitude of corporate law matters, including:

  • Early-stage organization and capitalization
  • Intellectual property portfolio development and protection
  • Team building and vendor management
  • Regulatory compliance

Education

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 2009)
    • Syracuse University (B.A., 2005)

      Bar Admission

      • New York

      Court Admissions

      • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

      Recognition

      • 2025 USA M&A Middle Market Atlas Awards, USA Consumer Deal of the Year: Seaweed Bath acquires Andalou Naturals and Mineral Fusion from BWX USA
      • Named one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in Corporate Law, 2024-2026
      • Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, 2017
      Publications
      All Publications
      Shelf Space: What’s a Little IP Among Friends? Why Founders Shouldn’t Wait on IP Assignments
      Intellectual property is what makes your company your company. It is your veritable “secret sauce”; your defining moment. It is also increasingly where enterprise value lives, with intangible assets accounting for nearly 92% of the market value of companies in the S&P 500. Certainty over who — and who doesn’t — own that IP is critical, and it matters more than many founders realize at the outset. The Awkward but Necessary Conversation Around Startup IP Ownership There’s almost always some time that passes between the inception of an idea and drawing up IP assignments. No one brainstorms an idea with a nondisclosure agreement in hand (mostly). But there’s a good reason to keep that “in-between” period to a minimum — particularly as
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      Shelf Space: Should You Rebrand? What Startup Founders Need to Know About Trademark Risk and Goodwill
      You secured the perfect domain name. It cost a little more than you envisioned, but you have the coveted .com of your dreams. It’s available and all social handles are clean. The name feels right and conveys just the right amount of information to the consumer while still being unique. Just in case, you reach out to a trademark attorney — and it’s not quite the green light you wanted. The trademark attorney has advised that there is some risk to using the name. Now you’re in naming limbo, trying to decide if the risk is worth the story you’ve already started telling. Here’s how to make the call with your brand, budget and investors in mind. What Startup Founders Should Weigh
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