It is critical for investors and venture capital-backed companies to make smart investments with the right terms and structures in place. With a focus on the emerging company market, Polsinelli has helped launch and grow hundreds of businesses. Recognized by Pitchbook as one of the most active law firms by deal volume in the US and globally, our interdisciplinary team is experienced and equipped to guide clients through every stage of growth, from pre-launch to initial funding, through IPOs, mergers and exits.

Polsinelli’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice is focused on representing investment funds and venture-backed companies across a range of industry verticals, with a special concentration on disruptive technology, consumer, food and beverage, health care and biotech/life sciences. While primarily focused on growth and later-stage equity, we routinely represent seed funds and start-ups, and other pre-Series A companies. The team’s approach and processes allow our clients to receive thorough and diligent counsel, but with the speed, pace and economics that venture capital requires.

When representing companies, our focus is to help founders and management develop and implement a business strategy that will attract capital sources. We also anticipate and plan for the legal and regulatory issues the company is likely to face in the future. With our investment fund clients, we represent both experienced and emerging fund managers in capital deployment, SPV/co-invest deals, and formation matters.

Our team shares our clients’ passion and commitment to pursuing the next great idea, and we aim to help them overcome challenges as innovations become a viable and successful business.

Assisting founders, innovators and the investors who back them gives our Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice a multi-dimensional perspective. Our attorneys provide strategic guidance on a full range of operational, formation, investment and liquidity issues. We align highly experienced, partner-centric teams around every engagement to ensure clients receive practical, tailored solutions to meet their needs.

Our Venture Capital and Emerging Growth attorneys provide advice and strategic guidance, including:

• Venture capital financings, advising on every type of transaction at every stage – whether structured as a convertible round, Series Seed, Series A, or beyond
• Preparing and negotiating term sheets and the definitive agreements necessary to consummate a financing, whether representing the investor or the company
• Structuring and negotiating equity incentives and other incentives for management teams and other employees
• Assisting with the intellectual property and technology investigation and due diligence of a target company
• Tax structuring
• Patent, trademark and intellectual property matters
• Day-to-day legal matters, ranging from commercial contracts to employment matters
• Avoiding, mitigating and resolving disputes involving vendors, investors, founders and employees
• Exit strategy preparation, negotiation and implementation