Best Startup
At Best Startup US we track over 1,000,000 US startups and over 3 million people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United States based Partner operating in the Legal space. If you think a Partner is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.us.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Louis Lehot
Partner of Foley & Lardner
Louis Lehot is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, based in the firm’s Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles offices, where he is a member of the Private Equity & Venture Capital, M&A and Transactions Practices and the Technology, Health Care, and Energy Industry Teams. Louis focuses his practice on advising entrepreneurs and their management teams, investors and financial advisors at all stages of growth, from garage to global. Louis especially enjoys being able to help his clients achieve hyper-growth, go public and to successfully obtain optimal liquidity events.
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Chris Laukenmann
Partner of Foley & Lardner
Chris Laukenmann is a seasoned business lawyer, with over two decades of experience in advising a broad range of companies on capital, investment, corporate and structured finance, debt, equity, governance, strategic corporate development, treasury, risk management, vertical/lateral integration, restructuring and regulatory matters. He is a Partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, a leading international law firm, and is based in Los Angeles. Chris holds a B.A. and a J.D./L.L.M. from Duke University. Chris Laukenmann has occupied a number of high-ranking legal positions throughout his career. He was a Partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a leading global law firm, for 14 years, where he offered his expertise on a broad range of legal issues that included derivatives, mergers and acquisitions, and dispute resolution. Prior to this, Chris served as AGC and divisional general counsel of Transamerica/Aegon, where he was responsible for the company’s asset management division. He was also the VP/Legal for Washington Mutual, where he advised clients on issues ranging from banking to real estate, insurance, and governance and risk management. In addition to his legal expertise, Chris Laukenmann is a dedicated triathlete and an experienced golfer. He owns his own vineyard in the Russian River Valley, CBL Vineyards, where he sells a blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet wines. The label on its bottles, well-renowned in the region, holds a sanskrit logo on the front and a CBL logo on the back. Chris’ love for wine goes along with a deep-set interest in travel; he enjoys discovering new countries across the world, and sampling wine in each new location.
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Susan Pravda
Managing Partner of Foley & Lardner
Susan E. Pravda is a business lawyer and the managing partner of the Boston office of Foley & Lardner LLP. Susan Pravda’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, initial public offerings, and related securities transactions. She is a member of the firm’s Private Equity & Venture Capital and Transactional & Securities Practices and the Health Care, Food & Beverage, and Energy Industry Teams. Susan Pravda serves as chief strategic talent acquisition partner for the firm and is a managing director of Foley Ventures LLC, a venture capital fund. She chaired the Technology Industry Team for 10 years from 2004 to 2014 and served on the firm’s national management committee from 2009 to 2016. Susan Pravda represents high-growth and emerging businesses, including companies in the telecommunications, Internet, software, wireless and service industries, as well as health care IT, life science and biotechnology companies, from start-ups to public companies. Susan Pravda also frequently acts as special mergers and acquisitions counsel for private and public companies in the manufacturing, service, distribution, technology, health care, life science and pharma sectors, including buyers, sellers and management groups. She advises clients with respect to valuation issues, stockholder relationships and incentive compensation plans.
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Natasha Allen
Partner of Foley & Lardner
Natasha Allen is a Partner in Foley & Lardner.
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About Couzin Taylor LLP, Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Robert DuPuy
Partner of Foley & Lardner
Robert A. DuPuy was named the President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball on March 7, 2002. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball, he is responsible for all phases of baseball’s Central Offices, including licensing, sponsorship, international, broadcasting, publishing, marketing, public relations, government relations, baseball operations, legal affairs, finance, baseball’s internet operations and the labor relations committee. DuPuy has been involved in most of Major League Baseball’s legal issues since 1989, when he was brought in as outside legal counsel. He negotiated the settlement of the collusion grievance in 1990, and served as the principal outside counsel to the Commissioner and the Executive Council from 1992 until 1998, when Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig hired him as the MLB Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Legal Officer. In that capacity, DuPuy oversaw the consolidation of the American and National Leagues into the Central Offices, the consolidation of MLB’s office in Washington, D.C., and the formation MLBAM (Major League Baseball Advanced Media) as its initial Chief Executive Officer. DuPuy, who grew up in Branford, Conn., received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1968 and a J.D. from Cornell in 1973. There, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell Law Review. He saw military service with the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and served a year in Vietnam in the 504th Military Police Battalion, where he received the Army Commendation Medal for his service. After receiving his law degree, DuPuy joined Foley and Lardner, one of the nation’s largest law firms, in 1973, becoming a partner in 1980. He has served as a member of that firm’s Management Committee, and as Chairman of the firm’s Professional Standards Committee. He is a long-time member and Past-Chairman of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Professional Ethics Committee. He has taught legal ethics and professional responsibility at Northwestern Law School, the University of Wisconsin Law School, and Marquette University Law School, and has served as a long-time faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Christopher Cain
Partner of Foley & Lardner
Christopher C. Cain is a partner and business lawyer in Foley & Lardner’s Chicago and Madison offices. He helps clients tame technology vendors of all sorts (software, hardware, cloud, SaaS, social media). He represents private equity and strategic clients in mergers & acquisitions in a myriad of industries. He also represents high technology start-ups and is a co-founder of Catapult Chicago, a peer-sourced technology accelerator. Mr. Cain is a member of the firm’s Transactional & Securities, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Technology Transactions & Outsourcing, and Privacy, Security & Information Management Practices. He is also a member of the firm’s Partner Selection Committee. Previously, Mr. Cain was vice president and general counsel at Sonic Foundry, Inc., a publicly traded software/television/film production company where he handled and oversaw all aspects of the company’s legal issues, including securities law, mergers & acquisitions, intellectual property and litigation. Mr. Cain was also a Certified Public Accountant and tax senior at Arthur Andersen. In 2014, Mr. Cain was mentioned in the Chicago Tribune article, “Inside views on Chicago’s coworking spaces: Catapult,” (January 2014).
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About Catapult Chicago, Foley & Lardner, Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Andrew Kurzon
Partner of Foley & Lardner
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Edwin Thom Rumberger Jr.
Partner of Foley & Lardner
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Edwin Thom Rumberger Jr.
Partner of Foley & Lardner
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About Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a legal service provider that offers business and legal insights.
Buddy Arnheim
Partner, Chair of Emerging Companies and VC Practice of Perkins Coie
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About lobby capital, Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Meredith Halama
Partner of Perkins Coie
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About Perkins Coie, Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Bruce Zivian
Partner of Perkins Coie
Bruce represents venture capital and private equity funds, and corporate strategic investors, in their domestic and international investment activities. He also acts as outside general counsel to start-up and emerging growth companies across a variety of industries, including biotechnology, material sciences and software. Bruce handles a wide variety of commercial and other legal matters for start-up and emerging growth company clients, including joint ventures, distribution and sales arrangements, equity based compensation plans, fundraising and debt finance, and intellectual property licensing. Bruce received an A.B. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Dax Hansen
Partner of Perkins Coie
J. Dax Hansen is a Partner at Perkins Coie LLP and Chair of the firm’s Fintech and Blockchain and Digital Currency Industry Groups and a member of the firm’s Technology, Transactions and Privacy practice group. He has an extensive background in providing legal guidance on emerging payment systems, including online and mobile payments, decentralized virtual currencies and distributed ledgers. His practice emphasis includes IT, payments and international business transactions, including mobile financial services and m-commerce, online business, software and technology licensing, and Japanese business transactions.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Michael Henson
Partner of Perkins Coie
Michael Henson, a partner with the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, provides seasoned intellectual property counsel to businesses of varying sizes that trust him to employ his wide-ranging intellectual property prosecution and litigation experience to achieve positive results. Combining extensive patent and trademark prosecution experience with a litigation background, Michael offers his clients a unique approach to their sophisticated intellectual property needs. Michael is a registered patent attorney whose practice emphases patent prosecution, patent litigation, and strategic patent portfolio management and analysis. Businesses spanning a diverse array of technologies regularly engage Michael to help develop, protect and monetize intellectual property. Michael is adept at handling intellectual property procurement, transactional, and enforcement matters in the United States and abroad, and in particular, regularly assists clients with infringement, freedom-to-operate and validity opinions, patent prosecution, trademark, and related licensing matters. Michael is also experienced in virtually all phases of patent, trademark and other types of intellectual property law, including appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Michael has extensive experience in a wide variety of technological disciplines and has prepared and prosecuted hundreds of patents (or had related litigation experience) in the fields of computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, specifically including technology related to digital and analog circuits, power distribution devices, semiconductors, encryption, authentication, e-commerce, real time (streaming) communications, signal processing, data storage, graphical user interfaces, disposable medical devices, ultrasonic signal detection, vehicle systems, spinal cord stimulation, medical (oncology) revenue regeneration software, medical billing practice management systems, prosthetics, aircraft superchargers, shipping products and systems, baby goods, locking devices, hitch devices, cartridge filling apparatuses, dental devices, sporting goods, expandable/collapsible canopies and various other electrical and mechanical products, Prior to launching his legal career, Michael worked as a co-op engineer in the steel industry. He also worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, with top secret clearances, while obtaining his degree in electrical engineering.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Arman Pahlavan
Partner of Perkins Coie
Partner at Perkins Coie.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Kha Dang
Partner of Perkins Coie
Kha Dang is a partner in Perkins Coie’s Seattle office and a member of the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. Kha’s practice focuses on the corporate and transactional needs of startups and high growth technology companies, including corporate formation and founders issues, angel and venture capital financing, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. Kha has been advising startups and high growth companies since 1999, from both outside the law firm and as a former in-house general counsel. Kha serves as a key advisor to his clients on fundraising and strategic transactions, bringing a hands-on, practical and business-oriented approach to legal services. Kha’s clients include companies and investors in the internet and software, digital media, cloud services, and cleantech sectors. Kha is a frequent speaker on the topics of formation issues, startup issues, and angel and venture capital financing and has been listed in Washington Law & Politics, as a “Rising Star of Washington Law”. Kha is the author of a chapter on Securities Laws issues in the treatise “Social Media Law.” Frequent speaker on the topics of formation issues, startup issues and angel and venture capital financing Listed in Washington Law & Politics, “Rising Stars of Washington Law,” 2004, 2006 – 2008, 2010 – 2013 Perkins Coie Venture Capital Law practice achieved “Best Law Firm National Tier 1 Ranking” by U.S. News & World Report, 2011 – 2012 Perkins Coie Interactive Entertainment practice ranked #1 Law Firm by Interactive Age in the area of video games, new media and interactive entertainment.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Jordan Becker
Partner of Perkins Coie
Jordan Becker is a registered patent attorney and a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) practice. With over 20 years of experience as an attorney built upon his prior engineering experience, Jordan advises and assists cutting-edge technology companies and entrepreneurs in all aspects of IP protection. He has written and prosecuted hundreds of US and foreign patent applications and focuses on developing IP protection strategies and building IP portfolios. Jordan also handles post-grant proceedings for patents, patent portfolio analysis, IP due diligence, opinions regarding third-party patents, and support of patent litigation. Jordan represents clients ranging from individual entrepreneurs and startups to multinational corporations. His experience and knowledge span numerous industries and technologies, including software, electrical/electronic hardware and mechanical devices. He has significant experience with medical devices, computer network technology, wireless communications, head-mounted displays (HMDs), computer games, “big data,” cloud computing, network storage, e-commerce, image processing, speech recognition, Digital Rights Management (DRM), geo-positioning and navigation, and IC design and fabrication. “I believe the three most important things for an IP attorney to provide are outstanding quality of work in every instance, deep understanding of the client’s business and technology, and strategic thinking. I have built my law practice on these principles, and strive to instill them in the attorneys and patent agents whom I supervise and mentor.” Professional Recognition Recommended for patent prosecution by Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000, 2013 – 2015 Listed as “Top Patent Prosecutor” by The Patent Research Review (www.PatentBuddy.com), 2011 – 2012 Recognized for outstanding pro bono work by Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Matt Kirmayer
Partner of Perkins Coie
Matt Kirmayer is the Partner at Perkins Coie LLP and Advisor of Berkeley SkyDeck.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Lee Schindler
Partner of Perkins Coie
Lee Schindler, a partner in the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice, serves as corporate counsel to high growth technology and life science companies. Lee also represents the venture capitalists that invest in such companies. Lee’s practice background includes representing A123 Systems, Agios Pharmaceuticals and LogMeIn as private VC-backed companies, through their initial public offerings and as public companies after their IPOs. Lee has counseled companies through more than 100 preferred stock financings and 25 M&A transactions. Among the many technology and life sciences companies he has worked with are several startups emanating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Lee regularly advises clients across a range of industries, including software-as-a-service, mobile applications and gaming, big data, fintech, e-commerce, cleantech, material science, healthcare and biotechnology. Lee has counseled numerous companies from their earliest stages of growth through exit. His representation corresponds to every critical point involving emerging companies and the VC community. This includes entity formation, board matters, securities law compliance, equity compensation, financings (friends & family, angel, venture capital, growth equity and strategic), mergers & acquisitions and public offerings. Lee also works closely with his clients on fundraising strategy. Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Lee was an attorney with WilmerHale in Boston. He is a graduate of The University of Texas and Harvard Law School. Lee served as an editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and was a two-time recipient of the John M. Olin Fellowship in Law and Economics. He has been an active pro bono leader of legal workshops and clinics for small community businesses conducted by Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
David Wood
Partner of Perkins Coie
David Wood is a partner in the Palo Alto office and a member of the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. David’s practice includes capital formation, mergers and acquisitions and business transactions, including joint ventures and technology transfer transactions. David has represented companies in transactions across a wide array of industries, including, among others, software, computer hardware, digital media, cleantech and Internet services. David’s clientele includes startup and well-established emerging growth companies and a number of non-profit organizations. His practice also includes providing day-to-day counseling to such companies (and their boards of directors) on a wide array of corporate matters. REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS Airpush AVST Boost Media Bunchball Copley Equity Partners Corrigo Couchsurfing Ecofactor Exablox HighBAR Partners Javelin Venture Partners LiveRamp Magic Leap ModuleQ Rembrandt Ventures Sequoia Capital Shasta Ventures Sierra Ventures Sporcle SV Angel Tenaya Capital Thuuz Verbify
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Stephen Bishop
Partner, Firmwide Co-Chair of Intellectual Property Practice of Perkins Coie
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
John Wechkin
Partner, Patent Attorney of Perkins Coie
John M. Wechkin, a partner with Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle, focuses on strategic patent preparation, prosecution and associated counseling over a wide range of technologies, with concentrations in semiconductor and LED processing, cleantech, aerospace, medical devices and other mechanical technologies. John is a member of the Cascade Chapter of AUVSI, serves as the Chair of the firm’s Unmanned Vehicle Systems industry group and works with multiple clients in the UAV/UVS industry.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Dominique Shelton
Partner, Privacy& Data Security, Firmwide Co-chair Ad Tech Privacy & Data Management of Perkins Coie
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Christopher Daley-Watson
Patent Attorney, Partner of Perkins Coie
Named Seattle “Patent Law Lawyer of the Year” 2018 by Best Lawyers, Christopher Daley-Watson is known for advising companies on patent protection and patent enforcement strategies as well as for transactional counsel during high tech companies’ corporate financings and M&A transactions. His deal counsel includes patent valuation, due diligence, third-party patent analysis and preparation of S-1, merger, and patent sale and licensing documents. Christopher has particular practice depth in managing wireless-related patents and patent applications, and he has represented global market leaders on significant acquisitions to preserve market competitiveness. He is the founder and co-chair of the firm’s 5G Industry Group, which includes not only cutting-edge cellular wireless technologies, but also Internet of Things technologies
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Joseph Cutler
Partner of Perkins Coie
Joe Cutler is a partner in the Litigation practice and Privacy & Security practices. Joe’s litigation work focuses on combating cybercrime and enforcing website terms of use. In addition, Joe counsels clients in areas related to privacy and data security, consumer protection law and internet law. He has spent considerable time conducting privacy audits and helping clients develop and implement information governance programs. As an active core member of the Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency industry group, Joe advises clients dealing with bitcoin blockchain, and other cryptocurrency-related services to understand and comply with applicable regulatory obligations, and to develop and implement anti-money laundering programs and other internal governance. Joe provides counsel on a number of regulatory issues related to financial services, including the Bank Secrecy Act, FinCEN regulations, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements and state money transmission and financial services laws.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Todd Hinnen
Partner of Perkins Coie
Todd Hinnen is a partner with the firm’s Privacy & Security practice. He counsels clients and represents them in litigation regarding privacy, data security, compliance with law enforcement and national security issues. He works closely with the Department of Justice and the Intelligence Community. Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Todd was the Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). While in office, he led an office of 320 attorneys responsible for overseeing the DOJ’s nationwide counterterrorism, counterespionage and export control programs. In that capacity, he represented the United States before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court and on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); supervised oversight and compliance programs at law enforcement, intelligence and national security agencies; and testified before Congress on numerous occasions in both open and classified hearings.
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About Perkins Coie, Stanford Law School: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Michael Didiuk
Partner – Investment Management Group of Perkins Coie
Highly experienced in regulatory compliance of the investment management and financial services sectors, Partner Michael Didiuk counsels companies involved in marketplace lending, automated investment advice, blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) in navigating the complex regulatory environment. Michael joined Perkins Coie after almost eight years at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, where he worked in the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations in the SEC’s San Francisco Office, the Division of Investment Management and on the executive staff of two SEC Commissioners at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Prior to public service, Mike represented financial institutions in private practice for seven years, where he worked extensively on private fund matters such as formation, private placements, redemption and compliance issues and regularly provided advice regarding the application of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Commodity Exchange Act. During this time, Mike also represented clients going through SEC exams and prepared clients for registering with the SEC.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Lowell Ness
Partner of Perkins Coie
Lowell Ness is a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice with considerable experience in securities law and corporate governance matters. His practice focuses on high-growth emerging companies and involves venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and private placements. His clients range from startup companies in the earliest stages to well-established public companies, as well as private equity and venture capital funds. Lowell regularly acts as either company counsel or investors’ counsel in venture capital financings. He has also acted as either company counsel or underwriters’ counsel in public offerings for several high-profile clients, and has represented numerous companies in their mergers and acquisitions. Lowell has taught a course in securities regulation at Santa Clara University School of Law and is a frequent speaker at national MCLE seminars on topics such as legal opinions, drafting stockholders’ agreements, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. Lowell is also a core member of the Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency industry group where he focuses part of his practice on assisting Blockchain, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency clients raise money by maintaining relationships with key venture capital groups and other potential investors in the industry. He is very active and well known in the industry and often speaks on the subject in San Francisco and Palo Alto through MeetUp groups at Hero City and other startup workspaces.
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About Perkins Coie: Perkins Coie is a law firm that specializes on corporate law, litigation, and real estate law.
Lilya Tessler
Partner, NY head of FinTech and Blockchain Group of Sidley Austin
Lilya Tessler focuses her practice on regulatory, general corporate and business issues related to US and non-US broker-dealers, financial services firms, blockchain projects, cryptocurrency funds and financial technology companies. Lilya advises broker-dealers and technology companies throughout the start-up phase. She also counsels financial institutions with day-to- day securities issues, private placement agent requirements, custody rule requirements, cross-border regulatory issues, policies and procedures for implementation, FINRA and SEC regulatory inquiries, as well as mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate matters. She also advises several US and non-US FinTech companies, including robo-advisors and high-frequency trading firms in evaluating the broker-dealer and investment advisor registration requirements. Lilya is a certified public accountant, FINRA dispute resolution arbitrator, and holds FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses.
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About Digital Asset Regulatory Legal Alliance, Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Mehdi Khodadad
Partner of Sidley Austin
MEHDI KHODADAD’s practice focuses on representing leading technology and life sciences companies and their private equity and other investment sponsors. He counsels corporate clients, entrepreneurs and investors on a wide variety of transactions, including private and public financings, corporate restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs and related private equity transactions, cross-border and other structured corporate transactions. Mehdi also regularly advises the boards of directors, management and special committees of corporate clients and their investors on a wide variety of securities law and corporate governance matters. Mehdi was recognized by the American Lawyer as a “Dealmaker of the Year” in 2015 for his work on one of the 20 most significant transactions that year. In 2015 he was also named one of the Daily Journal’s “Top 20 Lawyers Under 40.” Mehdi earned a J.D. from the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he was awarded the High Tech Law Certificate in intellectual property law and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Santa Clara Computer & High Technology Law Journal. He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Tony Feuerstein
Partner, M&A of Sidley Austin
Mr. Feuerstein provides clients with general corporate and securities law advice. In addition, he has served as corporate counsel in bankruptcy and workout transactions and restructurings, including representing official and informal creditors committees, out-of-court restructurings and exchange offers, and sale transactions of distressed companies in chapter 11 proceedings. Mr. Feuerstein joined Akin Gump in 2008. He previously was an associate at a major New York based global corporate law firm. Prior to law school, Mr. Feuerstein worked for two years as an economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Vijay Sekhon
Partner of Sidley Austin
VIJAY SEKHON is a partner in Sidley’s Century City office and a member of the M&A, Private Equity and Securities practice groups. His practice focuses on mergers, purchases, sales and reorganizations of public and private companies, public equity offerings, public debt issuances, private placements of debt, and equity for public and private companies, and general corporate and securities law. His client list includes: Franklin Templeton Investments, The Blackstone Group, L.P., Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Inc., Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., Universal Studios Japan, Domino Printing Sciences plc, Z Capital Partners, L.L.C., Siris Capital Group, LLC, Glendon Capital Management LP, Castle Creek Capital LLC, ZelnickMedia Corp., HoldCo Asset Management LP and Paladin Healthcare Capital LLC. Vijay served as senior counsel in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2009 to 2011, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. He was a judicial intern for former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in the United States Supreme Court and the Honorable Ellen Segal Huvelle in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Vijay has published numerous articles related to law, business and finance in respected academic and practitioner journals, including the Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance, the Berkeley Business Law Journal, the Securities Regulation Law Journal, the Real Estate Finance Journal, and Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine each year since 2013. Vijay earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School, and received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California at Berkeley. Vijay is also a licensed real estate broker in the state of California and a member of the Financial Lawyers Conference.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Geoffrey Levin
Partner of Sidley Austin
GEOFF LEVIN concentrates his practice on complex business transactions and governance matters for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. His representations span a variety of industries, situations and enterprise values, having counseled clients on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, going private transactions, proxy contests, spin-offs, joint ventures, recapitalizations, venture capital financing, growth equity investments, senior and junior debt financings, restructurings and workouts. Geoff’s representations have covered a broad range of industries including life sciences, financial services, communications, energy, retail, automotive and heavy industrial. Geoff regularly comments on developments in the healthcare industry and speaks at investment conferences. He is the author of “New M&A Concerns and Strategies” that recently appeared in Aspatore Books Inside the Mind series. He is listed by IFLR 1000 as a leading M&A lawyer and has been recognized by Institutional Investor News as one of the “10 Rising Stars of Private Equity and M&A Law” and by Mergermarket as a 2009 “Dealmaker of the Year.” Prior to joining Sidley, Geoff was a partner at another global law firm. Geoff received his J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Minnesota, where he was executive editor of the Journal of International Economic Law & Policy, and a B.B.A., with high distinction, from the University of Michigan. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Alan Raul
Founder & Partner of Sidley Austin
Alan Raul is the leader and founder of Sidley’s highly-ranked Privacy, Data Security and Information Law practice. He represents companies on federal, state and international privacy and technology matters, including global data protection and compliance programs, cybersecurity, Big Data, online consumer protection issues and Internet law. Raul’s practice involves litigation and counseling regarding consumer class actions, FTC, state attorney general, Department of Justice and other government investigations, enforcement actions and regulation. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget, and of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in the White House as Associate Counsel to the President.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
David Denechaud
Partner of Sidley Austin
DAVID DENECHAUD focuses his practice on private equity and oil and gas transactions, and represents a wide range of clients in the oil and gas industry, including those in the exploration and production, midstream, oilfield services and alternative energy sectors. He frequently helps private equity sponsors and related portfolio companies to partner with other capital sources and to buy and sell companies. He also works with management teams and operating companies seeking to obtain private equity capital. David’s broad transactional practice involves the representation of private and public companies in financial and strategic acquisitions and dispositions, financings, contests for corporate control and securities issues. He has extensive experience with leveraged and management buy-outs, recapitalizations, public and private securities offerings and financing transactions.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
James Cahan
Partner of Sidley Austin
James Cahan is Partner @ Sidley Austin LLP.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Robert Carlson
Partner of Sidley Austin
Robert Carlson is a partner in Sidley’s Palo Alto office where he focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, representing corporations as well as private equity and venture capital funds. Rob’s practice also includes representation of private equity fund sponsors and investors in connection with the formation and operation of private equity funds, and representation of issuers and underwriters in public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities. He also counsels boards of directors and committees on corporate governance matters. His industry focus includes working with companies and investors in the medical device, biotechnology, software, e-commerce, payments, telecommunications and gaming industries. Rob has been featured in Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law (2016), Northern California Super Lawyer (2016) and in Who’s Who Legal for Mergers and Acquisitions (2016). He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Berkeley.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Adam Weinstein
Partner, M&A of Sidley Austin
ADAM WEINSTEIN represents large-cap and middle-market private equity funds and their portfolio companies in leveraged acquisitions, mergers, strategic investments, growth financings and similar transactions. For the last 20-plus years, Adam has served as a trusted adviser to a mega-cap private equity fund and its affiliates and portfolio companies in many of its complex, global leveraged buyout/carve-out transactions and public company acquisitions. Adam is also actively involved in advising private equity investors in the management of their portfolio companies, including: liquidity events, including private sales and public offerings, add-on acquisitions and investments, divestitures, strategic joint ventures and alliances liquidity rights, including drag-along rights, forced sale arrangements, tag-along rights, put and call rights, rights of first refusal and rights of first offer corporate governance rights, including board election rights, board and board committee composition and board and shareholder voting rights, including minority and other shareholder protections day-to-day executive compensation, labor and employment, environmental, tax, intellectual property and litigation matters Adam is recommended in The Legal 500 U.S. 2017–2018 for M&A: Middle-Market
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
CARTER G. PHILLIPS
Partner of Sidley Austin
CARTER G. PHILLIPS is the chair of the firm’s Executive Committee and was the managing partner of its Washington, D.C. office from 1995 to 2012. He served as a law clerk to both Judge Robert Sprecher on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the United States Supreme Court. Carter also served as Assistant to the Solicitor General and argued nine cases on behalf of the federal government in the United States Supreme Court. Since joining Sidley, he has argued 71 cases in the Supreme Court. His total of 80 arguments before that Court are the most of any lawyer currently in private practice. Carter also has argued more than 100 cases in United States courts of appeals, including at least one in every Circuit in the country, and more than 25 in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Jared Jensen
Partner of Sidley Austin
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Mark Kaufmann
Partner, Tech and IP Transactions Practice of Sidley Austin
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
John Butler
Partner of Sidley Austin
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Joe Flack III
Partner of Sidley Austin
JOE FLACK focuses his practice on oil and gas transactions. His substantial upstream representations include sellers and buyers in acquisitions and divestitures, borrowers and lenders in reserve-based lending transactions, and grantors and grantees in conveyancing transactions. He also has lead various diligence examinations with regards to property and title issues. In addition, Joe has represented multiple different parties in midstream matters, including gatherers and producers/shippers in gathering agreements, and processors and producers in processing agreements.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
David Hoffman
Partner & Global Co-Head of White Collar Litigation and Investigations Practice of Sidley Austin
David Hoffman is Board of Director at Better Government Association.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Pam Martinson
Partner of Sidley Austin
Pam Martinson is Partner @ Sidley Austin LLP.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
David Hoffman
Partner & Global Co-Head of White Collar Litigation and Investigations Practice of Sidley Austin
David Hoffman is Board of Director at Better Government Association.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Jared Jensen
Partner of Sidley Austin
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
John Butler
Partner of Sidley Austin
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Joe Flack III
Partner of Sidley Austin
JOE FLACK focuses his practice on oil and gas transactions. His substantial upstream representations include sellers and buyers in acquisitions and divestitures, borrowers and lenders in reserve-based lending transactions, and grantors and grantees in conveyancing transactions. He also has lead various diligence examinations with regards to property and title issues. In addition, Joe has represented multiple different parties in midstream matters, including gatherers and producers/shippers in gathering agreements, and processors and producers in processing agreements.
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About Sidley Austin: Sidley is a law firm providing legal advising services for businesses.
Anthony Pergola
Partner and Vice Chair, Tech Group of Lowenstein Sandler
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About First Close Partners, Grape Arbor VC, Lowenstein Sandler: Lowenstein Sandler provides law practice in the areas of technology, life sciences, and financial management.
Selim Day
Partner of Lowenstein Sandler
Selim Day is a corporate partner in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and securities law, emerging growth company representation, and corporate governance. Selim has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. He began his career in New York City, where he spent eight years before moving to Silicon Valley in Northern California. After practicing for more than seven years in Silicon Valley, Selim returned to New York City. His merger and acquisition practice includes buy-side and sell-side representation. Selim has significant experience in contests for corporate control, including proxy contests, tender offers, settlement agreements, and white-knight transactions. He is frequently involved in public company acquisitions of public and private companies, private company acquisitions of other private companies, sales of public and private companies asset purchase transactions, strategic and joint venture transactions Selim’s capital markets and securities law practice includes the representation of both issuers and underwriters in capital markets transactions. He has represented most leading investment banks, and also represents public companies in Securities and Exchange Commission compliance matters. His emerging growth company practice involves representation of companies in all stages, from start-up to public company. Selim also represents venture capital and angel investors. His clients participate in a wide range of technology sectors, including the Internet, digital media, software, semiconductors, biotech, and clean technology. Selim’s corporate governance practice involves counseling boards of directors regarding their fiduciary duties. Selim is currently a member of the WSGR’s Policy Committee.
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About Lowenstein Sandler: Lowenstein Sandler provides law practice in the areas of technology, life sciences, and financial management.
Lawrence Chu
Partner and Leader of West Coast Tech M&A Practice of Goodwin Procter
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About Dimension 6, Goodwin Procter, On Deck, The Nantucket Project: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Joshua Cook
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Josh is a corporate and securities partner in our Silicon Valley office. Josh specializes in the representation of emerging growth companies and in the representation of venture capital and private equity investment funds. Josh’s work with companies spans the entire corporate life cycle, including strategic decisions and coaching prior to incorporation, prospective investor introductions, general corporate representation and counseling, venture capital financings, employment matters, commercial contracts, public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Josh represents a wide variety of technology companies from consumer internet, software, telecommunications, and entertainment technology industries, as well as a number of leading venture capital firms. Josh has also counseled senior executives on employment and separation matters. Josh holds a J.D. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from The George Washington University. Josh is admitted to practice in California.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Greg Hoffnagle
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Greg Hoffnagle is Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Stephen Davis
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Daniel Lang
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Michael Whalen
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Timothy Clark
Partner of Goodwin Procter
TIM CLARK is a partner in the Investment Funds group and co-heads Sidley’s Private Equity Fund Formation practice. Tim represents a wide range of private equity fund managers in connection with their fund formation activities, including managers raising buyout funds, growth equity funds, credit funds, distressed credit funds, secondary funds, real estate funds and venture capital funds. He has significant experience working with funds operating and raising capital across different geographies (United States/North America, Europe and Asia), as well as funds focused on making investments in specific industries (such as energy, alternative energy, financial services, healthcare and life sciences). Tim also regularly advises private equity clients with regard to Investment Advisers Act and Investment Company Act matters, GP/sponsor economic and governance arrangements, and fund operational matters (including fund subscription credit facilities, fund investment structuring and other “life of fund” matters). Tim is listed as a leading investment funds lawyer by several industry publications, including Chambers USA, Who’s Who Legal and the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, and is a member of the Private Investment Fund Forum. Tim has written and spoken extensively on topics relating to investment funds, including issues relating to sponsor economics and governance, the Investment Company Act and trends in private equity fund terms and conditions.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Eric Goldstein
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Eric Goldstein joined Insight in 2012 as Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel. Eric is responsible for designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Insight’s compliance program, as well as all legal aspects of Insight’s fund formation, fund communication, contracts, intellectual property, investments and divestitures. Eric joined Insight after several years practicing investment management, securities and corporate law at the global law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where he was an associate in the firm’s New York-based Asset Management practice.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Matt Mauney
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Matt Mauney is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity group. He advises public and private companies as well as private equity and venture capital firms on a wide array of complex business transactions, including structuring and negotiating strategic and leveraged acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions, venture capital and growth equity investments, equity and debt financings, recapitalizations and restructurings, executive compensation and incentive equity matters, and general corporate counseling and compliance. Matt Mauney has worked with both middle-market and upmarket clients on transactions ranging in size from several million dollars to billions of dollars. He has extensive experience working in a variety of industries, including regulated industries such as healthcare and banking. Prior to joining Goodwin in 2019, Matt Mauney was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Scott Joachim
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Grant Fondo
Partner, Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense Group and Privacy and Data Security Practice of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Victoria Schonfeld
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Robert Puopolo
Partner of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Ian O’Donnell
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Ian O’Donnell is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Investment Funds group. He specializes in the formation and representation of U.S. domestic and international venture capital, growth equity and private equity funds. Mr. O’Donnell has represented sponsor organizations in the formation of 100+ fund programs, ranging from multibillion-dollar venture capital and private equity funds to early stage venture capital, angel, pledge and microfunds. As fund counsel, Mr. O’Donnell regularly advises on all aspects of the fundraising process, including providing market intelligence on fund terms and conditions, review and preparation of all fundraising documentation, formulation of marketing plans and strategies, and leading negotiations with various participants in the fund formation process. He has extensive experience in advising on all facets of internal management structuring, governance and compensation matters. He also counsels both domestic and international institutional clients regarding investments in private investment funds. Prior to joining Goodwin in 2017, Mr. O’Donnell was a partner in Cooley LLP’s fund formation group. He previously served as an associate in the fund services group at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Grant Fondo
Partner, Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense Group and Privacy and Data Security Practice of Goodwin Procter
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Stephen Lee
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Stephen Lee is a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity Group. He advises private equity professionals, strategic companies, investment bankers and intermediaries regarding public and private mergers, acquisitions and general corporate matters. Mr. Lee structures, negotiates, and documents a wide array of transactions, including carve-outs of business divisions, asset and stock acquisitions, mergers, leveraged buyouts, auction transactions and tender offers. Mr. Lee regularly represents buyers and sellers in cross-border transactions. He also has particular expertise in the aerospace, software, technology, automotive and medical device industries, where he advises companies regarding joint venture, joint development, licensing and manufacturing arrangements. Prior to joining Goodwin in 2016, Mr. Lee was a partner at K&L Gates.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
William Mayer
Partner of Goodwin Procter
Mr. William “Bill” Mayer is a partner in the Goodwin Procter LLP’s Business Law Department and a member of its Financial Services Group. Mr. Mayer serves as corporate and regulatory general counsel for a number of publicly held financial institutions and financial institution holding companies, as well as a number of community banking organizations. Mr. Mayer handles a wide variety of transactions for the firm’s banking and financial services clients, including mergers, acquisitions, public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, stock conversions, bank and holding company formations, and other reorganizations of financial institutions and holding companies. In addition, he has counseled a number of institutional and other investors with respect to transactions involving banks and bank holding companies. In addition, Mr. Mayer advises other business clients, nonprofits, and individuals on a wide range of corporate, corporate governance and other legal matters. Mr. Mayer has taught bank and bank holding company mergers and acquisitions at the Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law Studies at Boston University School of Law; he also serves on the Center’s Board of Advisors. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia and is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America. While in law school, he was an Editor of the Virginia Law Review.
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About Goodwin Procter: Goodwin Procter provides corporate law and litigation services.
Mark Radcliffe
Partner of DLA Piper
Mark Radcliffe has been a member of the Board of Trustees since the Fund’s beginning. As a partner of DLA Piper USA, LLP and its predecessor firms since 1989, Mark represents startup technology corporations in their intellectual property and finance matters. He also represents Fortune 100 companies in complex intellectual property transactions, and has worked in a wide variety of industries, from Internet to software to cloud to semiconductors. In 2011, the Department of State appointed Mark to be one of 10 private members of the U.S.-Japan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council. In 1997, the National Law Journal listed him as one of America’s 100 most influential lawyers, and the San Francisco Business Times has named him among the best lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been listed in the “The Best Lawyers in America,” and as one of Northern California’s Top 100 intellectual property attorneys in “Super Lawyers.” He has also been named as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in Who’s Who Legal publication. In 1998, Harvard Law School designated him a “Distinguished Alumni.” Mark earned a B.S. in chemistry magna cum laude from University of Michigan and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
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About DLA Piper, FOSSA: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries to helps clients with their legal needs around the world.
Dale Lazar
Retired Partner of DLA Piper
Dale Lazar is the Retired Partner at DLA Piper
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About Cornell University, DLA Piper, Torrent Tactical Loading Systems: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries to helps clients with their legal needs around the world.
David Luce
Partner of DLA Piper
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About DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries to helps clients with their legal needs around the world.
James Halpert
Partner & Co-Chair, Global Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Partner, IP & Technology Practice of DLA Piper
James Halpert is global Co-chair of DLA Piper’s Data Protection, Privacy and Security and Cybersecurity practices. He advises corporate boards, general counsel’s offices and risk officers on risk management, including crisis management, incident response programs, governance, cybersecurity risk reviews and vendor and supply chain risk management. He has advised clients on global security and privacy requirements. He represents clients in major security and privacy cases in federal courts and before the FTC. He has helped draft hundreds of U.S. state privacy and security laws, as well as the NIST Cyber Security Framework privacy provisions. He is recognized by Legal 500 lawyers review service as a Tier 1 “Leading Lawyer” in its Cyber Crime and Data Protection and Privacy categories.
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About DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries to helps clients with their legal needs around the world.
David Luce
Partner of DLA Piper
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About DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries to helps clients with their legal needs around the world.
Barbara McKinzie
Managing Partner of MSL LLC
Barbara McKinzie is a financial executive and consultant with experience in general management. She has been known for her success in reducing costs at for-profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations. McKinzie is a certified CPA and has her MBA from Kellogg School of Management. Barbara’s passions lie in empowering women intellectually, economically, and socially. Regarded as a phenomenal public speaker, Barbara McKinzie hopes to inspire and make a positive impact on women across the globe.
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About MSL LLC: We make our clients successful by providing the highest level of services & delivering results that exceed their expectations.
Sarah Gabot
Senior Partner Marketing Manager of HelloSign
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About HelloSign: HelloSign offers fast, secure, and legally binding eSignatures for businesses.
Skip Brittenham
Co-Founder & Senior Partner of Ziffren Brittenham
Harry Brittenham, born Port Huron, Michigan. Admitted to the California Bar in 1971; Education: United States Air Force Academy (B.S. 1963); UCLA (J.D. 1970); Senior partner of Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman, Cook, Johnson, Lande & Wolf, LLP, an entertainment law firm founded in 1978; Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman, Cook, Johnson, Lande & Wolf, LLP, has one of the largest television, music and motion picture practices in the world; it also specializes in entertainment oriented merger, acquisition and financing transactions. Brittenham has served on the board of numerous corporations including Pixar and Loews Cineplex. Brittenham has served on the board of numerous charitable organizations, including Conservation International, The American Oceans Campaign and the Environmental Media Association.
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About Ziffren Brittenham: Ziffren Brittenham provides strategic planning and consulting services.
Bryan Wolf
Partner of Ziffren Brittenham
Bryan Wolf is a senior partner and member of the management committee of Ziffren Brittenham LLP. He represents many leading directors, producers, writers, and actors and provides strategic counsel to companies, institutional investors and owners of intellectual property in connection with the motion picture, television and digital media industries. Bryan designed the business plans for several companies which provide substantial content and financing for the major motion picture studios and television networks. He also structured and negotiated the financing and distribution arrangements for these entities. Additionally, Bryan has counseled both start-ups and large institutions regarding the creation of digital content and the distribution of content across digital platforms. On the talent side, he has structured market-making deals for artists, maximizing creative control and fixed and contingent compensation. His transactional experience includes debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and distribution. Bryan is regularly listed in industry publications such as Best Lawyers in America, The Hollywood Reporter’s list of Most Powerful Entertainment Lawyers and Variety’s Dealmaker Report. He serves on the boards of Counter Brands, LLC, ITG Automotive and Fetching Girl, Inc. Previously, he was a co-founder and board member of IAG Research and a board observer of Awesomeness TV, Inc. He contributes to several charitable causes, including those supporting financial aid, cancer research, and nature and our environment. Bryan graduated from Swarthmore College and Columbia Law School. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Elisabeth, an author, and two children, Philip and Emmeline.
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About Ziffren Brittenham: Ziffren Brittenham provides strategic planning and consulting services.
Louis Samson
Partner of Platinum Equity
Louis Samson leads Platinum Equity’s New York-based investment team, manages the operations of the New York office, and is a member of the Investment Committee. In his role, Louis Samson oversees all financial, operating, tax, and legal aspects of M&A transactions executed by his team. Additionally, together with the Operations Team, he provides oversight to the portfolio companies for which he led the acquisition. Louis Samson and his team led the acquisitions of American Commercial Lines, Maxim Crane Works, The San Diego Union-Tribune, PBH Marine Group (the successor company to Genmar), NESCO, BWAY, BlueLine Rental (formerly Volvo Rents), MACtac and PAE. Louis Samson and his team also led a number of add-on acquisitions to these platforms, including Ropak (BWAY), Triton Boats (PBH Marine Group), Penske Utility (NESCO), Crane Rental Corp, assets from Barnhart Crane & Rigging and LJ Crane (Maxim Crane Works), AEP River Operations (American Commercial Lines), Trico Lift (BlueLine Rental) as well as a number of refinancings. In 2008, Platinum Equity won the “Deal of the Year” award for its acquisition of Maxim Crane Works and in 2010, won the “Financing of the Year” award for its refinancing of The San Diego Union-Tribune from The M&A Advisor Magazine. Louis Samson has 20 years of Mergers and Acquisitions experience and has completed transactions in a variety of industry sectors. Prior to joining Platinum Equity in 2007, Louis Samson was a Managing Director in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at CIBC World Markets and was an M&A lawyer with Stikeman Elliott. Louis Samson is a graduate of Ottawa University Law School and Le Petit Seminaire de Quebec College.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Jacob Kotzubei
Partner of Platinum Equity
Jacob Kotzubei is a Partner and member of Platinum Equity’s Investment Committee, leads a Los Angeles-based investment team and has oversight responsibility for investment teams in Europe and Asia. In addition, Mr. Kotzubei plays a substantial role in raising capital from limited partners for the firm’s investment funds. Jacob Kotzubei and his team led the acquisitions of or investments in SourceOne Healthcare (formerly Diagnostic Imaging), CompuCom Systems, Turf Care Supply (formerly a division of Lesco), ESM Group, PNA Group, SDI, Canwel Building Products (formerly Broadleaf Logistics, a division acquired from Weyerhaeuser), Ryerson, Keystone Automotive, SCM Metal Products and Ecka Granules, Ahern Rentals, Canvas Systems, KEMET Corporation, Pomeroy, Schutt Sports, Aquilex, Neovia Logistics (formerly Caterpillar Logistics Services) and Artesyn Embedded Technologies (formerly Emerson Embedded Power and Computing), including related financings and refinancings. Jacob Kotzubei is a member of the board of directors at both KEMET Corp. (NYSE: KEM) and CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd. (TMX: CWX). Jacob Kotzubei has more than 20 years of M&A experience, including substantial complex carve-out and public-to-private experience, in numerous industries and countries. Prior to joining Platinum Equity in 2002, Mr. Kotzubei was a Vice President of the High Tech Group at Goldman Sachs and was head of the East Coast Semiconductor Group. Previously, he was an M&A attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. Jacob Kotzubei received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. He is a retired member of the New York State Bar
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Eva Kalawski
Partner and General Counsel and Secretary of Platinum Equity
Eva Kalawski oversees Platinum’s in-house legal staff and is responsible for addressing legal issues relating to due diligence, mergers and acquisitions and transitions, as well as the legal affairs of its portfolio companies. Prior to joining Platinum in 1997, Eva Kalawski was Vice President of Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary for Pilot Software, Inc. Eva Kalawski earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and French from Mount Holyoke College and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Robert Wentworth
Partner of Platinum Equity
Robert Wentworth participates in senior level merger and acquisition activities for Platinum Equity and is a member of the Investment Committee. Robert Wentworth was previously President and Chief Executive Officer for the North American operations of Platinum portfolio company NextiraOne, where he led its formation and served as its CEO since its inception in 2001. Prior to joining Platinum Equity in 1997, Robert Wentworth was President and Chief Executive Officer at Alden Electronics, Inc. where he also served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Robert Wentworth served as a certified public accountant for fourteen years with Ernst & Young. Robert Wentworth grew up in Massachusetts and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at Bentley College.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Mark Barnhill
Partner of Platinum Equity
Mark Barnhill manages functions connected to capital raising, fund administration, investor relations and corporate and external affairs for Platinum Equity and Platinum Equity Capital Partners.Mark Barnhill is responsible for strategic planning and administration of the firm’s private equity fund vehicles. Mark Barnhill leads Platinum’s capital raising activities and is its senior relationship manager with investors, who comprise a diverse cross-section of public and private pension funds, financial institutions, foundations and family offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Mark Barnhill is responsible for working with the firm’s M&A&O® teams on the capital structure and drawdown of investment capital for individual transactions. Mark Barnhill also oversees functions related to quarterly and annual reporting and audit, compliance with contractual and regulatory matters related to the funds, and coordination with the funds’ Limited Partner Advisory Committees. In addition to his fund responsibilities, Mark Barnhill holds leadership functions connected to strategic planning, recruiting and retention, transaction sourcing, corporate communications and external affairs for Platinum Equity and its operating companies. Mark Barnhill was formerly a Senior Partner at Fleishman-Hillard Inc., where Mark Barnhill directed the firm’s corporate practice in Los Angeles and managed both domestic and international accounts. Before that he was a senior executive at the Los Angeles Daily News, where Mark Barnhill served as Assistant Managing Editor, City Editor, and Washington Bureau Chief. Mark Barnhill also spearheaded development of the newspaper’s interactive business and first online site.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Bob Wymbs
Partner of Platinum Equity
Bob Wymbs leads two M&A teams at Platinum Equity, both of which are key differentiators for the firm.On the buy side, Bob Wymbs is head of Platinum Equity’s Lower Middle Market (LMM) M&A group that targets businesses with up to $250 million in annual revenue across North America and Europe. The LMM team is nested inside Platinum Equity’s broader organizational structure and draws upon the entire firm’s experience, track record, capital base and operational resources. Bob Wymbs also leads Platinum Equity’s dedicated, in-house sell-side team. In that capacity, he is responsible for managing a broad range of strategic divestiture opportunities throughout Platinum Equity’s portfolio. As part of his sell-side responsibilities, Bob Wymbs has led and negotiated numerous transactions, including full or partial sales of NextiraOne, Clipper Windpower, AEES, Contego, Alliance Entertainment, Acument, and many others. Bob Wymbs is a member of the Board of Directors at Megapath Corporation.Prior to joining Platinum Equity in 2000, Bob Wymbs spent four years at the Los Angeles Dodgers and three years at McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm. At the two firms, he held various positions in strategic development, business development, project management, operations and marketing. Bob Wymbs earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University and a Master’s of Business Administration from the Wharton School.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Philip Norment
Partner of Platinum Equity
Phil Norment is a member of Platinum’s Investment Committee and is a senior advisor on specific operational initiatives throughout the portfolio. He is also the senior executive responsible for evaluating acquisition opportunities and integrating new acquisitions into the portfolio. Prior to joining Platinum Equity in 1997, Norment served in a variety of management positions at a major software corporation. Over the course of twelve years he worked in the areas of global support, operations, consultative services and sales support, achieving the position of Chief Operating Officer. Norment earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
John Diggins
Partner of Platinum Equity
John Diggins brings a comprehensive background in financial growth management and mergers & acquisitions activity to the company, in addition to broad operating experience. Through the successful development and execution of strategic sales and marketing programs, John Diggins is responsible for growing the revenue base of Platinum Equity’s operating companies as well as identifying product strengths to help build market advantage. Prior to joining Platinum in 1996, John Diggins was CEO for both Pilot Software and Foresight Software, which were acquired by Platinum. John Diggins was also a co-founder of Ventec Systems with Platinum Equity Chairman and CEO Tom Gores. John Diggins holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.
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About Platinum Equity: Platinum Equity is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout investments of established companies.
Dara Panahy
Partner of Milbank
As leader of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group in Washington, D.C., Dara’s practice involves representation of satellite operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications companies, banks, private equity firms and hedge funds in debt and equity offerings, project, structured and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and in negotiating commercial contracts. He also advises on regulatory, sanctions, anti-corruption, national security and export control matters.
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About Milbank: A leading international law firm
Brien Wassner
Partner of Milbank
Brien M. Wassner is a partner in the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and a member of the firm’s Corporate Group. Mr. Wassner represents private equity funds, domestic and multinational privately held and publicly traded entities, hedge funds, venture capital funds, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and emerging growth companies, as purchasers, sellers, and investors, in a wide range of corporate transactions and business combinations, including mergers, tender offers, auctions, private equity investments, stock and asset acquisitions, going private transactions, joint ventures, debt and equity financing, and general corporate and securities matters. His experience encompasses a broad range of industries, including financial services, consumer products, retail, traditional and renewable energy, infrastructure, utilities, transportation, pharmaceuticals, health care, real estate, technology, telecom and communications, biosciences, commodities, media and entertainment.
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About Milbank: A leading international law firm
Robert Kennedy
Partner of Milbank
Robert F. (Bob) Kennedy is a partner in the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and a member of the firm’s Corporate Group. Mr. Kennedy advises public and private entities in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private equity investments, and general corporate matters. He has represented private equity funds and strategic buyers and sellers in leveraged recapitalizations, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions, and private investments. His practice encompasses a broad range of industries, including financial services, commodities, energy services, communications, and health care-related businesses. Mr. Kennedy has been the lead lawyer on a number of large cap transactions, most recently the $2.7 billion sale of a global agriculture and commodities business on behalf of a consortium of private equity sponsors.
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About Milbank: A leading international law firm
Christina Ungeheuer
Partner of Milbank
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About Latham & Watkins, Milbank: A leading international law firm
Robert Kennedy
Partner of Milbank
Robert F. (Bob) Kennedy is a partner in the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and a member of the firm’s Corporate Group. Mr. Kennedy advises public and private entities in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private equity investments, and general corporate matters. He has represented private equity funds and strategic buyers and sellers in leveraged recapitalizations, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions, and private investments. His practice encompasses a broad range of industries, including financial services, commodities, energy services, communications, and health care-related businesses. Mr. Kennedy has been the lead lawyer on a number of large cap transactions, most recently the $2.7 billion sale of a global agriculture and commodities business on behalf of a consortium of private equity sponsors.
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About Milbank: A leading international law firm
Anil Advani
Founder and Managing Partner of Inventus Law
Anil Advani is the Managing Partner of Palo Alto and San Francisco based law firm, Inventus Law. His practice focuses on representing early stage start-up companies, from 2-3 “guys in the garage” through the life-cycle of the venture, negotiating angel and venture financings, customer and licensing transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He has also represented a number of angel investor groups. Over the last 12 years working at powerhouse law firms like Cooley Godward and Orrick Herrington, Mr. Advani has represented over 800 startups and founders (including many backed by the premier Silicon Valley incubator Y Combinator), and been involved in almost 200 financing and M&A transactions valued at over $1 billion in aggregate.
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About Inventus Law: Inventus Law is a Silicon Valley based premier law firm that represents high growth startup companies, founders, angel investors.
James Wilson
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Megan Remmel
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Innessa Huot
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Nina Varindani
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Bradley J. Demuth
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Joseph Lukens
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
Mr. Lukens is a partner in Faruqi & Faruqi
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Timothy Peter
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Ben Heikali
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Reza Rezvani
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
Reza Rezvani is a Partner in the firm’s New York office in personal injury law litigation. He has over 18 years of experience litigating construction accidents and labor law, premises liability, serious motor vehicle accidents, and civil rights cases. He has successfully handled hundreds of cases and conducted over 50 jury trials, earning a reputation as a highly skilled trial attorney. Reza has dedicated his career to representing clients who have been harmed by the actions of others. Prior to joining F&F, he was a trial attorney in a boutique plaintiff’s personal injury firm where his trial skills resulted in over $25,000,000 in recovery for his clients. Some of his results include: $5,100,000 on behalf of a union worker injured when a pallet was dropped on him. $3,300,000 for a union worker seriously injured after a brick fell on his foot. $2,750,000 for a client who was driving a car struck by a sanitation truck. $2,200,000 on behalf of a union worker who fell off a scaffold suffering a head injury. $2,200,000 for a union worker injured carrying a heavy load at a job site. $1,400,000 for a painter injured after he fell off a faulty scaffold. $1,250,000 on behalf of a client who was injured stepping off a misleveled elevator. $1,150,000 for the mother of a 21 year old pedestrian struck and killed by a bus. $1,100,000 for a client who fell getting off a misleveled elevator. Reza has represented clients on several high profile Civil Rights cases. In 2013, he obtained a verdict on behalf of six clients who were involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals in violation of their constitutional rights. In 2017, Reza served as trial counsel and helped successfully resolve a Fair Housing Act discrimination case on behalf of nine clients who were displaced from their home due to racial and ethnic discrimination. In addition to his trial skills, Reza holds a passion for educating and mentoring. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Law, where he teaches trial skills to law students. He has served as the Supervising Attorney for Hofstra Law’s Housing Rights Clinic, and was a Clinic Fellow of the law school’s Law Reform Advocacy Clinic – where he supervised law students who worked on pro bono cases. Reza has presented at national academic conferences on effective methods to teach law students how to prepare complex cases for trial.
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, Fordham University School of Law: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
Timothy Peter
Partner of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
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About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm concentrating on investor and consumer rights.
