Key Contacts
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Emerging Company
We work with founders to properly set up their companies; review business plans and identify key strengths and weaknesses before approaching financing sources; license core technology; develop strategies to obtain funding and negotiate terms for initial and later-stage financings; prepare and implement key agreements with management, employees, consultants and advisors; design equity incentive plans; and advise clients on how best to achieve liquidity. We also attend board meetings and offer strategic advice and counseling on important business decisions, as well as guidance on forming and running an effective board of directors and board of advisors.
Our lawyers represent a variety of life sciences and technology companies, including those in industries such as artificial intelligence and robotics, big data, biotechnology, cybersecurity, digital health, energy, FinTech, hardware and software, medical devices, and mobile technology, amongst others.
In addition to our corporate experience, we are able to tap into the deep knowledge of the more than 120 attorneys who hold degrees in a variety of technical and scientific fields. As a result, we have a sophisticated understanding of the important technical and intellectual property issues facing companies in any of these sectors.
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Venture Capital
WilmerHale represents both venture capital firms and venture-backed companies in industries such as artificial intelligence and robotics, big data, biotechnology, cybersecurity, digital health, energy, FinTech, hardware and software, medical devices, and mobile technology, amongst others. We are counsel to more venture-backed companies in the eastern half of the United States than any other law firm in the country, and have a growing presence on the West Coast and in the European and Israeli venture capital communities.
Our extensive experience with emerging companies allows us to efficiently manage standard venture capital financings and effectively navigate more complex transactions on behalf of investors. We have represented venture capitalists for more than five decades and have assisted some of the earliest venture capital firms in their initial investments. Today, we continue to represent many premier venture capital firms in portfolio investments.
Our practical, problem-solving approach and our collective experience in both corporate and intellectual property issues enable us to cost-effectively protect investors' interests. As a result, we can conduct sophisticated due diligence—including landscape analyses of competitors' patents, clearance studies and patent portfolio audits—and provide opinions and advice regarding patentability, infringement, validity and freedom to operate.
WilmerHale represents numerous venture capital funds, hedge funds, real estate investment partnerships, REITs and other investment entities in connection with all aspects of their organization, management, operation and regulatory compliance. Our fund clients also draw on the extensive resources of our corporate, litigation, private client, tax and other practices for their investment activities and internal management and administration needs.
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QuickLaunch Program
WilmerHale's QuickLaunch Program is a platform for qualified startups and entrepreneurs to receive the critical guidance and legal advice they need to get off the ground and gain a competitive advantage. QuickLaunch members have access to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who face many of the same challenges related to their new ventures.
Additional benefits include:
- introductions to venture capitalists, angels and other investors;
- access to potential recruits, mentors, advisors and preferred providers;
- an audience of peers and influencers to help refine and promote your startup;
- invitations to educational events and webinars on a range of issues relevant to entrepreneurs and startups;
- legal guidance on everything from company formation, expansion and patent protection to securing financing and exit strategies; and
- the ability to manage legal expenses cost-effectively using technology solutions and deferred, fixed and/or discounted rates.
Through the QuickLaunch Program, our lawyers leverage their institutional knowledge and deep experience to deliver services on a responsive and efficient basis.
WilmerHale Launch
2021 IPO, Venture Capital and M&A Reports
PublicationsExperience
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Represented Altiostar, a pioneer in open virtualized RAN technology, in a $114 million Series C financing round led by Rakuten, Qualcomm Ventures and Tech Mahindra.
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Represented BioCatch, a global leader in behavioral biometrics, in a $145 million Series C investment led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities.
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Represented Capella Space, a startup planning a constellation of radar imaging satellites, in multiple financing rounds including in its $29.4 million Series B funding led by Spark Capital and DCVC.
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Represented Dedrone, an automated drone security platform, in its $27 million later-stage financing round from TempoCap, Aqton and Levitate Capital.
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Represented Eko Devices, a developer of digital medical devices and smartphone-enabled medical technologies, in its $65 million Series C financing round led by Highland Capital Partners and Questa Capital.
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Represented Immuta, an AI data management software developer, in a $40 million Series C financing round led by Intel Capital.
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Represented MineralTree, a fintech company providing accounts payable and automated payment solutions, in its $50 million growth equity investment led
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Represented Pandion Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing modular protein therapeutics for autoimmune disease, in an $80 million Series B financing co-led by Access Biotechnology and Boxer Capital.
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Represented RightHand Robotics, a leading provider of robotic e-commerce solutions, in a $23 million Series B financing round led by Menlo Ventures with participation from GV, Dream Incubator and Matrix Partners.
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Represented RigUp, the energy industry’s predominant marketplace for on-demand services and labor, in a $300 million Series D financing round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
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Represented Siolta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing microbiome-based medicines to prevent and treat chronic inflammatory diseases, in its $30 million Series B financing round.
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Represented Stash, a fintech platform revolutionizing investment and financial literacy across the United States, in several financing rounds including its $125 million Series G funding.
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Represented TwentyEight-Seven, a biotechnology company focused on modulating non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology to develop treatments for cancer and other diseases, in its $82.8 million Series A financing co-led by MPM Capital and Novartis Venture Fund.
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Represented Werewolf Therapeutics, an oncology biotherapeutics company advancing a pipeline of next-generation, transformative cancer treatments, in its $72 million Series B financing led by RA Capital Management.
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Represented ZeroNorth, a provider of risk-based vulnerability orchestration across applications and infrastructure, in its $10 million Series A funding round led by Crosslink Capital.
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Represented investors such as Atlas Venture, Bessemer Venture Partners, Flagship Pioneering, General Catalyst, Highland Capital Partners, Khosla Ventures, North Bridge Venture Partners, Samsara BioCapital, Sofinnova Ventures, Spark Capital and Thrive Capital, among numerous others, in venture financings.
Recognition
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Recognized as a Top Firm in the Nation for Startups & Emerging Companies
Chambers USA
2017-2021
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Recommended for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies
The Legal 500 United States
2010-2020
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Named a Leading Law Firm for Venture Capital Law
U.S. News - Best Lawyers®
2010-2021
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Again named our corporate practice among the best in 2021, with sources saying that WilmerHale's corporate lawyers are “real leaders in the field” and are “incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.” The current edition of Chambers USA also ranked WilmerHale in the following related regions and practices: nationwide for Startups & Emerging Companies; Massachusetts for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment, and Technology; and Washington DC for Corporate/M&A & Private Equity. WilmerHale was also ranked among the top FinTech law firms in the US in its 2021 FinTech guide.
- The Legal 500 United States – Recommended WilmerHale’s Emerging Company and Venture Capital Practice in the areas of venture capital and emerging companies, commercial deals and contracts, corporate governance, M&A middle-market, and tax in its 2010–2020 editions.
- U.S. News - Best Lawyers® – Recognized in the 2010–2021 “Best Law Firms” rankings. In the 2021 rankings, our corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital law practices were ranked in the first tier nationally and in Boston, and our corporate law practice was also ranked in the first tier in New York and Washington DC and in the second tier in Colorado. Our technology law practice was also ranked in the first tier in Boston and in the second tier nationally. A source describes our venture capital practice as “impeccable and indispensable. They answer the questions, identify the guardrails, and draw on their experience to help us anticipate strategic opportunities. Their superb legal guidance has allowed us to focus on business growth.”
- Best Lawyers in America – Recognized 129 WilmerHale partners for 2021, naming eight as “Lawyers of the Year.”
- Corporate Board Member – In 2014, 2016 and 2018, the most recent edition, WilmerHale was named to Top National Corporate Law Firms list, a comprehensive ranking of the top 25 firms in the nation. Results are based on law firm surveys and feedback from thousands of directors and general counsel.
- Law360 – Named WilmerHale a Technology Practice Group of the Year, an award recognizing the firm’s key role in the significant matters that made headlines and changed the legal landscape, for three consecutive years.
- LMG Life Sciences – Named WilmerHale the US Life Cycle Firm of the Year in 2017–2020 and among the shortlist from 2012–2020. LMG has also ranked the firm in its 2012–2020 editions in corporate, licensing and collaboration, M&A, venture capital and several other practice areas, and named 21 WilmerHale lawyers as “life sciences stars.”
- Super Lawyers – Our corporate lawyers are consistently recognized as “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars” in multiple jurisdictions.