Venture Capital & Emerging Companies

There from day one.

Jackson Walker is uniquely poised to assist an entrepreneur throughout the entire lifecycle of their company–from formation and funding, to growth and exit opportunities. Our lawyers work closely with company founders and investors to bring the necessary skills, resources, and relationships to help start and grow businesses.

In addition to assisting with formation issues and fundraising, we have substantial experience serving as outside general counsel, providing fast-growing companies and their executives with a sounding board and single point of contact for their legal needs. And our experience representing venture funds and family offices in connection with their early-stage investments gives us a valuable perspective when helping young companies structure and negotiate financing rounds.

Lawyers in our multidisciplinary practice routinely assist clients with the following matters:

  • Choice of entity and formation issues
  • Founder agreements
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Tax planning
  • Employment agreements and offer letters
  • Equity incentive plans
  • Safes and convertible notes
  • Preferred stock financings
  • Bridge financings
  • Licensing agreements
  • Real estate transactions
  • Joint ventures
  • Growth equity transactions
  • Credit facilities
  • Stockholder disputes
  • Employment litigation
  • M&A transactions
  • Securities law compliance

Technology and Endowment Funds

  • Served as Fund counsel in the formation of Geekdom Fund early stage technology fund, $15MMM follow-on fund and continued representation of the Fund’s Investment Committee
  • Represented a university endowment in a $7.5MM technology company investment in a South Korean technology company
  • Represented an early stage fund in a Series Seed preferred stock investment in a social media customer relationship and support management application provider
  • Representing a university-sponsored investment fund in creating and establishing its technology start-up seed investment program, including advising the fund on its program investment terms, structure and agreements and representing the fund on its specific seed investment transactions.

Software and Cloud Services

  • Represented eSupply Systems, LLC, an e-procurement software and group purchasing services company, in its sale to RealPage, Inc. (NASDAQ:RP)
  • Represented an angel investor in a $1MM investment in seed funding of a sports app technology company
  • Represented a family office in an investment through a SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) in software developer which enables streamlined virtualization
  • Represented an electronic file transfer software and hosted services company in the tax free spin-out of public subsidiary in the technology space from publicly traded parent in the telecommunications space

Digital Content and Big Data

  • Served as lead counsel in an angel round including conversion of convertible bridge notes issued in prior capital raise and also assisted with IP portfolio development, including mobile device app strategy and cloud data strategy
  • Represented an institutional investor in its $40MM investment in Series B preferred securities of a content creation company

e-Commerce

  • Represented a company that provides cloud solutions for ecommerce in the sale of the company
  • Represented the leading provider of shopper-aware and responsive in-store displays in a Series A funding with continued participation from existing investors
  • Represented the founders of an internet eSports industry company in equity development services including initial seed series preferred stock rounds and 2 bridge financing rounds

Medical Technology

  • Represented a medical technology company in its organization, initial seed funding, and negotiation of complex company agreement with multiple investors
  • Represented a female incontinence medical technology company in its convertible note financing and seed financing rounds
  • Represented an optical technology company with five series of preferred stock raises and bridge rounds

Healthcare

  • Represented a start-up company in the healthcare field with a roll-up of medical professionals in various practice areas
  • Represented a company that has created an online healthcare job search platform in connection with its convertible note financing
  • Represented a healthcare analytics start-up with a Series A financing

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical

  • Represented a biotech start-up regarding transfer tech licensing agreements and follow up on Series A financing
  • Represented a Fund in connection with an investment in a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and others
  • Represented a university endowment in a $10MM Series C preferred equity investment in a biotech company investment
  • Represented a private equity fund that was the lead investor in a Series A-3 preferred interest investment round by a specialty pharmaceutical company

Manufacturing, Engineering and Construction

  • Represented a manufacturing company with disruptive technology in a Series A equity and drawdown credit facility
  • Represented an angel investor in connection with an investment in Series A preferred units of a developer of a mapping engine for construction projects and related architectural/engineering plans
  • Represented a fund in its purchase of $2MM of Series A preferred stock in an anti-corrosion coatings and lubricants manufacturing company

Energy

  • Represented energy start-up in $500MM private equity funding
  • Represented founding investor group in multiple investments in an oilfield data collection, storage, visualization and decision analytics software services provider that manages production and pipeline systems
  • Represented an energy industry crowdfunding company with the initial founder repurchase agreements and restructuring of ownership
  • Represented a company in the private placement of multiple series of preferred stock by energy storage application company, including negotiation of financing by state- sponsored early stage investment fun
  • Represented investor group in a frac water treatment venture through multiple rounds of investment

Food and Beverage

  • Represented an alcoholic beverages start-up on its initial $10MM Series A preferred financing and roll-up acquisitions of two alcoholic beverage companies
  • Represented an alcoholic beverages start-up on its initial $5MM seed funding
  • Represented the founder of Mexican food chain in connection with immigration, structuring, formation, funding and intellectual property matters
  • Represented a fund in its purchase of $2MM of Series A preferred stock in an organic foods retail delivery and wholesale company

Consumer

  • Represented a women’s athletic wear start-up in its convertible notes financing

General

  • Represented a start-up aquaculture company in a Series A equity financing and debt financing
  • Investor counsel in an investment in a water treatment startup for a US market company with a Korean parent company
  • Represented a company that provides educational services that connect industry professionals to teachers and students in connection with its formation and convertible note and seed financings
  • Represented lead angel investor in Series A preferred offering by empowering women entrepreneurs start-up

Stephanie Chandler

March 28, 2023
Speaking Engagements

Stephanie Chandler to Discuss Capital Raising at Women Founders Network

Jackson Walker partner Stephanie L. Chandler will present “Financing, Funding, and Access to Capital” on March 31, 2023, at the Women Founders Network hosted by San Antonio-based collaborative workspace company Geekdom.

Dana Nguyen

March 21, 2023
Mentions

Kindness Needs No Translation I Baylor Business Review

Moved to help others by her immigrant mother’s struggle to launch a business, Dana Nguyen now guides startups in overcoming similar obstacles. Nguyen is an associate at Jackson Walker LLP in Dallas, working in the corporate section. She primarily deals with the transactional side of legal matters, such as writing contracts and assisting clients through deals such as mergers or asset sales.

February 15, 2023
Podcast: Future-Ready Business

Your New Co-Worker?: AI, Automation, and the Rise of ChatGPT

In recent months, a new AI-powered chatbot has made its way to the forefront of conversations about innovative technology. However, ChatGPT is just one example of how artificial intelligence and machine learning seem poised to become as integral to business as the internet and the computer. While many embrace the advances of AI and automation, others still struggle with the looming fear that their jobs may one day be replaced by AI. On this episode of FRB, we take a dive into AI and automation, and how it may influence industries in the near future.

~26 minutes | JW Future-Ready Business Podcast

FRB Episode 4: Value-Based Care and the Changing Healthcare Landscape

January 18, 2023
Podcast: Future-Ready Business

Value-Based Care and the Changing Healthcare Landscape

Following the pandemic, many industries have experienced major shifts in the way that they do business. In the forefront is the healthcare industry, which was forced by the pandemic to consider the benefits of value-based healthcare, as opposed to more traditional fee-for-service models, when the world shut down. On this episode of FRB, Erin Camp and Art Cavazos discuss with Dr. Lane Aiena what exactly value-based care is and how the business landscape in the healthcare industry is changing.

33~ minutes | JW Future-Ready Business Podcast

December 14, 2022
Podcast: Future-Ready Business

Cryptocurrency: A Commodity, a Security, or a Scam?

Despite recent setbacks and scandals, cryptocurrency and other blockchain technologies are increasingly being utilized in the finance and corporate world. However, transitioning to legitimacy also means regulation, which raises new questions about how cryptocurrencies will be treated by government agencies such as the CFTC and the SEC.

~28 minutes | JW Future Ready Business Podcast

November 16, 2022
Podcast: Future-Ready Business

Corporate Responsibility and the Spirit of the Law

What are the rights and responsibilities of corporations and other types of companies? It’s a question that has been asked since corporations were first created, and the answer has changed over time. On this episode of FRB, hosts Erin Camp and Art Cavazos discuss with tech CEO and co-founder Yousef Kassim the ever-evolving field of corporate responsibility.

~43 minutes | JW Future-Ready Business Podcast

FRB 1 - Startup Series Introduction

November 2, 2022
Podcast: Future-Ready Business

Startup Series: Introduction

When talking about business innovation, startup companies are so fundamental that it’s a topic we’ll return to from time to time on FRB as part of our series on startups. For now, we’ll begin at the beginning and discuss what a startup is, the startup ecosystem, startup culture, and how all of that has changed over time.

~25 minutes | JW Future-Ready Business Podcast

Michael Laussade with Jackson Walker logo

January 26, 2022
Mentions

DFW Lawyers Fear Proposed SEC Regulations Could Trigger Noncompliance | Dallas Business Journal (Subscription Required)

On January 26, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments for its Form PF that would increase reporting requirements for hedge funds and private equity funds. In an interview with Dallas Business Journal, Michael Laussade shared insights on how the proposed amendments could make an already-challenging document more difficult for private investment funds.

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