Host Gary J. Ross discusses mergers and acquisitions with John Coates, Professor of Law and Economics at Harvard Law School, former partner at Wachtell Lipton, and former Acting Director for the Division of Corporation Finance and General Counsel at the SEC. Gary and John discuss trends in global M&A deals, the significance of business and legal due diligence, motives behind whether deals are structured as stock or asset purchases, M&A representations and warranties, and whether it’s worthwhile to have a letter of intent in a deal negotiation.

VC Law: Episode 7: Discussing M&A Deals with John Coates

From self-driving cars to voice automation in homes, inventors are developing ambitious AI technologies that will continue to impact the ways in which we learn, work, communicate, and travel. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the number of AI-related patents increased at an astonishing number, from 4,598 in 2008 to 20,639 in 2018. In this episode of Mind the Gap, Rama Elluru, a former Administrative Patent Judge on the Patent Trial and Appeal Board at the USPTO, and Christian Hannon, a patent attorney in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs, share their perspectives on how AI is impacting patent law and the inventor community.

Mind the Gap: Episode 6: AI or Humans: Which is the Inventor?

Judge Elizabeth Stong speaks with the Anna Dodson about the background, mission, and services provided by the Neighborhood Business Initiative.

Pro Bono: Episode 4: Big Law Business Lawyers Making a Difference in the Community

Host Judge Elizabeth Stong talks with Eric Ball, Litigation Partner and Hilarie Atkisson, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility/Pro Bono Counsel, about the award-winning pro bono program at Fenwick & West LLP and how it draws on, and contributes to, the firm’s culture of collaboration, service, and excellence.

Pro Bono: Episode 3: Tech Lawyers Giving Back:  Inspiration, Innovation, and Pro Bono

Judge Elizabeth Stong speaks with Michael D. Rubenstein who will discuss his background and the importance of pro bono when it literally means “life or death.” Michael D. Rubenstein is a shareholder with Liskow & Lewis in Houston. He is an experienced bankruptcy practitioner with a diverse commercial practice encompassing not only business bankruptcies, restructurings and reorganizations, but complex business litigation and criminal law.

Pro Bono: Episode 2: Business Lawyers that Make a Difference – When Your Client Is on Death Row

In this episode, Judge Stong talks with Buck Lewis, who will explore the history of this program; highlight its recent benchmark 200K answers made on February 8, 2022; and how lawyers can be a part of dynamic program.

Pro Bono: Episode 1: Pro Bono That Works for You – ABA Free Legal Answers

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Jose Ancer, partner (and CTO) at Optimal Counsel and the author of Silicon Hills Lawyer, an internationally-recognized legal blog on emerging companies and VC fundamentals. Gary and Jose discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different securities instruments for emerging companies, including convertible notes and pre-money and post-money SAFEs; friends & family vs. angel rounds; the Series Seed and NVCA documents; valuation caps; and the significance of relationship building in the VC world.

VC Law: Episode 8: Capital Raising Considerations for Emerging Companies with Jose Ancer

In this episode of Mind the Gap we will be talking with the President of Harvey Mudd College, Dr. Maria Klawe, who has had a distinguished career as a theoretical computer scientist, scholar, and college administrator.  Dr. Klawe is also a gifted painter -- a watercolorist.  And has been painting for longer than she has been a computer scientist.  In this episode we explore with Dr Klawe her widely admired paintings and her use of technology to help her focus her artistic vision.

Mind the Gap: Episode 7: AI as Artist’s Assistant

Host Gary J. Ross discusses down round financings with Troy Foster, partner and firmwide co-chair of emerging companies and venture capital practice at Perkins Coie. Topics covered include common provisions in down round term sheets, such as pay-to-play and pull-up mechanisms; anti-dilution adjustment mechanisms; obtaining the consent of previous investors; Section 228 notices; and Business Judgment Rule vs. Entire Fairness Review.

VC Law: Episode 9: Discussing down round financings with Troy Foster, partner at Perkins Coie

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Chris Hayes, advisor to institutional investors and former Senior Policy Counsel at Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA). Among the topics covered are the preferences of LPs vs. GPs with respect to fund investment strategies; the ILPA model limited partnership agreement (LPA) and its relation to the ILPA guiding principles; specific ILPA LPA provisions including GP removal and fiduciary duty provisions; fund manager conflicts of interest; and challenges facing emerging (i.e. new) fund managers.

VC Law: Episode 10: The Institutional Investor Perspective with Chris Hayes

Host Gary J. Ross talks with Art Dicker, senior counsel at R&P China Lawyers, about venture capital in China, the second-most active venture capital market in the world. Gary and Art discuss the growth of the venture capital industry in China; differences between venture capital in China vs. the U.S., including China’s trend of liberal spending at a loss to grab market share; the growth of localized Chinese venture capital funds backed by RMB instead of USD; and how foreign companies can operate in China by using variable interest entity (VIE) structures.

VC Law: Episode 7: Discussing M&A Deals with John Coates

ABA Business Law

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