Start-ups & Emerging Companies
Early-stage companies throughout Massachusetts, the region and beyond seek our team’s help at every stage of corporate development and across a wide range of industries, both tech and non-tech. The members of our Start-ups & Emerging Companies industry group advise and represent clients from concept, business planning, organization and financing through to cultivating a team, and protecting intellectual property.
Clients turn to us to help resolve difficult disputes and litigation, handle sophisticated transactions and advise on complex regulatory issues, including:
- Angel and venture capital financings and fund formation, management and raising capital
- Biotech deals
- Licensing agreements and other complex business contracts
- Mergers and acquisitions, combinations, structured financing and tax credits
- Restructuring
- Real estate investments, permitting and construction
- Energy, environmental and land use requirements and regulatory compliance
- Strategic collaborations, public finance, project finance and government incentives
Our clients comprise private businesses of all sizes as well as public companies, Fortune 100 corporations, financial institutions, institutes of higher education, energy utilities, nonprofit and quasi-public entities and healthcare providers focusing on the cutting-edge innovations that help grow our economy. Our team’s members collaborate with clients to create and provide comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for early-stage enterprises, investment funds and business management.
As corporate counsel, we help our start-up clients navigate the opportunities and challenges of formation, financing, market entry and regulatory requirements. We also introduce them to our network of VCs, angel investors, bankers, financiers, investors, industrialists and other service providers.
Start-ups and early-growth entities know us as their peers. We are active members of The Venture Forum, the Worcester CleanTech Incubator, and other preeminent organizations supporting thought leadership and incubation for emerging companies.
Changes in formation and strategic partnering for a tech company
The founders of a mobile application had initially set up a German entity to hold the intellectual property for an invention that recognizes consumer products on a television screen or other visual medium and directs the consumer to websites where the products can be purchased. We helped the company set up a Delaware corporation to become the parent entity and negotiated strategic partnering arrangements with German and Swiss media companies. With our help, the company is currently raising $6 million in a Series A financing.
Growing a new business
A newly-established business needed assistance preparing a distribution and sales agreement for its products. We drafted and negotiated the agreement and has, since then, efficiently put together additional agreements for the sale of goods into new territories.
Other experience
- Counsel to a Santa Monica-based clean tech venture fund through several rounds of financing and investment transactions
- General counsel to a New York-based venture fund dedicated to helping early-stage startups enterprises and entrepreneurs
- Prepared investment agreements for early-stage sustainable building software company
- Shared economy company with developing terms, conditions, privacy compliance for its application-based sharing platform
- For-profit client with on-line fundraising (crowdfunding) under Title III of the federal JOBS Act
Partners
Of Counsel
Associates
Publications
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Client Alert: PPP Flexibility Act of 2020
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Jonathan Hausner, Samantha McDonald, Mary Feeney, and Brian Grossman write, “COVID-19 Legal Impacts Far-Reaching for RE” for The Real Reporter
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Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Publishes “Use of well-crafted contractual arbitration clauses”
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David Mawhinney Writes “Understanding Landlord and Tenant Rights in Bankruptcy” for Banker & Tradesman
Events & Recordings
News
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Bob Cox quoted in the WBJ’s “Reopening Central Mass. businesses adjust to the new normal”
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Bob Cox quoted in Worcester Chambers’ “Local Leaders in Action: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis in Worcester”
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Bob Young was quoted in Mass. Lawyers Weekly’s “Employment lawyers brace for wave of COVID-19 litigation”
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Rory Fazendeiro was quoted in Boston Business Journal’s “They’re publicly traded, and they took PPP money. Should they keep it?”
At the Bar With Bowditch
Bowditch Launches COVID-19 Initiative to Counsel, Support and Guide Clients in Uncharted Times
How Does My Offer of Work Affect My Employees’ Unemployment Claims?
Mandatory Self-Certification and Industry-Specific Guidance For Massachusetts Essential And Phase One Businesses
Massachusetts’ Four-Phase Reopening Plan and Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards: Here’s What You Need To Know
Campus Counsel
Bowditch Launches COVID-19 Initiative to Counsel, Support and Guide Clients in Uncharted Times
How Does My Offer of Work Affect My Employees’ Unemployment Claims?
Mandatory Self-Certification and Industry-Specific Guidance For Massachusetts Essential And Phase One Businesses
Massachusetts’ Four-Phase Reopening Plan and Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards: Here’s What You Need To Know
Commercial Real Estate Insight & News
Bowditch Launches COVID-19 Initiative to Counsel, Support and Guide Clients in Uncharted Times
Jonathan Hausner, Samantha McDonald, Mary Feeney, and Brian Grossman write, “COVID-19 Legal Impacts Far-Reaching for RE” for The Real Reporter
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Publishes “Use of well-crafted contractual arbitration clauses”
David Mawhinney Writes “Understanding Landlord and Tenant Rights in Bankruptcy” for Banker & Tradesman
Don’t Tax Yourself
Bowditch Launches COVID-19 Initiative to Counsel, Support and Guide Clients in Uncharted Times
Succession Planning is Key to Business Continuity
Terry Briggs quoted in Forbes’ “Laid Off And Need Cash? Want A Boat? A Couple Can Take $400,000 From Their Retirement Accounts Penalty-Free Under COVID-19 Tax Relief”
