How big is our practice group?
40 lawyers.

Julia Ledbetter (University of Wisconsin Law School '06) works with Scott Elliott on a venture transaction.

• Represented Lumera Corporation in 2008 merger with GigOptix Inc.
• Represented Maven Networks, a venture capital backed video advertising company, when it was acquired by Yahoo! in February of 2008.
• Represented Silver Lake, a private equity fund, in its acquisition of Sungard Data Systems.
• Represented TIBCO Software, a Palo Alto company, in its $180 million acquisition of Spotfire, a Massachusetts private company.
• Represented Goldman Sachs in IPO of athenahealth, a medical software company, and the top IPO of 2007.
• Represented ARC International, an multi-media technology company, in their acquisition of a start-up company with an innovative consumer electronic technology platform.
• Represented Ellacoya Networks, a leader in the marketplace for deep packet inspection technology, in its merger with Arbor Networks in February 2008.
• Represented G2 Microsystems, a leading developer of smart tags that uses WiFi and GPS technology to help companies keep track of their products as they are shipped around the world, in its first two rounds of financing. G2 is headquartered in Campbell, California, but conducts all of its research activities in Redfern, Australia.
• Represented Jingle Networks in three rounds of financing in six months including a Series C round in 2008. Jingle Networks operates the 1-800-Free-411 directory assistance service, which is ad-supported free 411 service.
• Represented Bay City Capital in a Series B investment in Aragon Medical.
• Represented Slide, Inc. in its $50 million Preferred Stock Financing.

Personal experiences from some of our associates...
The venture capital arena is where ideas, technology and capital come together to launch new possibilities. At Ropes & Gray, we provide practical, results-oriented guidance to the entire venture capital community, ensuring emerging companies and venture capital investors meet their goals. Moreover, we foster business relationships between these businesses and investors.

Sheri Mezoff (Boston University School of Law '05), a third-year associate from the San Francisco office, describes her experience working with a start-up software publishing company.

"I have had the opportunity to work with a number of technology-based start-up companies on financing and ongoing corporate and intellectual property matters. Once recent example involves the ongoing representation of a software publishing company, where we have secured the company's first round of financing, closed on a loan for the company, established the company's incentive plan and employee-related agreements, drafted licensing agreements with respect to in-licensing third-party software and counseled the company with respect to trademark protection, all within the past nine months. It is great to be able to watch start-up companies such as this software publishing company see their goals come to fruition, and know that you have helped in this achievement."

For Sheri's full biography, click here. Please feel free to call (800-951-4888 x83-6358) or e-mail (sheri.mezoff@ropesgray.com) Sheri, who would be happy to discuss her experiences at Ropes & Gray.

Justin Call (University at Buffalo Law School, The State University of New York '06), a second-year associate from the Boston office, describes his experience working with a international microprocessor technology company.

"I have worked with a broad range of venture capital firms, established technology companies, technology start-up companies and technology-focused hedge funds on a broad range of matters, including financing, acquisitions and technology licensing. Recently, I represented an international microprocessor technology company in its first round financing of a start-up company developing modular chip technologies for consumer electronics. Even though the dollar amount of the deal was small, it was an amazingly complex transaction: technology licensing agreements, promissory notes, confidentiality agreements, shareholder agreement, registration rights agreements... the whole nine yards! It was tremendously rewarding to handle all aspects of the deal from start to finish (with a little help here and there from Christopher Austin, a partner, who would drop in occasionally to check on progress and provide a sounding board for issues) and have a very happy client at the end of the deal."   

Please feel free to call (800-951-4888 x7002) or e-mail (justin.call@ropesgray.com) Justin, who would be happy to discuss his experiences at Ropes & Gray.

Vani Suvarna (Boston College Law School '06), a second-year associate from the Boston office, describes her experience working with technology companies.

"I've worked on a broad range of corporate and intellectual property matters and especially enjoy working with technology companies. I'm currently representing a pharmaceutical drug development company in conducting a third round of financing.  I'm also representing a start-up biotechnology company in its issuance of convertible debt. My practice also includes providing ongoing representation to venture-backed companies. For example, I work closely with one of our venture-backed technology clients that is in the process of launching its first major product offering.  We provide legal advice for all aspects of the product launch, including consulting on intellectual property management as well as drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and licenses."

Please feel free to call (800-951-4888 x7245) or e-mail (shreevani.suvarna@ropesgray.com) Vani, who would be happy to discuss her experiences at Ropes & Gray.