Emerging Companies

Entrepreneurs face a host of complicated legal issues, many of which can significantly impact the growth and success of a business. Faegre Baker Daniels represents entrepreneurs and high-growth companies at all stages of an enterprise's life. Our attorneys have guided numerous clients through initial development and expansion to become large, successful businesses. We provide practical, efficient counsel based on deep business experience and commitment to contributing to the bottom line. We represent venture backed companies in a wide range of industries on all of the issues critical to an emerging company's success.

• Business Structuring. Initial formation and company structure can impact an enterprise's ability to raise capital. We advise on organizing emerging companies for optimal growth, tax efficiency, liability management, and U.S. and international development. We advise on choice of business entity, entity formation and the drafting of all formation documents, such as shareholder agreements and stock option agreements. When appropriate, we assist with formation of joint ventures, strategic alliances, and licensing and distribution agreements to accelerate commercialization of novel technologies.
• Financing. Capital fuels growth, and we have been facilitating capital formation for more than a century. We help our developing clients obtain seed and venture capital and bank debt, and handle private and public offerings of debt and equity securities. We also counsel on asset securitizations. As part of a new company's financing strategy, we identify relevant federal and state grants, research and development incentives, legislative opportunities and Small Business Administration initiatives that supply resources to entrepreneurs. 
• Compensation and Benefits. Compensation plans and employment agreements can affect a company's ability to attract and retain a talented workforce. Our lawyers are experienced in negotiating employment agreements, noncompetition and confidentiality agreements, employee handbooks, benefits packages and equity incentive plans for new businesses.
• Intellectual Property Protection. Protecting an emerging company's intellectual property is critical to success. Our intellectual property lawyers have expertise in a broad spectrum of scientific fields. We apply that knowledge to help our clients protect proprietary technologies, assess their freedom to operate in a given field and manage their IP portfolios to generate maximum value.

 Venture Capital

We represent angel investors, venture capital firms and hedge funds in venture capital and private equity transactions. We advise on the full range of legal and business needs.

• Fund Formation and Management. We guide venture capital fund managers and major investors in the formation, structuring and management of venture capital funds, hedge funds, fund-of-funds, buyout funds and specialty funds such as tax credit funds.
• Venture Capital Transactions. We advise venture capital firms, mezzanine funds, angel investors, domestic and offshore hedge funds, and individuals in evaluating, structuring, negotiating and closing venture capital transactions. We also represent operation companies in privately placing venture capital securities to these various investors and aid Fortune 500 companies with their in-house strategic venture capital investment programs.