Find Lawyers in Toronto, Ontario for Venture Capital Law
Practice Area Overview
Venture capital is financial capital provided to high-risk early or growth stage companies usually in exchange for a solid equity position and significant influence over the management and direction of a company. Companies looking to attract venture capital are often companies aiming to exit via an initial public offering or acquisition, but do not yet have sufficiently predictable cash flows to attract traditional forms of institutional or debt financing.
Many of the companies seeking venture capital operate technology-driven businesses in the areas of information technology, life-sciences and clean energy. Venture capital is provided in large part by venture capital funds (Venture Capitalists), a subdivision of private equity, who typically invest in a curated portfolio of companies within the technology space. Because companies in this space present high-risk high-reward investment opportunities, Venture Capitalists demand sufficient control in a company and its strategic direction in an effort to maximize and protect investment potential. Practically, such control manifests by way of board seats, veto rights on major business and share capital decisions, and the ability to recover a Venture Capitalist’s investment in certain circumstances.
Venture capital law encompasses the broad range of legal services related to the provision, composition and maintenance of venture capital funding, and the many considerations companies and Venture Capitalists must address when involving Venture Capitalists in the ownership and management of a company’s business. Lawyers providing advice in the area of venture capital law are instrumental in counseling emerging companies and venture capital funds on capital structure, shareholder rights, employment matters, board composition, securities compliance, compensation and incentive plans and the protection of intellectual property. Because many Venture Capitalists are based in the United States, lawyers representing Canadian companies often liaise with foreign securities counsel on cross-border issues. In addition to the need for general private equity expertise, the unique DNA and growth stage of a company seeking venture capital funding necessitates that lawyers practicing venture capital law possess specialized knowledge and experience when dealing in this area.
Jeffrey is the managing partner at Torkin Manes and a member of the firm’s Business Law and Corporate Finance Groups. His practice is concentrated on mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, and financings. He works closely with our clients to gain an understanding of their businesses and business objectives, firmly believing that lawyers cannot provide advice on legal business issues in a vacuum. Jeff has significant experience on a wide variety of business transactions an...
Vanessa Grant practises business law in our Toronto office. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance for public and private corporations, including private equity and venture capital. She also provides ongoing general corporate and commercial legal advice to a number of clients.She has worked with several national and international clients in various industries, with a particular focus on technology companies, life sciences companies, and RE...
Jay Lefton practices corporate and securities law. Jay advises clients on public and private mergers & acquisitions transactions, private equity matters and public and private financings, as well as assisting with strategic alliances, technology transfer and licensing. He works predominantly in the technology and life sciences sector. Assisting acquirers and target companies and their boards of directors, Jay advises on negotiated transactions and unsolicited takeover bids, most of which ...
Arlene has developed a broad range of expertise in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a strong focus on merger and acquisition transactions, corporate governance and corporate finance. Arlene works extensively with technology based companies and assets including software, media and green technology. While Arlene maintains a mix of practice areas in commercial law, she has focused her practice on mergers and acquisitions and technology law. Arlene has also been a key advisor to va...
Troy is a partner practising corporate and securities law, with a particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance and corporate governance mandates. Representing a number of public and private companies in a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, food and consumer goods, technology and natural resources, Troy seeks to provide pragmatic advice to clients after developing a thorough understanding of their industry a...
Matthew chairs our Business Law Group. His practice involves providing counsel on transactions, as well as day-to-day activities for a wide range of clients, including banks and other financial services firms, venture capital firms, private equity/merchant banks, developers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and IT, BPO and pharmaceutical companies. His corporate experience includes the successful completion of numerous complex transactions, including share and asset acquisitions and di...
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