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Venture Capital and Emerging Companies

Creative counsel leads the venture capital industry at Varnum

Strategic legal advice for venture capitalists seeking the next great opportunity.

In the dynamic and complex startup ecosystem, Varnum acts as counsel to both investors and entrepreneurs across all of their legal and business needs. Whether raising or deploying capital, transforming a new idea into an industry-disrupting business, or ensuring that legal and business needs are working in harmony, investors and entrepreneurs turn to Varnum to help achieve their business goals. Our attorneys understand the connection between venture capital, growing and emerging companies, and the path to market. With experienced, results-oriented attorneys, Varnum helps investors by both streamlining legal costs and ensuring standard deal terms and also helps entrepreneurs with entity formation, intellectual property protections and raising capital.

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Varnum connects startups and emerging companies with resources through the MiSpringboard® program

Through our MiSpringboard® program, we provide up to $3,500 in free legal services to qualified startups and emerging companies. We tailor this program to the needs of each entrepreneur and his or her company.

“Varnum is very responsive, understands our needs, and can bring in other attorneys when and where needed from their firm. The team is very cost-effective. I am extremely satisfied with their work.”

CEO, medical device manufacturer

Varnum attorneys take a different approach to counsel

At Varnum, clients find a refreshingly different approach to legal services within the venture capital industry: Investors and startups access deep industry-specific legal expertise through an approachable legal team with a Midwestern work ethic. Clients build rapport within the entire Varnum team – from the relationship attorney to the support staff – and receive everything needed to be successful.

We have a deep network and a history of connecting capital with groundbreaking ideas from serial and first-time entrepreneurs. From pre-seed and seed stages through series A and later financing rounds and on to maturity and eventually exit, Varnum clients benefit from up-to-the-minute intelligence on market terms and trends. Venture capital attorneys at Varnum don’t just focus on issues related to raising capital; they assist with business formations, founder agreements, investor relations, board dynamics, talent acquisition strategies, contract negotiations, corporate structures, intellectual property and more.

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Our attorneys are routinely recognized for their excellence and ability to litigate, negotiate and advise clients by Top Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Chambers USA and more.

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Key Contacts

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Legal Practices Related to Venture Capital and Emerging Companies

Business and Corporate

Varnum attorneys provide extensive counsel, from founder frameworks to stockholder agreements, commercial arrangements to licensing and tax protection. You will find a strategic partner in Varnum.

Learn more about Varnum's Business and Corporate Practice

Intellectual Property

Many new and emerging companies have heavy involvement with technology. The intellectual property team at Varnum works with founders, venture capitalists and other investors to ensure protection strategies are in place and that clients are protected no matter what stage they are in.

Learn more about Varnum's Intellectual Property Practice

Labor and Employment

Compensation packages, stock options, benefits and option pools, among others, are important to every organization when determining the best path forward for their employees and key advisors and contributors.

Learn more about Varnum's Labor and Employment Practice

Mergers and Acquisitions

The path to market is different for every company in the venture capital industry. Negotiating the best deal for our clients is a Varnum hallmark. How or whether to be acquired, under what terms and valuation, our clients are strategically guided through the merger or acquisition process.

Learn more about Varnum's Mergers and Acquisitions Practice

Securities and Capital Markets

From fund formation and management to lead investor support, whether an angel investor, venture capitalist, or economic development organization, Varnum’s full team approach shields clients where capital is involved.

Learn more about Varnum's Securities and Capital Markets Practice

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