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Entrepreneurship and Business Formation

We regularly represent entrepreneurs in connection with the initial formation of their businesses and view ourselves as key advisors to our clients at this stage of the development of their companies. We function as counselors to entrepreneurs not only regarding the legal form and structure of their businesses but also by providing key advice on business and financing strategies and introducing them to our network of service providers and sources of financing. Our legal work in this area includes advice with respect to the appropriate legal vehicle for the business, documentation of relevant formation agreements, including stockholder and partnership arrangements, preparation of employment-related documentation, establishment of equity incentive plans, and preparation of offering and subscription documents for the initial financing of the new business entity. Following formation, we generally serve as outsourced general counsel for these firms.

Venture Capital and Debt Finance

Feinberg Hanson builds off our attorneys' extensive experience representing numerous venture capital firms and companies engaged in venture and other corporate finance transactions. Our attorneys have experience at Boston's leading venture and technology law firms and we regularly negotiate venture financing with the largest law firms in Boston, New York and the Silicon Valley. Over the past several years, we have represented our clients in negotiating and closing debt and equity financings with the most prominent venture capital firms in the United States, including Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia, Softbank Venture Partners, General Catalyst, VantagePoint, Bain Capital, Venrock, Bessemer Venture Partners and other leading firms. We also have substantial experience in representing venture capitalists and investor groups purchasing interests in privately-held businesses.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are a core part of the practice of Feinberg Hanson. Our attorneys are experts in structuring, negotiating and completing mergers, acquisitions, asset sales and restructurings of all sizes and levels of complexity. We engage intensely in proposed acquisitions and related financings without having to field a large and costly team of attorneys on a project. Our expertise in M&A relates to both private and public companies and also extends to advisory work in connection with both friendly and contested changes in the control of businesses. Please see our Deals page for descriptions of representative transactions we have handled. Our attorneys have worked on transactions as large as multi-billion dollar public company mergers and as small as acquisitions of businesses for several million dollars. We are expert at efficiently conducting due diligence, negotiating transactions and coordinating with other expert lawyers on specialized tax, environmental, regulatory and other matters involved in M&A work.

Public Companies and Securities Matters

Feinberg Hanson advises public companies and other clients on various aspects of general corporate law and securities law and regulations. We assist our public company clients in complying with Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, including periodic and other reporting requirements, and counsel clients on matters involving securities offerings and financings; shareholder rights, takeovers and proxy contests; compensation and severance issues; and other public company and securities matters. We also advise investors and private companies raising capital with respect to securities laws issues in financings and other transactions. Our attorneys have decades of experience counseling public companies, taking private companies public, advising clients on financings, mergers and other transactions involving one or more public companies, and many other aspects of general corporate and securities laws.

Software Licensing and Strategic Partnerships

Feinberg Hanson represents its clients in connection with the development, licensing, marketing and distribution of their intellectual property assets. Our expertise in this area arises from our experience in representing early-stage technology companies and our experience in representing businesses in the software and new media industries. Although we outsource patent prosecution work, we are experts in licensing and distribution arrangements and in negotiating strategic partnerships among businesses.

Venture Capital Fund Formation

We represent emerging venture capital firms in connection with the formation of their firms. We partner with tax attorneys to provide tax advice and opinions, highlighting the open architecture of our firm and our ability to tap into the best experts in other practice areas. We function as the legal "quarterbacks," with principal responsibility for drafting and preparing all partnership documents and subscription agreements, and advising our clients on the legal and business terms for the formation of these funds.

Employment and Executive Compensation

Feinberg Hanson regularly represents management teams and executives in connection with equity and other compensation issues. Our experience includes representing the founder and chief executive of one of the nation's leading web-based businesses on various employment and compensation issues. We also represent a number of academics in connection with consulting and other intellectual property arrangements.

Dispute Resolution

Although we are not litigators, we are often called upon to resolve disputes or to negotiate solutions to complicated commercial matters without resorting to litigation. We strategize with our clients and engage in intense negotiations to achieve very favorable results.

Trademarks

We register trademarks and servicemarks for our clients with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including filing initial applications and responding to office actions and other matters arising up to the time of registration, as well as post-registration maintenance issues.

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