Most US and Asia Based VC Managers Are Outside the Scope of GDPR and Need Not Comply With It
We have been getting a lot of questions lately about whether and how GDPR may apply to US and Asia based managers of venture capital funds. This is a rapidly evolving area, however, there is a sound legal view to the effect that many of the managers we work with […]
Q1 2018 Quarterly VC Update: Matthew Howard on the State of Venture Capital Investing
In conjunction with our Q1 Venture Financing Report, Matthew Howard from Norwest Venture Partners discusses his take on the state of venture capital investing. A few highlights On his market outlook: Overall, I am extremely bullish as technology continues to be a major contributor to the US economy, and I do think disruptive […]
Trademark Considerations and Naming Venture Capital Funds
When choosing a name for a fund, there are a number trademark-related questions to consider. Giving thought to these issues early on can help you build a strong brand and avoid legal disputes down the line. Is your venture capital fund name a trademark? The term “trademark” generally includes any […]
What You Need to Know About Erisa and Accepting Capital Commitments from “Benefit Plan” Investors
ERISA is a U.S. federal statute which regulates, among other things, the management and investment of assets of employee benefit plans (such as U.S. pension plans, 401(k) plans and their related trusts). Importantly, ERISA’s regulations cover not just the employee benefit plans themselves, but also any entity deemed to hold […]
Issues for Consideration When a Managing Director Departs Your Firm
While we advise on this topic daily, hopefully most of our fund clients will only have to think about matters related to the departure of senior investment professionals, i.e. managing directors (MD’s) a small handful of times in their organizational lives. Having an MD depart your firm is not a […]
A Primer on “Freedom of Information Act” (FOIA) Issues for VC Fund Managers
In the United States, at both the federal and state level, investors that are public agencies (such as state and local government employee pension funds, public university endowments, etc.) are usually subject to rights of members of the public to request information about their activities by way of a “freedom […]
I Have a Deal in the Pipeline, but My New Fund Hasn’t Closed Yet – Help!
The Cooley fund group hears from clients with great frequency that an opportunity to make an attractive portfolio company investment – perhaps in a competitive deal, where access is limited – needs to be captured before the scheduled closing of their new venture capital fund. The dilemma comes up from […]
Q4 2017 Venture Financing Report and Commentary From Michael Ronen of SoftBank Investment Advisers
Michael Ronen from SoftBank Investment Advisers discusses his take on the state of venture capital investing. On market fluctuations: Investing is a cyclical business, but we continue to feel good about our outlook because we generally take a long-term view, backing seasoned management teams and differentiated technologies with significant capital […]