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Publications
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03.23.2022NewSpace Investments and Acquisitions Take OffUpdatesResponsible for lowering the cost to access space, the "newspace" industry has been developing new and fast-moving business models that have opened up new markets.
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20182018 Augmented and Virtual Reality Survey ResultsLawyer PublicationsPerkins Coie surveyed 140 startup founders, technology company executives, investors and consultants on key challenges and opportunities in the AR/VR space.
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10.13.2015Washington's Amended LLC Statute—Should You Amend Your LLC Agreement?UpdatesWashington state approved significant amendments to its Limited Liability Company Act earlier this year that will become effective on January 1, 2016.
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06.12.2014New Simplified Conversion Process for Washington Corporations and Limited Liability CompaniesUpdates
Starting June 12, 2014, Washington law allows for the “conversion” of Washington corporations and limited liability entities into a variety of other business entities in Washington and other states through the simple adoption of a plan of conversion and the filing of articles of conversion with the Secretary of State.
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02.18.2014SEC Relief for "M&A Brokers:" Not Required to Register as Broker-DealersUpdatesThe Chief Counsel of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets recently issued an important no-enforcement letter regarding the status of a person engaged in effecting transactions in connection with the transfer of ownership of a privately held company. This SEC letter is notable not only for the conclusions that it reaches but also for the fact that it follows a significant speech by the same SEC staff lawyer regarding the same and related broker-dealer status questions.
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02.12.2014Changing Roles: From Founding CEO to 'Employee'Lawyer Publications
The CEO Magazine
Perhaps few times for an emerging growth company present more risk than the transition of a founder/CEO to "employee" status. This often happens later in the startup life cycle, when a company has funding and/or sales traction. The difference between a smooth and rocky transition can represent the difference between the success and failure of the company. -
07.19.2013Understand Your Exit Options Early: Despite What They Tell YouLawyer Publications
Founders are often reminded, “great companies are bought, not sold” - emphasizing the importance of focusing on the business rather than the exit plan. True enough, but founders can help themselves through an early understanding the levers for buyers in their industry. Knowing that can help entrepreneurs position their companies for a successful sale - and it may also cause them to focus their startup in a different way.
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07.12.2013JOBS Act: SEC Adopts Rules to Permit General Solicitation and Advertising for Private OfferingsLawyer PublicationsOn July 10, the SEC adopted final rules pursuant to Title II of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act) that lift the long-standing ban on general solicitation and advertising for private securities offerings under Rule 506 and Rule 144A.
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07.11.2013JOBS Act: SEC Adopts Rules to Permit General Solicitation and Advertising for Private OfferingsUpdatesWhen enacted on April 5, 2012, Title II of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act) endeavored to lift the long-standing ban on general solicitation and advertising for private securities offerings under Rule 506 and Rule 144A, so long as the securities are sold only to accredited investors under Rule 506 or qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) under Rule 144A.
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03.29.2013"Backdating" In M&A?Lawyer PublicationsThe date of an agreement is an important part of most business transactions and M & A is no exception. Many acquisition agreements begin with an “Agreement between” the parties “effective as of” a given date. Does it matter if this effective date is prior to the date the parties actually entered into the agreement? And if so, is this ‘backdating’ problematic or even potentially illegal?
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05.09.2012Changing Roles: From Founding CEO to "Employee"Lawyer PublicationsPerhaps few times for an emerging growth company present more risk than the transition of a founder/CEO to "employee" status. This often happens later in the startup life cycle, when a company has funding and/or sales traction. The difference between a smooth and rocky transition can represent the difference between success and failure of the company.
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02.28.2012Delaware Court Reaffirms Fiduciary Duties Owed by Manager of a Limited Liability CompanyUpdatesIn a recent decision by the Delaware Court of Chancery, Auriga Capital Corp. v. Gatz Properties, LLC, C.A. 4390-CS (Del. Ch. Jan. 27, 2012), the court strongly reaffirmed that managers of a limited liability company owe traditional fiduciary duties to the limited liability company and its minority members unless such duties are explicitly reduced or eliminated by the terms of the limited liability company's operating agreement.
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12.08.2011A Holiday Gift From Congress To Entrepreneurs: Legislation To Ease The Process Of Raising CapitalUpdatesFour bills designed to help entrepreneurs raise capital are pending before Congress. Three of the bills were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and sent to the Senate in early November with nearly unanimous bipartisan support. The fourth bill, HR 2167 - Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act, remains before the House of Representatives.
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12.22.2010Investment Window for Capital Gains Tax Exclusion for Certain New Investments in Small Businesses Extended to December 31, 2011UpdatesOn December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the “Act”). Among other provisions, the Act extends for one additional year the exclusion from gross income of 100% of future capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers from certain investments in qualified small business stock.
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06.29.2010New Washington Limited Partnership Law Effective (in Part) July 1, 2010UpdatesLast year, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or ULPA. ULPA modified Washington's existing limited partnership statute, which was based on the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or RULPA. ULPA became effective for new limited partnerships on January 1, 2010, but generally takes effect for existing limited partnerships, with certain significant exceptions, on July 1, 2010.
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06.16.2010Amendments Add Clarity to the Dissolution and Winding Up of Washington Limited Liability CompaniesUpdatesOn June 10, 2010, amendments to Washington's Limited Liability Company Act, which address the dissolution of a Washington limited liability company, took effect.
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05.28.2009New Accounting Treatment for Contingencies in M&A TransactionsUpdatesThe Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued Staff Position No. 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies, which provides new guidance that changes the accounting treatment of contingent assets and liabilities in mergers and acquisitions and other business combinations under FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations.
Presentations
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04.12.2023C-Suite Roundtable on Developing a Skilled, Inclusive WorkforceSpeaking EngagementsSpeaker
Clean Tech Alliance Lunch Series / Seattle, WA -
05.19.2021Early Stage Valuation IssuesSpeaking Engagements
University of Washington / Virtual Event
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01.21.2021Strategies for Succeeding in an Evolving Startup WorldSpeaking EngagementsUniversity of Washington / Virtual Lunch-and-Learn Event
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04.28.2020What Startups Need to Know about the Paycheck Protection ProgramSpeaking EngagementsWebinarBen Straughan and Mike Avent, together with University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs, to presented a webinar on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (forgivable loans for small business) as it relates to startups.
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05.04.2018GoVertical Machine Learning Startup Creation Weekend EventSpeaking EngagementsSeattle, WAA weekend event for startups to explore AI and machine learning business opportunities, select their data set and build an initial predictive model, and get feedback from potential users.
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04.19.2018TiE Seattle and Madrona Venture Labs GoVertical Machine Learning Startup IdeationSpeaking EngagementsSeattle, WALearn about the latest trends in Machine Learning and Deep Learning from industry experts and how innovative startups have leveraged ML technology
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08.03.2017
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04.29.2016
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11.18.2015
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04.29.201516th Annual Angel and Venture Capital FinancingSpeaking EngagementsSpeaker and Co-Chair
The Seminar Group / Seattle, WA -
2012
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04.27.2010Seattle VC and Angel EventSeminarsPerkins Coie / Seattle, WAPerkins Coie Partner Ben Straughn served as moderator, discussing trends in Early-Stage Investing and more.
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02.25.2010M&A Strategies for Technology Companies: Is 2010 the Time?SeminarsDoubletree Arctic Club / Seattle, WA
