Venture Capital
We are one of the leading firms acting on venture capital related transactions, advising on matters ranging from early-stage investments, subsequent funding rounds, convertible-debt interim investments, through to exits via trade sales or IPOs.
Besides our in-depth experience of structuring the corporate and tax law aspects of venture capital transactions, we bring our market-leading intellectual property expertise to bear as a key component in our advice on investments in the information technology, biotechnology, materials/hardware, telecoms and other IP-rich sectors.
Our client base includes institutional investors, venture capital funds and corporate venturers based in the UK, France, Germany, elsewhere in Europe, Israel and the United States, as well as the founders of companies and venture backed corporates seeking advice on exits as well as day to day commercial issues.
- Structuring and implementation
Experience gained through acting for a wide range of institutions, founders and early stage and later- stage IP-rich companies gives us an in-depth understanding of the various transactional standpoints. This enables us to provide solutions which balance the often conflicting objectives of all parties involved, focusing on the parties’ mutual interests, and not only individual positions.
The Taylor Wessing Venture Capital Group always seeks to ensure that the investment process is as streamlined and cost effective as possible. To this end, we are regularly involved in industry-wide initiatives with other industry recognised participants.
- Intellectual property protection
Our Intellectual Property Group is one of the largest in Europe and has been consistently ranked as one of the top IP practices in the UK and Germany for more than ten years. Our IP expertise is an invaluable element of our venture capital work on projects ranging from key trade marks to complex patent issues.
Many of our lawyers have IT backgrounds or science degrees, and a significant number have also worked in-house and/or been seconded to technology companies. This technical and industrial knowledge enables us to have an in-depth understanding of the commercial environment and the business, actual or potential, which continues to attract Taylor Wessing's venture capital client base.
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- Due diligence
The venture capital group draws on the broad lawyer resource of Taylor Wessing UK in due diligence reviews, including the ability to give specialist intellectual property, tax, employment, pensions, real estate and environmental advice.
- Tax planning
Tax planning advice is offered by our Tax Group at the outset to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective structures. We have considerable experience in advising venture capital trusts on structuring transactions to meet their particular needs.
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- Exit strategies
We have considerable experience in managing exits through trade sales and IPOs. We are regularly involved in listings on international exchanges.