The investor community continues to adjust to evolving conditions in the post-bubble era. Venture capitalists and board members face heightened governance and regulatory requirements, challenging options for liquidity, and, increasingly, exposure to high-stakes, investment-related litigation.
Once considered virtually untouchable, some of the most venerable names in the venture capital community have found themselves in court, forced to defend their business decisions in actions brought by unhappy portfolio company entrepreneurs and shareholders. Whether the suit involves disgruntled founders, a dispute arising from the disposition of a portfolio company, or a creditor derivative suit brought in the wake of liquidation, litigation is often a trying experience, draining a fund’s returns as well as the investors’ valuable time.
O’Melveny venture capital litigators ― part of a firmwide team recently recognized by
The American Lawyer as “Litigation Department of the Year” ― help minimize the increasing risks faced by venture capital and private equity investors. Having handled some of the earliest venture-related cases, we offer practical, proven counsel ranging from governance counseling aimed at reducing exposure to litigation to thoughtful and vigorous courtroom advocacy at the state and federal levels.
Key Facts
- From our office on Sand Hill Road, we regularly represent some of the most prominent funds in the Valley in major, high-profile litigation.
- We work closely with our corporate and transactional colleagues, frequently counseling venture funds, boards of directors, and venture-backed companies on issues ranging from corporate governance to crisis management.
- Our lawyers have received recognition as leading venture capital practitioners in publications such as The American Lawyer, Private Equity Analyst, and San Francisco Magazine’s “Super Lawyers” edition.
- Our industry connections run deep. We have a network of contacts with venture capital firms, serial entrepreneurs, and start-up companies in the United States and abroad.