She advises clients on the tax and securities issues related to equity-based compensation, including stock options, restricted stock, employee stock purchase plans and deferred compensation arrangements for both private and public companies as well as in the context of initial public offerings and acquisitions.
Blake brings a unique and invaluable mix of in-house, entrepreneurial, and law firm experience, having served as General Counsel and senior executive of a software company and two biotech companies (co-founding one of them), as well as outside corporate counsel in elite AmLawGlobal 100 law firms.
Blake’s experience spans multiple industries, including life sciences, software, hardware, mobile, fintech, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and retail. He has counseled fast-growing companies on hundreds of venture capital financings and M&A transactions, numerous public offerings, as well as service as a trusted advisor to management teams and Boards on both strategic and day-to-day matters.
Blake is proud to have worked with a variety of technology and life science companies, venture capital firms and investment banks, including AppSheet (acquired by Google; Nasdaq: GOOGL), Arris Composites, Barclays, Cloudhopper (acquired by Twitter; NYSE: TWTR), Critical Insight, Coatue Management, fatfoogoo (acquired by Digital River; Nasdaq: DRIV), Ikaria, IronPort Systems (acquired by Cisco; Nasdaq: CSCO), Kineta (Nasdaq: KA), Lighter Capital, Oculus (Nasdaq: FB), OncoSenX, PATH, Qpass (acquired by Amdocs; NYSE: DOX), Varian Medical (NYSE: VAR), Xcimer Energy, and Zipwhip (acquired by Twilio; NYSE: TWLO).
Prior to his legal career, Blake served with distinction in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, Fire Control Officer, and Air Warfare Coordinator, including two combat deployments to the Persian Gulf, where he was decorated for his performance during Operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike.
Scott leverages his technical experience as a member of research teams at Genentech (Virology R&D) and the NASA Ames Research Center (Advanced Displays Lab) to provide a unique business and legal perspective to companies commercializing disruptive solutions in technology and healthcare. In recognition for such work, The Recorder named Scott one of its “Lawyers on the Fast Track.”
Scott has represented a majority of such companies from inception, with many of the companies founded by leading entrepreneurs and scientists at University of California, Stanford University and Harvard University. He also works with non-profit entities, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bay Area. Scott’s practice has included representation of numerous high growth companies, including:
Technology
Facebook
Instagram
Nervana Systems
Planet Labs
ResearchGate
Life Science/Healthcare
Cortexyme
CyberHeart
EpiBone
GRO Bioscience
Virta Health
Stemming from his experience and deep knowledge in the life sciences and technology industries, Scott is a frequently sought after advisor, speaker and author on technology companies. He routinely volunteers his time with entrepreneur groups and frequently lectures at forums such as the National Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford Technology Venture Program, the University of California, Los Angeles and the California Life Sciences Association.
Larry's typical representations range from formation and early stage corporate counseling, angel and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships to angel and venture fund formations and lending and other commercial transactions. Larry's practice focus on a range of technology companies focused on education technology and education services, software and SAAS based businesses, consumer products to semiconductor businesses.
Aria Kashefi is a Partner in Orrick’s Technology Companies Group. Aria’s practice focuses on advising emerging technology companies and investors in a variety of transactional matters in the U.S. and internationally, including venture capital financings, exit transactions, technology licensing, corporate reorganization, governance and corporate and securities law.
In 2020 and 2021, Don founded and served as CEO of Joinder, a SaaS engagement platform that provides a system of record for legal projects and files/documents, which was acquired by Brightflag.
Prior to founding Joinder, Don spent his legal career as a corporate partner at Orrick and Venture law Group advising high growth technology companies, public companies, venture capital firms and investment banks. He advised clients on more than 60 public offerings, 75 acquisition transactions and several hundred venture financings.
Chambers USA recognized Don for his work, noting he is "valued for his knowledge of venture capital firms and his strength in advising technology companies on public offerings, acquisition transactions and venture financings. One client insists that 'I would not dream of starting a company without him as my outside counsel.'"
Don held many leadership positions at Orrick. Don most recently led Orrick’s Technology Sector, which is one of the three focus areas (along with energy and finance) for the firm. Don is a former member of Orrick’s Board of Directors, served as head of the firm’s global corporate practice, served as head of the firm’s Silicon Valley Office and served as co-head of the firm's diversity efforts.
Don also previously served for many years on the Executive Committee of Venture Law Group.
Don recently represented companies being sold in the following transactions: Wavefront to VMware; Nervana to Intel; TOA to Oracle; Altiscale to SAP; Sailthru to Campaign Monitor; Twin Prime to Salesforce; 3Scale to Red Hat; Vendavo to Francisco Partners; FoodyDirect to Goldbelly; Yieldex to AppNexus; and LS9 to Renewable Energy Group.
Don led transactions for Google (Nasdaq GS: GOOG), Oracle (Nasdaq GS: ORCL), Tibco (Nasdaq GS: TIBX), Adaptec (Nasdaq GS: ADPT), Shutterfly (Nasdaq GS: SFLY), Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE:MSO), Sum Total Systems (Nasdaq GS: SUMT) and Rambus (Nasdaq GS: RMBS). Don also represented many investment banking clients in public offering transactions, including representing Goldman, Sachs & Co. in offerings for many issuers.
Don also is a past member of the Board of Overseers of Boston College Law School.
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