Q1 2026 broke every VC record. Crunchbase reports $300 billion deployed globally, a 150% jump year-over-year, nearly 70% of all VC deployed in all of 2025.
AI captured 80% of venture dollars. $242 billion went to AI...more
The capital markets have suffered a “crude” awakening in March 2026. In this post, we share why pre-IPO planning is the single highest-leverage investment emerging growth companies and their sponsors can make (regardless of...more
Palo Alto, CA: Nvidia just disclosed a $1 trillion order book. Uber committed to deploying robotaxis in 28 cities. And in a Palo Alto living room on Thursday, a founder with 20 years of operational scars told a group of...more
I have been a Silicon Valley deal lawyer long enough to have seen more fundraising fads than a venture-backed closet has hoodies. But every so often, something comes along that makes me put down my cold brew and pay...more
California’s new Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law (FIPVCC) is shaking up the Venture Capital (VC) industry with its first compliance deadlines are right around the corner. In Part I of our blog...more
Several key factors influenced the IPO market in 2025, including policy-aligned sectors and valuation resets, and these dynamics are expected to remain important throughout 2026.
Companies in AI, space tech, crypto,...more
California’s new law, Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies, will require diversity reporting by venture capital and similar investment firms with a California nexus beginning in 2026.
Deadlines are fast...more
2/10/2026
/ California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Covered Entities ,
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Filing Deadlines ,
New Legislation ,
Private Investment Funds ,
Registration Requirement ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Venture Capital
The digital asset revolution is no longer a distant possibility. It’s here, reshaping the way companies manage money and transact globally, interacting with customers and vendors. Until now, legal departments could afford to...more
1/27/2026
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptoassets ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Due Diligence ,
Popular ,
Risk Management ,
Stablecoins ,
Tokenization
PE firms are moving to sell portfolio companies on an accelerated timeline in 2025 after years of much longer hold cycles.
PitchBook data shows 13% of PE-backed exits this year involved companies held less than three...more
Historically, formal board evaluations (as opposed to board effectiveness reviews) have been backward-looking by design; now there is a shift toward future-focused effectiveness....more
The 2026 outlook for market activity is cautiously optimistic amid ongoing challenges.
Private equity firms are shifting to more hands-on, creative strategies to unlock liquidity in aging portfolios, with increased use of...more
There is some good news in the healthtech space, with PitchBook’s new Emerging Tech Research showing a rebound in venture capital (VC) funding for the sector. Startups in this space raised an impressive $3.9 billion in Q3 of...more
Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share by Email Share Back to top There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding the current artificial intelligence (AI) boom, as well as the potential for a bust reminiscent of the...more
After three challenging years, Venture Capital (VC) funding is finally on the upswing according to data from Q3 of this year. KPMG’s Q3’25 Venture Pulse Report data shows global VC investment in Q3 totaling $120.7 billion...more
There is a sense of optimism in the air as we enter the final stretch of 2026. The Fed finally issued the first rate cut we have all been waiting for, and we have seen a flurry of activity on the IPO front, as well as merger...more
On October 2, 2025, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) released it’s most recent updates to its model legal documents to reflect recent legal developments, market practices and regulatory priorities. The NVCA...more
As a Silicon Valley corporate lawyer advising high-growth companies and their boards, I have seen firsthand how capital strategy, disclosure, governance, and litigation risk all intersect. In today’s market, emerging growth...more
SPACs have evolved through four distinct phases: From the speculative chaos of SPAC 1.0 to the celebrity-fueled boom and bust of SPAC 3.0, the market has now entered SPAC 4.0 — a more disciplined era marked by stronger...more
Various economic and industry experts have been speculating that we could start to see a pick up in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity over the next few months and as we enter 2026. Goldman Sachs is anticipating that 2026...more
Silicon Valley continues to be a leader in driving global innovation, with Silicon Valley startups accounting for over half of venture capital (VC) investment last year according to Crunchbase data. But to better secure its...more
9/3/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Capital Markets ,
Data Centers ,
Export Controls ,
Geopolitical Risks ,
H-1B ,
Infrastructure ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Innovation ,
Machine Learning ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Technology Sector ,
Venture Capital
Acquihires have been a part of Silicon Valley for quite some time now. Larger tech companies come in and acquire startups mainly for their talent, as opposed to their products or technology. However, starting with ex-FTC...more
8/21/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Big Tech ,
Competition ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Innovation ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
Mergers ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Startups
The lazy days of summer seem to be behind us as merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is getting a jump start. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal cites late July/early August as having “the highest-volume week for...more
8/15/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Business Strategies ,
Corporate Finance ,
Interest Rates ,
Investment ,
Mergers ,
Private Equity ,
Private Equity Firms ,
Startups ,
Technology Sector ,
Venture Capital
As a practicing M&A attorney representing both strategic acquirers and venture-backed targets, I have had a front row seat to the fundamental transformation of Silicon Valley’s exit landscape. The rise of acquihiring...more
8/11/2025
/ Acquisition Agreements ,
Acquisitions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Corporate Restructuring ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Employee Retention ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Popular ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Technology Sector ,
Venture Capital
The IPO market is showing encouraging signs of recovery in 2025, with 201 companies going public year-to-date compared to 225 for all of 2024. While deal volumes are increasing and aftermarket performance is strong, average...more
8/4/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Capital Markets ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Defense Sector ,
Financial Markets ,
FinTech ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Investors ,
National Security ,
Technology Sector ,
Venture Capital
Silicon Valley is built on the promise of innovation, but for the better part of the past three years, the innovation economy has been in a coma. It all started with runaway inflation triggering the biggest hike in the price...more
7/15/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Reserve ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Markets ,
Innovation ,
Interest Rates ,
Mergers ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Startups ,
Taxation ,
Technology Sector ,
Transparency ,
Venture Capital