Technology

The crowdfunding industry has experienced explosive growth in the past decade and permanently transformed the traditional fundraising model. With variations ranging from donation-based and rewards-based crowdfunding to equity-based crowdfunding, individuals and entrepreneurs are given access to new avenues of funding that were not previously available to them. For entrepreneurs, crowdfunding also provides a test environment for their products, which is invaluable as they continue to scale and develop.

Goodwin’s unique combination of deep experience serving both the innovators and investors in a rapidly-changing, technology-driven economy sets us apart. We partner with clients to embrace the promise and potential of innovation to make a lasting impact. Our Debt Finance practice represents borrowers, private equity sponsors and lenders in a broad range of financing transactions. Our Debt Finance lawyers work closely with the firm's Private Equity, Technology Companies, Capital Markets, and Financial Restructuring groups structuring, negotiating and documenting domestic and cross-border debt financing arrangements, including secured and unsecured senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt facilities, acquisition-financing transactions, working capital facilities, as well as loan workouts and restructurings.

On the borrower side, Goodwin represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, leading public and private companies and start-ups in a wide variety of business industries. On the lender side, Goodwin’s clients include domestic and international banks, insurance and finance companies, mezzanine lenders, business development companies and other institutional investors.

The sudden and rapid rise of Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies over the past several years, coupled with the potential applications of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies across virtually all industries, has generated a wave of innovation, disruptive businesses and a modern digital economy. With this explosive growth, new legal and regulatory issues in these areas are cropping up every day. Goodwin’s technical expertise, geographic footprint in key industry markets, and depth of experience allows us to offer unprecedented service to help our clients capitalize on opportunities and meet the challenges of this evolving industry.

Workouts. Reorganization. Liquidation.

Companies of all sizes – from start-ups to more established businesses and international corporations – have benefited over the last several years from sustained economic growth, favorable interest rates and higher investment income. Banner years have been common for many businesses. Yet the reality is that not every business succeeds. Shifting investor preferences, regulatory developments, ongoing disputes over tariffs and trade, and the potential for economic slowdown could mean trouble for many companies going forward.

Technology has permeated the modern age and influences nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Long-standing financial services institutions are a prime example of how far the technological revolution has reached. Brick and mortar financial institutions are facing new disruptive competitors in everything ranging from mobile and peer-to-peer payments to online banking and lending. Fintech companies are receiving record high investments across the globe and the market is thriving at an unparalleled pace. With new regulatory considerations developing in tandem, it is crucial for a successful Fintech company to have expert legal counsel that is fully apprised of all the newest developments, such as GDPR in Europe, and how they affect the industry.

Protect your company. Start off on the right foot. Goodwin’s full-service team advises on company formation and growth matters including incorporation, founders agreements, venture financing, intellectual property, licensing, employee contracts, benefits and beyond. We represent over 2,500 tech + emerging companies and 400 venture capital + private equity firms. This extensive company and investor client base allows us to leverage relationships and deep market knowledge on behalf of our clients.

As businesses today face an increasingly sophisticated threat environment compounded by aggressive regulatory enforcement, companies need a partner who can help mitigate risk and respond to the unthinkable. Our top ranked Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice is one of the longest-standing of any Am Law 50 firm. Our practice is fully integrated and leverages the firm's core strengths, with the group's lawyers coming from our technology, financial institutions, licensing, litigation, regulatory and appellate practices. Our unique approach, focusing on client needs and value, enables us to engage specialists whose experience is framed by a holistic understanding of clients' greatest risks in this threatening environment.

Few firms offer the breadth of practice that we bring to private fund managers and investors. We understand the issues specific to different types of funds and offer advice that comes from a wealth of experience across industries and global markets. Our lawyers work in all the key industries, including, real estate, venture capital, private equity, infrastructure, natural resources and hedge funds, raising funds worldwide that range from less than $50 million to over $17 billion. And with the breakneck pace of technology disrupting industries around the world, we have a team that is equally proficient in advising the innovators and the investors across the private equity, technology, healthcare and life sciences sectors. We partner with clients to embrace the promise and potential of innovation to make a lasting impact.

The depth and breadth of our experience allows us to provide our clients with the most current market terms for their industry as well as access to cutting-edge developments across industries. We handle every stage in the life cycle, and we provide fund managers with the sophisticated level of counsel required for forming, advising and operating private investment funds. Within fund formation, we take a creative approach, starting with not only the specific objectives of a particular fund but also an assessment of how the fund fits within the client’s broader business goals. We then help fund managers determine the best structure and terms to achieve those goals.

More than 400 public companies trust Goodwin to serve as their counsel in a variety of corporate and litigation matters. We are primary outside counsel to public companies in many different industries, of all different sizes, and listed on both U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges. We help clients achieve their business strategies; meet high standards of transparency in disclosure, corporate governance and executive compensation; manage effective investor relations programs; and build credibility through disciplined interaction with capital markets participants, security holders, regulators, employees, ratings agencies, the media and the public at large. We integrate with experts from our M&A/Corporate Governance, ERISA & Executive Compensation, Securities Litigation and Tax Practices to provide full service representation for our public company clients.

Goodwin provides comprehensive solutions for technology companies in an ever-changing and competitive market. As the technology industry is borderless, we offer a global platform, with a team comprised of leading lawyers assisting clients in developing their products and thriving in the digital economy. Based in London, Cambridge, Frankfurt and Paris, Goodwin’s Technology Europe team is fully integrated  and built to serve all legal needs for global technology companies.

The Goodwin technology team leads the market through all stage of the company life cycle. We advise clients on legal and business matters related to company formation, IP protection, licensing and commercial agreements, as well as on venture financing to IPOs, M&A, corporate governance, board matters and more. We partner with the most active venture capital firms, incubators and investment banks in the market.

From structuring transactions to resolving high-stakes intellectual property disputes, we understand the unique needs of each client and anticipate how those needs can change over time. The Goodwin team includes sophisticated IP counsel with deep transactional expertise which maximizes our effectiveness in structuring patent portfolios and negotiating licensing agreements.

Our lawyers are highly-skilled not only in the relevant technical issues and in the presentation and support of our clients' interests, but also in project managing the legal and documentation process through all stages. This includes planning the tax and commercial aspects of a transaction, in-depth due diligence reviews, and contract structuring and negotiation through to post-completion integration.

Goodwin also has the unique ability to offer an experienced United States expansion team to assist start-ups and growth-stage technology companies through their launch, expansion, financing, partnerships, M&A and IPO in the U.S. Leveraging our extensive network of venture capitalists and corporates, we are perfectly positioned for expansion requirements.