Covington represents private and public companies and venture investors in a broad range of industries, including life sciences, technology, fintech, cleantech and defense/national security.
We support our clients with a responsive dedicated team, a pragmatic cost-effective approach to problem solving, significant partner involvement, and deep industry and regulatory expertise.
Our practice spans the U.S., UK, Europe and Asia.
Emerging Companies
We view our relationship with each emerging company client as a long-term commitment. We invest the time it takes--upfront--to understand the client’s objectives, issues and relationships.
We advise early stage companies on a range of issues including: structuring the relationships among founders, intellectual property rights and strategy, employees and consultants, equity incentive plans, and initial funding.
As companies develop and expand, we provide strategic and legal advice, both domestic and international, in connection with Board and other governance issues, capital structure, strategic partnerships, distribution, licensing and other commercial arrangements, venture capital financings, IPOs and M&A transactions.
Our leading experts in areas such as data privacy, tech transactions, financial regulation and drug/device and health care regulation routinely advise clients on product development plans, compliance issues, innovative business models and commercial structures, and negotiating with large strategic partners.
Venture Capital Clients
We take a pragmatic, deal-oriented approach to venture capital transactions, focusing on critical due diligence and economic issues. We have significant experience and expertise in representing corporate venture capital groups, particularly in the life sciences and technology areas. We leverage our expertise in regulatory matters, collaboration/licensing transactions and M&A to advise our corporate venture clients on crafting milestones for tranched investments and structuring customized strategic rights arrangements, ranging from soft rights of first negotiation to fully-negotiated option agreements for the company itself or particular projects or IP. We also advise our corporate venture clients on fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues and obligations.
We have been involved in structuring and launching corporate venture capital initiatives for several of our corporate clients. We educate internal deal teams on venture capital practices and norms, and assist with the development of form documents.