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Ellen B. Corenswet

Senior Counsel

New York +1 212 841 1256

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Ellen Corenswet acts as outside general counsel to emerging and later-stage companies, venture firms and corporate venture groups, principally in the life sciences and technology industries. During her 45 years of practice, Ellen has invested the time to understand each client's business and objectives and to help clients anticipate and navigate the issues they will face. Ellen prides herself on the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the representation of clients.

    Representative clients include: Acorda Therapeutics (neurological conditions), Aegle Therapeutics (wound healing), First Wave Bio (Crohn's Disease and other GI targets), IFM Holdings and affiliated companies (biotech), Kit Check (medtech) and Perception Neurosciences (neuropsychiatric diseases).

    Ellen has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 for her work in Venture Capital & Emerging Companies, and is a frequent speaker on legal panels and at conferences, particularly in the life sciences industry.

    Ellen has been actively involved since 2000 in Springboard Enterprises, Inc., an organization that competitively selects and coaches women entrepreneurs who run companies in the life sciences, tech, digital health and other venture-backed industries. Ellen serves on Springboard's life sciences council and national advisory council.

    Ellen also devotes substantial time to corporate-focused pro bono work, principally for Pursuit Transformation Company, based in NYC. Pursuit is a years'-long program that provides intensive coding instruction, workforce readiness support, and long-term mentoring to low income individuals who, upon completion of its one-year program, are typically placed in tech jobs at tech companies and financial institutions, at an average salary of $85,000 per year. Other pro bono clients include Congregation B'nai Jeshurun and Plan International, an organization that supports education and resources for girls in impoverished countries.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters

    Venture Capital Financings

    • IFM Therapeutics, Inc. (development stage biotechnology company) in its Series A Preferred Stock financing by Atlas Venture, Abingworth and Novartis.
    • KitCheck, Inc. (hospital medication tracking and restocking solutions) in its Series A, B and C Preferred Stock financings, led by New Leaf Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Baxter Ventures.
    • Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation in preferred stock investments in a number of early stage biotechnology companies, including Padlock, Aduro and Torax Medical.
    • AstraZeneca in its Series D and Series E Preferred Stock investments in Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. (development of messenger RNA therapeutics).

    • MedImmune Ventures as the lead investor in a Series A Preferred Stock financing in G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (small molecule cancer therapy).
    • VantagePoint Venture Partners in numerous preferred stock financings.
    • TouchTunes Interactive Networks, Inc., the largest interactive entertainment platform, in its Series E Preferred Stock financing led by 3i Corporation.
    • Highbridge Principal Strategies in its minority investment in Revolt TV, a cable channel launched by Sean Combs.
    • Tracon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its recapitalization and Series A Preferred financing by Asian and European investors.

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    • IFM Therapeutics, Inc., an early stage biotechnology company, in its sale to Bristol Myers Squib (comprised of IFM’s two oncology programs) and the spin out of IFM’s inflammation program to a newly-established company.
    • Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a public specialty pharmaceutical company, in its acquisition of certain marketed and development-stage assets of NeurogesX Corporation.
    • TrioMed Innovations Corp. in its formation, venture financing and acquisition of assets of Safe Life Corp., an anti-microbial products company.
    • Memory Pharmaceuticals Corporation in its acquisition by Hoffman-La Roche Inc.

    Capital Markets and Securities

    • Securities reporting and compliance advice to Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
    • Securities compliance advice to a range of emerging companies.
    • IPOs of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., Memory Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Traffic.com.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Stanford Law School, J.D., 1975
    • University of Florida, B.A., 1972
    Bar Admissions
    • New York
    Languages
    • French
    Pro Bono
    • Coalition for Queens, a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a tech community in Queens, including through its Access Code program that teaches low income individuals to code.
    • Plan International, Inc. in its acquisition of CEDPA (Centre for Population and Development Activities).
    • Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, as its general counsel.
    Accolades
    • Best Lawyers in America, Health Care (2013-2018)
    • Legal 500 US, Venture Capital & Emerging Companies (2012-2017)
    • LMG Life Sciences, "Life Science Star" (2013)

    Areas of Expertise

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