Primer on Stock Option Plans
7 September, 2022, 11am PT
Startups will often want to create a stock option plan to be able to recruit and retain top talent. How do you create and manage an effective stock option plan? What are the legal considerations, and how do startups use stock option plans to align the interests of founders, employees, and investors? Register now.

Art of the Bellyflop
14 September 2022, 11am PT
All startup ventures begin with high expectations, but things don’t always go to plan. This can be especially true during challenging economic environments. So how do you navigate venture capital term sheets that may contain down-round valuations, pay-to-play, management carveouts, or the dreaded full-ratchet? Register now.

Latin American startups and cross-border financings 
19 October 2022, 11am PT
LatAm is a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity these days, and there are often cross-border venture capital financings involving Silicon Valley investors in syndicate with investors across LatAm. How are these days typically structured? And what the heck is a Cayman Sandwich? Register now.

View videos of past livestreams:

Incorporating your Startup
One of the first decisions for a startup founder is what sort of legal entity to form. C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, B-Corp? There are many options on entities and many options on jurisdiction (Delaware? Nevada? Canada?). Making the right choice now will optimize your operating and fundraising efforts in the future. View video.

Venture Capital Term Sheets
When an VC is ready to invest, they will give you a Term Sheet outlining their proposed terms of their investment. Understanding that term sheet (and the implications of each of the points), is crucial for founders and existing shareholders. Which terms should you negotiate, and which should you accept? View video.

Venture Debt
21 September 2022, 11am PT
Traditional venture capital is structured as equity. But there are times when entrepreneurs can leverage debt from banks or non-bank lenders. How is this structured and what are the considerations? Register now.

Navigating Privacy Regulations.
5 October 2022, 11am PT
For startups today, there is a labyrinth of privacy regulations to comply with – and the consequences of being out of compliance can be expensive. If your product will be used in the EU, you’ll need to be GDPR-compliant. In California, it’s COPPA. And, if children under 13 might access your product, there are Federal laws to comply with. Register now.

Harassment in the Workplace
12 October 2022, 11am PT
Companies today need to make sure their practices and policies create a safe work environment for all employees. The consequences of a sexual harassment claim, as an example, can be expensive and distracting for startup founders, and damaging to a startup’s culture. Register now.

M&A for Startups
Successful entrepreneurs will eventually received an offer from a potential acquirer. And really successful entrepreneurs may be making offers to buy other companies. What are the typical outlines of an M&A term sheet? Which are the key points to outline, consider, and negotiate? View video.

Employment 101 for Startups
Adding employees is a crucial step for startup founders and you want to make sure you do it right. What are the correct employment documents? How do you make sure that confidentiality and IP are protected as you add employees? It’s important to get this stuff right the first time. View video.

Louis Lehot
Startup and Corporate Attorney

Louis Lehot is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, based in the firm’s Silicon Valley offices, where he is a member of the Private Equity & Venture Capital, M&A and Transactions Practices as well as the Technology, Health Care, Life Sciences and Energy Industry Teams. Louis focuses his practice on advising entrepreneurs and their management teams, investors and financial advisors at all stages of growth, from garage to global. Louis especially enjoys being able to help his clients achieve hyper-growth, go public and to successfully obtain optimal liquidity events. Read more.

Krista Cabrera
Attorney

Krista Cabrera is partner and a litigation attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP where she focuses her practice on employment litigation, counseling, and training. As part of her litigation practice, she represents employers in discrimination, trade secret, wrongful termination, harassment, class action wage and hour matters, and other types of employment-related matters. She is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. Read more.

André Thiollier
Attorney

André Thiollier is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, based in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, where he is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice. André’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, emerging growth and venture financings, and general corporate and business counseling. He represents a variety of clients ranging from late-stage private companies and strategic buyers to venture capital and private equity funds across various industries, including life sciences, technology, financial services, healthcare and outsourcing. Read more.

Bret Waters
Silicon Valley Guy

Bret Waters has been in Silicon Valley his entire life as an entrepreneur, executive, and investor. Today he teaches entrepreneurship at Stanford, runs the 4thly Startup Accelerator, and coaches startup CEO’s at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. He’s successfully raised capital multiple times in his career, and the entrepreneurs he has worked with have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in capital. He’s been on the board of the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, and been chief Mentor with the European Innovation Academy. He received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Read more.

Brandee Diamond
Attorney

Brandee Diamond is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, based in the firm’s San Francisco office and also working in the Austin office where she is a member of the Transactions Practice. With her distinguished background, Brandee is able to provide legal advice to investors, corporate boards and public and private companies in a range of industries including life sciences, technology, food and beverage, apparel, print and digital media and financial services. Read more.