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Venture capital lawyers
We are dedicated and experienced venture capital solicitors, and use our deep understanding of the market to help investors and emerging companies navigate every stage of fundraising.
The Withers tech venture capital law practice spans our offices across Europe (London, Milan), the US (Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and APAC (Singapore, Hong Kong), offering a uniquely global solution to our clients.- Growth and later-stage funding rounds (Series B+)
- Early-stage funding rounds (Seed / Series A)
- Venture debt
- M&A
- Bridge financings (including convertible notes, Safes and advance subscriptions)
- Technology transfers & university spinouts
As well as being a leading tech venture capital law firm, we are unique as we have a dedicated venture debt team, supporting high-growth venture-backed companies to navigate this alternative and less dilutive means of financing. Companies will commonly (although not always) take on venture debt closely after an equity fundraising (generally Series A/B and beyond), as this can give them a stronger negotiating position and access to more competitive terms. For more information, please get in touch with our venture debt law expert, Kym Jesse.
Partnership
Promoting sustainable investment in partnership with Greenbackers Investment Capital
We have partnered with Greenbackers, a US and UK based specialist venture capital firm focused on climate & cleantech capital, to promote investment in low carbon innovators and tech-driven solutions to the climate crisis.
Through Greenbackers' network connecting investors and sustainable tech businesses seeking funding, we aim to drive equity capital towards investable climate and clean technology businesses. Our Withers tech team will also provide advice and practical updates on the latest market trends and practices.
Greenbackers and WithersworldwideTech blog
Read our latest views and updates on issues impacting the technology and life sciences sectors.
Track record
Investment into Cazoo
Advising an investor syndicate led by Stride VC on the multiple rounds of finance (to ultimately SPAC) in Cazoo Ltd, the used car marketplace.
Alami Technologies
On its USD 20 million fundraising led by AC Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, and Quona Capital. Alami Technologies is Indonesia's largest licensed Shariah-compliant peer-to-peer lender, and provides access to Shariah-compliant debt capital for micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia, as well as lending opportunities to individuals and financial institutions in Southeast Asia.
Altara Ventures
Advised Altara Ventures, a technology venture capital firm investing across Southeast Asia investing in pre-A, Series A and Series B stage companies that build innovation solutions in Fintech, Logistics & Mobility, Consumer, Enterprise Software and Deep Tech, Healthcare and Edtech, in Series A fundraising rounds in two Southeast Asian technology start-ups.
EDB New Ventures
The venture-building arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), in establishing energy management company NaviX Solutions, alongside energy and automation multinational Schneider Electric.
Grab
As a lead investor in the US$100 million Series B investment in LinkAja, an Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator. This was the first investment by a private enterprise into LinkAja and is a landmark transaction for Grab as part of its efforts to consolidate its position in the Indonesian e-wallet /digital payments space.
Grab
In drafting the strategic collaboration agreement with a leading venture capital firm in relation to the launch of Grab Ventures Ignite (GVI), the Vietnamese extension of its flagship accelerator programme, Grab Ventures, dedicated to Vietnamese early-stage startups and aimed at encouraging technology entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem.
JustCo Holdings (JCH) and JustGroup Holdings
On the proposed combination of the businesses of the two entities into JCH. As transaction counsel, we also act for the clients in the (i) sale by an existing fund manager investor of its post-combination stake in JCH; and (ii) proposed investment into post-combination JCH by Daito Trust, a major Japanese real estate player.
Kejora Ventures
(i) Indonesian logistics business SiCepat Ekspres Indonesia's blockbuster USD 170 million Series B fundraising; and (ii) an associated secondary purchase of shares in SiCepat Ekspres from existing shareholders
Two Series C investors
In a round of funding by a global e-commerce platform based in Singapore. The investors included one of the world's largest international mail, shipping and distribution organisations and a venture capital subsidiary owned by an Indonesia listed company.
Festicket Limited
Festicket is the world's largest portal for music festival experiences, providing music fans with a seamless service to book ticket and travel packages for music festivals worldwide. We have been proud to work with Festicket throughout its journey, most recently in connection with its $10.5 Series D funding, as well as its acquisition of Ticket Arena and Event Genius, which will allow Festicket to incorporate additional services into its offering (including self-service ticketing and POS cashless payments).
Alami Technologies
On its USD 20 million fundraising led by AC Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, and Quona Capital. Alami Technologies is Indonesia's largest licensed Shariah-compliant peer-to-peer lender, and provides access to Shariah-compliant debt capital for micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia, as well as lending opportunities to individuals and financial institutions in Southeast Asia.
Altara Ventures
Advised Altara Ventures, a technology venture capital firm investing across Southeast Asia investing in pre-A, Series A and Series B stage companies that build innovation solutions in Fintech, Logistics & Mobility, Consumer, Enterprise Software and Deep Tech, Healthcare and Edtech, in Series A fundraising rounds in two Southeast Asian technology start-ups.
EDB New Ventures
The venture-building arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), in establishing energy management company NaviX Solutions, alongside energy and automation multinational Schneider Electric.
Grab
As a lead investor in the US$100 million Series B investment in LinkAja, an Indonesian state-owned e-wallet operator. This was the first investment by a private enterprise into LinkAja and is a landmark transaction for Grab as part of its efforts to consolidate its position in the Indonesian e-wallet /digital payments space.
Grab
In drafting the strategic collaboration agreement with a leading venture capital firm in relation to the launch of Grab Ventures Ignite (GVI), the Vietnamese extension of its flagship accelerator programme, Grab Ventures, dedicated to Vietnamese early-stage startups and aimed at encouraging technology entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem.
JustCo Holdings (JCH) and JustGroup Holdings
On the proposed combination of the businesses of the two entities into JCH. As transaction counsel, we also act for the clients in the (i) sale by an existing fund manager investor of its post-combination stake in JCH; and (ii) proposed investment into post-combination JCH by Daito Trust, a major Japanese real estate player.
Kejora Ventures
(i) Indonesian logistics business SiCepat Ekspres Indonesia's blockbuster USD 170 million Series B fundraising; and (ii) an associated secondary purchase of shares in SiCepat Ekspres from existing shareholders
Two Series C investors
In a round of funding by a global e-commerce platform based in Singapore. The investors included one of the world's largest international mail, shipping and distribution organisations and a venture capital subsidiary owned by an Indonesia listed company.
Festicket Limited
Festicket is the world's largest portal for music festival experiences, providing music fans with a seamless service to book ticket and travel packages for music festivals worldwide. We have been proud to work with Festicket throughout its journey, most recently in connection with its $10.5 Series D funding, as well as its acquisition of Ticket Arena and Event Genius, which will allow Festicket to incorporate additional services into its offering (including self-service ticketing and POS cashless payments).
Gauss Ventures – investment into Curve
Curve is one of the UK's leading fintech companies, having developed a platform that lets its customers consolidate all of their bank cards into a single Curve card and app to make it easier to manage spending and access other benefits. It recently raised a US$55M Series B financing, on which Withers tech advised lead investor, Gauss Ventures, a venture capital fund based in London focusing on fintech and the data economy.
Snyk Limited
Snyk is a London and Boston-based company that focuses on identifying and developing security solutions for developers. We advised the company on its recent $70M funding round, led by Accel and with participation from existing investors GV and Boldstart, with such funding intended to support the company as it scales its operations on a global basis.
Sofar Sounds Limited
Sofar Sounds transforms everyday spaces (typically living rooms) into venues for immersive and personal live events, bringing artists and their fans close together and putting on 600 shows per month in 430 cities worldwide. As a long-standing client we were delighted to support them on their recent $25M round, led by Battery Ventures and Union Square Ventures.
Symphony Ventures Limited
Longstanding client Symphony Ventures is a global consulting and managed services firm, specialising in Intelligent Automation (IA) and Robotics Process Automation (RPA). In October 2019 Symphony was purchased by US based Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated, and we were delighted to advise the company's founders and investors in connection with this sale.
The Business of Fashion Ltd
Long-standing client, The Business of Fashion Ltd (BoF), is a leading media company covering the fashion and luxury sector. It recently completed a Series B financing led by the Financial Times, on which several of BoF's key existing investors, including Index Ventures and Felix Capital, also participated. Withers tech was proud to have acted for BoF on this exciting new partnership.
Snyk Limited
Snyk is a London and Boston-based company that focuses on identifying and developing security solutions for developers. We advised the company on its recent $70M funding round, led by Accel and with participation from existing investors GV and Boldstart, with such funding intended to support the company as it scales its operations on a global basis.
Kejora Ventures
(i) Indonesian logistics business SiCepat Ekspres Indonesia's blockbuster USD 170 million Series B fundraising; and (ii) an associated secondary purchase of shares in SiCepat Ekspres from existing shareholders
Recognition
W: talks tech podcast series
We take a look at the latest trends and the biggest issues impacting venture capital investors, founders, entrepreneurs, family offices and companies in the technology and innovation space. Hear from the innovators and disruptors who are driving change.
Our team
James Shaw
Partner | London
Susanna Stanfield
Partner | Cambridge
Phil Robinson
Partner | London
Sarah Melaney
Partner | London
Joel Shen
Partner | Singapore
Andrew Gay
Partner | Boston
M. Ridgway Barker
Partner | Greenwich
Kym Jesse
Special counsel | London
Tina Baker
Consultant | New York
Mary Harley
Senior Associate | Cambridge
Yeji Lee
Associate | London
Iain Cockburn
Head of Withers Tech Innovation and Client Delivery | London
Clients include
Venture capital deals survey
Introducing the first survey of venture capital deal terms for European Startups.
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