Perkins Coie Expands Emerging Companies Practice

SEATTLE, Wash. (February 05, 2014) - Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Lee Schindler has joined the firm’s Seattle office as partner in the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice.  He was most recently counsel with WilmerHale in Boston.

“Lee’s wealth of experience and business development acumen makes him a dynamic addition to the firm and to the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice,” said Fred Rivera, Office Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Seattle office.  “Lee has a robust record of significantly supporting emerging business opportunities.”

Schindler serves as corporate counsel to high growth technology and life science companies and the venture capitalists that invest in such companies.  His representation corresponds to every critical point involving emerging companies and the VC community. This includes entity formation, board matters, securities law compliance, equity compensation, financings (friends & family, angel, venture capital, growth equity and strategic), mergers & acquisitions and public offerings. Schindler also works closely with his clients on fundraising strategy.

Schindler has counseled companies through more than 100 preferred stock financings, 25 M&A transactions and three IPOs.  Among the many technology and life sciences companies he has worked with are several startups emanating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.  Schindler advises clients across a range of industries, including software-as-a-service, mobile applications and gaming, big data, fintech, e-commerce, cleantech, material science, healthcare and biotechnolgy.

“We’re very excited to welcome Lee to our Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice,” said Buddy Arnheim, chair of the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice.  “His energy and experience working with early stage entrepreneurs and emerging growth businesses are an ideal complement to our existing capabilities and further strengthen our premier practice in the Northwest.”

Schindler received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and was a two-time recipient of the John M. Olin Fellowship in Law and Economics.  He received his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas.  In addition to his busy practice, he has been an active pro bono leader of legal workshops and clinics for small community businesses conducted by Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, who recognized his contributions with a Civil Rights Pro Bono Recognition Award.

Perkins Coie is a recognized leader in venture capital transactions, representing both companies seeking financing and venture capital firms seeking to invest. The firm is the only law firm headquartered north of San Francisco with a broad practice representing leading venture capital firms. Perkins Coie’s expansive network enables them to introduce clients to venture capital contacts, which, in turn, helps both the companies seeking funding and the venture capital firms seeking new investments.

Perkins Coie attorneys have handled thousands of venture capital deals. Representation of both emerging growth companies and venture capital firms provide broad and deep experience negotiating and closing financing transactions quickly and efficiently. As a full-service firm, Perkins Coie offers emerging growth companies counsel on a wide range of critical early-stage business activities, including structuring outsourcing arrangements, negotiating trade secret and non-compete agreements with employees, and developing key customer and vendor contracts.  

About Perkins Coie: Founded in 1912, Perkins Coie has more than 900 lawyers in 19 offices across the United States and Asia. We provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation and intellectual property legal services to a broad range of clients, from FORTUNE 50 corporations to small, independent start-ups, as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.