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VENTURE CAPITAL

Thompson Coburn’s experience representing start-up and emerging companies and their investors across a wide range of industries enables our attorneys to provide seasoned and practical advice to entrepreneurs and financing sources alike.

The firm represents professional private equity and venture capital firms, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals in their private equity investments. Such investments range from preferred stock to convertible debt financings with the purpose of bridging the portfolio company to its next equity or debt financing. In addition, Thompson Coburn attorneys counsel clients on structuring private equity investments and are experienced in handling delicate situations, including control issues among management investors and family members, litigation matters and working with distressed companies.

We have assisted private equity firms and venture capital firms in forming and syndicating their funds and have helped them structure, negotiate and document investments in their portfolio companies. We also have worked with our institutional investor clients in the review and evaluation of the terms of potential investments in such funds.

In addition, we have represented numerous clients in analyzing how to work with and obtain investment monies from private equity and venture capital firms. We also have negotiated the sale of our clients to private equity and venture capital firms. We have the depth and breadth of legal experience that an emerging business needs in its day-to-day operations, including employment and consulting agreements, intellectual property protection, stock option and other employee equity incentive plans, product and supply purchase and sale agreements, distribution and licensing arrangements, joint ventures and other strategic partnering agreements.

Areas of Emphasis:

  • Forming and creating funds 
  • Representing portfolio companies
  • Capital formation
  • Mezzanine and secured financing transactions
  • Leveraged buyout and consolidation transactions
  • Divestitures and exits
  • Add-on acquisitions
  • Additional rounds of capital raising
  • Litigation related to investment and portfolio companies
  • Representing broker-dealers
  • Capital raising in connection with EB-5s 
  • Restructuring and recapitalization


Thompson Coburn represented Forsyth Capital Partners in organizing its fund to acquire diversified businesses.

Our firm represented Prolog Ventures, LLC (Prolog), a venture capital management group, in connection with its formation and syndication of multiple venture capital funds that invest in life sciences and health care companies, as well as its many portfolio investments.

We represent a private equity firm focused on energy and commodities with more than $7.3 billion of invested and committed capital.

Our firm represents Kentucky Seed Capital Fund, which is focused on investments in biomedical and health care services, medical device development and health care information technology.

Thompson Coburn represented a private equity fund and its parallel fund—each a private investment fund investing in leveraged buyout funds—in the preparation of the fund sponsor organization and its initial fund syndication. We also reviewed and negotiated subsequent underlying LBO fund investment documents.

We represent the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) in negotiating more than $3 billion of investments in numerous private pooled investment vehicles and separate accounts, including in private equity, distressed debt, hedge funds, domestic and international real estate, and hedge funds. MOSERS is a Missouri public pension fund providing retirement, life insurance and long-term disability benefits for approximately 100,000 state employees, retirees and beneficiaries.

Thompson Coburn routinely represents a venture capital subsidiary of a manufacturing and technology company in its venture capital transactions.

We represent the Public School Retirement System (PRS) of Missouri in connection with various investments, including private real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate closed-end funds. PRS is the statewide system for Missouri’s public school teachers and public education employees. It serves 220,000 members and has $29.2 billion in assets.

Our attorneys represent Catholic Healthcare Investment Management Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascension Health Alliance that is responsible for the investment and oversight of $18 billion in assets.

The firm regularly represents numerous state university and health care private foundations in connection with reviewing investment documents of hedge funds, distressed debt, private equity funds, and international and domestic real estate funds, as well as negotiating and drafting side letters between the investors and fund sponsors.

Prolog led a Series A round of financing in Asoyia, Inc., a company focused on developing ultra-low linolenic soybean oils with zero trans fat per serving and longer shelf life.

Prolog and other venture capital funds led a round of bridge financing in Kereos, Inc., which develops targeted molecular-imaging and therapeutic agents for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

We represented A.G. Edwards, Inc., in connection with its investment as lead limited partner in Eagle Fund II, L.P., a private equity fund affiliated with Bush O’Donnell Smith Capital Partners, LLC.

We represented A.G. Edwards, Stifel Nicolaus and Edward Jones as placement agents' counsel in connection with the syndication of Oakwood Medical Ventures IV, LLC and its parallel fund.

Prolog, our client, and other venture capital funds led rounds of bridge financing in EraGen Biosciences, Inc., a company that develops clinical molecular diagnostic tests for infectious diseases and genetic-based conditions. Prolog and other venture capital funds led a Series B round of financing in AirXpanders, Inc., a company focused on developing patient-controlled tissue expansion devices for use in reconstructive procedures and burn treatments.

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Associate
Chicago

Raquel focuses her practice on corporate and regulatory matters within the health care sector.

Raquel focuses her practice on corporate and regulatory matters within the ...

Raquel Boton
Partner
Chicago

Barry serves as an advisor to publicly held and private companies as well as individuals involved in all types of complex transactions.

Barry serves as an advisor to publicly held and private companies as well a...

Barry Fischer
Partner
Dallas

Susan is a versatile corporate attorney who represents public and private companies, portfolio companies, private equity funds, and individual and institutional investors...

Susan is a versatile corporate attorney who represents public and private c...

Susan Fisher
Partner
Chicago

Matt draws on his wide-ranging corporate law background to guide entrepreneurs toward growth and success at each stage of their business.

Matt draws on his wide-ranging corporate law background to guide entreprene...

Matt Hafter
Partner
St. Louis

Julie represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated securities offerings, and offers advice on a wide range of corporate matters.

Julie represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated secu...

Julie Hellmich
Partner
Washington, D.C.

Benjamin is a corporate advisor and business strategist for a wide variety of privately-held businesses, manufacturers, financial institutions, and nonprofits.

Benjamin is a corporate advisor and business strategist for a wide variety ...

Benjamin Hulsey
Partner
New York

James serves as legal adviser to investors, entrepreneurs, investment advisers and investment bankers as they fund or invest in new companies, grow established private co...

James serves as legal adviser to investors, entrepreneurs, investment advis...

James Kardon
Partner
Chicago

David is Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group.

David is Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group.

David Kaufman
Partner
St. Louis

Sarah advises corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities law compliance, corporate governance and general business counseling.

Sarah advises corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities law...

Sarah Larson
Partner
St. Louis

Tom is Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn LLP's Corporate Department.

Tom is Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn LLP's Corporate Department.

Tom Litz
Partner
St. Louis

Greg represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated securities offerings, and offers advice on the wide range of regulatory and compliance issues affect...

Greg represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated secur...

Greg Mennerick
Partner
Chicago

Matthew represents public and private companies across the country on a wide range of corporate matters while providing comprehensive advice on corporate and business iss...

Matthew represents public and private companies across the country on a wid...

Matthew Misichko
Partner
St. Louis

Greg counsels entrepreneurs, investment advisors and major institutional investors on a wide range of securities offerings and transactions while providing comprehensive ...

Greg counsels entrepreneurs, investment advisors and major institutional in...

Greg Patterson
Partner
Los Angeles

Jennifer serves as primary outside counsel to entrepreneurs, venture capital funds and operating companies with an emphasis on transactional and finance matters.

Jennifer serves as primary outside counsel to entrepreneurs, venture capita...

Jennifer Post
Partner
St. Louis

Chris is a valued strategic partner to emerging companies and the institutions and individuals that invest in them.

Chris is a valued strategic partner to emerging companies and the instituti...

Chris Reid
Partner
Los Angeles

Michael is a partner in Thompson Coburn’s Corporate and Securities group and is co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis Practice.

Michael is a partner in Thompson Coburn’s Corporate and Securities group an...

Michael Rosenblum
Partner
Washington, D.C.

Ray is a member of the Corporate and Securities, Government Contracts and Tax practice groups.

Ray is a member of the Corporate and Securities, Government Contracts and T...

Ray Stewart
Partner
St. Louis

Nationally recognized for his M&A transactional experience, Fred is Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group.

Nationally recognized for his M&A transactional experience, Fred is Co-...

Fred Strasheim
Partner
Chicago

Nathan advises both buyers and sellers in a range of sophisticated M&A transactions, including private equity and strategic acquisitions, divestitures, and leveraged ...

Nathan advises both buyers and sellers in a range of sophisticated M&A ...

Nathan Viehl
Partner
Chicago |
Los Angeles

Described by one client as a highly effective "legal quarterback," Kevin handles a wide range of transactional and governance matters for corporate clients and financial ...

Described by one client as a highly effective "legal quarterback," Kevin ha...

Kevin Young