LAW595

Thousands of businesses are created annually in the United States, and Silicon Valley is the epicenter of technology startup activity. While companies' business models and products may vary widely, there is a common and consistent set of legal and business considerations/issues that all startups confront. One goal of this course is to acquaint students with these legal and business considerations/issues, so that you can anticipate and spot these issues in the future. An additional goal of the course is to give students practical, real-world approaches to counseling startup businesses, whether as in-house counsel or in a law firm setting. Topics may include venture investment deals, nondisclosure agreements, joint development agreements, employment matters, and mergers and acquisitions in the startup setting. Students will achieve both goals through a combination of lectures; class discussions; practical exercises; and reading assignments.