SSM is a women-owned boutique law firm in San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle. We represent micro-venture capital funds, technology companies, and industry-adjacent service providers who are forming and scaling their companies, fundraising/deploying venture capital, selling to, merging with and/or acquiring other businesses. Additionally, we assist our clients in managing relationships with their former companies, employees, partners, investors, service providers, or customers. We are a completely virtual law firm and rely on innovative legal technology to provide a high-touch service.
Upcoming events
May 25, 2023 - 5:30PM PST - "Speed Networking" for the Barristers Board of BASF
Lindsey S. Mignano will act as a VIP Guest at the Barristers Speed Networking Event at Littler Mendelson, alongside other senior attorneys at Littler, Gunderson, Benesch, etc., and discuss the field of EC/VC with various junior attorneys.
May 25, 2023 - 6:00PM PST - "Founders Live Seattle"
Kelly Lawton-Abbott is the City Lead for Founders Live Seattle. Join us for an incredible evening as you hang with other entrepreneurs and hear from 5 awesome Seattle startups. Founders Live is an unforgettable happy hour competition sweeping the globe where up to five handpicked companies take the hot seat, with only 99 seconds to pitch their company and describe their value proposition in front of an eager audience. After the pitches and audience Q&A, the crowd will vote on a winner who will not only receive an award, but recognition from the crowd and also the opportunity to talk more about their product or service. So bring your friends and coworkers, grab some food and drink, get to know your local entrepreneurs and vote for what you think will be the next big thing... built in the PNW.
October 10, 2023 - 4:00PM - 5:15PM PST - "How to Raise Money: Structuring Venture Deals Across All Stages of Life" for BASF Business Law & Barristers Business Commercial and Bankruptcy Section
Lindsey S. Mignano, Rita Astoor of Carta, Austin M. Harmes of Perkins Coie, Dane H. Patterson of Goodwin Proctor, and Heidi Shortz Walas of Gunderson will present an in-person and Zoom panel entitled, "How to Raise Money: Structuring Venture Deals Across All Stages of Life". Panelists will discuss deal terms in early and late-stage venture capital investments; advantages and disadvantages of using convertible notes or SAFEs, versus Model National Venture Capital (NVCA) Series Seed or A documents in priced equity rounds; essential v. "optional" NVCA clauses; how different perspectives and interests of strategic investors and impact investors affect terms; and legal implications of including foreign investors in rounds for US companies.
October 25, 2023 - 11:00am PST - 12:00pm PST - "Venture Capital Financing: What Corporate Lawyers Should Know About Deal Terms Today" for The Santa Clara Bar Association
Panelists will discuss how technology companies structure venture capital investments at the early stage through late stage, from note investments to term sheets/investment agreements in priced rounds. Panelists will also discuss how the terms may be affected by the current macroeconomic climate.
Topics:
Structuring Pre-Seed and Seed Investments via convertible notes and SAFE notes, and the difference between them;
When and why companies may decide a priced round/preferred round is a better option than a note round;
How companies should approach priced/preferred rounds, and what considerations are at play for counsel to advise on.
More information with the link for registration coming soon.