Each year, UCLA Law’s Conference on Silicon Beach and the Law focuses on a major theme of interest to entrepreneurs, investors and the lawyers who represent them. This year, the Conference will consider whether, when and how entrepreneurs and their investors should structure a transaction that allows investors to cash out of their investments in whole or in part, such as going public, a sale of the venture or an alternative structure that potentially generates cash for investors.
This year’s Conference has been built around a panel of entrepreneurs and investors serving as a mock board of directors of a hypothetical company, NotRealMeat. NotRealMeat has developed and sells a plant-based patty that cooks and tastes like meat. These directors have decided to explore potential transactions and have invited lawyers and financial advisors to make presentations about various alternatives.
The directors of NotRealMeat are:
John Backus, PROOF.VC
Anne Enna, Beal Private Capital
Bruce Hallett, Miramar Digital Ventures
Tabetha Hinman, HiveSpot
Harold Hofer, ROCA LLC
The first panel of the conference will include lawyers and financial advisors making presentations to the “board” (and the audience) on IPOs and Direct Listings (such as the recent Slack transaction). The presenters will discuss the advantages and downsides of each type of transaction, identify recent trends in IPOs, and field questions from the board and the audience.
During the second panel, a second set of presenters will then meet with the board and discuss M&A, joint ventures and licensing agreements as alternative transactions for the board to consider. Once again, these presenters will discuss the advantages and downsides of each type of transaction, identify recent trends, and field questions from the board and the audience.
The final panel will consist of the board discussing the various presentations and the broad questions of whether the venture should remain independent or engage in one of the transactions. Audience questions will be encouraged.
**RSVP for Liquidity and Silicon Beach**
Schedule:
9:00 am to 9:15 am
Introductory Remarks
UCLA Law Professor James Park, Faculty Director, Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law
9:15 am to 10:30 am
IPOs, Direct Listings
Kate DeLeo, Goldman Sachs
Eric Jensen, Cooley LLP
Jeffrey R. Vetter, Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP
10:30 am to 10:45 am
Break
10:45 am to 12:00 pm
M&A and Other Structures:
Michael Barker, Shea & Company
Joshua Geffon, Fenwick & West LLP
Brad Weirick, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
12:00 pm to 12:15 pm
Boxed Lunch Pick Up
12:15 pm to 1:00 pm
Board Discussion
John Backus, PROOF.VC
Anne Enna, Beal Private Capital
Bruce Hallett, Miramar Digital Ventures
Tabetha Hinman, HiveSpot
Harold Hofer, ROCA LLC
Led by T. Hale Boggs, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
**RSVP for Liquidity and Silicon Beach**
CLE Materials:
- Description of NotRealMeat
- Statement of Operations NotRealMeat
- 2019 Q3 Venture Monitor Report
- Privacy Issues in Business Combinations
- Finding Your Momentum: Key Issues for Tech Companies
- IPO Guidebook, May 2019
- Mergers And Acquisitions: What Management Teams Want To Know From A Prospective M&A Acquirer
- Direct Listing Considerations
- Going Public? How to Determine Whether a Direct Listing Is Right For You
- NotRealMeat, a Delaware Corporation - Mergers & Acquisitions Discussion
Additional Information:
- This event is sponsored by the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy and UCLA School of Law. It is open to UCLA School of Law students, faculty and invited guests.
- For questions, please email lowellmilkeninstitute@law.ucla.edu.
- UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This activity qualifies for 3 hours of general MCLE credit.
- Parking at UCLA School of Law
Sponsored by:
