Smith Shapourian Mignano PC is a women- and minority-owned boutique law firm in San Francisco. We represent micro venture capital funds, technology startups, and industry-adjacent service providers who are forming and scaling their companies, fundraising, 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 18, 2022 12 - 1:15 pm PST - "Intellectual Property Considerations for Commercial and Tech Contracts" for King County Bar Association
Kelly Lawton-Abbott will discuss "Intellectual Property Considerations for Commercial and Tech Contracts" with the King County Bar Association. This is an important CLE for corporate lawyers looking to issue spot IP transactional concerns, or IP lawyers looking to learn about the latest developments in transactional IP work and tech transactions.
It’s well-documented that attorneys have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges than most professions. Yet it remains a difficult topic to talk openly about – perhaps due to a reluctance to admit we need help. Jason Crain, Julia Clayton of The Lawyers Depression Project, and Lita Abella of the California State Bar will speak on a Barristers Wellness Committee panel to discuss how law firms can move the needle on mental wellbeing in the legal profession, including how to improve law firm culture and the resources available to attorneys to find and maintain emotional wellbeing.
June 7, 2022 10 - 11:30 am PST - "Venture Capital Fund Formation, Fund Management, and Deployment of Capital: Top Tips for VCs in 2022" for Strafford
The panel will examine the formation and structuring of VC funds and discuss the various relationships between the fund and its limited partners, fund managers, and portfolio companies. The panel will also discuss different ways to approach deploying venture capital and investment documents and terms, including voting rights, preferred stock, and more. Angela Lyons-Justus will speak on the panel with co-panelists Rita Astoor of Carta and Bobak Emamian of Debut Capital.
June 16, 2022 12 - 1:30 pm PST - "Flips and Financings: A Discussion Regarding Reverse Triangular Mergers and Venture Capital Raises in 2022" for Attorney Action Club and San Francisco Lawyers Network
Join Lindsey S. Mignano and Jason D. Crain for an informative webinar on the state of venture financing in 2022, how to flip foreign entities to procure venture financing, and how to help a company, foreign or American, raise a Series Seed or Series A round here in the US.
June 22, 2022 - 12 - 1:15 pm PST - "Doing Business Internationally: How Companies can Fundraise, Expand, and Hire in the US and Abroad" for the Bar Association of San Francisco
Angela Lyons-Justus will speak on a panel comprised of Jonathan Goldworthy of Bird & Bird and Kiki Stannard of Zedra regarding why some foreign companies may set up subsidiaries versus flip when coming to the United States; what American companies need to know when expanding or hiring abroad in Europe and Asia in terms of employment, immigration, and intellectual property protection; tax ramifications of cross-border operations; and when setting up a PEO is advisable or not.
July 19, 2022 - 1:00 pm PST - "Startup Business Law: Entity Formation and More" for Aquillius Corporation's Catalyst STEM Entrepreneurial Internship Cohort
Teela C. Smith will present on the topic of business entity formation for startups, as well as discuss common startup concerns such as hiring employees, appointing advisors, entering into commercial contracts, and more for Aquillius' Catalyst STEM Entrepreneurial Internship in San Diego, CA.
July 21, 2022 - 1:00 pm PST - "State of the Industry Report: Venture Financing for Early Stage Startups in 2022" for Aquillius Corporation's Catalyst STEM Entrepreneurial Internship Cohort
Early stage founders face a number of questions at the beginning of the startup journey. For example, how should founders approach angel or venture financing? Lindsey S. Mignano will discuss the current industry stats in terms of venture capital deployment in the early stage arena, note versus priced raise rounds, areas of caution, and current market trends, as well as how early stage founders can fundraise from angels and venture capital firms in 2022.