Paul Sweeney, a partner in the firm’s Business Department, focuses on venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and related business transactions.
Paul's clients range from start-up and venture-backed portfolio companies to well-established public companies, and operate in a wide array of industries, including networking, computer security, information technology, enterprise software, and life sciences. His private and public clients include Arisaph Pharmaceuticals, Aware, Elbrys Networks, Hittite Microwave Corporation, Insight Direct, Kyruus, MicroCHIPS, SCVNGR, Vanu and Varian Semiconductors.
Paul provides practical legal advice to entrepreneurs and their businesses regarding corporate formation issues, contract negotiations, equity distribution and compensation matters. He advises emerging growth companies in the areas of venture capital and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions (both buy and sell side), reorganizations, strategic investments, joint ventures and other partnering transactions. He assists later stage and public companies with respect to SEC and securities law compliance, corporate governance, disclosure issues and general corporate matters.
Paul also represents venture capital investors, such as Highland Capital Partners and Polaris Venture Partners, in connection with their portfolio investments in early and growth stage growth companies.
Paul has helped his clients raise hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital and convertible debt. He has also advised his clients through dozens of acquisitions and public offerings, including:
- Acquisition of Interactive Supercomputing by Microsoft
- $48 million acquisition of Meetinghouse Data Communications by Cisco Systems
- $791 million acquisition of Color Kinetics Incorporated by Philips Electronics
- $517 million acquisition of J. Jill Group by Talbots
- Acquisition by Hittite Microwave Corporation of Q-Dot
- Acquisition of Aberdeen Group by Harte-Hanks
- $52 million acquisition by Geac Computer Corporation of Comshare
- $536 million acquisition of PRI Automation by Brooks Automation
- Lead counsel on initial public offerings and secondary offerings by Hittite Microwave Corporation, Color Kinetics and NetGenesis Corp
Bars and Court Admissions
professional / civic involvement
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The Capital Network, Board Member and Presenter
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Harvard Business School Business Plan Competition, Judge
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Boston Bar Association, Member
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Massachusetts Bar Association, Member
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American Bar Association, Member
SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES
- Presenter, "Term Sheets and Valuations," ENET, March 2011
- Presenter, "Angel and Venture Capital-Critical Deal Terms," The Capital Network, October 2010
- Lecturer, "Avoiding Legal Pitfalls of Founder Arrangements," Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, October 2010
- Presenter, "Life Sciences Licensing - Opportunities, Challengers and Traps," The Capital Network, October 2010
- Lecturer, "Contract Drafting," Northeastern School of Law, September 2010
- Presenter, "Incorporating Your Start-up," MassChallenge, August 2010
- Presenter, "Structuring Founder Equity and Relationships," The Capital Network, March 2010
- Presenter, "Angel and Venture Capital Term Sheets," The Capital Network, November 2009
- Presenter, "Critical Venture Capital Deal Terms," The Capital Network, December 2008
- Presenter, "Twenty Legal Mistakes of Startups," Columbia Business School Alumni, November 2008
- Presenter, "Founder Equity Issues," The Capital Network, October 2008
- Presenter, "Corporate Update," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Northeast Chapter Annual Program, September 2008
- Moderator and Panelist, "Growth and Exits," The Capital Network, May 2008
- Presenter, "Structuring Founder Relationships," The Capital Network, April 2008