Paul G. Sweeney

  • Partner
  • Boston
  • 617 832 1296 direct
  • 617 832 7000 fax
Paul Sweeney, a partner and Deputy Chair of 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 Vanu, Arisaph Pharmaceuticals, Centive, Evident Software, Meetinghouse Data Communications, MicroCHIPS, Elbrys Networks, Hittite Microwave Corporation and Aware. 

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 Polaris Venture Partners, in connection with their portfolio investments in early and later 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:

  • $48 million acquisition of Meetinghouse Data Communications by Cisco Systems
  • $688 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

  • Massachusetts

professional / civic involvement

  • The Capital Network, Programs Committee Member and Presenter
  • Harvard Business School Business Plan Competition, Judge
  • Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Board Member and Officer

SPEECHES AND CONFERENCES

  • Presenter, "Corporate Update," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Northeast Chapter Annual Program, September 2008
  • Moderator and Panelist, “Growth and Exits,” The Capital Network, April 2008
  • Presenter, "Critical Deal Terms," The Capital Network, March 2008
  • Presenter, “Structuring Founder Relationships,” The Capital Network, September 2007