Entrepreneurial Best Practices Series

Most Common Legal Mistakes of Entrepreneurs

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

6:45-7:00pm Registration

7:00-8:30pm Presentation

Wells Fargo Room - Haas School of Business

Presentation available [PDF]

Sponsored by:

Please join Tim Harris of Morrison & Foerster LLP for a lively discussion of the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make from a legal perspective. This session will explore the choice of legal entity for a startup, corporate recordkeeping, stock option plans, founder tax issues, securities law compliance, critical intellectual property concerns and fundamental employment law issues. Harris will give examples of the mistakes, suggest alternatives and discuss market customs and practices. Audiences that have heard his talk in the past have avoided countless headaches and thousands of dollars in remediation costs.

For more information about the Entrepreneurial Best Practices Series, call 510-642-4255 or email lester@haas.berkeley.edu.

FEATURED SPEAKER:

Timothy J. Harris

Timothy J. Harris
Partner
Morrison & Foerster LLP

Mr. Harris heads the Technology Group of the firmwide Emerging Companies and Venture Capital group and represents public and private companies and venture capital firms in corporate and securities matters.

In his private company practice, Mr. Harris advises start-up and emerging growth technology enterprises from formation through acquisition or initial public offering in matters including venture capital financing, debt financing, equity incentive compensation, and technology development (including licensing, joint development, distribution, and other technology transfer matters). He also represents venture capital firms, strategic corporate investors, and angel investors in their investments in start-up companies.

In his public company practice, Mr. Harris advises on both registered and unregistered securities offerings, executive compensation, mergers and acquisitions, debt financings, corporate governance, periodic reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 16 compliance, Regulation FD compliance, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Mr. Harris specializes in modeling complex capital structures, financing scenarios and liquidity events. Mr. Harris represents companies and investors in a variety of technology sectors with an emphasis on Internet- and software-based businesses. He has also represented companies and investors in the semiconductor, renewable energy, medical device and financial services industries.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Harris designed, programmed, and implemented software systems for clients in the financial services industry.

Mr. Harris was an Associate Editor of the Law Review and was elected to Order of the Coif at Northwestern University School of Law.

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