Emerging Companies

Entrepreneurs face critical strategic legal and business decisions in the early stages of founding a company. Many such emerging companies and their investors turn to Bass, Berry & Sims for sophisticated, practical and business-focused legal advice.

For most growth-stage companies, it is not practical to hire a full-time, in-house general counsel, and our firm regularly acts as outside general counsel to them. Our attorneys bring decades of experience advising executives and c-suite professionals in both outside counsel and in-house counsel capacities, having served in senior leadership roles within companies, including general counsel and other key executive leadership positions.

Blending sound business judgment and legal perspective, our attorneys advise clients with respect to developing and managing legal, compliance and other administrative functions. We work closely with boards of directors and executive management teams to develop strategies to achieve business objectives, manage risk and comply with regulatory requirements. As outside counsel we oversee and advise on issues related to the development and implementation of the in-house legal and compliance functions, corporate governance, strategic planning, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, regulatory compliance, incentive compensation, and other related matters.

We also are proficient in venture capital and growth equity transactions, representing both providers and seekers of venture growth capital.

Our emerging company services include:

  • Commercial contracts, licensing agreements and strategic transactions
  • Corporate governance, board and shareholder resolutions, consents, directors meetings and shareholder meetings
  • Capital raises
  • Intellectual property protection, including brand selection, trademark procurement and clearance
  • Risk management
  • Counseling officers and directors on fiduciary duties and strategic considerations
  • Employment matters, including hiring, retention, termination and employment agreements
  • Executive compensation, including stock options, restricted stock agreements, and equity and non-equity based incentive compensation
  • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • Venture and growth equity financings
  • M&A, IPO and “exit transaction” services
  • Due diligence and risk analysis
  • Management representation in acquisitions
Marc E. Ackerman
Counsel
Al Bright, Jr.
Member
Bryan  P. Bylica
Member
Curtis Capeling
Member
E. Steele Clayton, IV
Member
Laura J. Cohen
Senior Corporate Attorney
Douglas W. Dahl II
Member
Phil Fox
Associate
John L. Fuller
Member
Nova D. Harb
Counsel
Chelsea L. Harrison
Associate
Michael R. Hill
Member
Michael J. Holley
Member
Brian R. Iverson
Member
Stephen J. Jasper
Member
Philip Kassel
Associate
Kris Kemp
Member
James R. Litzow
Corporate Attorney
Richard F. Mattern
Member
Janice Parmar
Senior Healthcare Attorney
Mary Leigh Pirtle
Member
Brian L. Sims
Member
Richard R. Spore, III
Member
Ryan D. Thomas
Member
Kathryn Hannen Walker
Member