Legal and Business Acumen
Most of our clients are high-potential emerging technology businesses and their founders. We also serve non-technology companies, particularly in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
We focus on the transactional needs of clients, and making a significant contribution to their success. This has been the foundation of our practice for decades.
In addition we represent institutional venture capital firms and others in their investment activities. And we have an active practice representing foreign technology companies migrating to the U.S. and reincorporating here.
Our lifelong roots and expertise in the Silicon Valley’s business community benefit clients. This includes a network of valuable contacts and successful introductions. We believe that emerging companies derive greater value from trusted lawyers like us who function as their general counsel.
Unlike many law firms, we don’t serve clients through junior associates or narrowly focused practice groups. Our seasoned attorneys provide clients a strong balance of legal skills and business intelligence, including broad experience advising technology companies on all matter of transactions.
We believe that emerging companies benefit most from experienced lawyers who function as their general counsel.
Focus. With a big firm you bounce from lawyer to lawyer to find the right expertise. With Wayland, Nelson and their team you are always in the right hands from the beginning, so that you can sit down, explain the problem and get on to solution immediately. It is night and day easier to complete a focused project like a flip up or an international M&A transaction with them. I love working with these seasoned professional because they have the experience, expertise and motivation to get things done properly, efficiently and expeditiously.
Dr. Tom Rice, Executive in Residence at Plug and Play, Mentor at MIT Stanford, German American Accelerator, advisor to Thiel Fellowship, Venture Capitalist, Entrepreneur, Board Member, Technical AdvisorSilicon Valley
We have worked with these attorneys for a long time. Not only are they superb lawyers, they understand the unique dynamics of early stage technology companies and the challenges they face breaking in to the US market place. They assisted us in connection with the sale of our technology business to a US buyer, which at the time was one of the largest M&A deals involving a privately held Austrian start-up. We hope that one of our portfolio companies will break that record and that Wayland, Nelson and their team will assist us again when that happens.
Oliver Holle, Founder and CEO, SpeedInvest; Investment Banker, Venture Capitalist, Entrepreneur, Board MemberAustria, Europe and Silicon Valley
We are very grateful for the superb representation we received with the sale of the company, but most importantly, we appreciated the way in which it was delivered. Thorough, professional and with a great deal of humanity. That last aspect we have always treasured in our personal and professional relationships. That certainly explains why working together was such pleasure.
Fred Betke, President and Founder, Delta Pacific Products, Inc., Silicon ValleyI would not personally go through a transaction without Wayland’s oversight and expertise. I can give numerous examples of his prowess. In addition to a brilliant legal mind, he always makes it personal.
Kurt Klein, CEO, DataEndure, Silicon ValleyThese are rare lawyers who first ask, “What’s the business objective?” They then deliver strategic advice that all CEOs, and especially start up CEOs, so urgently need in order to manage their business and goals. Once the strategy is settled, Wayland, Nelson and their team make the legal part easy.
Dr. Larry Marshall, CEO, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia) Venture Capitalist, EntrepreneurSydney, Australia
These are my go to attorneys on US legal matters. We have worked together on commercial matters, flip-ups, venture capital financings and acquisitions. They are a very talented group and know how to navigate Silicon Valley. Their guidance and judgment have been indispensable to me over the years. They are also a lot of fun to work with, which I put a premium on.
Matt Barrie, Chief Executive and Founder of Freelancer.com, Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, News Limited Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, LinkedIn InfluencerSydney, Australia
I was introduced to the law firm to advise us on the successful sale of our European business to an American buyer, and we have worked together ever since. They now assist us and our portfolio companies on their US activities. Their knowledge of the Silicon Valley, its players and business practices is extraordinary. In addition to their advice they have been very generous in providing introductions to their talented network, which has also been very valuable to us. It is such a pleasure to work with this group.
Markus Wagner, Founder and Chairman, i5invest capital and Managing Partner of i5growth; Investment Banker, Venture Capitalist, Entrepreneur, Board MemberAustria, Europe and Silicon Valley