Posts Tagged ‘Regulation D’

Raising Capital? 3 Tips for Entrepreneurs

by Scott Edward Walker on June 30th, 2011

Introduction

I’ve been helping entrepreneurs raise capital as a securities lawyer for 17+ years, and there are certain fundamental legal mistakes that I’ve seen entrepreneurs make over and over again.  Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful to share three basic tips for entrepreneurs in connection with raising capital.  (Note: this post was originally published on The Huffington Post.)

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“Ask the Business Attorney” – Will the New Financial Reform Bill Destroy Angel Investing?

by Scott Edward Walker on July 21st, 2010

Introduction

This post was originally part of my “Ask the Attorney” series which I am writing for VentureBeat.  Below is a longer, more comprehensive version.  Please shoot me any questions you may have in the comments section – or feel free to call me directly at 415-979-9998.  Many thanks, Scott

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Angel Financings: Legal Tips For Entrepreneurs – Part 1

by Scott Edward Walker on December 2nd, 2009

Introduction

I am currently working with several smart, young entrepreneurs who are trying to raise capital from “angels” (i.e., wealthy individuals who invest in startups).  Indeed, since I moved to Los Angeles from New York City in 2005,  I have been involved in a number of angel financings; and what’s interesting from my perspective as a corporate attorney is that the deals run the gamut from an angel handing a check to an entrepreneur and instructing him to “send the paperwork when it’s ready” — to an angel retaining a large, aggressive law firm and insisting on shares of preferred stock, with all the “bells and whistles.”  Below are five tips for entrepreneurs to help them through the angel financing process.  (This is part one of a two-part series; I will provide five additional tips in my next post.) (more…)

Rescission Offers: Five Tips For Entrepreneurs

by Scott Edward Walker on November 24th, 2009

In light of the Madoff affair and other significant external pressures, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and State securities law commissions and departments are dramatically stepping-up enforcement of securities laws.  Indeed, there is a heightened level of regulatory scrutiny that entrepreneurs need to be aware of as they struggle to raise capital during this difficult economic period.  I have discussed the most common securities law violations in a relatively recent post: “Five Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in Raising Capital”; and as I pointed out in “Mistake #1”, non-compliance with applicable securities laws could result in serious adverse consequences. (more…)

Sec Form D And Related Securities Laws: Q&A For Entrepreneurs

by Scott Edward Walker on November 3rd, 2009

As I mentioned in a recent post, one of things that surprised me when I moved to Southern California from New York City in 2005 was the lack of sophistication of some of the players in the so-called “middle market.”  Indeed, I was particularly surprised to see so many investment bankers and other intermediaries running around and raising capital for private companies without being registered as a “broker-dealer” with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  As I have previously discussed (see mistake #4 here ), this is a huge potential problem for the issuer, particularly in light of the recent changes to SEC Form D.  Accordingly, I thought it would be helpful to entrepreneurs to provide them with a basic understanding of the new, revised Form D and related securities laws via a question-and-answer format.  (more…)