Scott Alderton - Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles is honored to play a role in the partnership between Torrey Pines Bank and California-based client TransAstra, which is developing game-changing technologies to build a thriving space economy. In addition to its partnership with Torrey Pines, technology and the space-driven TransAstra recently secured NASA funding, which will support TransAstra's roadmap for asteroid mining and tapping into the practically unlimited resources of space.

SA&M Managing Partner, and Co-Chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Practice, Scott Alderton knew he had the perfect solution when TransAstra was looking for a financing partnership to augment its explosive, responsible growth. Alderton knows that “besides providing technically excellent legal services, one of the very best things I can do for my clients is to solve a non-legal problem by providing a high-quality referral.” The firm is excited to follow the unlimited possibilities of this strategic partnership.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP announced that it represented client Aqua Membranes in its $2.1M Series A-1 Financing round. Aqua Membranes is a unique technology that is perfect for spiral-wound membrane manufacturers eager to improve their product performance and whose customers demand more durable, low maintenance elements that can withstand challenging feed streams.

For the full press release regarding the Aqua Membranes $2.1M Series A-1 Financing, click here.

Caroline Cherkassky: Caroline Cherkassky is a Partner of the firm. Caroline's practice focuses on advising venture capital firms, angel investors, and emerging growth, development stage, and middle-market companies on a variety of matters, including venture capital and other financings, employee compensation, securities laws compliance, technology transactions, mergers and acquisitions, stockholder agreements, equity incentive plans, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters. She regularly serves as outside general counsel to early-stage companies and also advises executives regarding employment and compensation matters. Caroline is a frequent speaker on fundraising essentials for emerging growth companies.

Scott Alderton: Scott Alderton is a Founding Partner of the Firm, Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s executive committee. Scott is also co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice group. Scott advises clients across a number of industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment and video games, cyber security and life sciences. Scott’s practice focuses on advising early stage to middle-market technology and emerging growth companies in all aspects of capital formation, venture capital and finance, corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions, high technology, intellectual property, licensing, interactive entertainment and video games, the internet, digital media, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce and commercial contracts. Scott also regularly advises senior executive officers with respect to employment, compensation and equity incentives. Scott is frequently referenced as one of the top “start-up” lawyers in Southern California, and with over thirty years of experience working with technology and emerging growth companies at all stages along their evolutionary path, is sought out for his business as well as legal advice. Scott is a frequent speaker on matters relating to technology, intellectual property, capital formation, capital raising transactions and emerging growth companies, and was formerly an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law school, teaching securities regulation.

As a result of the Firm’s deep roots in the emerging growth market, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles understands the unique practical business needs of early-stage and high-growth companies. The Firm typically acts as outside general counsel to its emerging growth clients, including participating in board-level discussions and serving as an extension of the management team. The Firm strives to understand its clients’ business and markets and give them senior-level attention, which enables the Firm to provide practical and cost-effective legal advice. Representing private companies as they seek funding from venture capital firms, angel investors or other investors has been a key component of the Firm’s practice. The Firm also represents and has extensive relationships with the most prominent venture capital firms and angel investor groups in Southern California. The Firm has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of financing structures, including seed and angel investor financings, venture capital investments, private equity and other institutional financings, bridge loans, and PIPE transactions for public companies. The Firm’s representation of cutting-edge companies and leading investors allows it to stay apprised of developing market trends and, where appropriate, to make introductions to investors and companies.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is pleased to announce that eight lawyers have been named to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country. Lawyers are selected to a Super Lawyers list in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2020 Super Lawyers list –

Greg Akselrud is a founder and Partner of the firm and a member of the firm’s executive committee. He Chairs the firm’s Internet, Digital Media and Entertainment Practice group. Greg advises clients across a wide range of industries, including companies in the entertainment, digital media, Internet, technology, software, mobile, venture capital and consumer electronics industries.

Scott Alderton is a founding partner of the Firm, Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Scott is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group and chair’s the Firm’s Interactive Entertainment and Video Games Group. Scott advises both public and private clients across a number of industries, including technology, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce, finance, the Internet, interactive video games, and new media industries.

Heather A. Antoine is a Partner and Chair of the Firm’s Trademark & Brand Protection practice and Co-Chair of the Privacy & Data Security practice group. Heather’s practice focuses on protecting a company’s intellectual property; a fundamental feature of every business. Heather’s practice includes trademark clearance and selection, domestic and foreign trademark prosecution, enforcement, proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), licensing, trade secret protection, copyright, rights of publicity, domain names disputes, and general client counseling.

Kevin D. DeBré is the chair of the Firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions Practice Group. Kevin advises entrepreneurs and companies that use intellectual property to build their businesses. Kevin has particular expertise in structuring and negotiating technology commercialization and patent licenses, strategic alliances, research and development collaborations, trademark licensing and brand merchandising agreements and manufacturing, distribution and marketing arrangements. He also counsels clients on compliance with data security and privacy laws and regulations.

Jeffrey Gersh is a Partner of the Firm in the Business Litigation Practice. He has litigated, arbitrated, or mediated complex business and commercial matters, for both plaintiffs and defendants, whether individuals, public or private corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and/or its members, shareholders and partners, involving various types of disputes, including contract matters, trade secrets, intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights and trade dress) negligence and fraud, employment, real estate, license agreements, the apparel and garment industry, and general business matters.

Crystal Jonelis is Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Business Litigation Practice. Crystal is well-versed in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, having overseen numerous cases from inception to winning verdicts (and even the subsequent winning appeals). However, her primary focus is in the area of entertainment and media litigation, with particular emphasis in the anti-SLAPP arena.

Daniel Rozansky is a Partner of the Firm in the Business Litigation Practice. Dan concentrates his practice on entertainment, privacy, First Amendment and complex business and real estate disputes. Dan’s areas of focus are entertainment finance, anti-SLAPP motions, unfair competition, trade secrets, intellectual property, surreptitious tape recording, reality television, profit participation, rights of privacy and publicity, real estate, partnership disputes and First Amendment issues. He represents clients both at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal court on a wide array of issues.

Michael Sherman is an accomplished trial lawyer in high-stakes, “bet-the-company” litigation, and has represented both large and early-stage companies as well as entrepreneurs in all facets of business and complex commercial litigation. He has evenly split his litigation practice on both the plaintiff and defense side of cases, has first-chaired numerous trials in complex matters in industries as varied as energy, securities, healthcare, environmental, consumer products, technology, project development/finance, advertising, real estate and apparel, and is highly skilled in class actions and unfair competition law.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP Founding and Managing Partner, Scott Alderton was recently recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" for Corporate Law.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

In addition to the "Lawyer of the Year" award, Scott Alderton was also listed in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the following practice areas:

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Scott Alderton is a Founding Partner of the Firm, Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s executive committee. Scott is also co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice group.

Scott advises clients across a number of industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment, and video games, cybersecurity and life sciences.

Scott’s practice focuses on advising early stage to middle-market technology and emerging growth companies in all aspects of capital formation, venture capital and finance, corporate and securities laws, mergers, and acquisitions, high technology, intellectual property, licensing, interactive entertainment and video games, the internet, digital media, manufacturing, and distribution of goods in commerce and commercial contracts. Scott also regularly advises senior executive officers with respect to employment, compensation and equity incentives. Scott is frequently referenced as one of the top “start-up” lawyers in Southern California, and with over thirty years of experience working with technology and emerging growth companies at all stages along their evolutionary path, is sought out for his business as well as legal advice.

Scott is a frequent speaker on matters relating to technology, intellectual property, capital formation, capital raising transactions, and emerging growth companies, and was formerly an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law school, teaching securities regulation.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is proud to announce that two attorneys have been named to the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers®. Best Lawyers, one of the most valued and respected peer-review publication in the legal field, celebrates its 39th anniversary this year.

Best Lawyer's nomination and selection methodology is based entirely on peer review. It is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Best Lawyers peer-reviewed listings are now published in almost 75 countries around the world, and their presence has grown substantially in the international legal community.

Lawyers on the Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2020 Best Lawyers in America list:

Scott advises clients across a number of industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment, and video games, cybersecurity and life sciences.

Michael A. Sherman brings decades of experience in successfully handling disputes and litigation in an extraordinarily diverse array of industries and businesses. His peers in the legal community describe Michael as the consummate trial lawyer, and he approaches every trial as an opportunity to tell his client’s story, in order to win.

In an era of “specialization” in the legal profession, Michael has been fortunate to maintain a trial, litigation and dispute practice that emphasizes achieving great results for clients in areas as varied as real estate acquisition and development, intellectual property/technology, energy, pharmaceuticals/drug development, securities, healthcare, environmental, consumer products, finance, apparel, and others. Michael excels at guiding clients through the perilous waters of disputes and conflicts in virtually any type of business dispute, and in being expertly skilled in helping clients achieve great results in settlement all the way through trial if required.

Michael founded the firm’s Litigation Practice in 2014 and chairs that practice, and earlier in his career, following graduation with honors from Columbia College and thereafter from University of California Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), he was blessed with extensive on-the-job training from several of the nation’s leading trial lawyers, with multiple opportunities to hone his litigation and trial skills. His creativity, persistence and work ethic led him to partnership at a leading Los Angeles litigation boutique at a young age and subsequently to a prominent partnership position at an international Am Law 100 law firm.

Michael has been recognized as a leading trial lawyer by his peers and regularly featured in the press for some of his significant victories on behalf of clients. He is a past president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the association of business trial lawyers. Michael’s trial skills and courtroom success resulted in his being named to the “Top 100 Lawyers” in California list, published by the Daily Journal newspaper chain. For years he has consistently been named to “Best Lawyers in America” and “Super Lawyers”.

In building the firm’s business litigation practice, Michael has spent considerable time becoming expert in the special needs of business entrepreneurs, in representing “risk-takers” in all facets of disputes involving business formation, capital raising, business operation, and business mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions, as well as business “divorces” and employment disputes of virtually all stripes for both smaller and larger companies including both the prosecution and defense of class actions. As often as he finds himself representing “Goliath” in litigation matters, he equally finds himself representing ‘David”.

For more information on our Business Litigation Practice, contact Michael A. Sherman at .

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles' client, 3D Glass Solutions, Inc. (3DGS), a leading innovator of glass-based, three dimensional (3D) passive RF devices, has announced that it has closed $12 million in series B equity funding, bringing the company’s total equity funding to more than $19 million. With the successful close of this round of equity funding, 3DGS is now well-positioned for continued manufacturing expansion and acceleration of its technology roadmap.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles’ attorneys representing 3DGS in this matter are Caroline Cherkassky and Scott Alderton.

About 3D Glass Solutions, Inc.
Based in Albuquerque, NM, 3D Glass Solutions, Inc. is an innovative RF passive device design and manufacturing company that develops novel, high-frequency 3D components. Leveraging the unique properties of its APEX® glass-ceramic material, the company’s technology enables performance not possible with traditional 2D components. The result is passive components with superior electrical performance and ultra-low transmission loss at high frequencies ranging from 1 to 200 GHz. Using traditional semiconductor processes, 3DGS creates cost-effective, high-precision, high-volume scale components that meet the needs of both consumer commercial and mil/aero system designers.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles' Managing Partner, Scott Alderton, was featured this month on SocalTech Interviews series. In his interview with Ben Kuo, founder and editor of SoCalTech.com, Scott discusses the Preccelerator Program and its offerings, as well as his top pieces of advice for startup entrepreneurs.

Scott Alderton is a Founding Partner of the Firm, Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s executive committee. Scott is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice group. Scott is also Chairman and a Board Member of the Preccelerator.

Scott advises clients across a number of industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment and video games, cyber security and life sciences.

Scott’s practice focuses on advising early stage to middle-market technology and emerging growth companies in all aspects of capital formation, venture capital and finance, corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions, high technology, intellectual property, licensing, interactive entertainment and video games, the internet,digital media, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce and commercial contracts. Scott also regularly advises senior executive officers with respect to employment, compensation and equity incentives. Scott is frequently referenced as one of the top “start-up” lawyers in Southern California, and with over thirty years of experience working with technology and emerging growth companies at all stages along their evolutionary path, is sought out for his business as well as legal advice.

Scott is a frequent speaker on matters relating to technology, intellectual property, capital formation, capital raising transactions and emerging growth companies, and was formerly an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law school, teaching securities regulation.

To learn more about our Venture Capital & Emerging Growth practice, contact Scott Alderton at (818) 444-4500 or

Los Angeles, CA – May 13, 2016, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles announces that it represented its client D-Software, d/b/a Zephyr, one of the software industry’s fastest-growing providers of real-time, on-demand enterprise test management solutions, in an investment deal of $31M from Frontier Capital.

Based in Newark, Calif., in the epicenter of the software industry, Zephyr provides more than 8,500 customers in over 100 countries with innovative applications, seamless integrations and unparalleled, real-time visibility into the quality and status of their software development projects. With additional operations in London and Bangalore, the company has more than doubled its customer base in the past 12 months by helping companies like LG Electronics, Adobe, HSBC, Honda, Oracle, Citibank, Amex, GE, Starz and Hyundai drive down costs and bring higher quality software to market faster.

The $31 million investment from Frontier Capital will be used to fund key growth initiatives for the company like enhancing the product portfolio and scaling sales and marketing capabilities, according to Zephyr founder and CEO Samir Shah.

“Partnering with Frontier Capital will help us realize our potential by investing in the critical business functions that will fuel our growth,” said Shah. “Their business acumen and experience helping similar next-stage growth companies achieve their goals will be just as, if not more, valuable to us than the money they have invested. We are excited to have Frontier on board as an engaged partner and look forward to working with them to build a market leader.”

SAM Partner Scott Alderton has represented D-Software, d/b/a Zephyr, since its inception and Stubbs Alderton as a whole is very proud of their success. SAM Partners that led this deal include Scott Galer, and Scott Alderton.

Frontier Capital is a Charlotte-based growth equity firm focused exclusively on software and technology-enabled business services companies. Founded in 1999, Frontier partners with management teams that can benefit from capital to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions or generate shareholder liquidity. The firm makes minority and majority equity investments in high growth companies and has built an excellent track record of delivering returns to both investors and management partners. For more information, please visit frontiercapital.com.

Zephyr is a leading provider of on-demand enterprise test management solutions, offering innovative applications, seamless integrations and unparalleled, real-time visibility into the quality and status of software projects. Zephyr products are the fastest-growing agile test management products in the world, with more than 8,500 global customers in over 100 countries. Their feature-rich products address today’s dynamic and global needs across a variety of industries including finance, healthcare, media, automotive, IT services and enterprise software. Zephyr is headquartered in Newark, Calif., with offices in Europe and India. For more information, please visit www.getzephyr.com.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information, please visit www.stubbsalderton.com.

SA&M client and Los Angeles-based startup HelloTech and rival in-home tech support company Geekatoo have merged, in a sign of consolidation in the hotly competitive on-demand sector.

HelloTech will combine its network of about 150 college students who provide on-demand tech repair to Southern California consumers with Geekatoo’s U.S. network of about 5,000 technicians, the companies said in a joint statement.

The merger connects HelloTech with Geekatoo’s national market and provides Geekatoo with more access to venture capital funding, HelloTech co-founder Richard Wolpert said in an interview.

SAM attorneys that represented HelloTech in this transaction were Scott Alderton and Caroline Cherkassky.

HelloTech is a new on-demand tech support service provided by our fully-vetted team of techs. Each HelloTech Hero is hand-selected, background-checked and completes a variety of tests and assessments. In addition to a complete range of tech support services, we also provide new technology consultation and training. We not only fix problems, we educate and help architect a home’s tech eco-system.

In today’s world of connected devices and the Internet of Things, our mission is to make the newest in technology available and understandable to all. We’re making technology in the home simple.

Geekatoo.com offers at-home tech support at prices up to 75% off of Geek Squad. They offer a range of fix-priced services and an auction model for custom jobs.

They work with 6,000+ providers across the US ready to provide service and troubleshoot issues such as smart home product installation, computer repair, virus removal, camera and printer repair, building websites, and home theater installation.

Providers are ranked on Geektitude score, which affects their ability to get work. This score is based on previous job satisfaction, certifications and education.

For more information about our Mergers & Acquisitons practice and Emerging Growth practice, contact Scott Alderton at

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles client Champion Technology, the provider of a next-generation expert system and analytic platform, DarkLight®, announced it is forming a strategic partnership with R9B. R9B (root9B, LLC), is a leading provider of cybersecurity products and services. The companies will form a technology partnership to leverage DarkLight's knowledge framework to optimize and cross-correlate data sets.

About Champion Technology Company's DarkLight
DarkLight is a next-generation cybersecurity analytic and automation platform. Driven by artificial intelligence (AI), this groundbreaking solution is a force multiplier which leverages the logic, knowledge, and reasoning of security analysts to deliver human-quality results, at scale. To learn more, please visit www.darklightcyber.com.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is pleased to announce that six lawyers have been named to the 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2018 Super Lawyers list –

Jeff Gersh is a Partner of the Firm. He has litigated, arbitrated, or mediated complex business and commercial matters, for both plaintiffs and defendants, whether individuals, public or private corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and/or its members, shareholders and partners, involving various types of disputes, including contract matters, trade secrets, intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights and trade dress) negligence and fraud, employment, real estate, license agreements, the apparel and garment industry, and general business matters.

Joe Stubbs is a founding partner of the Firm, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He is co-chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group, and of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Joe practices in the areas of corporate and securities law, emphasizing the corporate representation of both publicly-held and privately-held emerging growth and middle-market companies, venture capital and private equity firms, angel investment groups and investment banks.

The official Super Lawyers 2018 publication can be read in its entirety here.

For more information about Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, contact Heidi Hubbeling at or (310) 746-9803.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles client ICPW Liquidation Corporation, f/k/a Ironclad Performance Wear Corporation (OTCBB: ICPW), a maker of high-performance and task-specific PPE gloves, has announced that it has been acquired through an Asset purchase by Brighton Best International, Inc.

Originally founded in 1998 in El Segundo - California, IRONCLAD is today headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas and is the industry leader in high-quality task-specific PPE gloves. IRONCLAD continues to leverage its leadership position in the safety, construction and industrial markets through the design, development, and distribution of specialized task-specific gloves for industries such as oil & gas extraction; automotive; police, fire, first-responder and military and more. Ironclad engineers and manufactures its products with a focus on innovation, design, advanced material science, dexterity, and durability. Ironclad's gloves are available through industrial suppliers, hardware stores, home centers, lumber yards, automotive stores and sporting goods retailers nationwide; and through authorized distributors around the world. Built Tough for the Industrial Athlete™. To learn more and see more, visit: www.ironclad.com

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. Stubbs Alderton’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles and the Preccelerator Program are proud to announce the launch of their Startup Superhero Video Series - featuring SA&M Attorneys, Preccelerator Mentors, and entrepreneurs on topics specific to entrepreneurship and lessons learned throughout the journey.

This week we're featuring SA&M Managing Partner Scott Alderton as he chats about "How to Position Your Company for Financing." Scott is the Co-Chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Growth practice at Stubbs Alderton, General Partner of SAM CREATV Ventures, and a thought leader in the startup financing space.

Heidi: Tell me a little bit about your practice and experience and what you love most about working with emerging growth companies?

Scott: Sure, I have been doing this for a long time. My practice is broad-ranging. Early on in my career, I was more of a corporate & securities lawyer doing traditional SEC type of work with larger companies. As this thing called the “Internet” began to develop in the '90s, it looked like it was interesting, I transitioned my practice to being more of a technology and venture capital lawyer. I really like working with companies all along their evolutionary path, but I really like working with early-stage companies. They have diverse, wide-ranging needs, they typically don’t have the resources that large companies have. I feel like I can play a vital role as an advisor even more-so than a lawyer. The lawyering part is the easy job to me, the advising part is really the fun part.

Heidi: Let’s talk a little bit about emerging growth companies and how they approach financing. What are some of the things an early stage company should be thinking about when they are going for funding. If they are really early, how do they attract investors?

Scott: I think it's really a couple of things. The first thing that every company needs to do is to decide what its vision is and what kind of company it's going to be. Venture capital is not right for every company and there’s lots of different ways to fund your businesses. The overwhelming majority of businesses do not get funded with venture capital. Venture capital is a way of financing a business through its growth stage. When it has a proven product, when it's found its market and when it now needs to scale and grow. That’s when venture capital comes in and helps a company do that, but to get to that point is challenging. First you need to decide; am I a company that is going to require venture capital and am I company that is going to address a large scaling market, be disruptive, grow to be very large? That’s a venture fundable business. Through the early stage, the second thing you need to figure out is - how am I going to get to the point where professional investors are going to be interested in me? Professional investors are not going to be interested in every company like I said they are going to be interested in companies where they can apply their capital, grow and scale the business.

Heidi: As far as some of the tips that you would give to them, for them to actually attract investors - where do they look for them? Are warm introductions the best thing? What are some of the tactics?

Scott: First of all, don’t look too early. Understand that if you are really going out and seeking traditional, professional investment that you are going to have to have some metrics. You’re going to have to have at least a MVP of a product, you’re going to find a market where that product is being accepted. You are growing and scaling a business in that market. Whether its users or customers - whatever it is - you have to get to that stage first. How do you get to that stage? Well, you get to that stage by raising money from friends and family, from people who know you. From people that are going to invest in you, because you’re the entrepreneur. They believe in you. Relatives, friends, strategic business partners. A second way to look at that is for people who ultimately will be interested in your product, even though you have no metrics or proof of your product today. They will invest in you because they want your product to hit the market. Might be a strategic investment. Figure out a way - come hook or crook- to raise that initial capital to where you can develop your product. Find a market place and the other doors will open.

Heidi: From a legal and business stand-point, how do they best position themselves?

Scott: Early stage companies by necessity cut corners, right? You don’t have resources. You’re boot strapping. You’re making promises that you can’t fully document. You can’t always afford lawyers or professional advisers and that’s fine. Do not second guess any of that. You got to where you are, but when you reach that point where you are now ready to go out and find professional capital, it's important to look internally first. That you look at yourself, do the same kind of diligence with yourself that an investor is going to do on you. That way there are no surprises. Figure out capital issues and fix them. Figure out your employment issues and fix them. Figure out your commercial contracts that you have done on a whim and fix them. So that investors don’t look at you and think good concept, but I am not going to take all this risk.

Heidi: There’s another topic that startups tend to think a lot about but aren't typically fully educated on - how should they approach valuation and dilution?

Scott: I think that people get hung up on valuation because they have some number set in their mind or they have some experience that they talk about with other entrepreneurs. They think they either have to hang on to a certain percentage of their business or it’s not appropriate to give a certain amount at a certain round. You have to come into a financial transaction with an open mind and understand not just what you’re selling and what you have to give up for that. Also, where you are going and where that money is going to take you? I see entrepreneurs being penny wise and a pound foolish all the time. They think they don’t want to be significantly diluted. They end up throwing a wrench in the negotiation or they loose a financing deal because they want to hang on to a few points of equity. In reality that money is going to take them so far that they are going to be vast and more valuable. Its a simple proposition of - there’s a pie and you want a piece of that pie. It's much better to own a smaller piece of a gigantic pie than it is to own a big piece of a small pie.

Heidi: Appreciate you for being here and I’m sure we will have you back for other topics some time soon.

To learn more about our Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Practice, contact Scott Alderton at .

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles client Colle Capital Partners, a global, opportunistic, early stage technology venture fund based in New York, with a presence in San Francisco, has closed its fund, after a strategic investment by Zain Group, a leading innovator of mobile communications in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa. Colle Capital Partners has a diversified technology focus with an emphasis on data in the Energy, Media, Telecommunications, Health IT, Security, and Software Development sector.

Stubbs Alderton attorneys representing and acting as Fund Counsel to Colle Capital Partners are Scott Alderton and Jonathan Friedman.

About
Colle Capital Partners is a global, opportunistic, early-stage technology venture fund. Managers have completed deals in various verticals and across all capital structures. They pay special attention to data. Virtually all their deals have an intrinsic relationship with data as they believe that data will drive future growth for all their companies.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles's managing partner Scott Alderton was featured on Built In LA this week giving his expert opinion on essential legal advice for early-stage startups.

To find some of the answers to your most difficult startup-related questions, read the full article on Built in LA here.

For more about the Preccelerator® Program, contact Heidi Hubbeling, COO at
(310) 746-9803 or

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is pleased to announce that six lawyers have been named to the 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to the 2017 Super Lawyers list -

Jeffrey F. Gersh is a Partner of the Firm. He has litigated, arbitrated, or mediated complex business and commercial matters, for both plaintiffs and defendants, whether individuals, public or private corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and/or its members, shareholders and partners, involving various types of disputes, including contract matters, trade secrets, intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights and trade dress) negligence and fraud, employment, real estate, license agreements, the apparel and garment industry, and general business matters.

For more information about Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, contact Heidi Hubbeling at or (310) 746-9803.

Peter Csathy to join Board of Directors of Preccelerator®, lead its investment strategy, and oversee anticipated investments

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles and CREATV Media Announce Strategic Alliance to Provide Comprehensive Service Offering to Digital Media and Technology Companies

SANTA MONICA, CA – JANUARY 24, 2017 – Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, a leading Southern California business, technology and digital media law firm, today announced that it will expand its successful early stage accelerator, the Preccelerator®, to accept a larger group of digital media and technology companies, significantly expand benefits to incoming startups, and look to make strategic investments in these companies and others. Peter Csathy, Chairman of CREATV Media, a leading digital media strategic advisory and business development firm, will join the Board of Directors of the Preccelerator to lead its investment strategy and oversee anticipated investments.

“By partnering with Peter, we will grow the firm’s industry leading Preccelerator® into a full-service platform that not only mentors young companies, but also provides smart venture capital and paths to strategic business development and consulting via CREATV Media,” said Scott Alderton, Chairman of the Preccelerator and Managing Partner of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP. “While the Preccelerator has seen a lot of success, we want to continue to foster the growth of our early stage companies. By adding more companies, formalizing our class structure, expanding benefits and providing initial seed capital, we will give them a greater shot at success. With Peter’s vast experience and industry leadership, he will lead the investment strategy for these companies.”

To date, the Preccelerator Program has graduated five classes with the majority of the twenty-two companies being accepted into larger accelerator programs and incubators or successfully raising their seed funding round. Stubbs Alderton & Markiles launched the first-of-its kind program to provide select start-ups with co-working space, education, networking, mentorship and sophisticated legal services, with the objective of helping grow a founder’s idea from business concept to a funded company. To apply to the Preccelerator, visit www.preccelerator.com/application.

“Stubbs Alderton’s reputation, entrepreneurial approach and shared vision in growing today’s digital media and technology market, what I call “Media 2.0”, is one of the many reasons we made this happen,” said Peter Csathy, Chairman of CREATV Media. “We deeply believe the growing convergence of content and technology is a worldwide addressable market that requires leading business and legal advisors who think “outside the box”, are deeply connected, move at entrepreneurial speed, and provide access to respected thought leaders and ultimately to smart capital. We aim to bring all of this to our collective client base, and to build CREATV Media and the Preccelerator as launchpad platforms for the world’s next digital media and technology stars.”

The partnership will also look to expand the overall service offering to clients – making available CREATV Media’s deep network of relationships and suite of business development and strategic advisory services and Stubbs Alderton’s deeply-rooted and expanding scope of legal services, led by Greg Akselrud, Chairman of the firm’s Internet, Digital Media and Entertainment practice, and Scott Alderton, Chairman of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice.

Stubbs Alderton also announced that Greg Akselrud would join the Board of Directors of the Preccelerator, that Louis Wharton, a law firm partner and current Director of the Preccelerator, would be appointed to President of the Preccelerator, and that Heidi Hubbeling, the law firm’s Director of Marketing and current Director of Operations for the Preccelerator, would be appointed to Chief Operating Officer of the Preccelerator.

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a Southern California based business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent a broad range of industries with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. The firm’s mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of the firm. For more information, visit https://stubbsalderton.com.

The Preccelerator® is a novel platform offered to select start-up companies out of the Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP Santa Monica office that provides interim office space, sophisticated legal services, education, networking, mentorship and $250,000 in usable perks from Google Cloud for Startups, Amazon Web Services, and HubSpot among others, with the objective of helping grow a founder’s idea from business concept to funded startup. The program also retains more than 50 active strategic mentors providing free office hours and discounted services, and provides over 50+ educational workshops and networking events each year. The expanded program will accept a greater number of companies in more formalized classes, depending upon where the companies are in their evolutionary growth, expand benefits to accepted companies, and will look to make strategic investments backed by strategic angel investors. To apply to the Preccelerator, visit www.preccelerator.com/application.

CREATV Media is a leading digital media and technology focused advisory, consulting and business development firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Austin and Germany. The firm’s clients span the digital media and tech ecosystems – from the most innovative startups, to the most storied media companies and brands. The firm uses proven, proprietary methodologies – together with exclusive insights, access and market intelligence – to accelerate Media 2.0-related opportunities and transformational growth. The firm also frequently works with buyers and sellers to maximize M&A – positioning them to achieve the best possible outcomes, identifying potential targets and connecting them to key decision-makers, helping to structure and diligence potential transactions, and advising them every step of the way both pre and post transaction. The firm also organizes, programs and leads customized workshops, live events, pilot programs and start-up innovation labs and demo days. The firm’s ethos of fearless innovation is best summed up by its slogan “Media. Unboxed.” For more information, visit CREATV Media.

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