Legal Mentors
Overview
The Mentor Program brings together MIT $100k Competition teams with dynamic, real world successful business people that share a common interest and have the skills, contacts, and insight to help a team with their business plan. We give students and team members an opportunity to learn from enthusiastic and dedicated entrepreneurs, venture capatilists, angel investors, or service professionals. In return, we give the business community a social forum to give back to the entrepreneurship community and interact with the best and most promising student teams from MIT and a chance to meet other entrepreneurial leaders.
If you would like to become a Mentor, please email an Organizer from our contacts page.
LEGAL MENTORS ARE GROUPED BY TRACK
TRACKS ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
AERO / ASTRO TRACK
Matthew J. Kleiman
WilmerHale
Matthew Kleiman is an associate in the WilmerHale Venture Group, and a member of the Technology Transactions and Licensing Practice Group. He joined the firm in 2006.
Practice
Mr. Kleiman's practice focuses on general corporate law, with an emphasis on legal issues facing early stage life science and technology companies, and representing emerging and established clients in intellectual property licensing and other technology-related transactions.
While in law school, Mr. Kleiman worked for Duke University's Office of Licensing and Ventures and helped launch a biotechnology start-up company in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. He also participated in the Duke Community Enterprise Clinic, where he provided corporate legal services to local non-profit organizations and low-income entrepreneurs.
David D. Gammell
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Gammell advises entrepreneurial companies in all stages of development, from formation to liquidity. He has extensive experience in corporate finance, venture capital, intellectual property, licensing and strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and international law. Mr. Gammell counsels publicly and privately held companies in a variety of industries including information technology (hardware, software and services), semiconductor, medical device and other high technology sectors.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Gammell was a nuclear engineer and officer in the US Navy.
David M. Czarnecki
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, PC
David Czarnecki practices corporate and securities law, representing clients in venture capital, private equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. Additionally, he advises clients on a wide range of legal issues, including capitalization, employment, corporate governance and securities matters. David is also experienced in the formation and operation of private equity and venture capital funds.
John W. Wadsworth
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Wadsworth represents energy companies in connection with acquisitions, permitting, regulatory approvals, and development work, and represents developers and financers of large projects in connection with permitting, regulatory and environmental risk allocation issues.
Mr. Wadsworth has developed very strong relationships with various environmental agencies and utility regulatory agencies. He has extensive experience with Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and with carbon issues in general. He has served on the Solid Waste Advisory Board aiding the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in drafting regulations, has been extensively involved in programs relating to Chapter 91 (tidelands) issues, and has been asked to advise DEP on the effectiveness of various programs. He has also lectured on compliance with procurement laws in developing environmental facilities in a series of seminars sponsored by DEP.
BIOTECH TRACK
Shannon Zollo
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Shannon represents private and public companies in a variety of securities and corporate matters. As part of his general corporate and technology practice, he advises emerging growth companies, private equity and venture capital firms, and manufacturing and service firms within the high technology and life sciences industries. His areas of focus include mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, strategic technology licensing and transfer, and executive employment matters.
As the former general counsel of a high growth, venture-backed company, Shannon has substantial experience advising executive management on a wide range of domestic and international legal and business issues, including transactional negotiations, debt and equity financings, licensing and protection of intellectual property, corporate governance, leasing and subleasing, import/export compliance, immigration, executive compensation, and employment/labor matters.
Emily Hayes
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendelton
Emily represents early stage and established technology companies, advising them in the areas of entity formation, general corporate matters, equity and compensation, angel financing, venture capital financing, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition to representing companies, she also represents venture capital funds and other institutional investors in their investments in portfolio companies.
Emily is listed among the best young lawyers in Massachusetts as selected by Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2007 as published in Boston magazine. She is listed in the area of Corporate/Business Law.
Matthew J. Kleiman
WilmerHale
Matthew Kleiman is an associate in the WilmerHale Venture Group, and a member of the Technology Transactions and Licensing Practice Group. He joined the firm in 2006.
Practice
Mr. Kleiman's practice focuses on general corporate law, with an emphasis on legal issues facing early stage life science and technology companies, and representing emerging and established clients in intellectual property licensing and other technology-related transactions.
While in law school, Mr. Kleiman worked for Duke University's Office of Licensing and Ventures and helped launch a biotechnology start-up company in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. He also participated in the Duke Community Enterprise Clinic, where he provided corporate legal services to local non-profit organizations and low-income entrepreneurs.
Robert Puopolo
Goodwin Procter
Areas of Practice
Robert Puopolo, a partner in the firm’s Technology Companies Group and a member of the Life Sciences and Securities & Corporate Finance Practices, specializes in corporate and securities law representing public and privately held companies in a variety of life science and technology industries, as well as the venture capital and private equity firms and investment banks that focus on these companies. He joined Goodwin Procter in 2005.
Work for Clients
Mr. Puopolo regularly represents public companies on general corporate matters, SEC compliance, corporate governance matters, public offerings of equity and debt as well as 144A offerings and PIPE transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, he counsels underwriters on initial public offerings, secondary offerings, 144A offerings, PIPE transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Puopolo also represents private companies on general corporate matters as well as private placements of equity and debt securities, initial public offerings, and merger and acquisitions. In addition, his experience includes venture capital and private equity fund formations.
Michael H. Bison
Goodwin Procter
Areas of Practice
Michael Bison, a partner in the firm’s Technology Companies Group and member of the firm’s Life Sciences and Securities & Corporate Finance Practices, specializes in representing public and private life science and high technology companies, as well as the venture capital and private equity firms and investment banks that focus on these companies. Mr. Bison represents companies in all stages of development, from start-up through initial public offering or acquisition.
Work for Clients
Mr. Bison regularly counsels his clients on general corporate matters and corporate finance, including venture capital transactions, public offerings of equity and debt, mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance and corporate governance. He also regularly advises his clients on technology acquisitions, licensing, joint-ventures and strategic alliances. In addition, Mr. Bison spends a significant amount of time working with early stage and start-up companies assisting them with formation, seed financing and intellectual property protection.
Mr. Bison also represents venture capital and private equity investors in connection with the making and monitoring of portfolio investments in the life sciences and high technology sectors. He has represented numerous investment banks and financial advisors in connection with private placements of equity and debt, including PIPES transactions, and underwritten offerings.
A significant portion of Mr. Bison’s practice includes the representation of issuers and investors in connection with cross-border financings and commercial transactions, and in connection with the ongoing U.S. operations of these clients.
DEVELOPMENT TRACK
David D. Gammell
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Gammell advises entrepreneurial companies in all stages of development, from formation to liquidity. He has extensive experience in corporate finance, venture capital, intellectual property, licensing and strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and international law. Mr. Gammell counsels publicly and privately held companies in a variety of industries including information technology (hardware, software and services), semiconductor, medical device and other high technology sectors.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Gammell was a nuclear engineer and officer in the US Navy.
Nina Andersson-Willard
Brown Rudnick
Ms. Andersson-Willard is an associate in the Corporate department. She handles general corporate matters, including international business transactions. Ms. Andersson-Willard counsels companies in all stages of development, both public and closely held private companies. She assists US companies, as well as European companies entering the US market, in a broad range of matters including corporate formation, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, securities law compliance and other commercial and financial transactions.
Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Ms. Andersson-Willard was an associate at one of Finland’s largest law firms, Castrén & Snellman, Attorneys-at-Law.
Adam Dinow
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Adam Dinow is a partner in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Adam's practice entails the representation of privately and publicly held emerging growth companies, venture capital funds, and leading investment banks, with a particular focus on private placements and venture financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings of equity securities. Adam also has participated in hostile-takeover defenses, as well as private equity and leveraged-buyout transactions.
Prior to joining the firm, Adam was an associate in the business and technology group of the New York office of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP. Before joining Brobeck, he was a corporate associate in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Jeffrey P. Steele
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Jeff practices securities and general corporate law, focusing on start-ups and developing companies in high technology industries, including telecommunications, medical devices, software and biotechnology. He has extensive experience representing start-ups, developing companies and investment and venture capital firms in connection with private placements, seed and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, initial and secondary public offerings, public company compliance work, and executive employment matters.
Before joining Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, Jeff was an associate with Bingham Dana, LLP, Boston. Jeff graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and earned an A.M. in history from Brown University. He graduated from Cornell Law School in 1992.
Ken Itrato
WilmerHale
Ken Itrato is a counsel in the firm's WilmerHale Venture Group. He joined the firm in 2004. Mr. Itrato focuses on the representation of entrepreneurs and venture-backed high technology companies.
Practice
Mr. Itrato practices business and corporate law with an emphasis on representing early stage technology, life sciences, internet and software companies. Mr. Itrato’s practice includes, among other things, advising companies with respect to formation issues, equity and compensation matters, debt and equity offerings, joint ventures and other partnering transactions, mergers and acquisitions, asset purchases, reorganizations and divestitures. He provides counsel with respect to intellectual property matters and agreements, including licensing, development and distribution agreements. Mr. Itrato advises venture capital funds with respect to portfolio company investments and follow-on investments, fund formation and sales of fund interests. He also advises later stage private and public companies in the areas of SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, securities and disclosure issues, contract negotiations and corporate governance matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Itrato was associated with Foley Hoag in Boston.
Professional Activities
Mr. Itrato is a member of the Cornell University Life Sciences Advisory Board.
ENERGY
Please visit the MIT Clean Energy Enterpreneurship Website for all details at www.mitceep.com.
MOBILE TRACK
Danielle Lauzon
Goodwin Procter
Areas of Practice
Danielle Lauzon, a partner in the firm’s Technology Companies Group, concentrates in general corporate and securities law and has experience in mergers and acquisitions, private placements of debt and equity securities, public offerings and securities law compliance. Ms. Lauzon joined Goodwin Procter in 2005.
Work for Clients
Ms. Lauzon represents private and public companies in a wide range of industries, including software, hardware, information technology services and life sciences. She works with private and public companies as general corporate and securities law counsel, providing advice on all aspects of corporate governance and securities law compliance. Ms. Lauzon also has experience in merger and acquisition transactions and securities offerings, including representing purchasers and sellers of publicly-traded and privately-held companies, and representing issuers in connection with the public offering and private placement of equity securities. In addition, she has represented companies as well as venture capital and private equity firms in numerous venture capital financings and recapitalizations.
John Mutkoski
Goodwin Procter
Areas of Practice
John Mutkoski, a partner in Goodwin Procter's Corporate and Technology Companies Groups, concentrates in general corporate and securities law and has significant experience in public offerings (representing issuers and underwriters), venture capital and corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance, and technology licensing and joint ventures.
Work for Clients
Mr. Mutkoski represents publicly and privately held corporations in a variety of industries including software, hardware, communications and information technology services. He also represents private equity and venture capital firms (including most recently Kodiak Venture Partners, Prism VentureWorks, Globespan Capital Partners, Ascent Venture Partners and Atlas Venture Partners) in connection with their portfolio investments in operating companies.
Publicly held companies represented by Mr. Mutkoski have included Phase Forward Incorporated, Animal Health International, Inc., Concerto Software, Inc. (formerly Davox Corporation), Metabolix, Inc., MotherNature.com and Shiva Corporation. He has also counseled numerous investment banks in connection with underwritten public offerings for such companies as Netezza, Accent Color Sciences, Idexx Laboratories, Metrika Systems, National Dentex, Number 9 Visual Technology, Philip Services, Thermedics Detection, Thermo Optek, Thermo Vision and Trident International.
Michael J. Cavaretta
Partner at Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Mike represents information and technology businesses, including Internet, videogame and other interactive media companies, software companies, and entertainment and publishing companies. He also represents life sciences companies, including medical device and pharmaceutical developers, producers and distributors. He is experienced in strategic alliances, intellectual property licenses, videogame development and publishing deals, technology development and distribution transactions, and trademark and copyright protection and registration.
A former in-house lawyer and business development professional, Mike brings a practical perspective to clients' legal issues with a keen understanding of the importance of agreements that facilitate rather than hinder business. He is the co-author of The Lifecycle of a Technology Company: Intellectual Property Protection — Obtaining & Safeguarding Patents, Trademarks, Copyright & More, Aspatore Books, 2004.
Timothy C. Maguire
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Maguire’s corporate and securities practice spans over 25 years and covers the full range of corporate and securities activities, including public and private offerings, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate partnerships, joint ventures, technology licensing, corporate governance and other counseling.
Representing both public and private companies, Mr. Maguire works with a number of high-tech industries such as semiconductors, electronic equipment manufacturing, software and telecommunications.
Mr. Maguire has also represented underwriters and issuers in dozens of public offerings, as well as venture capital and other private equity funds in their formation, fundraising, portfolio company investing and monitoring activities.
Joseph Martinez
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Joe concentrates his practice in the areas of general corporate and securities law. He represents clients in connection with company formations, venture capital and other private equity transactions (representing both issuers and investors), mergers and acquisitions, and the formation of private equity funds. Joe also advises public and private companies in connection with corporate governance and securities law compliance matters.
Before joining Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, Joe was a corporate associate at Bingham McCutchen LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to his legal career, Joe worked as a management consultant for a Cambridge, Massachusetts firm with a focus on transportation and information technology. His practice included work with a number of major chemical and railroad companies.
Joe graduated from Boston College Law School in 1998 and from Harvard College in 1990.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES TRACK
Mark J. Tarallo
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Mark practices primarily in the areas of corporate and securities law. He has represented both public and private companies extensively, from start-up companies to publicly traded multi-national corporations. He has represented both buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, and has counseled clients in connection with public and private offerings of securities. In addition, Mark has experience representing mortgage lenders and consumer finance companies with respect to regulatory matters.
In the area of corporate law, Mark advises clients with respect to corporate structure and formation, capital raising, intellectual property, employment and general commercial matters, and has also counseled family-owned businesses with respect to succession planning and buyouts.
He is a member of the Boston, Massachusetts and American Bar Associations, and is currently the co-chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee of the Boston Bar Association. Mark graduated from Boston College in 1988 and earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the New England School of Law in 1991, where he was a member of the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement. Prior to joining the firm, Mark was a partner in the Business Law Section of Holland & Knight LLP, Boston.
David M. Czarnecki
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, PC
David practices corporate and securities law, representing clients in private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. Additionally, he advises clients on a wide range of legal issues, including capitalization, employment, corporate governance and securities matters. David is also experienced in the formation and operation of private equity and venture capital funds.
He received his B.S. from Clarkson University, graduating with distinction, and earned his J.D. from Washington University. Prior to joining Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, David was an associate at Foley Hoag, LLP.
Robert L. Murray
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Murray represents both public and private clients in a variety of matters, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings and corporate governance issues. He counsels clients on a broad range of business matters including business formation, contract review, venture capital transactions and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Murray also assists public company clients with securities filings in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Prior to law school, Mr. Murray was a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand LLP, where he focused on tax matters.
Edwin Pease
Brown Rudnick
Mr. Pease is a member of the Corporate Department. He concentrates his practice on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities laws, venture capital financing, licensing and strategic partnerships.
In addition to his transactional experience, Mr. Pease has significant experience counseling early-stage, growth-oriented companies operating in emerging high technology industries and has frequently represented the venture capital investors investing in these enterprises.
Mr. Pease also has considerable experience representing public company clients in a broad range of matters ranging from compliance with ongoing reporting requirements and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, to analyzing and implementing anti-takeover measures as well as a number of other matters affecting public companies and their officers and directors.
Carl Barnes
Partner in Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton’s Corporate Practice Group
Carl Barnes is a Partner in Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton’s Corporate Practice Group. He has been a business lawyer for more than 20 years, specializing in venture capital, public offerings, securities compliance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other complex transactions. Before joining Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton in 1999, he was general counsel to Parexel International and Sequoia Systems, both publicly traded companies, and deputy general counsel to Thermo Electron (now Thermo Fisher Scientific).
WEB 2.0 / IT TRACK
John Mutkoski
Goodwin Procter
Areas of Practice
John Mutkoski, a partner in Goodwin Procter's Corporate and Technology Companies Groups, concentrates in general corporate and securities law and has significant experience in public offerings (representing issuers and underwriters), venture capital and corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance, and technology licensing and joint ventures.
Work for Clients
Mr. Mutkoski represents publicly and privately held corporations in a variety of industries including software, hardware, communications and information technology services. He also represents private equity and venture capital firms (including most recently Kodiak Venture Partners, Prism VentureWorks, Globespan Capital Partners, Ascent Venture Partners and Atlas Venture Partners) in connection with their portfolio investments in operating companies.
Publicly held companies represented by Mr. Mutkoski have included Phase Forward Incorporated, Animal Health International, Inc., Concerto Software, Inc. (formerly Davox Corporation), Metabolix, Inc., MotherNature.com and Shiva Corporation. He has also counseled numerous investment banks in connection with underwritten public offerings for such companies as Netezza, Accent Color Sciences, Idexx Laboratories, Metrika Systems, National Dentex, Number 9 Visual Technology, Philip Services, Thermedics Detection, Thermo Optek, Thermo Vision and Trident International.
Jessica H. Collins
Brown Rudnick
Ms. Collins is a member of the firm’s Corporate & Securities Department. She represents publicly traded corporations and domestic and international emerging growth companies, primarily in the medical device, high technology and semi conductor industries. Ms. Collins counsels clients on public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, securities law compliance matters, corporate governance issues and general corporate matters. She also has significant experience representing venture capital firms in private placement transactions. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Collins was an associate at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP in its corporate group.
Joseph C. Marrow
Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton
Joe concentrates his practice in the areas of securities and general corporate law. He represents private and public high technology and emerging companies in a variety of mergers and acquisitions, seed and venture capital financings, employment and general corporate matters.
Prior to joining Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, Joe practiced in the litigation and business law departments of Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar, Boston.
Joe is a 1986 magna cum laude graduate of Bowdoin College. He earned his J.D. at Northeastern University School of Law in 1991.
Ken Itrato
WilmerHale
Ken Itrato is a counsel in the firm's WilmerHale Venture Group. He joined the firm in 2004. Mr. Itrato focuses on the representation of entrepreneurs and venture-backed high technology companies.
Practice
Mr. Itrato practices business and corporate law with an emphasis on representing early stage technology, life sciences, internet and software companies. Mr. Itrato’s practice includes, among other things, advising companies with respect to formation issues, equity and compensation matters, debt and equity offerings, joint ventures and other partnering transactions, mergers and acquisitions, asset purchases, reorganizations and divestitures. He provides counsel with respect to intellectual property matters and agreements, including licensing, development and distribution agreements. Mr. Itrato advises venture capital funds with respect to portfolio company investments and follow-on investments, fund formation and sales of fund interests. He also advises later stage private and public companies in the areas of SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, securities and disclosure issues, contract negotiations and corporate governance matters.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Itrato was associated with Foley Hoag in Boston.
Professional Activities
Mr. Itrato is a member of the Cornell University Life Sciences Advisory Board.
OTHER
2008 Updates
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