DLA Piper Bets on NY Startup and Venture Capital Scene with Perkins Coie Trio

Originally published by Reuters on 08.20.20
 
pexels-nextvoyage-897232DLA Piper Has Snagged Three New York Emerging Companies And Venture Finance Partners From Perkins Coie, The Firm Announced On Tuesday.

 

Charles Torres, Imri Eisner and Adam Brenner join the firm's emerging growth and venture capital practice as partners, helping to bolster DLA Piper's corporate offerings on the East Coast.

Sean Burke of recruiting firm Whistler Partners, who helped place the new partners, said firms like DLA Piper and Latham & Watkins, which recently added emerging companies partner Peyton Worley from Cooley, are making "big picture, strategic moves" in New York City as the area continues to grow as a tech hub.

Sean Burke circle
 
"These types of moves are much more about the battle for tech in New York than they are about the pandemic." [Sean Burke]

 

"These types of moves are much more about the battle for tech in New York than they are about the pandemic," Burke said emerging companies and VC lateral moves "are not totally connected" to the immediate economic cycle, so he expects to see more of these hires in the future.

DLA Piper's newest hires specialize in transactional, corporate and governance matters, representing investors and companies from their start to sale or IPO.

Torres advises both emerging companies and their venture investors, including as outside general counsel to companies in financial services, media, e-commerce and other sectors, DLA Piper said. He helped launch and lead Perkins Coie's emerging companies and venture capital practice in New York, according to his former firm bio, after joining the firm from Lowenstein Sandler.

Eisner's represents emerging companies and institutional investors in equity and debt investments and M&A transactions, and he regularly advises Israeli startups in the United States, according to his new firm.

Brenner, who had the shortest stint at Perkins Coie, represents startups with an emphasis on cross-border transactions and regulatory issues. He also represents VC funds in deploying capital, according to DLA Piper.

Jenifer Smith, co-chair of DLA Piper's emerging growth and venture capital practice, said having the trio sets clients up "for both short-term and ongoing success."

"There is a tremendous amount of opportunity in the New York City venture market," Smith said in a statement. "The addition of Charles, Imri and Adam, and their vast experience and network in the market, enhances our leading Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice."
Smith, who is based in the Austin office, is also a key figure in DLA Piper's corporate practice build-out. In January, Smith joined Washington, D.C.-based partner Jeffrey Lehrer as co-chair of the venture capital group.

Topics: Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, Sean Burke, Whistler Partners, Placements, DLA Piper, Big Law