Private equity, venture capital and M&A counsel

Transaction counsel for funds, founders and the companies they build.

We work with sophisticated clients, helping guide them through complex transactions.

Contact →
02The firmBoutique, transactional

A boutique law firm focused on transactions.

We work with private equity funds, family offices, public companies and privately held businesses across technology, apparel, real estate and other sectors. The firm is made up of experienced practitioners who understand that responsiveness and efficiency matter as much as the legal work.

Instead of treating tax as a compliance exercise, we treat it as an opportunity. State, federal and international, built into the deal from the start.

  • S.01Fund FormationWe help U.S. and global sponsors launch funds that can operate efficiently and flexibly.
  • S.02Mergers & AcquisitionsWe represent buyers, sellers, boards and PE and VC firms through the full M&A process.
  • S.03Tax PlanningState, federal and international, built into the deal from the start.
  • S.04Funding & FundraisingAngel and seed rounds, accelerators, venture capital, crowdfunding and debt.
  • S.05Corporate AdvisoryAdvice to boards, committees and management on disclosure, shareholder rights and change-in-control.
  • S.06Investor ServicesAfter launch we stay on for governance and investor relations.
03Practice groupsFig. 02

Three practice groups.

P.01 / Practice group

Private Equity / Family Office

The whole fund lifecycle, from formation to exit.

We help U.S. and global sponsors launch funds that can operate efficiently and flexibly. After launch, we stay on.

  • AFund formation and managementRestructurings, refinancings, add-ons, management incentive plans, tax, governance and investor relations.
  • BPortfolio company acquisitionsDiligence on every prospective deal, then the acquisition and financing documents.
  • CExitsAt the portfolio level or the fund level.

View the practice →

Fig. 02.1 Typical fund structureP.01
P.02 / Practice group

Emerging Growth / Venture Capital

From formation through financing, expansion and exit.

We represent founders and the investors who back them.

  • AFormationOwnership structure, tax and future growth considered before you file.
  • BFinancingAngel and seed rounds, accelerators, crowdfunding, venture capital and debt.
  • CExpansion and exitNew investments, partnerships and markets, then growth through acquisition or a clean exit.

View the practice →

Fig. 02.2 Startup lifecycleP.02
P.03 / Practice group

Corporate / M&A

The full M&A process, start to finish.

We represent buyers, sellers, boards, private and public companies, and PE and VC firms.

  • AStructuringAsset and stock purchases through leveraged buyouts and reverse subsidiary mergers, structured to minimize tax.
  • BDue diligenceThirteen areas, from intellectual property and material contracts to FCPA and ownership structure.
  • CClosing and integrationWe stay on after the deal closes.

View the practice →

Fig. 02.3 Buyer, target, combined companyP.03
04How we workSpecification

You work directly with the people who know what they're doing.

01

Working with experts

Selborne is made up entirely of experienced practitioners. Many firms push client work down to junior staff, which creates inefficiency and higher bills.

02

Responsiveness

No one likes reaching out into a silent void where a reply takes days. We answer quickly and we use your time well.

03

An integrated approach

Plenty of lawyers can point out a risk. We take the time to understand what you're trying to do, then put together the right team and plan to remove or reduce it. Our people come from legal, accounting and industry backgrounds.

04

Adding value up front

We don't run a clock every time you call. Long relationships are built by investing in clients on the front end.

05Alternative fee agreementsFig. 05

Most firms bill by the hour. We tell you the cost up front.

We also offer fixed fees for business formations, fund and syndication formations, investments and M&A transactions.

Your costHourly, for reference
AFA.01

Fixed fee per matter

One flat fee for a matter or a series of matters.

AFA.02

Fixed fee per stage

A flat fee for each stage of a matter.

AFA.03

Fee cap

Hourly billing, never above the agreed cap.

AFA.04

Success-based fee

You pay at closing only if the deal succeeds. We define "success" together, in advance.

AFA.05

Value-based fee

We agree in writing on the value of the representation before work starts. The flat fee reflects that value.

Fig. 05 Fee arrangements, cost over timeSchematic, not to scale

AFAs make costs predictable, make board and investor reporting simpler, and remove the most common source of fee disputes.

We can offer this because we're confident we can deliver at a cost that makes sense.

06OfficesCoast to coast

Locations

Hover a city to find it on the map.