Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside
Venture Capital & Growth Equity
Cravath advises innovative and forward‑thinking technology companies, venture capital investors and other advisors and capital sources on a wide range of transactions pivotal for growth. Our corporate clients include venture capital- and private equity‑backed businesses across software, hardware, fintech, blockchain and digital assets, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, medical devices, clean tech and renewables and other developing areas. Our investor representations include venture capital and growth equity firms, corporate venture capital arms and other institutional partners. This interdisciplinary practice focuses on key venture investment rounds and other financing arrangements, including preferred equity, SAFEs, venture debt and traditional and synthetic royalty arrangements; joint ventures, collaboration agreements and licensing arrangements; and employee tender offers and other pre‑IPO liquidity events. Our attorneys also regularly represent clients in connection with IPOs, direct listings, de‑SPACs, mergers and acquisitions and other late‑stage transactional matters. We are adept at navigating the unique accommodations and considerations for international companies interested in tapping into the U.S. markets, whether through a private capital raise, IPO or other listing alternative.
Our dedicated team partners closely with clients, drawing upon the Firm’s rich history of collaboration with founders and innovators to provide thoughtful, strategic and pragmatic counsel. We understand that rapid growth and revolutionary new technologies lead to complex and unexpected shifts in the legal and regulatory landscape. Our targeted advice ensures that our clients remain at the forefront, prepared to navigate and capitalize on transformative developments. Clients further benefit from our deep specialty expertise in areas such as cybersecurity and data privacy, intellectual property, tax and executive compensation and benefits. In addition, international companies and investment firms frequently turn to Cravath for our extensive transactional and regulatory experience in cross-border matters, including those pertaining to CFIUS and national security.
Illustrative recent transactions include:
- Wiz’s $32 Billion Acquisition by Google;
- The separation by Medal, the largest platform for sharing short-form gaming content, of its AI assistant platform, Highlight;
- Brevan Howard Digital’s investments in digital asset and blockchain companies including Super Turbo, Time.fun and Starlight Tech;
- Bristol Myers Squibb’s investments in biotechnology companies including Asher Bio, COUR Pharmaceuticals and Q32 Bio;
- Tata Technologies Limited’s IPO;
- Monogram Health Holdings’ Series C Financing Round;
- Swvl’s SPAC Combination with Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital;
- Alliance Animal Health’s Significant Growth Investment from L Catterton;
- Vaxxinity, Inc.’s Initial Public Offering;
- IsoPlexis Corporation’s Initial Public Offering;
- SPANX’s Sale of a Majority Stake to Blackstone;
- On Holding’s Initial Public Offering of Class A Ordinary Shares;
- Robinhood’s IPO;
- Cherry AG’s Initial Public Offering of Ordinary Bearer Shares;
- Convey Holding Parent, Inc.’s Initial Public Offering of Common Stock;
- Aras’s Significant Growth Investment by GI Partners;
- Cazoo’s $8.1 Billion Business Combination with SPAC AJAX I; and
- Robinhood’s $3.4 Billion Capital Raise.
Our dedicated team partners closely with clients, drawing upon the Firm’s rich history of collaboration with founders and innovators to provide thoughtful, strategic and pragmatic counsel. We understand that rapid growth and revolutionary new technologies lead to complex and unexpected shifts in the legal and regulatory landscape. Our targeted advice ensures that our clients remain at the forefront, prepared to navigate and capitalize on transformative developments. Clients further benefit from our deep specialty expertise in areas such as cybersecurity and data privacy, intellectual property, tax and executive compensation and benefits. In addition, international companies and investment firms frequently turn to Cravath for our extensive transactional and regulatory experience in cross-border matters, including those pertaining to CFIUS and national security.
Illustrative recent transactions include:
- Wiz’s $32 Billion Acquisition by Google;
- The separation by Medal, the largest platform for sharing short-form gaming content, of its AI assistant platform, Highlight;
- Brevan Howard Digital’s investments in digital asset and blockchain companies including Super Turbo, Time.fun and Starlight Tech;
- Bristol Myers Squibb’s investments in biotechnology companies including Asher Bio, COUR Pharmaceuticals and Q32 Bio;
- Tata Technologies Limited’s IPO;
- Monogram Health Holdings’ Series C Financing Round;
- Swvl’s SPAC Combination with Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital;
- Alliance Animal Health’s Significant Growth Investment from L Catterton;
- Vaxxinity, Inc.’s Initial Public Offering;
- IsoPlexis Corporation’s Initial Public Offering;
- SPANX’s Sale of a Majority Stake to Blackstone;
- On Holding’s Initial Public Offering of Class A Ordinary Shares;
- Robinhood’s IPO;
- Cherry AG’s Initial Public Offering of Ordinary Bearer Shares;
- Convey Holding Parent, Inc.’s Initial Public Offering of Common Stock;
- Aras’s Significant Growth Investment by GI Partners;
- Cazoo’s $8.1 Billion Business Combination with SPAC AJAX I; and
- Robinhood’s $3.4 Billion Capital Raise.
Publications
June 06, 2025
Scott Bennett, Nick Dorsey, Virginia Anderson and Ellen Park Co‑Author U.S. Chapter of 2025 Chambers Venture Capital Guide
Cravath partners D. Scott Bennett and Nicholas A. Dorsey and of counsels Virginia M. Anderson and Ellen H. Park co‑authored the U.S. Law and Practice chapter of the Chambers Venture Capital Guide, which was published in May 2025. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, provides the latest legal information on trends in the venture capital market; fund structures, economics and regulation; investments in VC companies; government subsidies and tax; employee incentivization and exits in the 26 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law and Practice chapter examines how the artificial intelligence sector drove momentum in the venture capital market throughout the past year; the continued prevalence of “down round” raises, bridge financing solutions and alternative financing solutions for companies that have faced financing challenges; typical venture capital fund structure in the United States and more.
Activities
May 29, 2025
Jelena McWilliams Speaks at This Week in Fintech’s Stablecon 2025
On May 29, 2025, Cravath partner Jelena McWilliams participated in This Week in Fintech’s Stablecon 2025, which was held in New York. The conference hosted founders, c‑suite executives, regulatory authorities, venture capitalists and crypto innovators to discuss critical themes in the rapidly evolving stablecoin ecosystem, including regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, institutional adoption and the role of stablecoins in global commerce. Jelena spoke on a panel entitled “The Shifting Regulatory Sands of Stablecoins,” which reviewed the regulatory treatment of stablecoins, including the interplay of federal and state regulation, the effect of stablecoin legislation and regulation on the structure of the market and what to watch during the implementation of stablecoin regulation.
Activities
March 28, 2025
Dave Kappos, Noah Phillips and Nick Dorsey Speak at Cornell Tech’s Board of Directors Forum
Cravath partners David J. Kappos, Noah Joshua Phillips and Nicholas A. Dorsey participated in Cornell Tech’s Board of Directors Forum, which was held from March 26‑27, 2025 in New York. The forum, designed for board members and senior leaders, convened business and legal practitioners, Cornell faculty, former senior government regulators and directors of private and public companies to discuss how corporate boards can stay ahead of developing technologies, regulatory trends and geopolitical shifts.
Activities
March 25, 2025
Ellen Park Moderates Session at INTA’s 2025 “New York Workshop: Integrating Intellectual Property, Finance and Valuation”
On March 19, 2025, Cravath of counsel Ellen H. Park participated in the International Trademark Association (INTA)’s “New York Workshop: Integrating Intellectual Property, Finance and Valuation.” The event convened professionals in finance, law, technology, business and other related industries to discuss global trends in IP valuation and how to grow and manage intangible assets. Ellen moderated a session entitled “The 2025 Macroeconomic Outlook for Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets,” which reviewed key economic indicators and their anticipated impact on the M&A landscape, as well as guidance for IP professionals involved in M&A or capital markets on how to effectively navigate the dynamic economic environment.
Activities
March 06, 2025
Nick Dorsey and Kelly Smercina Speak at NOVA and CFGI’s US – IPO Readiness Event
On March 6, 2025, Cravath partners Nicholas A. Dorsey and Kelly M. Smercina participated in NOVA and CFGI’s US – IPO Readiness event, which was hosted by BNY in London. The event convened representatives of the four organizations for a training session on IPO readiness in U.S. capital markets, covering the IPO process and timeline, team and organizational setup and legal considerations.
Publications
June 06, 2025
Scott Bennett, Nick Dorsey, Virginia Anderson and Ellen Park Co‑Author U.S. Chapter of 2025 Chambers Venture Capital Guide
Cravath partners D. Scott Bennett and Nicholas A. Dorsey and of counsels Virginia M. Anderson and Ellen H. Park co‑authored the U.S. Law and Practice chapter of the Chambers Venture Capital Guide, which was published in May 2025. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, provides the latest legal information on trends in the venture capital market; fund structures, economics and regulation; investments in VC companies; government subsidies and tax; employee incentivization and exits in the 26 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law and Practice chapter examines how the artificial intelligence sector drove momentum in the venture capital market throughout the past year; the continued prevalence of “down round” raises, bridge financing solutions and alternative financing solutions for companies that have faced financing challenges; typical venture capital fund structure in the United States and more.
Activities
May 29, 2025
Jelena McWilliams Speaks at This Week in Fintech’s Stablecon 2025
On May 29, 2025, Cravath partner Jelena McWilliams participated in This Week in Fintech’s Stablecon 2025, which was held in New York. The conference hosted founders, c‑suite executives, regulatory authorities, venture capitalists and crypto innovators to discuss critical themes in the rapidly evolving stablecoin ecosystem, including regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, institutional adoption and the role of stablecoins in global commerce. Jelena spoke on a panel entitled “The Shifting Regulatory Sands of Stablecoins,” which reviewed the regulatory treatment of stablecoins, including the interplay of federal and state regulation, the effect of stablecoin legislation and regulation on the structure of the market and what to watch during the implementation of stablecoin regulation.
Activities
March 28, 2025
Dave Kappos, Noah Phillips and Nick Dorsey Speak at Cornell Tech’s Board of Directors Forum
Cravath partners David J. Kappos, Noah Joshua Phillips and Nicholas A. Dorsey participated in Cornell Tech’s Board of Directors Forum, which was held from March 26‑27, 2025 in New York. The forum, designed for board members and senior leaders, convened business and legal practitioners, Cornell faculty, former senior government regulators and directors of private and public companies to discuss how corporate boards can stay ahead of developing technologies, regulatory trends and geopolitical shifts.
Activities
March 25, 2025
Ellen Park Moderates Session at INTA’s 2025 “New York Workshop: Integrating Intellectual Property, Finance and Valuation”
On March 19, 2025, Cravath of counsel Ellen H. Park participated in the International Trademark Association (INTA)’s “New York Workshop: Integrating Intellectual Property, Finance and Valuation.” The event convened professionals in finance, law, technology, business and other related industries to discuss global trends in IP valuation and how to grow and manage intangible assets. Ellen moderated a session entitled “The 2025 Macroeconomic Outlook for Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets,” which reviewed key economic indicators and their anticipated impact on the M&A landscape, as well as guidance for IP professionals involved in M&A or capital markets on how to effectively navigate the dynamic economic environment.
Activities
March 06, 2025
Nick Dorsey and Kelly Smercina Speak at NOVA and CFGI’s US – IPO Readiness Event
On March 6, 2025, Cravath partners Nicholas A. Dorsey and Kelly M. Smercina participated in NOVA and CFGI’s US – IPO Readiness event, which was hosted by BNY in London. The event convened representatives of the four organizations for a training session on IPO readiness in U.S. capital markets, covering the IPO process and timeline, team and organizational setup and legal considerations.
Cravath Bicentennial
Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.
Attorney Advertising. ©2025 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.