Trenton Dykes > DLA Piper LLP (US) > Seattle, United States > Lawyer Profile

DLA Piper LLP (US) has a well respected nationwide practice that regularly represents venture capital investors and companies. This includes corporate finance advice on all stages of the funding life cycle, from launch through to IPO and beyond, as well as ancillary support in key areas such as IP protection and commercialization. The firm’s international reach also adds weight on cross-border mandates and has proved a draw for major global investors such as Softbank Vision Fund 2. Jeffrey Lehrer leads the team from the firm’s office in Northern Virginia. Other key individuals include Seattle’s Trenton Dykes, who is ‘invaluable to us for strategy and approach to our investment opportunities‘, and Curtis Mo in Silicon Valley, who ‘possesses an incredibly deep knowledge of the venture market and venture deals‘. Charles Torres in New York, Randy Socol in San Diego and Jeffrey Leavitt in Atlanta round out the well spread group. Austin-based former co-head Jenifer Renzenbrink Smith left to join Latham & Watkins LLP.

DLA Piper LLP (US) is noted for its ‘unmatched experience and reputation for advising on novel projects’ through ‘thoughtful analysis’ and ‘creative alternatives and solutions’. The firm represents an impressive selection of financial institutions, investment funds and technology companies. In addition to its regulatory expertise, which covers traditional and disruptive products, including blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFT), the team is also active on the corporate side, having been involved in several high-profile IPOs, SPAC mergers and M&A deals. The firm’s capacity to handle novel mandates was demonstrated by its advice to TikTok on its first NFT launch. US co-chair Margo Tank in Washington DC, Chicago’s David Whitaker and Seattle’s Trenton Dykes are highly experienced in this area. San Francisco disputes partner Michael Fluhr provides ‘great customer service’ and is ‘always responsive and proactively identifying new areas that he could help in’. Mark Radcliffe in Silicon Valley is considered ‘highly experienced‘ in the crypto space. Former global co-chair David Luce joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in January 2022.