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Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

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United States • M&A/corporate and commercial

6

Venture capital and emerging companies

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is praised for combining a ‘deep experience in venture-backed companies and corporate transactions with a pragmatic approach to getting things done’. The practice’s clientele encompasses startups, growth-stage companies, as well as venture capital and growth equity funds across the healthcare, fintech, consumer goods, media, and energy sectors. In San Francisco, Richard McDerby heads up the practice and is chiefly engaged with venture financings and M&A involving technology-driven companies. Over in Los Angeles, Tom Michael, who also heads up the digital and technology group, is active in the venture-backed space.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Expert strategy forumlation and deployment to navigate difficult situations across a variety of legal disciplines. The attorneys are easy to work with, help break down the situation and issues in layman's terms, and is in tune with the specifics of the client.’

  • ‘Richard McDerby is the standout for me as he always responds, listens carefully, and rounds up the specific legal minds in the firm to handle the issues at hand. Richard has an excellent business acumen that is extraordinarily helpful in the matters I have faced. ’

  • ‘The team combines deep experience in venture-backed companies and corporate transactions with a very pragmatic approach to getting things done. They help work through complex processes in a simple and direct way.’

  • ‘Richard McDerby stands out as the practice leader for how much he will engage with clients and make sure that the projects/transactions are moved to completion. He has an exceptionally high EQ, which really helps both with getting what we're looking for as a client as well as what the parties we're negotiating with are looking for.’

Key clients

  • Projectworks, LLC
  • Zamp Technologies, Inc.
  • Adjacent Venture Capital
  • Air Street Capital
  • Merlin Venture
  • Vega Health
  • RadButter/OneImaging
Practice head

Richard McDerby

Other key lawyers

Tom Michael