Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is called upon for its established foothold in the emerging companies and venture capital space, distinguishing itself for its expertise advising companies in regulated sectors such as aerospace and defense. Practice head Steve Ryan has a strong track record advising on early-stage financings. Leading the New York practice, Ronald Fleming is renowned for guiding clients through the entire lifecycle, including acquisitions. Transactions in the AI, cybersecurity, SaaS, gaming, and social media industries are core to Justin Hovey‘s workload. Over in Silicon Valley, Allison Leopold Tilley is a recognised expert in the full spectrum of venture financings in the technology sector. Paul Casas is relied on by a wide range of clients, from technology companies to institutional investors and corporate venture capital arms. Christina Pearson’s practice spans both venture financings and M&A. In New York, Taylor O’Toole is recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Pillsbury's Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice in Silicon Valley stands out for its lean and efficient staffing approach, which translates directly into value for clients. Perhaps most importantly, the partners are genuinely invested in client satisfaction, and we trust the judgment of both partners and associates on our matters.’
‘Allison Leopold Tilley is a dealmaker powerhouse—the person you want in your corner on any M&A transaction, whether public or private. She's fights tenaciously for her clients, is whip-smart, and deeply experienced with semiconductor and technology companies.’
‘From an in-house perspective, this practice is distinguished by its strong expertise in the field and its ability to deliver clear advice in complex matters. The team combines deep subject-matter knowledge with a solid understanding of our industry and commercial sides, allowing it to address issues efficiently.’
‘The individuals we work with stand out for their strong expertise in the field, sound judgment, and accessibility. In particular, Christina Pearsson consistently demonstrates deep subject-matter knowledge and is closely involved in matters throughout, providing clear direction and confidence in complex situations. She combines her expertise with a strong understanding of our business and risk profile.’
‘The firm provides stellar advice on early-stage legal help. We won every point in our Series A term sheet negotiation because of Steve Ryan and his team. Our case was extremely complex, and we ended up dominating it.’
‘The thought of interacting with attorneys has been a drag my entire career. Working with Steve Ryan has been a complete pleasure. They work quickly, they don’t talk down to my team or me, and they feel like business partners with legal expertise rather than lecturers of legal dogma. Steve is an absolutely stellar leader and communicator.’
‘The Pillsbury venture and emerging companies team stands out for its depth of judgment and its ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-moving company situations. The team combines strong technical rigor with an understanding of how venture-backed companies actually operate—balancing legal correctness with speed, pragmatism, and long-term outcomes. What differentiates the team is its ability to engage as a true partner rather than a transactional service provider.’
‘Christina Pearson is an exceptional partner and, in practice, a true strategic advisor. Over the course of our work together—particularly during the last quarter, which involved unusually high tension, compressed timelines, and very real stakes—she has consistently brought clarity, calmness, and credibility to situations where all three were essential. What stands out most is her reliability and integrity as a partner.’
Key clients
- Accellion USA LLC (dba Kiteworks)
- STOKE Space Technologies, Inc.
- Bilt Rewards
- Enfabrica Corporation
- Thyme Care, Inc.
- Chevron
- AT&T
- Vori Health Inc.
- Goodfire AI, Inc.
- Apollo Global Management
- RealSense, Inc.
- Atmosic Technologies, Inc.
- AlleyCorp
- Arrcus, Inc.
- Remi Labs, Inc.
- Menlo Ventures
- Walden Catalyst
- Bienville Capital Management, LLC
- Savano Capital Partners
- Pivot Investment Partners LLC
Work highlights
Represented Kiteworks, a leader in secure content communications, in its $456 million growth equity investment from global software investors Insight Partners and Sixth Street Growth.
Represented Stoke Space, the rocket company building the world’s first 100% reusable medium-lift rocket, in its most recent $260 million Series C financing.
Represented Bilt Rewards, the nation's largest loyalty program for the home and neighborhood, in its $150 million in funding, which boosted the company’s valuation to $3.25 billion.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Paul Casas
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Taylor O’Toole
Practice head
Steve Ryan
Other key lawyers
Ronald Fleming; Justin Hovey; Allison Leopold Tilley; Paul Casas; Christina Pearson; Taylor O'Toole