Emerging Companies and Venture Capital

Sidley’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice is among the nation's premier platforms, distinguished by the rare combination of a deep bench of nationally recognized practitioners and the full capabilities of a leading global law firm.

With over 40 partners and more than 80 dedicated ECVC professionals across the country's leading innovation markets, including Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, San Diego, Dallas, and Miami, Sidley provides seamless, end-to-end counsel to founders and executives, venture-backed companies, venture capital and institutional investors, and boards at every stage of the company lifecycle.

Backed by Sidley's global platform, our ECVC team helps founders, operators, investors, and boards navigate the opportunities and challenges of the innovation economy with confidence, ensuring clients never outgrow our capabilities. From highly regulated sectors such as fintech, agribusiness and food tech, life sciences, and defense technology to cutting-edge industries including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, data centers and infrastructure, cryptocurrency and blockchain, digital health, robotics, automation, drones, and the internet of things, Sidley delivers sophisticated, business-focused counsel tailored to each client's growth journey.

"Sidley provides not only sound legal advice but also experienced business acumen."
Chambers USA 2026

We bring decades of experience to helping these companies create high-growth businesses in the information technology, life sciences, energy/cleantech and agribusiness sectors. We staff matters efficiently and offer our clients competitive and flexible pricing structures.

We also facilitate introductions between our clients and our network of contacts - VCs, angels and corporate investors, bankers, entrepreneurs, accountants, consultants, etc. - to help ensure their success.

The strength of our corporate venture capital practice is one of the distinguishing factors that sets us apart from other law firms. We advise corporate investors in developing and executing venture investment strategies and we advise in both domestic and international financing transactions, from small seed-rounds to much larger later-stage investments. Our lawyers have handled hundreds of portfolio investments and have long-standing relationships with a wide range of corporate investors, including many Fortune 100 companies.

Many of our business lawyers are technology company veterans, with an operating company perspective of how to successfully start and grow a business. The strength of our practice, coupled with the firm’s leading regulatory practice and international offices, provides our clients with sophisticated guidance and counseling on complex business and legal issues at all stages of growth.

We represent clients in emerging technology centers worldwide, including Palo Alto/San Francisco, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Asia (Singapore, India, Indonesia, Tokyo, China, and Hong Kong), London and Texas. We also have a strong focus on representing non-U.S. companies as they establish operations in the United States.

Our lawyers are consistently recognized as leading practitioners by their peers, clients and various publications and ranking organizations including U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” survey, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal, among others.