Mountain View, CA (April 28, 2017)— Fenwick & West is partnering with eShares, Inc., the equity management platform backed by Union Square Ventures and Spark Capital, to leverage eShares’ management tools to better serve the firm’s corporate clients.
Over the last decade, the time it has taken private companies to IPO has doubled to about 10 years. With companies staying private longer, the need for sophisticated equity management tools is higher than ever.
“Many of our clients have adopted eShares as their cap table management platform, and our partnerships with eShares and other providers enable us to seamlessly integrate our advice and value-added services,” said Mark Stevens, corporate partner at Fenwick. “One of Fenwick’s strengths is to adopt and integrate best-in-class technologies - both internal and from leading third-party providers - to help us improve client service and provide top legal counsel.”
The partnership with eShares, an industry-leading cap table management platform that helps companies to lower risks and costs, provides Fenwick with innovative and comprehensive tools that allow the firm to easily manage cap tables across thousands of clients, control permissions and cap table access within the firm, and incorporate cap table data directly into client and internal platforms.
“The best venture-backed companies in the world use Fenwick and eShares. It makes sense for us to work together to set the standard for global equity management," eShares CEO Henry Ward said. "That is why we’ve chosen them as our first law firm partner. The eShares platform and API lets Fenwick give their clients the best legal advice supported by the best data.”
Fenwick has a history of bringing innovative ideas to the technology industry. The firm regularly analyzes and releases reports synthesizing data on key issues such as company valuations and fundraising. Fenwick also recently adopted next-generation AI and machine learning tools for its M&A and litigation practices. More information about Fenwick’s innovative approach to client service can be found on our website.
About Fenwick & West
Fenwick & West LLP provides comprehensive legal services to ground-breaking technology and life sciences companies—at every stage of their lifecycle—and the investors that partner with them. We craft innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions on issues ranging from venture capital, public offerings, joint ventures, M&A and strategic relationships, to intellectual property, litigation and dispute resolution, taxation, antitrust, and employment and labor law. For more than four decades, Fenwick has helped some of the world's most recognized companies become and remain market leaders. For more information, visit fenwick.com.
About eShares, Inc.
eShares is the first and only SEC-registered Transfer Agent for private companies. eShares’ online platform allows companies—from seed stage through IPO—to manage equity electronically with the participation of their shareholders, employees, auditors, and legal counsel.
eShares’ mission is to consolidate private company ownership onto one common electronic registry, and bring a wealth of financial services—previously reserved only for public companies—to all privately held companies. Visit us at https://esharesinc.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.